I am repeating this from a few years ago where it was published as part of The EMMETT4ANIMALS Sunday story series. I now have quite a few more followers to this website and thought you would like to know my EMMETT background. There have been some minor changes to update my story.
Judith Johnson has been involved with the EMMETT Technique since Ross Emmett’s first ever course in the UK in 2007 :
My journey with complementary therapies started when I took my dog to the Vet and got talking about where my plans were taking me. My Vet was unusual in my area as he practised a range of complementary therapies, including Bowen Technique, mostly on horses, which were his speciality, alongside traditional veterinary practise. His encouragement set me thinking of what hands-on work I could do in the future.
I enjoyed learning Bowen technique and saw a small number of clients a week. One day a colleague in Australia told me that if I was going to learn any new therapy I just had to go and do the course being run in London by someone called Ross Emmett. I knew absolutely nothing about him or the technique – there was little information available, but I found myself trusting my internet colleague and just went for it – what did I have to lose? So off I went in early 2007 to the first ever EMMETT course in the UK. Three days of learning in London, fried my brain and I left feeling that I had hardly scratched the surface of what I had actually seen happen during the course. The results were astounding but I was really worried that I wouldn’t achieve the results that other people around me seemed to be enjoying! The main problem for me was that everyone else seemed to be “feeling” things happen under their fingers and they were very vocal in saying so too! I wasn’t feeling anything happen and had decided that I couldn’t be doing it right! I very nearly didn’t go back for the next module.
What changed my opinion was that I started to use EMMETT on every single person I saw – starting by checking everyone’s neck before they left my treatment room – even if they said they didn’t have a problem! Of course, most people have a neck problem – they simply haven’t realised it. Well, I checked them all, found the problem and then fixed it quickly and simply with the EMMETT SCM (neck) move. I still wasn’t feeling anything much under my fingers but, boy, were the results amazing!
Everyone went out of my door saying “Wow, that was brilliant – My neck feels so good now – how did you know?” and that was the real start to my therapy business! I had a “Wow” factor that made what I did unique!
Further down the line, I too started to “feel” stuff happening and now use these reactions to help in decision-making. The results of what I learn continues to astonish and delight my clients and myself in equal measure and there is a continuing feeling of joy in going to work!
I find it very hard not to stop people in the street and offer them an instant treatment! Give me the opportunity of doing EMMETT at events, health and sporting events and I will be there at the drop of a hat! I have been known to treat people on planes and even in the baggage hall of the airport!
These days EMMETT is my life – having completed all the practitioner training and the Advanced modules. I was invited to teach the short EMMETT course and really enjoy sharing the moves with people from all walks of life. Then Ross Emmett invited me to join the Instructor team. The joy of seeing students achieve great changes even on the first day of the course on the first time they have ever used it – well it leaves me speechless and not a little emotional.
Having spent a couple of years helping HQ to develop a framework for “specialist” EMM-Tech courses we have now delivered three courses aimed at qualified Foot Care Professionals. We now have courses for focussing on Hands and Arms as well as one aimed at Yoga & Pilates Teachers and Personal Trainers.
With no previous thoughts about being an animal practitioner, I joined a path that brought my journey full circle – I learnt EMMETT for Horses with Tony Sherry here in Wales. I am someone who has never touched a horse before in my life and there I was, helping those beautiful creatures. I need to find that Vet who started me on my journey, shake him by the hand and return the favour by introducing him to EMMETT for Horses.
I completed the EMMETT for Dogs course too. This was more familiar territory and I was delighted when Tony suggested that I could join his growing teaching team, to share the Introductory course for dogs. In 2020 I ran my first course here in Wales.
Learning the EMMETT for animals has changed my practice on people too as now I feel I have a deeper insight into what EMMETT can and does achieve.
Never a dull moment ……