The Tutors
The Tutors here at School of Bodywork are dedicated to your learning, all highly experienced and experts in the modality in which they tutor.
The enthusiasm and passion of our tutors is infectious; providing you with new skills and a renewed enthusiasm for your career.
Louise Mockford Adv Dip APNT, BSc(Hons), EBW, BCMA Reg
School Director and Tutor
Louise has been a dedicated bodywork therapist for over two decades. Her journey began with Equine Sports Massage, and her fascination with the profound connection between horse and rider – how each influences and resonates with the other – deepened her understanding of the body as a whole system. This insight into how movement, health, and emotion are shared and reflected between beings continues to inform her human practice today. Horses, she says, have been some of her finest teachers.
Louise went on to complete her Honours Degree in Psychology in 2007, further fuelling her belief in a holistic approach that supports physical, emotional, and psychological wellbeing. Her work combines intuitive, compassionate touch with advanced clinical knowledge, and she is deeply passionate about the transformative power of hands-on therapy.
As Director and Tutor at the School of Bodywork, Louise brings warmth, humour, and a calm, grounded presence to her teaching. She is committed to nurturing therapists who are not only skilled in technique but confident, curious, and compassionate in their practice. Louise encourages students to develop strong foundational skills while also embracing their own individual style and presence as a therapist.
Alongside running the School and teaching, Louise maintains a busy private practice in South Somerset and Central Exeter, specialising in Fascial Bodywork and TMJ issues. Her treatments blend a wide variety of approaches, tailored to support each client in their unique healing journey.
Louise has also been invited back for the fifth consecutive year as a judge at the UK National Massage Championships in London, where she usually adjudicates the Freestyle, Chair, and Advanced/Clinical Massage categories. She feels honoured to witness such creativity and skill and is continually inspired by the sense of support and community that shines through among participants. This spirit of connection is something Louise is deeply passionate about fostering within the wider therapy world.
Tutor: Level 3 Diploma in Therapeutic Massage, Introduction to Massage , Introduction to Fascial Bodywork , Fascial Bodywork Diploma , Cranial & TMJ Workshop , Advanced Techniques & Therapeutic Hot Stone Massage
Ruth Bell: APNT, MTI, ISRM
Ruth began practising massage and bodywork for over 15 years, after training with the Massage Training Institute in Sheffield. Her interest in the wonderful complexity and mechanism of the body began during contemporary dance training and ignited a passion for studying anatomy and the moving body.
‘My dance training has deepened my understanding of anatomy and has helped me to realise the importance of movement within our lives. Learning how bodies move also taught me to see how bodies don’t move’.
She has since furthered her training in Level 5 Soft Tissue Therapy, Thai Massage Diploma, Massage in Pregnancy Diploma, Myofascial Release, Acupuncture for Sports Injuries, Remedial and Advanced Massage Techniques, Kinesiology Taping and Chinese Cupping.
Ruth teaches Anatomy and Physiology, Thai Massage Techniques for the Table and Advanced Massage CPD. She is founder for Advanced Training for therapists in the Alps, France and has previously taught the original Level 3 Remedial Massage Diploma for the School of Bodywork and several modules on the Therapeutic Massage Diploma.
Ruth is an inspirational tutor with a deep understanding of bodywork and wealth of knowledge to share. She inspires students with her passion and knowledge within her work.
Her teaching is fun and dynamic; as an advanced bodywork practitioner she integrates many aspect of massage techniques and research into her teaching.
‘Ruth is friendly, accessible, professional and supportive. She is extremely knowledgeable and passionate, a very inspirational tutor’. Tia Tamblyn, School of Bodywork Remedial Course 2018.
Tutor: Thai Table Massage , Advanced Techniques , The Functional Back , The Functional Shoulder , The Functional Pelvis
Lisa Tate: Dip APNT, ISRM
Lisa has been a bodywork therapist for 20 years and uses a combination of physical treatment and pain education to help people struggling with persistent pain. She also specialises in two areas where access to massage has historically been restricted - pregnancy and cancer. She feels very strongly that people who are pregnant or living with cancer deserve the same access to and quality of treatment as anybody else.
Her passion about the incredible therapeutic effect of massage has led her to teach it in various forms for the past 14 years, including teaching massage to primary school children through the Massage in Schools Programme (MISP), hand massage to family, nursing and care staff of people with life limiting illnesses and general massage techniques to members of the public through introductory workshops.
For many years she worked with the University of Exeter medical school to introduce students to the benefits of massage and prior to 2020 she was Assistant Tutor for a Level 5 Diploma in Sports and Remedial Massage
Her teaching style is relaxed yet informative, giving people the knowledge and techniques they need while helping them develop the confidence and ability to truly feel the client’s body that will make them great therapists.
She particularly enjoys teaching and mentoring qualified therapists, helping them to become technically sound and confident whilst retaining their own individual style. Every client is different so there is no “one size fits all” therapist – it is that match between client and therapist that builds the therapeutic relationship that is key to a successful outcome.
