Alex Mart, CMT
Craniosacral Therapy & Gentle Bodywork
Alex Mart, CMT
Craniosacral Therapy & Gentle Bodywork
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Chronic Pain/Symptoms & Nervous System/Polyvagal Theory Resources:
- Important note: since chronic pain is an emerging field of study (this science comes from the last 20ish years, conducted all around the world), the terminology has not yet coalesced around singular terms. For example, "neural cuircuit" pain/symptoms are sometimes also called "primary" or referred to "pain system hypersensitivity", which I also see generally as nervous system hypersensitivity/symptoms.
- Tame The Beast - 5 min video, education, and resource list for rethinking persistent pain, from Lorimer Moseley and Dave Moen
- Why Things Hurt - TEDx talk by Lorimer Moseley PT, illustrating the brain's involvment in the creation of pain experiences with clinical neuroscience and well-humored personal stories
- Explain Pain Protectometer Handbook - Lorimer Moseley and David Butler: Easy to read and digest chronic pain education and workbook, guiding youto understand the layers of mind/body/life context that influences pain levels. Worth the high price tag. Their Explain Pain book is very pricey (it's a textbook) but also amazing, much heavier on the nitty gritty neuroscience of pain.
- This Might Hurt: Unlearning Pain - While I have not seen the film, this website is a wealth of resources, lists, etc for neural circuit pain (symptoms generated by the brain/nervous system) — Dr. Schubiner is one of the leading US doctors associated with mind-body approaches to healing chronic pain and helping combat the opioid epidemic.
- Includes resources for other symptoms as well and a quiz for getting a sense of whether your symptoms/pain might be considered brain-created (vs structural): Anxiety, long covid, chronic abdominal pain and spasms, chronic arm or leg pain, chronic back pain and spasms, chronic neck pain, chronic tendonitis, repetitive strain injury (RSI), complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), depression, dizziness (including PPPD & MmDS), face pain, fibromyalgia, insomnia, brain fog, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), painful bladder syndrome (interstitial cystitis), pelvic floor dysfunction, POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), temporo-mandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ), chronic inflammation, tension and migraine headaches, post-concussion syndrome, tinnitus (ringing or distortion in the ears), burning mouth syndrome, vulvodynia, coccydynia, some people with neuropathic pain, trigeminal neuralgia and other neuralgias, post-exertional malaise and chronic fatigue (ME/CFS), some people who are told their chronic pain is due to Hypermobility Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS), and conversion disorders/functional neurological disorders, plantar fasciitis/foot pain.
- Tell Me About Your Pain - by Alan Gordon and Alon Ziv - this podcast changed my life (in my own chronic pain/symptom journey, I was already onboard with the information in the resources above and felt like I was doing all the right things, but still looping in pain cycles). both describe Pain Reprocessing Therapy and Somatic Tracking, as well as coaches real people on the podcast through their pain experiences. Invaluable free resource. Their book The Way Out is also great and goes into greater detail for guiding the practices and journey out of chronic pain, one I use personally and keep on the shelf of my office.
- Clinical Somatics (born out of Hanna Somatics) - wonderful $45 online course that teaches exercises for resetting your muscles' resting tension levels, and retraining the body and nervous system to release postural imbalances such as forward head posture/rounded spine, scoliosis and functional leg discrepancy. Sarah's blog is also a wealth of amazing well-researched information. Her podcast SOMA is also great for very bite-sized (all like 5-10 min) informational chunks that explain the concepts succinctly and well. Watch her video on Why Static Stretching Doesn't Work (4 min youtube) to learn how and why it all works.
- The Steady Coach - Helping people with chronic dizziness (and other chronic vestibular symptoms) get strong and steady with mind-body approach to healing. Dr. Yonit Arthur, AuD
- Polyvagal Theory - Deb Dana's Rhythm of Regulation (top collaborator with Stephen Porges to help translate his research into clinical and layperson accessible information)
- Nervous System Mastery w/Jonny Miller (training to equip you with a personal toolkit to cultivate calm, upgrade resilience & increase aliveness—great for knowing yourself and body better, overcoming burnout and high-stress living)—use this link for $250 off
- Jonny's new youtube channel has a great 15 min video that explains a lot about polyvagal theory in practice: Stop Fighting Your Nervous System. Do This Instead.
- The Physiological Sigh (Dr. Andrew Huberman) - 3 min video on one simple breath to calm the nervous system and release stress. Neurobiology behind The Physiological Sigh - 11 min video on why and how it works in the moment vs. mindfulness or breathwork practices (Dr. Andrew Huberman)... just look past the ridiculous title.
- Kaiser Permanente Chronic Pain Program: free if you have KP insurance, just get a doctor's referral for access to very helpful classes, and a specialist team of PTs, MDs and Psychologists - worth the waitlist. Their classes are great, mind-body approach and offer a lot around the pacing of how to get moving again.
Other Resources for Health, Healing & Wellbeing:
- Women's BodyMystik Dance w/Heather Munro Pierce (El Cerrito & online): seasonal equinox/solstice dance rituals, quarterly weekly dance circles, day retreats, & depth embodiment personal growth programs
- Rainbow Mind Meditation Group w/Adam Moskowitz (online & vipassana retreats in CA & beyond)
- A Path to Presence - experiential, mindfulness-based 8 week course inviting you to radically reorient towards everyday life and awaken to greater ease, gratitude, wisdom, and love
- Living Stillness Retreat - 3 night meditation and bodywork in the redwoods, Thurs. Nov. 14 - Sun. Nov. 17, 2024 (beginner and experienced meditators welcome!) in Soquel, CA (Santa Cruz mountain area)
- Dr. Leah Taylor, Integrative Mental Health Specialist, Healer & Embodiment Mentor
- Joie Seldon, Emotional Intelligence Coaching & Training
- Steadfast Herbs, small local herb farm, offering fresh herbs and holistic plant medicines to support folks in caring for their physical, mental and emotional health
- Important note: since chronic pain is an emerging field of study (this science comes from the last 20ish years, conducted all around the world), the terminology has not yet coalesced around singular terms. For example, "neural cuircuit" pain/symptoms are sometimes also called "primary" or referred to "pain system hypersensitivity", which I also see generally as nervous system hypersensitivity/symptoms.
5270 College Ave #200, Oakland, CA || © 2024 Alexandra Mart