Unstoppable Body and Mind

In this Episode I have the pleasure of interviewing Charlie Merrill,a well-known physical therapist specializing in the mind-body approach, to discuss the importance of emotional and physical healing in patient care. Learn more about how pain and many bodily symptoms are frequently generated by the brain as a protective state rather than only by tissue damage, and the importance of distinguishing primary neural drivers from secondary physical changes (tightness, weakness, spasm, swelling) that may resolve when the protective state is addressed. We explore how emotions and fear can impact physical pain and movement, with Charlie explaining concepts like "smudging" - where the brain loses clarity in perceiving the body - and the importance of introducing prediction errors to update harmful pain patterns.   We cover practical applications including working with athletes, managing acute vs chronic pain, and the role of movement in healing, with Charlie emphasizing that the brain learns through mistakes and surprises, and that movement is crucial for feeding the brain accurate safety information. You can find Charlie Merrill on his website https://www.mperformance.com/ Email: [email protected] Listen for more, click subscribe, and share with someone who wants an Unstoppable Body and Mind!

You may have heard of the Love Language concept- that there are 5 main "Love Languages" which represent the ways we receive love best.  Most of the time this concept is used in relationships, but what if we turned them inward?  Self love is the biggest tool to recovery, so in this episode we explore the ways you could apply the five love languages to YOURSELF! Self-love isn’t indulgent — it’s regulating to your nervous system. It’s actually the kindest thing you can do for the people around you, to practice self love!  Read that again and let it sink in. Listen for more, and click subscribe because this year I'll be recording more shows and bringing on some awesome guests!

Here's a quick recap of my 2025, where I took a step back from coaching, focused on Grief Recovery, and explored other things that brought me joy. The biggest change was my name- going from "Betsy" to "Elle" for my 50th Birthday.   *Correction- at about 6:40 I meant to say "placebo", instead of "nocebo."  Hope that makes more sense. Listen for more, and click subscribe because this year I'll be recording more shows and bringing on some awesome guests!  

In this episode, we welcome Jake Trembath, a dance teacher from Utah, who shares his journey from discovering dance as a social outlet to using it as a tool for psychological healing and brain rewiring. Jake explains how dance can help process emotions, improve self-love, and create a flow state that is beneficial for personal growth. He discusses the impact of dance on mental and physical health, highlighting its ability to rewire the brain, improve memory, and treat depression. The episode also covers the dynamics of lead and follow in dance, how it relates to masculine and feminine energies, and the importance of creating a safe space for self-expression.   Jake's community, Soal Coast, and its various retreats and events are spaces where people can experience these transformations, check them out below.   00:00 Introduction and Special Guest Announcement 00:34 Jake's Journey into Dance 01:55 From Dancing to Teaching 03:05 The Healing Power of Dance 05:17 Understanding Attachment Styles Through Dance 10:23 The Role of Self-Love in Dance 22:52 Creating Safety in Dance 24:56 Discovering the Power of Safe Dance Environments 25:59 Building a Supportive Dance Community 27:26 Health Benefits of Dance 29:34 Overcoming Personal Barriers Through Dance 40:17 The Flow State in Dance and Life 43:46 Upcoming Events and Retreats 45:41 Rapid Transformation Through Dance   You can find more about Jake and Soul Coast events on the website: https://soulcoast.dance/ Instagram @soulcoast.dance

Wow, I had an MRI done on my back and I talk about my surprising results in this episode.  I’ve had some previous back issues- a snowboarding injury and a mid back problem with my rib that developed during pregnancy.   A couple times in the last few years that my back “went out” for a few days (last time was over a year ago.)     I do not have chronic back pain, and I do not have to restrict my activity.   But if I had pain and numbness and these same MRIs results, I could qualify for disability.    MRI and X Ray results actually do not accurately predict the amount of pain someone is in.     Structural changes in the body are actually normal with age.   And addressing normal degenerative changes with surgery is really nothing more than a placebo.   We now know it’s common for pain free people to have bulging discs, torn rotator cuffs, torn meniscus of the knee, hip labral tears.   We just haven’t been doing MRI’s on pain free people to see that.   So here are the results if you want to read them- Right paracentral disc protrusion at T5-6 with mild mass effect on the ventral aspect of the cord. L2-3: Diffuse disc bulge extending 2.5 mm into the thecal sac.  No spinal canal or neuroforaminal stenosis. L3-4: Diffuse disc bulge extending 3 mm into the thecal sac.  Mild spinal canal stenosis.  Mild bilateral neuroforaminal stenosis. L4-5: Central disc protrusion measuring 16 mm in width and extending 5 mm into the thecal sac.  Mild spinal canal stenosis.  Mild bilateral neuroforaminal stenosis. L5-S1: Central disc protrusion measuring 18 mm in width.  Moderate to severe bilateral neuroforaminal stenosis.  No spinal canal stenosis. IMPRESSION: 1.  Central disc protrusion at L5-S1 with retrolisthesis measuring 6 mm.  Moderate to severe bilateral neuroforaminal stenosis. 2.  Central disc protrusion at L4-L5 with mild spinal canal stenosis and mild bilateral neuroforaminal stenosis. 3.  Diffuse disc bulge at L3-4 with mild spinal canal stenosis and mild bilateral neuroforaminal stenosis. 4.  Diffuse disc bulge at L2-L3 without spinal canal or neuroforaminal stenosis. 5.  Modic type I endplate changes at L5-S1 with Modic type I endplate changes. 6.  Straightening of the lumbar spine on the sagittal view which can be seen in the setting of muscle spasm.   Below are some of the research articles I mentioned:   -Takatalo- 50% of healthy 21 year old Finns had at least one degenerative disc and 25% had a bulging disc. -Boos- 73% of adults without back pain had bulging discs.  -Briggs- hip labral tears in 89% of pain free young athletes 16 years of age or older, & 56% of pain free athletes 16 years or younger. -S Rajasekaran- Delivery of MRI results affects pain and healing. -Karayannis Fear of movement is associated with trunk stiffness.   If you are a woman experiencing chronic neck or back pain, I am forming a group especially for you!  Details to come soon.