It’s a big day for me, today, posting my first ever YouTube video.

It’s many years now since I had the idea to have a YouTube channel called OsteoFM, but I got engrossed in writing the blog, earning money, then covid happened, then new jobs to get good at….

But today’s the day!

A chat with Margaret Sinclair, former osteopath

I met Margaret at a business workshop at my local library, It was a workshop about ‘not procrastinating’. I needed help. I had been thinking of doing live interviews for years, but fears about technology and exposure held me back.

A patient had recently been talking about her mother – “She doesn’t ever procrastinate” – she said. It struck me like a bolt of lightning. I was as impressed by this as anything I had ever really heard about anyone. Forget Olympic medals and Nobel Prizes. Imagine how our lives would be if we just never put things off! So when I saw this talk advertised, it felt like fate. It felt even more so when I read the blurb about the speaker and discovered she had previously been an osteopath.

She kindly agreed to be my first interviewee, and encouraged me admirably through the process. In addition, she is a great talker. So please do go to watch the interview on YouTube and please do like/subscribe/comment. It is early days so please forgive the bad lighting and any other teething issues.

Bonus Q and A

If you’d rather read, here are some written questions she kindly agreed to answer for me:

What was your background before osteopathy and what made you decide to become an osteopath?

I did all sorts before becoming an osteopath. Sales, recruitment, forensic science. I was then in the back of a car – i.e. not driving – in a car accident. That caused so much trouble for me. It was an osteopath that put me back together again. I was amazed and wanted to be able to do that for others.

Where and when did you train?

I trained at what was the BSO and started in 2006 – 2010

Did you enjoy your time as an undergraduate? Who did you find inspiring?

I loved the people I trained with and most of the tutors were amazing. I am not academically gifted so it was a huge struggle studying for me. Which was explained when I realised I was dyslexic.

There were a few tutors who were inspiring, but I was inspired more by my fellow students, especially the ones who were doing it alone with no support, or who had children during the course and carried on. In one academic year 4 people out of 40 had children – that is 10%! And they all finished the course. Amazing.

What was your first job after graduation?

I was lucky and had a few job offers to choose from. I went to work with someone I had known and worked for as a sport massage therapist while I trained. She is a chiropractor but it worked well.

Can you briefly describe the course of your career? What type of osteopath were you? What kinds of courses did you do? How many patients did you treat? Where abouts did you work?

I used structural osteopathy, cranial and visceral. I then trained as an animal osteopath and did that as well. I would divide my day up by species, starting with humans, then dogs and then horses. I would get smellier as the day went on.

Courses – cranial, Rock Tape and Blade, animal osteopathy, biomechanics – what ever interested me.

Patients – I got busy in the end – up to 15 a day 4 days a week.

I worked in London for a bit, but them moved back home to Sussex. I worked in Brighton, Hove and the surrounding areas.

What made you give up osteopathy? Was it a sudden decision?

I sadly got arthritis in my hands and shoulders. I am hyper mobile and did not pivot to cranial fast enough. It was sudden in that from start to forced stop – 6 months. I tried everything – nothing helped. I was devastated. I loved doing what I did.

How many years had you been in practice? And how many years since you left?

I practiced for only 8 years. It has been 5 years since I stopped.

How did leaving osteopathy feel?

Like I lost a part of myself. It was devastating. I loved it and for the first time in my life I was doing something I was really good at. It took me a while to find a new path I love as much.

What direction did you decide to take and why?

I had realised very quickly that if I helped clients be less stressed then they would report less pain and heal faster. So I had already started collecting courses that would help this. So I decided to continue down that road.

What is it you do now?

I help people tame their minds. I help them identify their beliefs that limit them, we get rid of them and replace them with beliefs that empower. I love it. I help people achieve their goals and dreams.

Do you go to see an osteopath now, and if so, who? And are you still in touch with any osteopaths socially?

I do, I see Ross Skilton. And yes, I do see a few of my fellow students socially.

How does your current career compare with osteopathy?

It is different. It is less immediate with results often. But it is just as rewarding – and it does not hurt.

If you had your time over again, knowing what you know now, would you still go down the osteopathy route?

Great question – no would be the answer. I would do what I do now – just earlier.

Now that you have your Mind Tamers business, how do you think what you have learnt could apply to osteopaths. Are there any common issues you identify that could be helped?

So much! I am constantly helping others with fear of failure, imposter syndrome, procrastination and self confidence. All of which many osteopaths suffer from. Especially if they run their own practices. The marketing, networking, sales, self promotion are all hard. Especially when all you want to do is what you love – helping people.

My main advice there would be not to think of it as sales – just sharing the amazing things you can do.

Thank you for watching my first video if you made it over to YouTube — please like, comment, and subscribe if you’d like to see more interviews with inspiring osteopaths and related speakers!

#Osteopathy