How Movement Helped Me Heal (And Can Help You Too)

I've been a personal trainer for 12 years. But calling myself a “PT” never quite sat right—and now, it’s time to step into something more aligned: Movement Coach.

Let me take you back a little to explain why—and then I’ll tell you what that really means.

In my early twenties, I lived what can only be described as a hedonistic lifestyle. Parties, drugs, alcohol, girls—you get the picture. I’d spent a glorious, joy-filled year in Australia and returned home hoping to “make it” as a musician. I moved to London, heartbroken after splitting from my Australian girlfriend and grieving the friendships I’d left behind.

Very quickly, things spiraled. I was alone, broke, and too proud to ask for help. What followed was a psychotic episode, homelessness, and a deep, dark depression that lasted the rest of my twenties.

Eventually, I moved back to the safety of Guernsey with some financial help. I managed to function reasonably well on the surface—projecting a normal version of myself—but inside, I was hollow. Somehow, I ended up working as an unqualified management accountant. The money was decent, but I couldn’t have cared less. I was still completely numb.

I’ve told this part of the story before, but it changed my life forever.

A friend bet me £1,000 that I couldn’t complete the Marathon des Sables—a 160-mile ultramarathon through the Sahara Desert. I was drunk and said yes. The next morning, I was horrified… but determined. I looked up how to enter. A month later, I had a place. That meant I had to start training. Two years of it.

Multiple injuries (mostly due to having no idea what I was doing), countless miles of trail running, and eventually… I made it to the start line. 52-degree heat, a pack full of food for six days—and we were off.

To my surprise, I was doing well. I hadn’t lost any toenails (unlike many others), and my hydration strategy was on point. Stage 4 was a brutal 50-mile leg that stretched late into the night. I remember jogging across a vast salt pan, body aching, heat unbearable—yet suddenly, I noticed something.

I felt good.

Mentally. Emotionally. For the first time in a decade.

Right there, in the middle of the Sahara, I promised myself I would quit accountancy and build a good life. One with meaning. One I could love.

Completely caked in sweat and sand but I made it! MdS Finisher!

Soon after, I retrained as a Master Personal Trainer at the European Institute of Fitness. Movement had healed me—literally. And with that realisation came a deep desire to help others heal too.

Now, with over a decade of experience, I know this: physical fitness is just a foundation. True transformation comes when we move forward in every sense. Body. Mind. Life.

That’s why I call what I do Movement Coaching.

Some of my clients come to lose weight. Others want to feel strong after illness. Many are seeking clarity—about their careers, habits, relationships, or simply how to get unstuck.

We don’t just train. We talk. We breathe. We reflect. We set clear goals and take real steps to reach them—together.

I’ll hold you accountable, gently and with compassion, because I want you to reach your potential.

Of course, if you just want to come and smash a workout—I’ve got you. Expect a mix of kettlebells, TRX, calisthenics, and movement in the wild beauty of Guernsey.

If the weather’s terrible—or you’re further afield—we can work together online.

If this resonates, reach out. Message or call me. We can have a no-pressure chat about what you'd like to achieve.

Here’s to movement—and to a better life.

Mike