Personal Wellness
Introducing Pain Story Project: Changing the Narrative on Pain
Pain Story Project is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to reducing the incidence of chronic pain through education and coaching. The truth is, when we hurt, we devise stories about why we have pain. It is a natural human reaction. These stories help us to...
Finding Flow, Being in the Zone, and Meditation in Sports
During a recent training call I attended, the teacher likened the meditative state to experiencing flow or being in the zone. Further, he went on to explain that both of these concepts reference an altered state of consciousness. Essentially, no matter what you call...
What’s Heart Rate Variability (HRV) got to do with chronic pain?
Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is quickly becoming a popular biometric to measure wellness, with several watches tracking this data and numerous apps analyzing it. But what is HRV? Understanding HRV HRV denotes the relationship and synchrony between the heart and...
The “Perfect” No-Stress Gift for the Season: Your Presence
It is that time of year when most of us search for the “perfect” gift to give our loved ones. I, however, gave that up some years ago. When I was young, holiday gift-giving was a hassle-filled, anxiety-provoking obligation that often ended with tears of disappointment...
Sports Throughout the Lifespan
At the start of August 2024 the Tour de France, a grueling 21-day road cycling race, had recently ended and the Summer Olympics had begun in Paris. What a great time to be a sports fan! When I was young, I dreamed of being in the Olympics. Maybe you did, too! I...
Sabbatical Lesson: Know Thyself
Upon taking my sabbatical leave last June, I left you and myself with this question: What do you want in the next phase of your life? (Blog: Taking a Pause to Reflect, Redirect, and Reinvent) After posting my sabbatical blog, a wise reader from the Pain Free Athlete...
What would you do without your pain?
As discussed in my last blog, being preoccupied with pain can be all-consuming. For several of my clients, pain is the first thing on their minds in the morning. As soon as they wake, these clients actively seek out their pain, scanning their body for it and, if/when...
How to End Your Preoccupation with Pain
Do you continually worry about and focus on your pain? Do you put pressure on yourself to figure out how to fix your pain and become frustrated or angry when the pain doesn’t go away? Do you degrade yourself because you’re still hurting? Do you fight against the pain...
Unlearn Chronic Pain with PRT
Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) is a research-based treatment approach for healing neuroplastic pain. These techniques were found to be highly effective for chronic back pain in a 2022 study. Refer to my blog, New Research on Back Pain, for all the details. Earlier...
Classes to Balance Your Body and Mind
Imagine a class that combines yoga, Pilates, core training, body awareness, and breathwork. Then add exercises proven to improve alignment, balance, and function. Next, blend practices into the class that calm the nervous system and expose the mind to new perspectives...
Taking a Pause to Reflect, Redirect and Reinvent
In January 2022 I listened to the Wellcoaches’ continuing education (CE) class–“The Urgency of Sabbaticals” by DJ DiDonna, founder of the Sabbatical Project. I recall that before I took the class, I had recently talked with an excited client about his sabbatical and...
Healing Chronic Pain – what will it take for you?
Chronic pain is a complex experience. I like to say that it is a whole person experience affecting many aspects of one's life that goes far beyond an unpleasant physical sensation. On my client intake form, I ask, “Do you have any ideas about what it is going to...
Neck Pain and Posture
Please enjoy this guest blog by Dr. Michael L. Rothman, M.D. Dr Rothman is a former orthopedic surgeon who now helps his patients overcome chronic pain using posture alignment therapy. He is an Advanced Exercise Therapist (AET), certified by the Egoscue Institute, who...
Join the Pain Revolution!
The Pain Revolution is a grassroots movement that strives to change people’s understanding of chronic pain. The genesis of this evolution in our understanding of pain is based in Australia. Specifically, the Pain Revolution started in South Australia, in the city of...
Why Stress Feels Good and Relaxing is Hard
While I was recently talking with a client, she remarked, “I don’t know how to relax. And when I try, I worry that I am doing it wrong. After a few minutes (of sitting still and breathing) I get antsy and start doing something. It is uncomfortable to be still.”...
Meet Jessica!
I believe we are designed to move and play throughout our entire lives. I don’t buy into the idea that we should slow down with age, or that pain, injury and physical restrictions are unavoidable aspects of growing older. So, here’s my philosophy. Our mental mindset, combined with the physical position and condition of the body that we bring into any activity (from walking to skiing to everything in between), determines our chance of hurting when we move. If we have a positive mindset, and if we have proper positioning and move with correct body biomechanics, all activities should be possible.
This is the goal I have for everyone: to overcome pain and limitations so you can Stay in the Game for Life!
Visit The Pain Free Athlete website for additional resources and opportunities.
