My Story
I started out in life as an architect in a well established firm in Tokyo, I left my native country Japan in my twenties and came to live in the UK, initially in London where I started my new life’s journey in the realm of alternative therapies and medicine.
I am often asked what prompted me to make such a dramatic change in my life leaving behind a successful career and my family and friends? There were many factors, including the culture and freedom of life in the UK, but there was one experience that led me to alternative medicine.
At the age of 20, I injured myself whilst practising Aikido. My physical injury led to a range of longer term effects, such as irregularities in my menstrual cycle, digestive abnormalities and fluctuating body temperature. I sought advice from conventional doctors, but I was told that I would need to see a different specialist for each particular part of my body!
This was what made me realise the limitations of conventional medicine and led me to explore other more holistic approaches. First, I discovered yoga, which I found helpful. But what really had a marked effect on me was a treatment involving both Shiatsu and acupuncture.
Inspired by this positive experience, I embarked on a course of Shiatsu and I also became interested in the Alexander Technique, which is a holistic approach leading to bodily balance and connectedness.
When I came to London, I completed a training in the Alexander Technique at the Constructive Teaching Centre. I practised the Alexander Technique along with Shiatsu for five years. During this time, I started becoming more interested in acupuncture and decided to embark on a 3-year training course in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) at LCTA in North London.
Over the years, I have developed a strong interest is in general pain management and have undergone specialist training in this area. Over a ten-year period (2007-17), I worked with the Sara Lee Trust in the alternative medicine department of St Michael’s Hospice. I worked primarily with cancer patients and people with MS and my main focus was on pain management and supporting patients with the effects of chemotherapy.
I have also specialised in the use of acupuncture for the treatment of infertility and in supporting women undergoing IVF.
Currently, I have also developed an interest in Kiko Matsumoto style Japanese acupuncture. This is based on a more intuitive and gentle approach which is in line with my general approach to life and people. I believe that we are all different and our symptoms reflect our own individual circumstances, so there is no “one cure fits all” approach. With all my patients, I tap into their individual chemistry searching for the ‘core’ of the problem which guides me to discovering the best ‘cure’ for them.
I practice from my home in Hastings in East Sussex, and I treat people of all ages with any kind of problem they are experiencing.
— Yuko Nakamura, Founder