prehab

11/11/2025

There has recently been a fascinating review of the role the brain takes in pain and osteoarthritis. This study showed that pain often remains even after structural damage to a joint has repaired, even after a total joint replacement. It is an interesting look at how the brain shapes our experience of pain and sensation in a joint, and how our previous experiences, predictions, emotions (and more) can affect our brains 🧠 perception of safety moving forward.

03/11/2025

Pain isn’t always danger.
Sometimes it’s protection.

Kahlil Gibran said “Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.”
John Sarno said chronic pain is often the "brain trying to protect you".

Pain Reprocessing Therapy teaches the same thing through modern neuroscience.
So when pain and chronic symptoms arise, instead of going into fear → what if nothing is actually wrong with your body?

What if this is your nervous system saying
“there is somewhere inside that still needs gentleness, honesty, safety.”

We heal not by fighting pain,
but by listening to what is underneath it.

This is a different relationship with pain.
A softer one.
A wiser one.
You don’t have to push.
You get to get curious.

If this is landing with you, reach out to see how pain coaching can help.
There is hope.

15/10/2025

What if your chronic pain and symptoms aren't sign of damage - but a sign of protection?

Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) is a breakthrough, evidence-backed approach that helps the brain unlearn chronic pain and symptoms.

Many forms of ongoing pain are actually caused by a sensitised nervous system- not structural injury or damage. PRT teaches you to recognise this and retrain your brain to feel safe again.

Research from the University of Colorado showed that 66% of people with chronic back pain were pain-free or nearly pain-free after PRT.

You are not broken. Your brain is trying to protect you - and it can learn a new way.

Jama Psychiatry (Asher et al., 2021)

14/10/2025

Hi, I’m Sarah.

I've been inspired by movement for as long as I can remember. At age six, I found my place in the ballet studio, and from that moment, I spent my childhood and adolescence dedicated to perfecting my love of dance and performance. During my full-time ballet training, I discovered Pilates, and was immediately drawn to its potential as a powerful tool for movement and rehabilitation. In 2004, I opened Pulse Pilates, one of Christchurch's first Pilates studios.

In 2014, I suffered an injury, which turned into chronic pelvic pain. When the pain first started, I did what everyone does when something starts to hurt - went to the doctor. I expected to get a diagnosis, get some treatment and be better. But no one knew what was wrong with me. I spent the next seven years going from doctor to doctor, physiotherapy, osteopaths, acupuncture, pain doctors and more. Each time I went to someone new, I would have the hope that ‘this time’ some one would be able to help me. The crushing realisation that each new modality was not the ‘silver bullet’ left me more and more disillusioned, and beginning to lose all hope. All interventions, injections and eventually surgery, were unsuccessful.

Having always been interested in the mind-body connection, I began to research the brain and the way pain is produced. I was of the opinion that if one other person could heal from chronic pain, so could I. The more I learnt about neuroscience, neuroplasticity and the mind-body connection, the more my pain decreased.

I can tell you, from the other side, that you can get better.

There is a way out of chronic pain. It won’t always be perfect, far from it. But you can learn to live your life again. You can break the connection between your mind and your physical pain. And you can start to use your mental energy to overcome your pain and rebuild your life.

No one should have to navigate this journey alone.

If you would like to know more, DM me to book a free discovery call.
Sarah

30/08/2025

I'm looking for four-five people who may be interested in learning about Chronic pain and open to learning about a mind-body approach to pain. Important note: this does NOT mean your pain is 'in your head', imaginary, or that you 'want' pain.

I am looking for people with the following conditions, with a duration of more than 2 years:
- Fibromyalgia
- Chronic fatigue or long covid
- Pelvic pain
- Chronic back pain
- Migraines/headaches

If you, or anyone you know is interested in hearing about the latest in pain science, and a programme that is backed with neuroscience and research, feel free to reach out via messenger or sarah@prehab.nz

There is no cost involved, and would require just two hours of your time.
(Can be zoom so doesn't have to be Chch based).
Sarah x

26/05/2025

When pain continues past the usually expected recovery time, around three months, we classify this pain as 'chronic'.

Pain is the way our brain communicates with us. Unfortunately, our brain cannot tap us on the shoulder and tell us there is something wrong. Pain can be the way our brain is getting our attention.

Every time we react to a symptom - be it pain, fatigue, anxiety/depression or insomnia, the brain is testing our reaction. The way we respond will often determine how the symptoms will continue to turn up in the future.

One of the biggest drivers of continuing chronic pain is fear.
When we fear the pain, the more fuel the brain has to continue the pain or symptoms.

Pain is a danger signal. Sometimes this is very necessary, but other times the continued pain is a mistake. Sometimes injuries and tissue damage have healed, and the brain is stuck in sending this danger signal.

These are some of the ways fear may show up for you:
- Fear of the sensation;
- Fear the sensation will continue;
- Fear of how the sensation will impact you in the future.

To recover from chronic pain, we need to remove the fear of the symptoms.
One of the fastest way to learn to remove the fear is a deep understanding of the process of the brain creating pain.

There is hope.

07/05/2025

The perfect gift for your Mum - a Prehab voucher.
The gift that will keep on giving, wellness.

Variety of options available.

05/05/2025

04/04/2025

It is very hard to give your brain messages of safety, if your body doesn't actually feel safe.

Living in a body that you actually don't like is something that not many of us would admit to, but is often so true.
You don't like how you look.
You would prefer to be thinner.
Better hair.
More tan.
How many of us can honestly say that we can look at ourselves in the mirror without hating the reflection, or wishing it was different?

For some of us, it has been taught to us. As a dancer, the message was always that my body wasn't 'right'.
I was too inflexible.
My arms were too short and fat.
I didn't have enough turnout.
I certainly wasn't 'bony' enough.
You end up feeling not enough.
For anything.

Eventually, this narrative becomes what you believe. I'm 42 years old and still too scared to wear a sleeveless top, all because I was told a bunch of rubbish as a teenager.

This morning, I caught my reflection in the mirror at the gym. Immediately, I diverted my eyes because I didn't like what I saw.
Then I realised. This is it.
How can you recover from chronic pain and give your body messages of safety, if you actually hate your body?

My body has been through years of trauma. Ten years of chronic pain. Medication after medication.
I've had two babies.
Seven surgeries.
I've lived through earthquakes, a terrorist attack, a worldwide pandemic.

Today, I looked myself in the eye and watched myself lift weights in the mirror.
With a thankful heart. Gratitude.
Acceptance.
And I smiled.

31/03/2025

If I had to choose only one thing only that has helped me recover from chronic pain, it would be giving my brain messages of safety.

Those messages of safety can be things to do with our external environment. But many times, we need to address our own internal safety.
How safe do you feel in your own body?
Are you critical of your looks?
Your feelings?
Your mistakes?
Your past?
Would you talk to your child the way you talk to yourself?

You can simply not feel safe in your body if your internal dialogue is one of criticism.

Try these ways of giving yourself some compassion, and see how it feels.