The Schatz Method-Let’s Get You Out of Pain and Living Your Life

Who it’s for:

Are you someone who has gone to physical therapy or had a recent major life event such as birth or surgery, and it feels like something still isn’t right?

Or maybe you feel pain when walking and sitting and wish things were different?

You are not alone.

We often jump right back into strength training before optimally aligning the body. This isn’t ideal, as we are telling the body to continue movement patterns over a shaky foundation, which doesn’t produce quality movement in the long term.

We also think that a chronic diagnosis or pain is the end all be all, and there is nothing else we can do.

Not true.

Storytime:

When I first started in this business, I would see people compensating during exercises, and I knew it wasn’t optimal. At the same time, I know that feeling picked apart doesn’t feel good, so we must find the in-between.

I met Gina Schatz, an anatomy and bodyworker guru, in 2021. I loved how she sees the entire body as telling a story and how we can find the answer by getting specific data using a hands-on approach with the client & building back their alignment, strength, and function with the client as an active part of the solution. 80-90% of pain in the body is referred from somewhere else (except knees and shoulders), so we know that the body is vastly interconnected when it comes to pain.

We also tend not to use intrinsic muscles and let the phasic muscles take over, leading to weakness in our musculoskeletal system over time.

What does getting to the genesis of the pain mean?

We stop modifying and using specific exercises as a crutch or avoiding them altogether. For example, if lunging is painful, stairs will be, too, so let’s find out what muscles aren’t doing the job and what kind of stress we are looking at to devise a plan that allows your body to be pain-free.

How is this different from physical therapy?

Physical therapy focuses on strengthening the muscles around the problem area, which is also needed. This approach looks more at the musculoskeletal system as a whole. The body is highly interconnected, and finding the area causing the pain (not necessarily where it is felt) is a considerable step in pain relief.

The Schatz Method is sacrum-centric; we work from the center and move out.
When you think about it, the sacrum is the keystone of the body, and we have to balance it before we move outward.

If this sounds like something that may benefit you, please read on!

How it works:

• Please book your session and submit payment. You'll receive two intake forms, a waiver, and a cancellation policy.

• After our 60 minutes together, I aim for you to walk away with a clear understanding of what to focus on and practical things to apply.

• You'll receive an email 72 hours after our session outlining your recommendations and next steps.
  
  **Please note: It may take 4-8 sessions for most clients to assess the issue and absolve the pain thoroughly, so while this isn’t a long-term commitment, it is also not one-and-done.
  

  Please let me know if you are not local to Cleveland and want to schedule online.

Cost: $120
(there will be a slight price increase in July 2024).

Laura Thomas Fitness Training & Business Philosophy

Everyone can pursue their best version in a supportive and professional environment.

I have and continue to do anti-racism work.

I am a trauma-informed coach through CULTIVATE, a trauma-informed space-holding certification program. This does not mean I dig, address, or heal trauma. It means I understand the complexities of trauma AND the skills to ensure that I am attuned to my clients and myself to practice within my scope and integrity.

I value connection and communication with my clients. I take a human-first approach and get to know my clients beyond their physical goals, honoring their consent and personal boundaries.

I do not judge anyone’s capabilities based on age, race, body type, sexuality, or other personal identities.

I do not believe every workout must involve muscle soreness or sweat to be effective. Movement should never be painful or triggering.

I admit that I may not have all the answers regarding health, but I am always willing to go the extra mile to get information for my clients from my wellness circle partners (with permission to share their inquiries). I will refer out if something is beyond my scope of practice.

Movement/fitness is not a substitute for counseling. I will suggest therapy if you may hurt yourself or someone else.

The Schatz Method is for you if:

• You have a nagging area of strain/pain.

• You desire clarity on what to do next so you can live pain-free.

• It would be best to have a sounding board for a few issues you’re dealing with and are willing to learn more about your body.

• You want guidance on alignment as it relates to your preferred activities.