Chronic pain relief
For pain that hasn't gone away.
People come to us after years of back, neck and hip pain, often after doctors, surgeons and physical therapy. Pain science tells us something hopeful: a bulging disc on an MRI doesn’t always mean pain, and pain doesn’t always mean damage. Often your nervous system is warning you about a pattern.
We look for that pattern, then help you change it.
Start where it hurts
Where does it hurt?
Pick the spot that bothers you most. We’ll show you how we’d start.
Low back pain that keeps coming back
A lot of the people we see have dealt with back pain for years, through doctors, surgeons and physical therapy. Often the back is reacting to how you sit, drive and lift every day. We look at those patterns first.
How we’d work on it
- Lengthen and strengthen tight hip flexors and deep rotators
- Pre-Pilates core work you can feel working
- Hands-on release for the areas that have been guarding
“After multiple back surgeries, my spine doctor recommended Pilates to me as the best way to strengthen my core and to hopefully avoid the need for a spinal fusion.”
Small things, big pain
The habits we ask about
Rebecca starts with questions most people have never been asked. The answers explain a surprising amount.
How do you sit in your car?
One hip tucked, leaning on the console, wallet in a back pocket.
Where's your screen?
A monitor a little to one side keeps your head turned and forward all day.
What do you repeat?
Lifting kids, carrying groceries on one side, the same swing every round.
How do you sleep?
Your pillow and position matter for necks and shoulders.
Client stories
From people who've been there
After multiple back surgeries
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I found Pilates and Bela in particular because I've had a number of back surgeries and my back surgeon told me that the best thing I could do is Pilates otherwise I'd be looking at a spine fusion. And so I started looking around and Bela was just getting started. And I think I was one of the early clients after I got the release from physical therapy after my back surgery and so I've been at it for about four years and I have never felt better. My back doesn't hurt any longer. I used to walk around with chronic back pain and hip pain and that was one of the first things that we started working on and I can tell you today, I don't even think about it. It's just fantastic.
Senior center student
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I like that it works my muscles, but yet through learning to breathe better and more correctly, I'm not sore the next day. So I think it's a testimony to listening to what the instructor says, following the instructions, and then trying to live it. Because then you can come out doing the exercise but not being in pain. And I've read a couple of books and I've tried a couple things, but it's not like being instructed where you feel like the things that you might be doing wrong are getting corrected. And I'm a believer, if I'm going to do it, I want to do it right.
Client and dog groomer
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I found Bela Pilates through my boss. We're dog groomers and she came to Bela for kind of like occupational therapy type stuff and she said that it would really help me as a new dog groomer to take care of my body. It was much more difficult than I anticipated. I'd never used a reformer before so I didn't really know what to expect. You really don't have to do a lot of exercises to feel like you got a complete workout so that's what I was most impressed by.
“I have lived with chronic lower back pain for a long time and have found that Pilates has made a positive change for me in the amount of pain I deal with daily.”
“Rebecca is amazing and I love her so much for helping me enjoy my life more pain free and to the fullest.”
“Rebecca helped me to overcome my shoulder pain and helped me to improve my posture, flexibility and strength. She also made doing Pilates fun!”
Before your first visit
Is this physical therapy?
No. Rebecca is a licensed massage therapist and Master Pilates Teacher, not a physical therapist. Many of our clients come to us after PT, or alongside it, when they want more time and one-on-one attention.
Do I need a referral?
Not for Pilates or massage. If you want to use an HSA or FSA card for Pilates, bring a prescription for Pilates from your doctor. Dolphin NeuroStim sessions need your doctor's approval first.
I've never done Pilates. Is that okay?
Completely. Most people who come in with pain have never done Pilates. Your first private starts with the basics and moves at the pace your body allows.
Will you fix my pain?
We won't promise that. What we can promise is close attention to how you move, hands-on release work, and real tools to keep improving at home. Many clients find their pain eases a lot once we change the habits that keep aggravating it.
What should I wear?
Comfortable clothes you can move in. For massage, we'll explain everything before we start.
Ready to feel like yourself again?
Book an Initial Private and we'll look at how you move, talk through your goals and give you something to take home.