Tutor: Pregnancy Massage, Indian Head Massage, Oncology Massage Diploma, Sidelying Workshop
Joanna Woolvett: ITEC, Dip APNT, PGCE, BA (Hons)
Patricia Howe: Dip APNT
Patricia was born and raised in Berkshire, from a very early age you would find her on a sports field (track and field.) If not there then netball courts, gymnastics clubs, outside the family home playing football, cricket, tag, or whatever was being played. Wherever there was sporting/physical activity there was Patricia.
In her early 20’s she visited a gym for the 1st time, and from there a wild card journey began. She found herself in the world of Bodybuilding for the next 16 years. Setting and achieving personal goals and being presented with surprise challenges, self-exploration, connection, and self-taught anatomy physiology. She loved meeting people, loved every minute. In fact, Exeter was the place she qualified for the British finals on a few occasions, (winning the title for 2 consecutive years) and so her previous love for Exeter grew even more.
Fast forward 20 years, after owning a gym in Exeter, she re-invented herself incorporating her love as a personal trainer alongside enhancing her knowledge of anatomy and physiology. She trained as a Complete Bodyworker (now known as the Therapeutic Massage Diploma) at the School of Bodywork, and later went on to study and qualify as a Remedial Massage Therapist also with the School of Bodywork. She has never looked back.
She enjoys her time with family and friends, walking with nature, weight training, yoga, swimming, baking, reading, taking photos, listening and singing along to music, and learning. As she sees it every day is a school day.
"I feel both humbled and honoured to fill the role as an assistant tutor at the school where I learnt so much more than massage therapy, met new friends for life, and obtained high quality skills to enable me to run a successful practice of my own"
Patricia's motto: “Learning is an adventure, search within yourself”
Tutor: Level 3 Diploma in Therapeutic Massage, Functional Foot Workshop
Carly Pickering: ITEC Dip, BSc (Hons), MFHT
With a foundation in fitness and rehabilitation as a qualified Personal Trainer, and with a Degree in Exercise and Sports Sciences, Carly brings a deep understanding of the human body to her role as a tutor in Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD). Her journey into massage and bodywork therapy evolved from a desire to support clients, not just in recovery, but in overall wellness and balance.
After retraining as a massage therapist, Carly developed a particular interest in the subtle yet powerful effects of MLD. Her approach combines scientific knowledge with a hands-on, nurturing approach, helping students grasp both the science and the art of lymphatic work. Carly is a true believer in finding fun and humour in everyday life, including the classroom. She is passionate about sharing the benefits of MLD with the next generation of therapists, helping others build confidence and skill in this specialised area.
Carly continues to run her private practice offering Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Facials and MLD. Alongside this, she co-manages the Massage and Wellbeing Centre in Gandy Street.
Outside of work, Carly finds inspiration in movement, travel and nature, music, and photography. Experiences that continue to fuel her appreciation for the connection of body, mind, and environment.
Tutor: Manual Lymphatic Drainage
Rachel: Dip APNT, AET
Tutor & Examiner
Rachel is a tutor and examiner at the School of Bodywork, specialising in Hot Stones therapy and supporting therapists to grow their skills and careers. As the examiner for the Therapeutic Massage Diploma, she assesses final practical exams and marks case studies, helping ensure students meet high professional standards. She also teaches business skills through her online course, The Therapy Business Framework, available to Level 3 Diploma students and other therapists via the Therapist Collective Co.
Rachel’s approach to therapy is thoughtful, restorative, and grounded in deep listening, blending technical skill with a gentle, personalised touch. Alongside her teaching and examining roles, she manages multiple businesses, including her own clinic in South Devon, Solis Massage Therapy, and the Therapist Collective Co, and creates social media content for the School of Bodywork.
Passionate about helping therapists thrive, Rachel combines clinical expertise, business insight, and practical guidance to support ethical, sustainable, and fulfilling careers in bodywork.
Zoe: BA (Hons), ACMT, Dip Shi, MRSS, FHT Reg
Administrator
After training as a massage therapist in 2011, Zoe began her career within a spa setting. Zoe became qualified to give treatments in a therapy called Watsu - a combination Shiatsu and hydrotherapy. Inspired by Watsu this led Zoe to deepen her understanding by undertaking a diploma in Shiatsu. After qualifying as a Shiatsu therapist Zoe went on to complete the Advanced Clinical Massage training at the Jing Institute.
Zoe joined the School of Bodywork team in 2024. She has completed the TMJ and Cranial workshop, Oncology Diploma and the Myofascial Release Diploma. Zoe is passionate about raising the standards of massage therapy training in the UK and elevating massage and bodywork as a highly regarded profession.
Alongside her administrative role Zoe runs her own therapy business. She is passionate about empowering people to experience a more authentic connection with themselves and others through bodywork.
Zoe enjoys time with her family, walks in nature, cooking, a good audio book and practicing Qi Gong.
