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About Us

Behind every course is a team of passionate educators, experienced clinicians, and a commitment to delivering high-quality, accessible, and transformative training. Discover what sets up apart in the world of clinical education, what we stand for, and why so many choose to train with us.

  • Trusted by universities, clinics, and thousands of practitioners
  • Practical, hands-on training grounded in real-world application
  • Supportive learning environment with expert-led guidance
  • Evidence-based approach for safe, effective patient care
funny group photo at the end of a short acupuncture course

17

Years

Backed by 17 years of experience, our courses are tried, tested, and trusted by healthcare professionals and wellness practitioners across a wide range of different disciplines.

12

Tutors

All of our tutors are experienced clinicians and educators, dedicated to ensuring that you receive training that is practical, evidence-based, and deeply engaging.

743

Courses

We’ve delivered over 740 training courses in acupuncture and dry needling, sports massage and clinical yoga — from the United Kingdom to Barbados and Bermuda.

6148

Students

We’ve helped over 6,000 delegates grow in confidence, sharpen their skills, and take meaningful steps forward in their careers — in both the NHS and private practice.

WHY CHOOSE US?

Gain skills that you trust, from instructors you respect

The standard of your training has a direct impact on the standard of your care. At Breeze Academy, we bring together highly experienced clinicians who combine academic rigour with real-world insight. Our tutors understand the everyday challenges faced by healthcare and wellness professionals and tailor their teaching to be as practical and relevant as possible.

Whether you’re learning a new modality or refining existing techniques, our courses are designed to help you make immediate, meaningful improvements in your work. With a strong emphasis on evidence-based practice, hands-on learning, and a supportive community, we’re here to ensure that every step you take with us is a step towards better outcomes – for you and your clients.

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course tutors together for a meeting

Podcast Episodes

Podcast cover: Carl Clarkson speaking at a mic, with text saying “Acupuncture creates a window of opportunity”
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Podcast cover: Carl Clarkson standing at a mic, with bold text that reads “Migraines cost the UK economy £10 billion annually!”
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Carl Clarkson holding a microphone, discussing dopamine’s impact on habits, with a blue background and bold white and yellow text.
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Carl Clarkson and Dr. Emma Hargreaves in conversation with microphones, discussing acupuncture’s role in managing overactive bladder.
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Carl Clarkson explaining pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy while speaking into a microphone against a blue background.
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arl Clarkson smiling and holding a podcast mic, discussing how acupuncture influences the stress system and HPA axis.
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Carl Clarkson talking about menopause and acupuncture’s potential benefits, set against a blue background with bold text.
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OUR TUTORS

Meet The Team

Our tutors, all seasoned clinicians and educators, bring a wealth of knowledge and experience, ensuring you receive the support and guidance needed to succeed whilst on your course and in your career.

tutor and ceo dr carl clarkson

Dr. Carl Clarkson

CEO & Acupuncture Lead

Dr. Carl Clarkson is the driving force behind Breeze Academy, a trailblazing platform revolutionising healthcare education with high-quality, accessible, and transformative training. A physiotherapist by background, Carl brings over 20 years of expertise spanning clinical practice, cutting-edge research, academia, and professional development...

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tutor emma hargreaves

Dr. Emma Hargreaves

Acupuncture & Dry Needling Tutor

Dr. Emma Hargreaves is a physiotherapist with nearly 40 years of experience in the NHS. Over the past 22 years, she has specialised in pelvic health, treating a wide range of conditions with a particular focus on continence. Emma has seen first-hand the profound impact that these often-hidden conditions can have on an individual’s physical and...

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Claire Gregory sports massage programme lead

Claire Gregory

Sports Massage Lead

Claire Gregory brings nearly two decades of experience within the health and wellness sector, specialising in sports and exercise, women’s health, and pre- and postpartum care. Since 2006, she has been actively involved in designing and delivering CPD and adult learning programmes, driven by a deep passion for providing high-quality...

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tutor gerard hargreaves

Gerard Hargreaves

Acupuncture & Sports Massage Tutor

Gerard Hargreaves is a senior lecturer at Breeze Academy and an experienced musculoskeletal physiotherapist with nearly four decades in physiotherapy. His expertise spans musculoskeletal rehabilitation, rheumatological physiotherapy, and sports injuries, ensuring high-quality, evidence-based education for healthcare professionals...

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Lynn Pearce Tutor

Lynn Pearce

Acupuncture & Dry Needling Tutor

Lynn Pearce has been a dedicated practitioner in the clinical field since qualifying as a physiotherapist in 1982. With a natural inclination toward outpatient care, Lynn began incorporating acupuncture into her practice in 1989. Intrigued by the results that extended beyond traditional Western medical explanations, she pursued...

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Shara Crunden Tutor

Shara Crunden

Clinical Yoga Lead

Shara Crunden is a skilled physiotherapist with a career spanning over two decades. She graduated from Johannesburg Medical School in 2003, where her passion for Yoga and Pilates began. Her journey took her to Bermuda, where attending a course by Dr Neil Pearson inspired her to explore the integration of yoga, breathing, and meditation...

