February 2026 Newsletter
While clearing some space to write this newsletter I found this old photo c1987. Lifeguarding on Fistral Beach with my friends Damion Mulholland and Woody. Looking back it was lifeguarding that inspired me to become a Physio. I found the 1st Aid training, emergency care & resuscitation fascinating. I loved the strength & conditioning, run-swim-run efforts on Fistral before work and the body surfing champs & surfing after. But in 2000 I packed up my bags, said goodbye to Cornwall and went on a mission to become a Physio.
Sheffield opened its university and hospital doors to me where I threw myself into study and the NHS. Critical care, orthopaedics, head injury units and more. The surfboard was gathering dust but I took up climbing quite literally learning the ropes from new friends. It was full-on and I learned so much but I remember feeling desperate to come home and get back in the sea. In 2010 after surfing with my good friend Glenn Eldridge I left my position as senior rehab physio and came home. I opened my own clinic in St.Columb and here I am, 16 years later, writing a news letter about a great new clinic for Cornwall, our Health Hub, teaming up with Dr Derry, another former lifeguard, and Woody and I are still surf lifesaving. What a journey! So without further ado, this is woz on!
Spring is on its way and our focus for the next few months is getting strong, fit & healthy for those sunny days that are just around the corner. Here at JB Physio we have some exciting new services that are fun, accessible for all and all at our amazing location here at The Cornwall Health Hub.
First of its kind in Cornwall
Physio Led – Beginners Gym – 6 Week Course.
This is a unique opportunity to have our expert therapists show you what to do to make a real positive change. In our relaxed, low pressure heath hub gym we are there for normal people with everyday issues that they just want to improve. It may be weight loss, back pain, stiffening up, feeling weak and lacking confidence that is troubling you. Take this wonderful opportunity to let us to help you show you how to help yourself.
Physio led these small group gym based sessions will enable us to assess you and help you get started with a program specific to your needs. You may have injuries, pain & stiffness or want to get stronger and don’t like gyms or know where to start. Just come and give it a go. No pressure! Call me if you want more info or to see if it may be for you. 07930424841 or just go for it and book on the link below.
Strength & Conditioning for over 50’s 60’s & 70’s
This is what out expert Physio team love; combining their knowledge of injuries, surgery and medical conditions and working with people to improve their strength, balance and confidence. Seeing someone get their health on track and life back, achieve their goals or recovery from life changing surgery or injuries is very rewarding. Our amazing physio team here are also qualified strength coaches. That means we are better placed than anyone to diagnose, treat and rehabilitate you, especially when age catches up and everything gets more comlex! This Physio safe, expert led service for those wanting to stop feeling old!
Yoga for Back pain
Bringing together the best yoga practice blended with the expertise of a physiotherapist makes this a must for anyone with spinal pain. Emma Weekes is both a yoga instructor and extended scope physiotherapy practitioner. Under her watchful eye and expert advice she will help you improve movement, strength, breathing, confidence and mindfulness using her love of Yoga. These weekly sessions are open to everyone. If you are new to yoga and don’t know what to expect then please come along and just give it a go! Emma will promote control of breathing and concentration and move onto gentle flowing movements showing how to activate certain muscles and joints needed for pain free mobility. She will show you achievable stretches or poses as well as explaining how to make them harder if you want to challenge yourself further. This is followed by a short relaxation or “Savasana” to clear your mind and de-stress. You will leave feeling light, free and grounded. It is wonderful!
Meet Jack
Hi guys! My name is Jack Gregorius and I’m a sports therapist, as well as a movement and strength & conditioning coach. I’m excited to be working alongside the team at Cornwall Health Hub this year to help you move better and live free of pain. I’ve surfed my whole life and have always loved travelling to find the best waves around the world. Along the way, I’ve faced my fair share of injuries and ongoing back pain, which led me to explore different approaches to training and rehab. In my early 20s I experienced crippling back and hip pain that affected my ability to even get up in the mornings, let alone surf at a decent level. A few years later I was diagnosed with Axial Spondylitis, an inflammatory arthritis that can lead to pain and progressive stiffening of the spine and pelvis if left untreated.
Before I understood what was going on with my back, I discovered a training approach called natural movement. It combines primal patterns like crawling, squatting, rolling and get-ups with dynamic mobility work similar to yoga, improving strength, coordination and flexibility over time. What stood out to me was its versatility and the freedom to explore how the body can move. Alongside building strength, this approach now keeps me pain free for surfing and my other sports like running and swimming.
As well as offering sports injury and massage treatments at Cornwall Health Hub, I run weekly movement classes blending mobility, natural movement and strength work, and I’ll be delivering workshops throughout the year. If you’re serious about staying pain free and improving your performance in whatever you do, come along, I’d love to help you out!
