James Chapman
Yoga & Massage Therapist
Professional Experience
الخبرة المهنية
专业经历
James Chapman began teaching yoga in 2003 whilst still in training and introduced yoga to many drug rehab clinics in London. He taught specialist yoga for mental health for the NHS for 7 years and also for leading charities Mind & Rethink.
James Chapman is a Yoga and Massage Therapist at Harbor. For more than 20 years, he has combined yoga and hands-on bodywork with work in mental health and addiction recovery.
Over that time, he has worked with treatment centres, NHS services and charities, as well as professional athletes and private clients.
James also brings lived experience of long-term recovery, which informs his understanding of addiction, wellbeing and the practical work involved in sustaining change.
Professional Background & Qualifications
James trained in Kundalini, Hatha and therapeutic yoga, including a 550-hour Yoga Therapist Diploma from Yogacampus in London.
He also holds qualifications in holistic, Indian head and sports massage, with further training in Thai massage, myofascial techniques, structural integration, pregnancy massage and medical acupuncture.
James has also completed training in counselling and complementary therapies.
He is a member of the Association for Soft Tissue Therapists, the Acupuncture Society and the International Association of Yoga Therapists.
Professional Experience
James introduced yoga to several drug rehabilitation settings in London and spent seven years teaching specialist yoga for mental health within NHS services. He has also worked with organisations including Mind and Rethink Mental Illness.
As a massage therapist, he has worked with private clients including professional athletes and business leaders.
James also works in mental health education, delivering Mental Health First Aid training. He has contributed to work on race, ethnicity and inclusion, and on raising awareness of addiction.
Approach to Care
James combines yoga, movement and hands-on bodywork, depending on each client’s needs. Alongside short-term relief, he helps clients learn practical skills they can keep using to look after their physical and emotional health.
People in recovery often feel cut off from their bodies, and much of his work focuses on helping clients feel safer and more at home in them.
At Harbor, his sessions sit alongside the talking therapies that clients receive.
Education
- Yoga Therapist Diploma, Yogacampus, London (550 hours, 2015–2017)
- Yoga Siromani Diploma, Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, Kerala, India (2007)
- Psychodynamic Counselling Certificate, Birkbeck College (2005–2006)
- Introduction to Counselling, City Lit (2005)
- Kundalini Yoga Training, Karam Kriya School (2004–2005)
Professional Registrations & Memberships
- Member, Association for Soft Tissue Therapists
- Member, Acupuncture Society
- Member, International Association of Yoga Therapists
Certifications & Training
- Yoga for Mental Health Training with A.G. Mohan, London (2014)
- Restorative Yoga Teaching, Yoga Campus with Judith Hanson Lasater (2013)
- Advanced Medical Acupuncture, OMT Training, London (2013)
- FRS8 Structural Integration Training with James Earls, Oxford (2013)
- Pregnancy Massage Diploma, Gateway Workshops (2013)
- ITEC Diploma in Sports Massage, City Lit, London (2008)
- Advanced Myofascial Training (2006–2017)
- Advanced Myofascial Techniques (2006)
- Traditional Thai Massage: Professional Level (Credit), City Literary Institute, London (2005)
- City Lit Teaching Certificate in Complementary Therapies (2005)
- ITEC Diploma in Indian Head Massage, City Literary Institute, London (2004)
- ITEC Diploma in Holistic Massage, City Literary Institute, London (2004)
- Advanced Massage Techniques Certificate, City Lit, London
- Growth Teaching Certificate (Credit), City Lit, London
- Integrated Holistic Therapy Course
- Neuromuscular Re-education
- Kinesiology Taping and Spinal Manipulation Master Classes
Areas of Expertise
- Therapeutic yoga
- Kundalini and Hatha yoga
- Yoga for mental health and addiction recovery
- Holistic, Indian head and sports massage
- Thai massage and myofascial techniques
- Structural integration and neuromuscular re-education
- Pregnancy massage
- Movement and body awareness
- Mental health education
Languages Spoken
- English
