Onie Tibbitt, Co-Director

I established KnotStressed Therapies in 2003. I feel incredibly fortunate to work alongside my fabulous KnotStressed Co-Director, Krista Black, and all the talented practitioners on our team. Over the years, our offerings have evolved alongside our collective interests and experiences. We now offer a wide range of sports/remedial and wellbeing services for our clients. Over the years we have also developed our industry-leading, accredited Training Programmes.

While I am still very much involved in the running of KnotStressed and deliver some KnotStressed training, I now primarily hold space for families and couples as a Celebrant. After eighteen years of supporting families through pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period it feels like a natural progression plan ceremonies with families that celebrate and honour their life transitions. Being a Celebrant is incredibly life-affirming work and it’s an absolute privilege to be a part of these moments.

I am also delighted to now be working with Social Enterprise Scotland on their Membership Team. After many years nurturing a community-focused business, I am excited to be part of the growing collaborative movement to support social enterprises across Scotland.

Prior to KnotStressed, my background and previous careers were in Zoology and Biological Sciences, Resource Management and Conservation, Environmental Education, Event Management, Marketing and Publishing.

When I’m not marrying people or travelling across Scotland to network with social enterprises from my home in the Highlands, I write and bookbind. Currently, I’m writing a spooky young adult historical novel. It may take me forever to complete around my other work- life commitments but it’s all great fun …

Therapy-related qualifications and experience (in no particular order)

• Swedish Massage and On-site Acupressure Massage Qualifications from the Scottish Massage Schools.

• APNT certified Diploma in Massage During Pregnancy from WellMother 

• I completed a number of training courses with Ronnie Allan, who co-ran the Carole Osborne-Sheets Pregnancy Massage Course for many years in the UK. My training with Ronnie includes: Pregnancy Massage, Postnatal Massage, Massage During Childbirth, Hands Free, Advanced Hands Free, Passive Stretching, Chinese Massage and Slavic Massage. During 2010-11, I undertook extensive tutor-training with Ronnie Allan in preparation for further developing his Master Classes for therapists in Pregnancy Massage, Postnatal Massage, Injury Prevention through Hands Free and Advanced Hands Free Massage and Passive Stretching.We now offer our own fully comprehensive, industry leading Pregnancy Massage Training, Birth Massage & Postnatal Massage Training and Hands Free Massage Training courses. Over the past 15 years, we’ve trained over 300 people through these courses.

• I.P.T.I registered qualification in Indian Head Massage

• I originally trained as an Infant Massage Instructor with the International Association of Infant Massage, as well as enjoying additional tutorials in Shiatsu Birth Focus Points and an 'Integrating Baby-Shiatsu course for Baby Massage instructors' with Tamsin Grainger, Head of the Shiatsu School Edinburgh. I am also an accredited Massage in Schools Programme instructor. In 2016, we decided to develop our own Relax & Sing Baby Massage & Yoga Instructor Training which has been wonderful.

• I am a certified Baby Signing Facilitator having trained through the Baby Signing Training Programme. I have also completed Stage 1 British Sign Language. For five years, I developed and ran our own Baby Signing Instructor Training course across the UK, which was wonderful fun.

• I originally trained in HypnoBirthing with the HypnoBirthing Institute, as well as attending Katharine Graves Hypnobirthing Practitioner Course and the Nurturing Birth and Postnatal Doula training programme.

• I co-designed and developed our Relax & Breathe Birthing courses with midwife, Jenny Patterson.

Celebrant training and experience:

• Funeral Celebrant Training with the Humanist Society Scotland in 2014

• Fellowship of Professional Celebrants - Wedding and Namings Training 2018

• I am a founder member and trainer for Agnostic Scotland and a registered member of the Celebrant Directory.

Writing:

I am an active member of the Society for Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators and during 2022-23, I was one the two Scottish Network Organisers for the society.