Testimonials
“It’s actually quite hard to put into words the transformative effect that working with Mark has had on pretty much all areas of my life. I had little to no expectation of what the practice could bring, having no previous experience or knowledge of MER. In his beautiful and considered haven of a garden studio, Mark met me with profound kindness, patience and grace. I immediately felt safe and cared for - ready to explore whatever the session would bring.
The massage itself was incredible - much more therapeutic and profound than more standard massages I have had before. Mark uncovered tensions held in my neck and shoulders and acted intuitively on issues I have with my jaw. It felt incredibly meaningful, and I was taken aback by my emotions during the session, and just how relaxed/transported I was.
Mark’s sensitive verbal prompts and guided breathwork were incredibly helpful and enhancing to the whole experience, and after the session I felt genuinely altered - in the best way! I slept incredibly well the following night, and I’ve generally just been surprised by how much the experience has stayed with me - both physically and psychologically. I’m a complete MER convert.”
Harriet Yeomans, Graphic Designer and Gardener
“Had a great session with Mark. It's amazing how this work can really open up emotions. At times I was laughing, at other times crying, and at all times felt held and really safe with Mark's intuitive presence.”
Spud Knowles, Bodyworker
“I can’t recommend Mark highly enough. I have been seeing him for some time now, and from the very first session he made me feel comfortable, welcome, and completely at ease. He is always professional, empathetic, and understanding, and he has a genuine gift for helping the body release tension. You can really tell that he cares and genuinely wants to help resolve any issues.
If you are considering MER as an approach to a problem, I would highly recommend it. The results really can be profound.”
Mark Williams, CEO Wooden Horse London
“My ongoing sessions with Mark Hanks have felt like a generous gift. I have spent much of my life living in my head and ignoring my body, carrying trauma and some of my deepest feelings in my hips and legs. Even after the first two sessions, those areas began to feel noticeably softer, and I recovered movement I had not thought possible.
Mark is a highly intuitive and gifted practitioner who makes me feel deeply seen, held and safe throughout the whole process. I am carrying many heavy feelings at the moment, yet I consistently leave our sessions feeling lighter, refreshed, empowered and enlivened.
Each session allows me to explore my body with greater compassion and curiosity, and I continue to be surprised by what shifts and opens through the work. I cannot recommend Mark highly enough. Five stars.”
Eleanor Chiari, Associate Professor, UCL
“I went to Mark's breathwork session carrying things I'd held for years. He made the space safe enough that I could fully fall apart and cry in his hands. At one point he held me with a steady, attentive care I had never known from a man — and a place in me I didn't know was closed quietly opened. What healed me wasn't the crying, it was being received like that. Something my body had carried for so long could finally move. And it reached further than I expected: within days, something long stuck in my own family began to shift - and another door that had been closed for years quietly opened.
Thank you, Mark.”
Kristjan Peäske, Restaurateur
'“I've received a lot of MER in the last two years, and my session with Mark is in my top five. Not only is he meticulous in his bodywork, but he also has a deep understanding of the emotional release that can often be a part of this type of work and his gentle invitation in our session for me to allow emotion to not only flow but also to complete was so beautifully guided. You're in safe hands with this incredibly intuitive bodyworker”.
Amanda Ashy, Trauma-trained Family Coach
“I just wanted to say how transformative your session was Mark. You held a very safe, grounded space and I felt held, gently supported and able to unfold as I needed. You intuitively worked with breath and body and facilitated the steady release of stuck emotions. I would highly recommend your practice to anyone looking to begin or continue a breathwork or bodywork journey. The therapy room was a calming, peaceful spot and a beautiful tranquil space to be in. Thank you with deep appreciation!”
Zoey Hiscock, Drama and Creative Arts Practitioner
“I had a powerful MER session with Mark. He is interested, professional and his touch is thoughtful. He provided a space that enabled me to be brave enough to feel some of my feelings and that is a special thing. Thank you Mark, I highly recommend!”
Issey Cannon, Bristol
"Working with Mark was much more than a breathwork session it became a deeply human experience.
We worked with the tension held in my abdominal fascia, and the session was both intense and profoundly transformative. Throughout the entire process, I felt completely safe, seen, and supported.
What touched me most was not only Mark’s technical skill, but the quality of his presence. He embodies a rare combination of empathy, steadiness, and compassion. He never tried to fix or force anything; instead, he created a space where my body naturally felt safe enough to soften and release.
Unexpectedly, the session also opened something much deeper. It allowed me to reconnect with a healthy experience of masculine energy. Through Mark’s grounded, respectful, and deeply compassionate presence, I found myself trusting men again in a way I hadn’t expected. That, for me, was as healing as the breathwork itself.
Mark’s way of holding space is a gift. His presence alone communicates safety, and from that place, real transformation becomes possible.
I wholeheartedly recommend working with him to anyone seeking not only breathwork, but a practitioner who truly meets you with humanity, sensitivity, and genuine care."
Chiara Corica, Breathworker and Facilitator
'I have to say I was sceptical about MER. It all sounded a bit woo woo to me. Boy was I wrong.
After suffering with numerous accumulatvie issues during perimenopause (anxiety, panic attacks, pain, fatigue, insomnia, nausea, headaches etc.) I was stuggling day to day to function. So I went to see Mark to give MER a go.
Even my first session was truly transformative. Mark offers a totally relaxed, safe and comfortable space to be truly vulnerable. I realised I hadn't cried in over a year. Years of emotional tension and pain flooded out of me in that session and the ones that followed. Mark talked and supported me through every moment with no judgement.
Thanks to this process, I can now recognise when my body is starting to hold onto stress and emotional pain, and I can have a good cry to release it. Thoroughly recommend!"
Johanna Cantlay, London School of Economics