Find out more about his upcoming workshop Sunday 1st March. See flyer below.
Jack Gergorius…taking it from the beach to the gym!
February In-Service training
We are very fortunate to have Dr Steve Derry on the team and we appreciate him being there for advice with any clients that we are treating. He delivered a training session this month for our team about pain relief, the latest research on different types of medication and conditions they are best suited to. Patients often ask us about their medication so this helpful insight into the medics world and how best we can offer up to date advice.
JB Physio Stretch of the Month
One of the hardest places in the body to stretch is the upper back. You can’t see it, can’t feel it moving or indeed stiffening up but it is essential for neck and shoulder health. So try adding this to your daily stretches before morning herbal tea and chia seed granola. Great for swimmers, surfers and desk based workers. Kneel down or sit on chair and place left hand in front of right knee. Breathe in and take your right hand up and overhead in a big circle following it with your gaze. Repeat 3 times then reverse the circle going the over way. Swap hands and do the other side. Enjoy!
If you are getting neck or shoulder pain and want more help give me a call. JB
Is the food you eat making you ill? 82% of those acting on food intolerance test results see a positive impact on their health.
Our nutritionist Sara works with several private labs to offer diagnostic tests to help get you feeling 100% again. After a comprehensive initial appointment to get details on any current issues, Sara advises on best next steps, which may be dietary adjustment to ensure your diet is nutrient-rich, balanced and not missing any crucial elements, advice on supplements that may help, and also diagnostic tests if appropriate. Most common amongst these tests are cholesterol tests, hormone tests, tests to check nutrient levels such as vitamin B12, vitamin D and iron, and – the most popular tests of all – food intolerance and allergy tests.
The food intolerance test measures IgG antibody levels against almost 200 foods, so if you are eating something that isn’t agreeing with you, this test is likely to show it! A food intolerance symptom can take up to 3 days to manifest, making it difficult to figure out which foods are causing an issue. This is the most accurate and scientific way to find a food intolerance. The test is £135 and you have results back within 7 – 10 days with guidance on relevant food swaps and next steps if any foods show high antibody levels.
Sara also helps many clients with healthy weight loss. Up to 97% of nutrition-related information on the internet and social media sites is inaccurate, and with an associated increase in gall bladder issues for those using weight loss injections, and the likelihood of weight re-gain when the injections stop, the best way to lose weight is with the advice and support of a professional expert in this field.
Find out how to be the best version of yourself in 2026 – book a nutritional therapy appointment today. Call Sara on 07919 110440 or email sarakirkham@yahoo.co.uk for more information.
St Merryn Medical, your local Private GP Service, continues to grow and expand its service within the Cornwall Health Hub team. Dr Derry provides medical consultations for a wide variety of issues including:
· Men’s health
· Weight loss
· Medication reviews
· Personalised health checks
· Steroid injections and musculoskeletal conditions
· Health anxiety
· Specialist referrals
Blood tests, x-rays and scans can be arranged wherever necessary. Full details can be found on the website.
St Merryn Medical – Private GP Consultations Cornwall
Upcoming Workshops
Events:
Meet Sarah…
Upcoming Workshops
We were delighted to team up with Sarah (another friend from surf lifesaving) and the Cornish Kelpie crew and host the first of many Open water swimming information evenings. It was a real pleasure to have so many people wanting to challenge themselves and enjoy our beautiful yet testing waters this year. It is a passion of mine and I was honoured to talk about why we strain to swim and share a few memories of some wonderful locations and adventures. Lizzie Bird gave an inspired talk on strong bones and exercise and this was followed by out Nutritionist Sara Kirkhams talking on hydration and nutrition for swimmers. All this was washed down with NoSeco & “healthy cakes” courtesy of our very own Clare Girardot. We are planning an exercise based session soon for the Kelpie Crew!
If you would like any more information on how to start a love affair with our ocean please contact Sarah or visit her website Cornish Kelpie cold water swim coaching & swim holidays in Cornwall, Isles of Scilly & beyond For upcoming events follow us on Facebook or Instagram
October 2025 Newsletter
It’s now 6 months since we moved to our new home at The Cornwall Health Hub, and we just want to say a huge thank you for all the support we have received! The team and our clients have really enjoyed the space available, with large consult rooms, our gym and studio area, easy parking and beautiful peaceful surroundings.
Now for the next 6 months! We hope to continue to build the offerings available at the Cornwall Health Hub to provide exciting and dynamic health and wellbeing services.
Lizzie Bird Movement workshops
Following the success of Lizzies last movement workshop, we are excited to host another 3 workshops over the coming months.
