“Kate was working out of Forge Training in Victoria in 2016 when I first met her. I wanted to learn proper exercise form and build a regular physical training program.
From the detailed intake form she gave me to fill out, I knew Kate was dedicated to knowing her client as comprehensively as possible – this gave me early confidence I had met the right guide for my training journey. Until then, I was a regular hiker, knowing I was physically doing all right. My son had told me I could do better.
Over the course of eighteen months, I saw continuous evidence of Kate’s focus and attention. She was never without keen interest in how the body can be tuned to its very best state of balance and efficient motion. I learned that my knowledge had been superficial compared to hers.
After many months I felt I had learned enough to continue on my own. At the start of the pandemic I assembled a well-equipped home gym. I did well with it, but I always suspected I could learn more.
Then in late 2022, a distal biceps rupture was a double-edged sword for me – I contacted Kate for help, and found her now living in Winlaw with Mike, together operating VirtueHealthcare. This was the good edge of the sword.
I had met Mike briefly in Victoria. I soon learned that he and Kate share a similar philosophy of health. It’s a pleasure to work with both. They alternate our training sessions, making the whole of their combined experience greater than the sum of its parts.
I feel so privileged to have these two as my health advisors.
Of course, traditional Western medicine usually involves a ‘medical professional’, and certainly there are excellent doctors. This system is a vast economic enterprise, with government, industry, hospitals, nurses, specialists; apparently all governed by a scientific foundation. This system is mostly oriented to treating illness, not so much focussed on maintaining health. In this context, preventative healthcare is often considered a niche luxury.
Yet I do value our healthcare system, especially when certain emergencies arise. Here too, there are dedicated artful practitioners, especially the frontline nurses and doctors.
Day-to-day, I have always believed health is mostly a personal responsibility. I feel fortunate that my own family culture has led me to seek out the natural approaches; diet, exercise, good sleep, gratitude, love, mindfulness. These values contribute to a sense of well-being.
If I could wave a magic wand, I would create a healthcare system populated with the likes of Kate and Mike as its leaders and available practitioners. They hold the values I admire for their art and understanding, beyond restriction to the rigorously scientific methods.
In such a world, there would be far, far less illness. Humans are naturally healthy if they only respect their bodies, as these two respect their own, and wish only to provide guided care for others, as their clients. In this world, pharmaceuticals would be extremely rare interventions. Care would be enjoyable, not stressful. Even physical injury would be much less common among a population that would be taught to know their body mechanics and able to avoid inappropriate motion. Pain and suffering would not be unavoidable expectations accompanying advancing age. Confidence in knowing and trusting your own body reduces stress, builds equanimity.
We all know there is no greater enjoyment than optimum health. The wisest among us learn that this is our greatest riches.”
- Garth