About the Principal of Balancingtouch

Devin, the founder of Balancingtouch was first exposed to touch therapies in the 80`s when his mom Sandy practiced reflexology as he watched and felt the powerful treatment and the power and healing of touch. this inspired him to know more and put him on the path to where he is today.

Devin started his massage career in South Africa at the sweet young age of 17 and got his first few Qualifications  through Complimentary Health Centre 2001 in Pretoria, He was met with many challenges of the time that he had to overcome by himself through trial and error and had to find the way to success that he passes on today.  Devin was often discriminated against for being a male in the industry and also pushed through a time when no one actually knew what massage therapy was.

He then studied further in Eastern and Polynesian  therapies  at Susca Watts in 2004, where his eyes opened to the industry and all the other therapies that work so well together.  He had started doing better as a therapist being able to offer more and being able to combine different therapies. However, as his knowledge grew, his questions and his hunger for Factual and structured Answers also grew. He wanted to further himself and gain the true insight and deeper understanding of his qualifications and why they work so well.

Devin then chose  to refresh some of his qualifications, hoping  to get deeper insight into his current knowledge through a once well known massage academy in centurion 2006 (Unnamed for reason). Sadly , he did not get the knowledge and insight he was looking for. However,  in his training, he couldn't miss that the standards of massage education he was used were missing, the professional standards he was taught and used as a professional were not being taught.

Because of his passion for his trade, Devin offered his assistance to this academy to help improve the quality and standards being taught. He developed new courses, corrected and improved  their older courses and implemented the correct routines and practical sequences  in their  massage, reflexology and sports massage courses. Although Devin was able to assist the school, his good work and the improvements he made to their standards and quality of education  fell away shortly after he left to study and work abroad.

From this humbling experiences and opportunities,  Devin concluded that, if the foundation of any business or school is laid with Sincere Values, Ethics, Honesty and Integrity and the correct structures and standards, it will naturally sustain itself, it will require minimal maintenance, its improvements will last and will enhance the school and those who learn there. Its strong foundation is capable of adding more structures an higher standards and will always allow room for improvements and growth,  if a school is made this way, those who study there will naturally have this foundation and its benefits, and the improvements will remain intact.

Sadly,  the consequences of what is produced if that foundation is not there is the opposite.

A Question Devin was haunted with that eventually equipped him to start Balancingtouch was....

If we invest our future, our mind and our interest into a specific institution will we unknowingly adopt, absorb and inherit its foundations, its values, its energy, its approach and its qualities?  

 YES, ABSOLUTELY! you can see where therapists come from.

Devin knew deeply that he needed more knowledge and better education and most importantly, solid experience. He knew one day he would Teach this powerful skill to others but Refused to ever teach again until he was an expert in his field and could teach only what he knew, what he has done and what he has personally applied and tested as a therapist. He knew he needed to become the teacher he never had, so that others would benefit some day. He needed to form a solid foundation built on sincerity, strong ethics, honesty and the correct standards he would only find internationally and with experience. 

from 2008 to 2012 Devin completed more advanced qualifications and upgraded his knowledge and old qualifications through the Institute Of Reflexology UK, The School of Remedial Sports Massage UK, the School of Natural Health Sciences, Absolute Aromas Academy, The London School of Complimentary Therapies and many other Private Schools of touch therapies. 

Devin massage career included working aboard beautiful ships where he realised many of the skills needed to succeed in the industry are often never explored in training at massage and beauty schools.

Devin had worked on and helped thousand of clients at that point and had passed the 10,000 hours of hands on therapy work, he had  the privilege of working on the head reflexology lecturer of Inga Dougan who has since started her own school in UK (who trained him in cranial-sacral reflexology) Dwight Byres (nephew of Eunice Ingham), president of the Institute of International Reflexology. (Who showed Devin techniques and told him the real history and truth about reflexology). Physical therapists, physios, chiropractors and massage specialists that all added deeper knowledge and insight into his passion and skill.

Devin was finally gaining the insight he yearned for in his early years. He was thriving as a therapist and could work with pure passion and live his dream fully.

Sadly, at the peak of his therapy career  Devin's worst nightmare came to life, something he never thought would happen to him started happening.

