• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Martial Art Expert Helps Build Body's Self-Defence

Posted on: Tuesday, 10 May 2005, 12:00 CDT

A former martial arts expert from Greece is now putting the region's health problems on the block. Craig Thompson finds out more

For almost 20 years, Andreas Souris studied martial arts in his home city of Athens in Greece.

But eight years ago, after a long-running romance with a Gateshead woman, he packed his bags and swapped the sun for the Tyne.

Now, he has established a successful career in natural therapies and is helping both children and adults overcome illness.

Andreas, 52, has studied a number of alternative remedies, including reflexology and various massage techniques.

He has since set up his own clinics in Gateshead and Gosforth.

Andreas, who has two children, said: "I used to study martial arts, including karate and aikido.

"This taught me a lot about how the body works and how it can be protected."

Andreas met wife Gillian, 40, while she was visiting Greece and their romance blossomed.

He said: "She was from Whickham and I was from Greece so we decided that I should move over here and work towards becoming a therapist."

After studying for seven different diplomas in seven different types of therapy, Andreas has now become a successful therapist.

He said: "I was fascinated to learn about the appliance of gentle pressure to precise points in the body, allowing it to relax and realign itself to promote natural healing.

"We are not offering miraculous cures to ails, simply new ways of releasing tension to allow the body to heal itself."

Working closely with homeopaths, nutritionists and psychotherapists, Andreas has treated a number of conditions from phobias to muscle pain, joint problems and sporting injuries.

His success stories include a student who needed to realign his foot after a biking accident and an agoraphobic who was able to leave her home, find a job and enjoy Lakeland walks.

Andreas added: "I treat everyone from new-born babies to 85-year- old pensioners.

"My work is extremely rewarding because it helps people overcome their problems, it gives me great satisfaction."

Andreas' enthusiasm is also shared by his wife who is co-owner of Pilates North East.

It means the healthy pair regularly bounce ideas off each other over the dinner table.

Now, as he widens his practice, Andreas is helping treat people with emotional problems.

He said: "People who are undergoing counselling have told us the therapy helps speed up their recovery.

"Now, I'm treating more and more people who are suffering from stress-related problems as well as offering free taster sessions to help children."

The sessions, usually costing between pounds 26 and pounds 36, will be running as part of National Asthma and Hayfever Week, which is happening all this week.

With his clinics now up and running, Andreas says he is enjoying life in the North East and not missing Greece too much. He added: "My children are all enjoying school here and we are all happy and looking forward to staying in the region."

Andreas got help establishing his business from the North East and Business Innovation Centre (BIC).

Paul Finch, marketing advisor at BIC, said: "I have learnt a great deal from working with Andreas and I'm sure his free taster sessions for children will open new doors of hope to many families with any number of difficulties."

For more information on Andreas' natural treatments contact (0191) 490 0276.

Therapies offering a natural remedy

THE five main complementary therapies are acupuncture, osteopathy, chiropractic, homeopathy and herbal medicine.

Other well-known therapies include naturopathy, nutritional medicine, aromatherapy and massage, while lesser-known therapies include kinesiology, crystal healing and different types of energy medicine.

Some therapies are part of complete medical systems from other cultures, such as traditional Chinese medicine, Tibetan medicine and Ayurvedic medicine from India.

HOW IS IT DIFFERENT?

Complementary medicine focuses on the whole person, with lifestyle, environment, diet and mental, emotional and spiritual health often being considered alongside physical symptoms.

Diagnosis aims to identify the root cause of these symptoms; treatment is then designed not only to relieve the ailment or disease but also to restore health and promote general wellbeing. There's also a strong emphasis on prevention.

Many complementary therapies are based on the idea that the body naturally strives to maintain a state of balance, known as homeostasis.

Treatments aim to stimulate this natural healing ability in the body.

Taking responsibility for one's own health is regarded as an important part of healing, so patients are often actively involved in their treatment.

WHO USES IT?

Recent surveys have suggested that around one in five people in the UK has tried at least one form of complementary therapy and that one in 10 GPs is actively involved in complementary and alternative medicine.

Women use complementary therapies more than men and favour treatments such as aromatherapy and massage. Men are most likely to turn to complementary therapies for specific physical problems such as sports injuries or back pain.

WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR?

Complementary medicine is used in the treatment and prevention of a wide range of ailments, as well as for pain management and general health promotion.

It can be helpful both for chronic ailments, such as arthritis and chronic fatigue syndrome, and for certain acute conditions, such as cystitis.

Research is beginning to show that certain therapies work particularly well for different types of ailments.

Homeopathy, for example, has been found to be effective for hay fever, while Chinese herbal medicine is often beneficial for eczema and asthma.

The World Health Organisation has published lists of many ailments that may be helped by acupuncture and traditional herbal medicine.

These include asthma, eczema, digestive disorders and headaches, among others.

Complementary therapies are increasingly being used alongside conventional medicine.

For example, many cancer clinics now incorporate these therapies to enhance quality of life and several research trials have shown that acupressure can help to reduce the nausea associated with chemotherapy.

Acupuncture and osteopathy are also often used to good effect in pain clinics.

Source: Evening Chronicle - Newcastle-upon-Tyne

More News in this Category