FARMER Michael Frankland is giving up working on the land and putting his healing powers to work as a complimentary therapist.

Michael, 36, followed generations of his family into farming at Gisburn and with a young family growing up his future seemed mapped out.

But slowly that future began to fall apart. Over time, he said problems developed in his personal life which made him question working as a farmer.

Michael, now of Watt Close Farm, Darwen, said: "I realised that I was not happy in the family business and started to have problems in my marriage.

"That eventually broke down.

"I was in a pretty desperate situation and I went for counselling, which allowed me to take a good look at myself, and I didn't like what I had become."

Now desperate to make changes in his life he attended yoga classes and practised meditation. His mother, a physiotherapi-ist, was studying the Japanese healing art of Reiki.

And she encouraged him to try that form of therapy. He said: It had a profound effect on my life and helped me to discover what I really wanted to do with my life how to move forward'."

After going on to study the practice, Michael then learned a variety of therapies, including hypnosis and Neuro Lin-guistic Therapy.

Michael said he wanted to use his newly acquired skills to help others. He said: 'These techniques can be used to help people who need an answer to dealing with their own problems, and also for those who are already successful, but want to take their lives to the next level. I have been amazed how these techniques have helped me, and now I want to help others."

Michael is to run free taster sessions, at The Good Life Health and Wholefood shop in Frank Street, Barnoldswick, on Wednesday For more about Reiki, or any other of Michael's techniques, visit the website at www.reiki-evolution.co.uk.