Meet our team of Women's Health practitioners

Andrea Creary - Pilates

I qualified as a Pilates teacher in 2007, and trained in pre- and post-natal Pilates in 2009 whilst pregnant with my eldest, now 12 and all grown up.

Though I had the knowledge and the foundations to ease myself back into reconnecting with my body, it was difficult to take time out to breathe. I often wanted to do cardio exercise, feeling like I needed to lose weight, thinking it would help my pre-baby body return...but I was actually leaving myself even more exhausted and depleted.

I do look back and wonder why I wasn't kinder to myself; I now know it is OK to take time out, and it is absolutely OK to lay on the floor and reconnect with the breath, to get a better understanding of what is going on in both our minds and bodies.

My classes combine both my Pilates and Somatic training - they are gentle, focusing on breath, realignment, and functional movements to help ease both physically and emotionally. This approach works beautifully during pregnancy, postnatally, and also during the menopausal years.

As a body worker I am always learning, unlearning and relearning. Forever a student of my own discipline.

Andrea offers pregnancy 1-2-1 sessions and post-natal Pilates classes.

Book online: https://gracehillstudios.janeapp.co.uk/

Cheryl Hart - Osteopath

Since qualifying from the European School of Osteopathy in 2010 I’ve been passionate about educating and empowering patients to help them help themselves. 

Following an incredibly stressful and emotionally difficult year in 2018, I began to experience a variety of symptoms: anxiety, insomnia, headaches, IBS, irregular periods, and pelvic pain.

I knew that stress was the root cause of these seemingly unrelated symptoms, and my passion for stress-illness recovery was sparked. I read all I could about gut health, hormone health, mindfulness and meditation, and play. Through lifestyle changes and psychotherapy I was able to fully recover.

During the 2020 lockdown I began to notice that so many people were struggling with pregnancy and post-natal issues, and that pelvic health symptoms were flaring up for a lot of people. With this came the realisation that although I had the knowledge of how to help pelvic issues using stress-illness recovery techniques, there was a huge gap in my knowledge around the wider world of women’s health.

My mission had begun! In October 2020 I completed the Mummy MOT training and am now a certified practitioner, and since March 2021 I’ve been training with the world-renowned Molinari Institute of Health, learning from the very best in the field of women’s and pelvic health osteopathy, to gain a post-graduate diploma in Women’s Health Osteopathy.

I love to combine the latest in pain science education, mental and physical wellbeing practices, evidence-based rehab strategies, and the wonderful practice of hands-on Osteopathy to offer a 360° approach to health.

Cheryl offers Pregnancy and Postnatal Mummy MOTs, as well as Pelvic Health Osteopathy appointments.

Book online: https://sandgateclinic.janeapp.co.uk/locations/grace-hill-studios/book

Michelle Miller - Osteopath

I graduated from the European School of Osteopathy with experience in providing treatment to all members of the family, from new-born babies to grandparents and everyone in-between.

I have a special interest in supporting women’s health since becoming a parent myself, and I’ve jumped straight back into education by enrolling on a 2-year post-graduate diploma in Women’s Health Osteopathy with the Molinari Institute of Health.

I’ve also completed Mummy MOT training for internal assessments, and am soon to become a certified Mummy MOT Postnatal practitioner.

I am an advocate for hypnobirthing, having birthed both of my children using this amazing technique. I believe in empowering women throughout all stages of life, most especially during pregnancy, birth and postpartum.

As a Breastfeeding Peer Supporter, I  actively support new parents alongside Medway Community Healthcare.

Part of the role of caring for parents includes helping any discomfort in little ones; if they’re distressed then the parents are distressed, too. I love to treat children, right from newborns up.

Michelle offers Pregnancy Mummy MOTs, Pelvic Health Osteopathy appointments, and from late November will offer Postnatal Mummy MOTs. Michelle also treats babies and children.

Book online: https://sandgateclinic.janeapp.co.uk/locations/grace-hill-studios/book

Rupal Karia - Yoga

After years of practising Yoga I decided I wanted to share my passion with others; I trained in the tradition of Krishnamacrya and TKV Desikachar with Paul Harvey at the Centre for Yoga Studies and completed the BWY accredited teacher training and Yoga Therapy course in 2012.

Pregnancy is both ordinary and extraordinary. I will support you to enjoy and appreciate your expanding body as it moves through the various stages of pregnancy, listen and trust your intuition, and deepen your bond with your baby.

This is a group where you will be able to practice Yoga in community with other parents-to-be, with practices specifically adapted for people during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy. These classes are offered as a support during pregnancy and to prepare physically, emotionally and spiritually for birth and motherhood. Everyone is welcome regardless of perceived ability or how you choose to birth.

Post-natal Yoga is designed to support you to reconnect with yourself, recover, help you regain your strength, and adjust to your role as a new parent. Yoga practices will be gentle yet effective, adapted to suit the physical and emotional challenges, from lack of sleep and heightened sensitivity to celebrating your body's incredible journey. Yoga practices will also be offered that can be easily and simply integrated into your daily life with your baby.

Pre-crawling babes are very welcome, and included too!

Rupal offers Pregnancy and Postnatal Yoga classes.

Contact Rupal directly to book: info@svarupayoga.co.uk

Eva Johnson - Nutritional Therapist

After experiencing some recurring health issues following a drastic lifestysle change, I stumbled across an article in a magazine about a nutritionist.

The role of nutrients in our well-being amazed me, and sparked my passion in the importance of nature as a point of reference for all we eat and drink. I read books, articles and anything I could get my hands on about nutrition and its role and power in female health, hormones and health in general.

As I settled down and started a family, my passion led to my academic journey to gain a degree in Nutritional Therapy.

My interest in female hormones led me to investigate food intake and craving disparities across female menstrual cycles as part of my MSc project. I keep engaged in academic research and continuous professional development.

Many of my clients are women in different stages of their lives, some of which have complex

chronic conditions such as auto-immune diseases, gastro-intestinal disorders, chronic fatigue or stress related conditions.

Nutritional Therapy is much more than just changing what you eat - I uses a Functional Medicine approach to helping clients, which focuses on identifying problems with underlying body systems that may be contributing to signs and symptoms of ill-health and disease.

To ensure speedy and effective results, my 1-1 personalised support includes diagnostic testing (not guessing) followed by a fully supported nutritional and lifestyle action plan, to reset hormone imbalance, so you can perform to your full potential again.

I love sharing my expertise with clients and witnessing them achieve their dreams and go naturally beyond what they thought possible.

Eva will soon be joining the team.