Getting to Know Lizzie
Hello I’m Lizzie Wright the newest member of the Lushington Chiropractic Sports Massage Team – It wasn’t until I went to university that I understood that sports massage is not just useful to competitive sports people but is beneficial to everyone.
How did I find out about Sports Massage?
As a competitive swimmer I surprisingly didn’t have too much experience of sports massage and it was not until I went to university that it was fully introduced to me. It was my swimming ability that put me on the sporting spectrum and I quickly became very interested in the science that existed within competitive sport especially on how the body functions when exposed to the huge demands placed upon it during demanding training sessions and competitions. This interest ultimately led me to study Sport Conditioning, Rehabilitation and Massage at Cardiff Metropolitan University, where after three years of dedicated study I left with a first class (Hon) degree and full accreditation in massage. I was extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to work closely with the Welsh Triathlon and a full range of high quality sporting athletes.
I also thoroughly enjoyed massaging at the London marathon, the Cardiff half marathon and several British University College Sports (BUCS) national swimming competitions. I honestly thought I would not embrace sports massage as I was aware that some scepticism existed when I was competing. However through the positive impact I witnessed with the work I undertook at university it soon became one of my favourite modules along with rehabilitation. I am fascinated and amazed by how the body works, understanding the effects that some everyday actions can have, and learning what observations and tests can be performed to accurately calculate what injury has taken place and as a sports massage therapist help and treat them (truly interesting and very rewarding).
What I love about Eastbourne:
I consider myself lucky to grow up here in Eastbourne as I consider it to be a wonderful seaside town surrounded by beautiful countryside including the stunning South Downs. As a child I was always in the sea and whilst I learned to respect the sea I never fully understood the fears that were common in some of my peers linked to water: the fear of the ocean (the unknown) and being out of your depth. I remember being irritated if I could touch the floor as the sea always represented freedom and space and remains one of my favourite places to be.
What made me want to swim?
From a young age swimming was a large part of my life and has played a significant part in the person I have become. The facts as to how I first became interested in swimming are unusual as it was from a computer game which my older brothers used to play that inspired me. I was only three years of age and I wanted to be just like “Lara Croft” who was the main character and who did a lot of swimming during the game. So when I went to nursery school which included access to a swimming pool; I took off my armbands and started swimming breaststroke underwater.
I was subsequently introduced to Eastbourne swimming club, where I became Girls Captain when I was 13 and remained the captain for the next 8 years, until I left for university. I swam at numerous county and regional competitions and was selected twice to represent the South of England at the ESSA national schools competition held in Liverpool. When I went to university I was chosen to be part of the performance squad which meant I represented my university at the BUCS championships, held twice a year in Sheffield at the International sports centre. 2018 will be the first year that I would have not competed, which is a little strange. Competition was not my true motivation for swimming, it is simply that I love the water. I do like and enjoy training which is just as well as at one point I was training up to 20 hours a week at the same time as balancing my college education and social life.
Swim Teaching:
My involvement in swimming has changed over the past year to become more involved in teaching and training the next generation of young swimmers. I have become a qualified level two swim teacher and I now also work for a small swim school in Eastbourne called Eastbourne Otters, as well as volunteering three times a week to teach for Eastbourne Swimming Club. From teaching I have learned observations and problem solving skills as well as the importance of knowing every swimmers name (because it’s so important to them). Some of the very young beginners have a fear of water and it is such a sense of satisfaction when after a while, I see their confidence and swimming skills grow, which is an important life skill but it often also leads and introduces them to sport.
Working at Lushington Chiropractic:
I am very much looking forward to working at Lushington Chiropractic. Everyone is very welcoming and have high professional standards where their main goal is to help and educate as many people they can to ensure their well being and health. What I find remarkable is the way multi disciplines work together to truly help the individual client. Lushington Chiropractic is a place of excellence with a friendly atmosphere located in the heart of Eastbourne town.
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