These 2-hour workshops are run on a Saturday morning, in a small group, and are an amazing opportunity to really focus on yourself, have 1-1 help with Lizzie, to improve the way you move and help support a healthy body. Book in via www.jb-physio.co.uk or call us on 07930 424841
A new face for our Physio team!
We are very excited to welcome Josh Pearce to our Team. Josh is an extremely talented physiotherapist, with a huge amount of experience and a very personable approach, so we are sure he will fit in brilliantly with our current team of therapists.
Previous experience/work: Professional/championship rugby (Cornish Pirates), amateur boxers, NHS MSK outpatients, post-op Orthopaedics, Pure Physiotherapy MSK clinics physio and CPD co-ordinator.
Specialisation/areas of interest -Josh has a wealth of experience in strength and conditioning, and his real area of interest is exercise prescription and sports/exercise science. His personal training and S&C background really plays into his strength in designing a tailored and periodised programme to fit your needs and get you back to 100%
Education –
First Class BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy
L3 Personal trainer (YMCA)
L3 Sports massage practitioner (ITEC)
L4 Strength and conditioning coach (S&C Education/CIMSPA)
Ethos –
‘I am an evidence-based clinician but also factor in a wealth of experience and interactions with patients. I will meet you where you are at for an individualised approach to assessment, treatment and rehabilitation and love to use the latest science-based treatments to get the best results for my patients, with a personable approach’
Josh will be available to see clients from 1st December.
Classes at Cornwall Health Hub
We have added another movement session with Jack on a Monday evening as his Wednesday evening class has been so popular! Our classes are really welcoming and for any level so please do come and give one a go.
These classes are unique as they are run by our highly qualified therapists- you will receive the very best instruction and their vast amount of knowledge of injury rehabilitation and prevention.
Monday AM – Clinical Pilates with Lizzie. 9.00-10.00
Monday PM – Movement and surf fitness with Jack 19.00-20.00
Wednesday PM – Movement and surf fitness with Jack 19.00-20.00
Thursday AM – Yoga with Emma 7.30-8.30
Medical Assessments at Cornwall Health Hub
St Merryn Medical – Private GP Service Dr Steve Derry runs weekly clinics offering:
- General Medical Consultations
- Health checks
- Steroid injections for musculoskeletal conditions
Health Check includes:
- Initial GP appointment for:
- Cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, and abdominal clinical assessment
- Blood pressure, Kardia ECG, heart rate, oxygen saturations, BMI
- Blood tests: cholesterol, diabetes, liver and kidney function, thyroid, immune system, blood cells & clotting agents/minerals
- Man: testosterone, PSA
- Woman: oestrogen, LH, FSH (Menopause Markers)
- Follow-up GP appointment to discuss results:
- Health advice
- Medication review
- Organising further consultations, tests, or specialist referral if needed
To book an appointment: Visit www.stmerrynmedical.co.uk or call 07930 424841
Nutrition at Cornwall Health Hub
With Autumn drawing in, now is a great time to assess your current health and make plans to see you through the winter. Sara Kirkham can assess your current nutrition and work with you to help improve your energy levels, reduce inflammation, set goals for winter weight loss, or any other areas of nutritional support that you may need.
Sara is a qualified, registered nutritionist with over 25 years’ experience in helping people to change their diet and improve their health and lifestyle. Sara works with a wide range of health conditions and has particular interest in weight management, gut health, food intolerance, thyroid health, and aiding blood glucose and cholesterol regulation. Sara has a background in health and fitness, so also offers sports nutrition consultations and help with lean weight gain. She is able to offer a wide range of tests such as food intolerance and food allergy tests, hormone tests, stool tests and breath tests (SIBO), as well as tests to check nutrient levels/potential deficiencies
Services available at Cornwall Health Hub
The Cornwall Health Hub is a unique collaborative of specialists offering an exciting range of services to improve your health, located in a beautiful peaceful setting.
If you have physical or medical problems the team at JB Physio or our G.P. Dr Steve Derry can assist you. Nutrition Solutions can offer dietary advice and food tolerance testing to restore gut health. If it is Yoga or Pilates you need to maintain your wellbeing our sessions are run by physiotherapists and sport injury experts offering an extra level of support. We are here for you.
Check out the links to the Cornwall Health Hub collaborative and start a journey of recovery with us
Trevornick Farm
St Columb Major
Cornwall, TR9 6BX
Our 1st Movemetn and Strength Sessions for Surfers have started Wednesday eveneings
First of a kind in Cornwall our Private GP Service is open offering:-
General health consultations,
Steroid Injections,
Paediatric health consultations,
Health checks (“well man” / “well woman”),
Skin tag and mole removal,
Medicals (including insurance company requests)