Who Am I?
My name is Agatha Brocheler; I’m a registered osteopath and graduated with a master’s degree in Osteopathy from the British School of Osteopathy, which is the oldest and largest school of osteopathy in the UK. I currently practise in a private practice in North London, using a holistic approach to diagnose, treat, and manage patients with musculoskeletal conditions.
My Professional Background
I joined Osteopaths For Industry in July 2023 as a manual and people handling awareness and practical trainer for various industries, including the healthcare sector.
Having worked previously in a desk-based office environment for several years, I am aware of the postural issues desk-based workers face every day.
Therefore, I’m particularly interested in treating desk-based workers with postural fatigue syndrome. My keen interest in tennis also sparked an interest in treating sports-related injuries.
My ambition has always been to go back into the office-based industry to advise and treat those suffering from musculoskeletal injuries caused by bad posture and poor manual handling techniques.
I therefore embraced the opportunity to work with Osteopaths For Industry as a manual/people handling trainer.
A Day in My Life as a Trainer for OFI would see me...
My training day would start with commuting to the training location, which could vary from driving to locations outside London to taking the tube within the London region. The companies for which I provide manual training are diverse, including research companies, those in the media sector, local boroughs, and hospital trusts.
The best thing about my job is...
I enjoy my role at OFI because I get to interact with a diverse audience, even when training at the same location. This makes my work more engaging and less monotonous!
From an osteopathic perspective, I love my role because it allows me to share knowledge and skills that can help prevent musculoskeletal injuries and promote safety in the workplace.
My most rewarding moment at OFI:
I have had several rewarding moments as an OFI trainer. This includes the positive feedback given on feedback forms and the verbal feedback I’ve received, when people have come up to me and said they have learned new, useful, and safe manual handling/people handling techniques that they can apply to their jobs. Also, the engaging enthusiasm some people show with a sincere thank you at the end of a training session always makes my role feel worthwhile.
Outside of OFI...
Outside OFI, I enjoy my role as an osteopath, treating musculoskeletal injuries and engaging with my patients. My continuous professional development training encourages me to keep on top of my skills and explore new research.
I also enjoy exercising, whether going to the gym, boxing, or going for walks, as I believe it’s vital for supporting positive physical and mental wellbeing. I’m also a keen tennis player and enjoy going to watch major tennis tournaments. Other than that, I love travelling and learning about different traditions and cultures.
My approach and commitment to your company’s training needs:
As a manual handling trainer, my primary goal is ensuring that trainees understand the dangers and risks of incorrect manual handling techniques. I aim to introduce or improve existing knowledge and skills for safe moving and handling techniques. This can help reduce or prevent musculoskeletal injuries and promote safety in the workplace.
My approach to training is to make it relevant to the needs and interests of the trainees. To make the training more engaging and memorable, I’ll demonstrate techniques and encourage delegates to participate in activities and provide feedback on key points. My interactive training will incorporate visual aids to enhance engagement and retention.
