Water Fast Coaching and Articles

International Expert in Water Fasting for Deep Healing and Long-Term Health

Why He’s a Global Voice in Water Fasting

• Over 15 years of personal fasting experience
• Specializes in long-duration fasting (21–40 days) for healing and deep reset
• Speaker at major global health summits like The Real Truth About Health. Direct link to 2025 lecture: here
• Peer-reviewed research article on Long Covid published in the Journal of Traditional Medicine and Clinical Naturopathy. Direct link to article: here
• Peer-reviewed research article on SIBO published in the Journal of Preventive Medicine and Holistic Health. Direct link to article: here
• Has lectured for the School of Health (UK)
• Regularly invited to consult, lecture, and run fasting retreats

His clients include health seekers, medical professionals, and those who have exhausted other approaches and are seeking a safe, guided path to renewal.

Academic Background & Training

Tallis originally studied musicology at Harvard (magna cum laude) and completed his doctorate (D.Phil.) at Oxford University, where he also lectured for several years.

After a major spiritual transformation in his 40s, he retrained in Naturopathy (Nat.Dip.) at the School of Health in Stroud, UK, under the mentorship of Mary Sharma, ND. He also completed the School of Health’s Nutrition Advisor Diploma (NA.Dip.) — an FNTP-accredited, internationally recognized qualification.

This rare blend of scientific training, holistic health expertise, and lived fasting practice now shapes his work as a fasting coach, consultant, teacher, and author.

A Life Rooted in Practice

Dr. Barker doesn’t just teach fasting—he lives it.

• In 2025, he completed a 30-day water fast, documenting the process in a video and article.
• His first long fast in 2016 (21 days) is recorded in a full daily journal still read widely today. Click here to see an introductory video or here to read his daily journal of the fast.
• He fasts approximately one month per year, combining water and dry fasting.

Tallis is also an avid long distance trail runner, interested in exploring the similarities between fasting and endurance sports. Although at first the connection between the two may seem tenuous, both depend on ketosis (the body’s fat-burning metabolism) for success on a physical level. On a deeper psychological level, both depend on a similar mixture of strength and surrender. Finally, these physical and psychological factors facilitate a deeper, similar connection with spirit.

Outside of his fasting consultancy, Tallis is an accomplished classical pianist whose recordings (available on Spotify and iTunes) reflect the same balance of discipline, sensitivity, and depth that he brings to his work with clients. He is also the author of Growing into Being, a book exploring the interplay between personal growth, philosophy, and lived experience, and the host of The Fasting Mind podcast, where he discusses the mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of fasting. He lives with his wife and their three grown children.