RELEASE Client Story: Kasia Clarke

Before working with Claudine…

I wasn't in as much pain a few years ago until I decided to deal with it. It started out as a niggle, and it became such a problem. I started thinking “I need to fix it”. That niggle made me question, “is something actually wrong with me - am I permanently injured?”

I didn’t go to the doctor because it didn’t feel appropriate - what would they do, other than tell me to exercise. I went to a chiropractor and did various strengthening exercises which made it worse overall because of the focus I was giving it. I put it in the limelight and kept checking in with it. It became an obsession “is it still there?” I suddenly realised after seeing the chiropractor that I could be pain-free momentarily. This was part of the journey - taking this step meant one thing led to another.

From there I found somatic exercises online and when I went back to the chiropractor she was amazed. She immediately noticed the difference in me and said I was “unrecognisable” from four weeks ago.

Kasia’s key points:

• Working with Claudine was the obvious next step and helped me evolve what I'd started in an interesting, more refined way. It has been a process of learning and acceptance.

• Being able to watch how the body reacts and the shape it goes into when stressed means I can notice the difference because I know what it feels like to be released. I am much more conscious of what’s happening and my reaction to it, which is very useful.

• I feel more in control of my body and my response to stress. Some days I have resistance to doing what I know is good for me, but I don’t let that derail me anymore.

• I'm more confident knowing I am capable of healing and that I’m not being injured or broken (the natural conclusion to pain, especially when nothing works, and we’re conditioned to think in this way).

• I went from exercising through pain to re-starting exercise from a totally different place.

Who would you recommend RELEASE to?

Those who want to give up the meaning they’re giving pain - if you didn’t feel it any more, what would that mean? It’s like a badge of honour and a resistance to healing, not being ready to embrace it. I believe pain plays a role, we just have to find out what that role is for us - what can it teach us, what do we need to heal.