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Samantha Hickey Tutor

Samantha Hickey

Acupuncture & Sports Massage Tutor

Sam brings over a decade of experience in sports massage therapy, acupuncture, and movement-based practices, making her a dynamic addition to Breeze Academy’s tutor team. Since qualifying as a sports massage therapist in 2013, Sam has worked with a diverse range of clients — from children to older adults — blending her expertise...

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Briea Denny Tutor

Briea Denney

Sports Massage Tutor

Briea Denney is a BSc Sports Rehabilitator with over a decade of experience in the sports massage industry. She spent 10 years building her own clinic before branching into teaching in 2024, where she now shares her knowledge and passion with the next generation of therapists. During the week, Briea is a full-time lecturer in sports massage...

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Alyson Cranston Tutor

Alyson Cranston

Acupuncture & Dry Needling Tutor

Aly is a skilled acupuncturist and reflexologist with a decade of combined experience in these practices. Her journey began with reflexology training in the South East and London, before pursuing acupuncture through an apprentice-style program in a busy multi-bed clinic. This hands-on training allowed Aly to refine her techniques while...

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Helen Marsden Tutor

Helen Marsden

Acupuncture & Dry Needling Tutor

Helen Marsden is a highly experienced physiotherapist with a distinguished career spanning nearly four decades. She qualified with a Diploma in Physiotherapy (MCSP) in 1985 from the Prince of Wales School of Physiotherapy, later earning a BSc (Hons) in Physiology from the University of Sheffield in 1994. Helen has developed...

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Kai Owens Tutor

Michaela Owens

Sports Massage Tutor

Michaela (Kai) is a dedicated Level 3 and 4 Sports Massage Tutor and professional Reflexologist with a passion for both therapy and teaching. With expertise in sports massage, Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD), dry cupping, and pregnancy massage, she brings a wealth of experience to the classroom, ensuring her students...

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Dr Michael Kelly Tutor

Dr. Michael Kelly

Exercise Prescription Lead

Dr. Michael Kelly is an experienced musculoskeletal physiotherapist and educator with a career spanning over two decades. Currently a Senior Lecturer and Physiotherapy Programme Lead, he is also a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, reflecting his dedication to excellence in teaching and learning...

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OUR HISTORY

Proud Moments & Milestones

From humble beginnings to becoming a trusted leader in training, every step of our journey reflects our dedication to quality education and the success of our students.

2009

Acuphys was born, emerging from the bustling world of clinics and classrooms with a mission to transform acupuncture education. Carl launched the first courses, bringing a fresh, engaging style of teaching to healthcare professionals.

2010

Carl completed his teaching qualification and earned an MSc in Acupuncture. A milestone year, marking the beginning of a more reflective and academic chapter (but still with plenty of personality).

2012

Acuphys went international, delivering courses in Bermuda and Barbados. Local clinicians left with new skills – and perhaps slightly confused by Carl’s sense of humour. Carl also began a PhD, focusing on acupuncture for pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain. Ambitious? Absolutely. Fun? Occasionally.

2015

Carl published his first academic paper: Acupuncture Safety in Pregnancy – an important contribution to the evidence base.

2016

PhD completed. Carl officially became Dr Carl. With five years of Higher Education teaching behind him, this year marked a shift toward academic leadership.

2017-2020

Continued growth. Carl presented at international conferences, and despite the (clearly exaggerated) rumours of rivers and villages named in his honour, these years were marked by serious academic and professional momentum.

2018

Invited to present at conferences in Las Vegas and New Zealand. Carl’s global presence (and air miles) grew, along with his reputation in the field.

2019

Awarded Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy – recognising Carl’s advanced teaching skills and his work developing others in education.

2020

A landmark year for Breeze Academy. We rebranded from Acuphys, launched our first Sports Massage course, built a team of trusted freelancers, and introduced our Tutor Training Programme – investing in the next generation of educators.

2021

Claire Gregory joined as our first tutor, delivering acupuncture and sports massage training. Carl left his university role to focus on Breeze full-time. Courses expanded to more UK cities… and there was a brief flirtation with harmonica and salsa dancing.

2022

The tutor team grew to include Lynn Pearce (a.k.a. Obi-Wan Lynnobi) and Sam, both bringing their expertise to the Sports Massage programme. Carl co-authored a Cochrane Review with future tutor Emma and continued flying the Breeze flag internationally – albeit with fewer press-ups along the way.

2023

This year saw the arrival of Kathryn, Louise and Kymmy as full-time team members. We moved into our new HQ at Royal Quays and, during a particularly busy term, learned the hard way just how easy it is to fall into a weekly Uber Eats burger habit.

2024

Natalie, Emma and Gerard joined the team, each choosing to leave established careers to do something impactful through education at Breeze. We became finalists in regional business awards and were officially recognised as the UK’s leading provider of needling training – confirmed by the Advertising Standards Authority, following a complaint from “a member of the public” (which we successfully rebutted). We also surpassed 300 5-star Google reviews, trained over 2,000 students in a single year, and launched our Clinical Yoga course, led by the brilliant Shara.