03/10/2024
From Back Pain to Burnout: How Body Stress Release Changed My Life
In 2008, while attending an analyst course in Hout Bay, Cape Town, a simple conversation caught my attention. A fellow student was seeking advice for her back pain, and I overheard the lecturer recommending Body Stress Release (BSR). At that point I had been suffering from back pain for over 10 years, so naturally, I was intrigued.
I decided to give it a try. After just one session, I felt like I’d been given a brand-new spine. My body was free and supple again. However, due to time constraints, I wasn’t able to complete the full set of three sessions, which are always recommended when starting BSR.
For the next five years, I didn't return to BSR. Living in Holland since 1996 while working for the United Nations, I relied on regular chiropractor visits to manage my back issues. But when my chiropractor suddenly passed away, and his replacement caused even more pain during an adjustment, I decided to try BSR again.
At this point, I was dealing with a burning sensation in my lower back. After just one session, the burning pain disappeared! After completing the recommended follow-up sessions, I realized that the the chronic back pain I had lived with for 15 years was gone. And it wasn’t coming back.
BSR not only helped my back; it also freed me from frequent headaches. I used to suffer from 4 to 5 headaches per week, often reaching for painkillers as a way to cope with the pain. Thanks to BSR, the headaches disappeared, too.
By 2013, I began noticing signs of burnout, although I didn’t recognize them at the time. In 2014, the burnout hit me full force. I was stuck in the rat race, working for money in a job that drained me. After being signed off work for three months, I came to a realization—if I returned, I would just end up back with the same health issues.
So, I made a bold decision. I chose my well-being over everything else. It wasn’t easy. From the outside, it might have been perceived as selfish, but I knew I had to do it for myself. That decision led me to embark on a transformative journey by enrolling in the Body Stress Release practitioner course in South Africa.
The course, located in the tranquil beauty of Wilderness and Sedgefield in the Western Cape, felt like more than just training; it was like a wellness retreat for me. In this peaceful environment, I reconnected with myself while learning the gentle technique of BSR. The people, the pace of life, and the heartfelt conversations made it all the more special.
Becoming a BSR practitioner was like joining a big, loving family. The course, workshops, and annual conferences all began with a loving thought, raising the vibration and setting the tone for the day. After five months of training, I returned to my hometown of Durban with my wife, whom I married during the course's mid-break.
Recovering from burnout wasn’t immediate. It took 1.5 years to start feeling like myself again, and 3 full years to fully recuperate. A lot of inner work, support from my incredibly patient wife, and persistence helped me find balance again.
After 3.5 years in South Africa, we made the decision to move back to Holland, my wife’s home country. Now, I run a full-time BSR practice in De Lier, Zuid Holland, where I help others find relief from pain, tension and stress. My back pain that plagued me for a total of 15 years has never returned, and my weekly headaches have reduced from 4-5 times per week to 4-5 times per year.
The beauty of Body Stress Release lies in its simplicity. It’s so gentle, and if you’re suffering with pain, tension, or stress, I can honestly say that BSR might be the gentle release your body is looking for. My journey with BSR has been life-changing, and I’m so grateful to be able to share this incredible technique with others.