He ignored all the signs he knew, he  tried to convince himself that his colleagues were  wrong when they informed him  delicately that his pressure is getting less and he wasn't getting to the points like he used to. 

Devin ignored the swelling of his hands, he ignored the stinging and the redness with shooting pain that made him drop  things.  

He got to a stage where he struggled with cutlery when eating so he chose finger foods to try and avoid the horrible truth he would soon have to face.

The one day, Devin dropped his cup of coffee again because his hand control had rapidly worsened. Out of embarrassment, he attempted to blamed the movement of the cruise ship. It was then that he noticed the solicitous expression on his colleagues faces and saw that they were already docked.

In the middle of his massage appointment that morning, Devin realised and accepted the inevitable, 6 months into the agony he could no longer block mentally or avoid.

He placed his hands next to his clients head and for the first time, looked down at his red swollen, inflamed hands and saw the blue and purple bruising around his joints that he could no longer move.

He later went to the Infirmary to see the the Doctor on board. after consultation and X-rays, Devin was diagnosed with  Rapid degenerative Arthritis of the hands with acute rheumatic  arthralgia and chronic myolgias .  Devin was informed that he will not be able to continue massage therapy and would not be able to proceed in this line of work or any thing that would involve his hands.

The reality was, Devin had to rest his hands and take time to heal, years of doing incorrect massage techniques that are still being taught in South Africa today were the main reason Devin loosing his hands.  He had accepted that his  career at sea was over as he could not fulfil his responsibilities as a massage practitioner.

However, The company he was working for recognised Devin  for his skill and knowledge. The Director of the On Board Spa Company was very impressed with Devin's effectiveness  in the training he had given therapists on the ships and how He was able to help other therapists through teaching and motivating them to do well. The company kept Devin at sea where he was able to  add great value and expertise to the spas and therapists at sea.  In a short time, Devin was promoted to the  management on board ships (everything happens for a reason).

In this time, Devin received True Reflexology, Proper accupuncture, Ayurveda and other powerful physical therapies From the Indian doctor Dr. Anand Piyaga that worked in the spa that Devin managed on his final contract at sea. Within a year, Devin's hands had recovered. He began to Practice his passion and calling again, but with a much deeper respect and gratitude for the international education and life lessons he was blessed with.

It was after years and years of practice in many different massage disciplines and almost loosing the ability of giving massage that Devin made a deep and lifelong commitment to help practitioners in the industry and train massage practitioners the right way from the beginning. He started formulating an infusion of all of his favourite techniques from his favourite disciplines. These sequences and techniques were implemented throughout his career as a therapist and were used and practised on paying clients that brought the best results in shorter time. The actual sequences and correct application of techniques being taught in Balancingtouch is what Devin has been using since he fully recovered from his sustained injuries to his hands.

It was this experience that has contributed to his success as a pioneer in the industry and has made it possible for him to continue his career as a practitioner and more importantly, pass on this knowledge to new therapists at the beginning of their journey to ensure that they are being taught properly and that they will have a long, healthy and prosperous career. To this day, Devin is still a practising Massage Practitioner despite the medical field telling him he would never massage again.

When Devin returned he was inspired and committed to bringing the new standards and knowledge to South African Massage Professionals,  

After hard work, speaking to education institutions and further qualifications in the Education Sector, through International bodies and boards, Devin was able to start Balancingtouch. he continues to learn, study, share, educate, and add value to Natural healing and Integrative touch therapy/medicine with the endorsements and the accreditation of international leaders in the industry while respecting the other fields.

Devin is now an official accredited member of the International Guild of Therapy Lecturers. 

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Some formal massage training that Devin has done:
Swedish massage; Reflexology; Shiatsu; Lomi-lomi; Aromatherapy; Holistic; Shiro-dosha; Pada-abyanga; Hasta-abyanga; Shiro-dahara; Pinda karma; Thai poultice; MLD; Deep tissue; sports massage; Advanced Sports/ corrective Massage; Remedial Advanced Massage, Craniosacral-reflexology; Anatomy and Physiology; Basic facials; Holistic nutrition; Bamboo massage; Sports Bamboo massage; Hot stone Massage; Fire and Ice massage; Level 3 hot stones; Detoxification body therapy; External colon cleansing; Advanced reflexology; counselling; Indian head massage; Balinese scalp massage,