Wholistic Fitness

Hi Steve
My friend Rae Dawn Chong, who is an avid fan of yours, suggested I contact you. She has read your book and raves about your teaching and amazing comeback after your accident.

I have spent my entire life skiing, mountain bike riding, road riding, running, playing tennis etc… I am originally from Vancouver Canada and have lived in LA now for 18 years.

Two years ago I had a horrible fall down the stairs. It was the 911 to the hospital etc. I was in unbelievable pain. I was diagnosed with a bruised hip bone, bruised vertebrae, and severely torn muscles. They said there might be a fracture but they can’t see it. I couldn’t turn sideways for ages and was bedridden for a month. I did 4 months of rehab. I then got very busy with work and did not pay attention to properly getting back into shape. I made the mistake of thinking I healed to the way I was before. A year of work that kept me away from all the sports I love hid the fact that I was having a problem. Last January I decided to get back into shape and started to seriously work out. Periodically I would get back pain but I would stretch it out, wait a day or two, and then go back to exercise. The last two months it got worse and worse and now as of a few weeks ago I am in constant pain. I get spasms that practically knock my knees out from under me, sometimes from just bending over the sink to brush my teeth. My muscles are very weak now and I feel very vulnerable. I went to the Cedars spinal disorder clinic where I went after my accident. They took x-rays and compared them to my x-rays two years ago. They think I might have a degenerating disc and that the pointy side part of one of my vertebrae (can’t remember the name) might be doing something weird. They are doing an MRI next week. It is my L6. Most people, as you know, have only 5 vertebrae at the base of their spine but I have six which has always given me a very swayed back.

I am desperate to heal and get my body healthy again.

I will be 45 in August. I work in the film industry and may be going on location from July to January in New Mexico. I am trying to find a way to heal without surgery and get a program I can take on the road with me.

I am ordering your book that Rae Dawn raves about, Wholistic Fitness. I would love to have a consultation with you and see if you can help me.

I look forward to hearing from you.
Best, Michelle M.

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coach’s note: i had the great honor of working with and getting to know the beautiful and utterly sweet Rae Dawn when i assisted Stephan Frease at his Beverly Hills Pilates Studio in the eighties…at the time, there were only 3 other Pilates studios in the nation.