Learn more about Dr. Stephanie’s approach to PEACE out of PAIN
I’m Dr. Stephanie Carter Kelley, a Physical Therapist and Yoga Teacher and I have been where you are…
…in pain for many years, worried that I would just have to live with it. My low back and neck pain was holding me back from LIVING!
Doctors and images told me that my spine was degenerating, but there was nothing that they could do.
I took my years of experience as a physical therapist and college professor, along with new knowledge of pain and stress, blended with the ancient practice of yoga, took slow and steady steps along this path and found…
…PEACE.
Each step along the path is necessary. Each step takes consistency and work on your part. I have also traveled this path with many patients as a physical therapist and now with clients as a guide and yoga teacher. As I lead you along, you have the opportunity to make this path your own. The steps along the Path have been researched thoroughly and when practiced with intention and consistency, you CAN achieve the results you desire:
Peace through living a life with Purpose.
The 5 Steps along the Path are:
Practice Awareness
Explore with Education and Self-Examination
Accept, Appraise and ALIGN
Create Compassion with Core Support
Along this Path you will begin to feel that YOU are in control of your own HEALTH and feel…
Empowered
Learn more about each step with the videos below. Bookmark this page so that you can return to these lessons over the next few and see the difference a Path to PEACE can make on your Pain.
Practice Awareness
The first and necessary step to creating a life free of pain is to consistently and frequently PRACTICE. You will become fully aware of your pain by quieting the mind and body to:
Manage Your Nervous System - You need to get out of Flight/Flight/Freeze as soon as possible. You get to explore several ways to do that as I guide you through breathing, meditation, writing to relieve pain, gentle movement and deep relaxation. You get to experience them all in my program and continue to use the strategies that work best for you.
Pay Attention - once you are calm and quiet, you need to attend to WHY you are in Flight/Fight/Freeze. What triggers you? Is it a posture or movement? Is it the memory of a posture or movement? Is it the normal stress of the day that is sending your nervous system into a frenzy and keeping you in pain? Developing the skills to pay careful attention, recognizing the triggers, is the key to long-term lasting relief.
Develop the Habit of Mindfulness with small steps. Numbers 1 and 2 may not be easy! But they can be achieved with consistent small steps every day. You are re-training the brain and nervous system and research shows that you can do it! It’s called neuroplasticity! I give audio and video practices that you can do every day to create the change that you need.
This audio leads you through a basic breath practice to calm the nervous system. Find a comfortable position (any will do!). Give it a try and realize that this is just 1 small step in the right direction.
Explore with Education
In my experience, knowledge is the foundation for healing. Patient education was a HUGE part of my Physical Therapy clinical practice and I have kept that focus as I moved into teaching group classes and workshops. The videos below are important for you to watch. Through them you may gain a new perspective about how to think and behave in relationship with your pain. That’s good! Because if you are here, what you have been doing is not working. Watch these videos with an open mind and let me know what you think! ***Feel free to email me questions at: info@stephaniecarterkelley.com
Stress and Pain
The Brain and Pain
Accept and Align
I use my experience as a clinician and professor to guide you through self-assessments based on the clinical examination performed by physical therapists. The results of the self-assessments help a) guide you in developing your own unique practice and b) you recognize progress toward your goals.
This video is just one example of you can assess your body to gain insight into what may actually be the SOURCE of your PAIN.
Create Compassion and Core Support…
…new ways of moving AND new ways of thinking. It is important that you Create new habits that lead to pain-relief.
As a Physical Therapist AND Yoga Teacher, my approach is different. How I train muscles of the Core is just one way to demonstrate my unique approach.
Empowered
Ultimately, my goal is for You to care for your own HEALTH.
I guide education, assessment, movement, and meditation.
You try. You learn. You take what works and You repeat to make the practice your own.
When you find what relieves your Pain…
…You see Hope and find…
PEACE.
As you can see…
The PEACE out of Pain takes time! It is not always a straight line. I can speak from experience that sometimes you move forward…and sometimes you need to retrace your steps…BUT this Path is the right Path if you want to be FREE of your Pain. Changing the brain and nervous system to respond in a different way takes time. Changing your reaction to stress takes time. Changing deeply held beliefs about yourself and the world as you see it…takes…time. The time you spend will lead to long-term lasting relief of your pain.
If you would like help to find PEACE (whether for yourself or for your clients), I’m here as your guide. You can learn more about PEACE in your email inbox each week. You will learn more about me and my journey to be free of chronic low back and neck pain. I encourage you to engage with me…feel free to respond to the emails and ask questions. You may learn new information that was never shared with you be your doctor. I promise that your doctor was withholding this information…it is new information…but it is powerful.
I also provide a safe learning environment in my Free Facebook Group. That’s another place to respond to comments and ask questions.
I hope to get to know you more as we travel together to PEACE out of Pain.
Namaste,
Stephanie
Are you a person who lives with chronic low back pain? Check out my group coaching program for mature women seeking a solution to persistent low back pain (click here).
Are you a health or wellness professional who serves people in pain?
I currently offer continuing education for rehab professionals and a course for Yoga Teachers in in development. Email me at info@stephaniecarterkelley.com for more information.