John (Buddy) Ford, a former top cyclist in Bermuda, has taken over the massage therapist business of Robert Lightbourne and now offers 'A-Ford-Able' massages in every sense of the word.

Mr. Ford says his clients are everyday people - including business people - as well as athletes and although he didn't really want to open a practice in Hamilton, he said people were reluctant to travel out of town.

Mr. Ford is currently renovating the clinic and smiling faces - a key to his healing power - can be seen from nearly every angle.

"You can smile when you cannot say a word, you can smile when you cannot be heard, you can smile when its sunny or grey, you can smile any time of the day," he says happily.

The clinic is set up very much like a home environment and he encourages clients to let their body go. Sounds of nature ebb and flow in the background while soothing music and aromatherapy erode the stress of everyday life which he says cause people so many problems.

"This is more than a business to me, this is my life, my ministry, and I love what I'm doing," says Mr. Ford.

Mr. Ford left his well paid job at Belco after 19 years with the company and is now a Certified Clinical Massage Therapist (CCMT) as well as a Certified Neuromuscular Therapist (CNMT).

He specialises in back and neck aches and injuries as well as stress relief and lymph drainage.

Mr. Ford offers a holistic approach to healing and feels it is most important to educate his clients in body mechanics so they can ultimately help themselves.

One of his most frequently prescribed and successful medicines is water. He says you should divide your body weight in half and drink that number of fluid ounces of water every day to ensure good health.

He believes that remaining humble is also one of the greatest assets a person can have and offers advice for the mind and soul such as teaching forgiveness as a means to eliminate stress.

"We are too blessed to be stressed," says Mr. Ford, a motto he lives by.

Mr. Ford's sentiments are summed up when he says: "An ounce of prevention always beats a pound of cure."

He says that a massage should be viewed as a tune up: "Get it before you break down as I have no replacement parts," he says.

Prices for a massage start from $20 for 15 minutes and half an hour of injury pain relief costs $40.

Visit Mr. Ford at the Imperial Building Suite 314 on Church Street, or call 292-4999.