Mark's NLP, Coaching, and more

  Human Engineering: What If We Thought About People as Adaptive Systems? I began my working life as an engineer. At the time, I could not have imagined that the way of thinking I was learning — understanding systems, looking for relationships, identifying where energy was being wasted, anticipating failure and asking why something was not working effectively — would eventually shape the way I thought about people. Engineering teaches you to look beyond the obvious fault. If a component fails, replacing it may solve the immediate problem. But a good engineer also wants to know why it failed. Was it overloaded? Poorly aligned? Was there unnecessary friction? Had the system gradually moved outside its useful operating range? Years later, working with movement, rehabilitation, coaching and human behaviour, I realised that I was asking remarkably similar questions. Not because human beings are machines. They clearly are not. But because human beings are systems . And systems have relat...

  Falls are not an inevitable consequence of ageing. Yet they remain one of the most significant threats to independence, confidence and quality of life in later years. The good news is that falls are often preventable, and exercise is one of the most consistently supported interventions. The World Guidelines for Falls Prevention and Management for Older Adults recommend exercise programmes that challenge balance and functional ability, are individualised and progressively increased, and are performed at least three times per week. Importantly, the guidelines specifically recommend the inclusion of Tai Chi , when feasible. Current NICE guidance (NG249) similarly recommends falls-prevention exercise that is progressive, tailored to the individual's needs, preferences, goals and abilities, and addresses functional components including balance, coordination, strength and power. Tai Chi therefore has an established place within contemporary falls-prevention practice. But an important...