Many people believe chronic pain is part of life, the aging process, or an active lifestyle, but persistent pain does not start out as a chronic condition. Rather it develops gradually, often as a result of a physical injury, illness or an unresolved emotional wound. In some cases chronic pain is the result of overuse or misuse of the body due to patterns we have formed that do not optimize functional use of the body in the gravitational field. In short, we are using some muscles or parts of the body too much and others are not being used enough.

However, in many cases chronic pain is the result of the nervous system forming a message loop that initially began as mechanism to protect us at the time of an injury, illness or emotional situation during which we felt threatened. The danger that prompted our nervous system to begin sending danger signals has often passed, sometimes many years prior, however the nervous system remains in a loop, often as a result of our perception that the danger is still present.

Too often we begin to chase the pain applying different strategies, healing modalities and sometimes surgery, pursuing the symptom instead of the source. In the vast majority of chronic pain situations, the area where you feel pain is not the origin of the pain, so focusing on that part of the body usually fails to resolve the problem fully. Sometimes we experience temporary relief only to have the symptom coming raging back again. Most often the solution to the problem of chronic pain exists within a wholistic approach that combines awareness, breathing, stillness and slow gentle movements during which our nervous system finds and resolves the problem essentially all by itself. We are not taught to think this way in the society in which most of us live. Instead, we learn to try to fix and control things. We seek and attempt to solve body and nervous system problems using a applying methods with an intent of making the change happen, rather than creating the conditions for healing to occur and allowing our own nervous system to unwind the faulty patterns and establish balance and homeostasis, which it is infinitely more capable of doing.

In my practice I utilize a more global wholistic approach that does not chase symptoms. Instead, I apply time tested proven methods that are effective at unwinding patterns throughout your body that are creating pain, muscle tightness and rigidity in your muscles, joints and connective tissue. I use Somatics and Exercise Therapy to help you learn through your own nervous system with guided exercises and movement explorations aimed at teaching you to unlearn the patterns that create limitations, and learn new patterns that are more aligned with functional, effective, efficient use of your body.

As an adjunct to focused Somatics and Exercise Therapy work, I teach Tai Chi, which is an ancient system of healing movement that supports the process of using the “self” with maximum efficiency. I have found it to be one of the best overall methods of maintaining health and harmony throughout the entire body, mind and spirit and I enjoy sharing the art for the benefit of the whole human being as a health maintenance practice. Movement, and daily life when organized feels nourishing, healthy and refreshing. If you are in pain, suffering with health issues, recovering from a surgery or just want to feel better in your body, I encourage you to reach out to me to schedule a free 30 minute consultation to explore how I might assist you in your healing journey.

Exercise Therapy

 Exercise Therapy focuses on helping you to establish better movement habits to help free you from chronic pain, tight muscles, and limits to mobility by improving whole-body alignment. Awareness is the mother of change and sets up the potential for creating better balance throughout your body and so the process begins with feeling and sensing how you stand, walk, sit bend and move. Upon the foundation of awareness we begin to remind the body through the nervous system using a series of gentle exercises, stretches, and static positions that are designed to unwind and shift patterns of use that are often part of the pain cycle. Since the early 1970’s this approach has proven to be effective at helping people to reduce and eliminate chronic pain that’s caused by imbalances in the musculoskeletal system in order to help optimize use of the body in daily life, and in athletic pursuits.  Exercise Therapy differs from many other approaches in that  it does not treat the site of the pain (the symptom).  Rather, it seeks to restore balance by bringing the entire body back into alignment.

Somatic Movement Education

Somatics is a field within bodywork and movement studies which emphasizes internal physical perception and experience. The term is used in movement therapy to signify approaches based on the soma, or "the body as perceived from within". As such Somatic movement practices involve learning how to move through awareness of the body as experienced from within, using what is often referred to as the “felt sense”.  Somatic movements are exploratory, without a specific end result in mind, and are typically performed very slowly because this is the natural way the human nervous system learns to control muscle tension, posture and movement.   It is the method through which we all learn how to use our bodies in early human development as infants and toddlers.  No one teaches us how to move, we learn it on our own, primarily through exploration within our environment during the pre-verbal phase of human development when our sensory perception is unclouded by language and other distractions that come as we mature and grow through life. During the earliest part of our lives all the exists is that which we take in through our basic senses.  As a therapeutic practice, Somatic Movement Education utilizes movement experiments and explorations, and sometimes more structured exercises to help you unwind faulty patterns that produce e pain and learn or re-awaken patterns that may have been lost long ago that are more aligned with creating ease in your body. SME has proven to have many benefits, including eliminating chronically tight painful muscles that create pain and limit mobility.

Tai Chi

Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese practice for cultivating health and longevity.  Founded on the principles of nature, Tai Chi is a proven method for creating a sense of calm and well-being in the body/mind/spirit.  Its slow gentle, circular, flowing movements, paired with deep relaxed breathing strengthen and condition the entire body, providing a myriad of health benefits.  As a movement method Tai Chi is unrivaled in its ability to combine all facets of human movement, engaging the nervous system through deep awareness it effectively contains all elements within the Somtaics realm. It serves an excellent method for creating harmony and balance throughout the body and is among the best practices for maintaining the ability to move with grace and ease.

As you Improve The Use of Your “Self”

You also Improve your “Life”

Office Location

Minnetonka, MN (Open By Appointment Only)

11621 Live Oak Drive

Minnetonka, MN 55305

612-760-9935

Bayfield, WI (Open By Appointment Only)

10 South 5th Street

Bayfield, WI 54814

612-760-9935

 About Marty

Marty’s interest in human movement and healing began in 1980, when he began to study the martial arts. He continued to study and practice several styles of martial arts through high-school and college then embarked on a career in federal law enforcement. Over the next 20 years he added Ashtanga and Yin Yoga to his studies, and was drawn to interest in massage therapy as a result of injuries and chronic hip and shoulder pain. In addition to exploring many different forms of bodywork for his own health, he earned a basic certification in Swedish massage.

However, the defining moment that led him to intensify his studies came when he sustained a serious knee injury while practicing Aikido in 2004. After an initial surgical procedure, he was referred to a prominent sports medicine surgeon who recommended additional surgery, but he found no strong evidence in any of the studies that had been done on the procedure to support the risks involved and he decided to look for another answer.

Soon thereafter he discovered the Egoscue Method of Postural Therapy and within only a few sessions with a certified therapist he began to notice significant improvement in the chronic pain with which he had suffered for many years. In late 2004, he began to explore Chinese Medicine and after begin treated by an MD from China, he started to study Tai Chi, Qigong and other Taoist healing arts. Over the next year his knee healed, all of his chronic pain cleared up he noticed significant improvements in sleep, digestion, and his overall sense of well-being.

In 2008 he returned to school to earn a Masters Degree in Human Development, began to explore a variety of Somatic Movement methods including the Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais Method, Kinetic Awareness, and Hanna Somatic’s, then became certified in the Egoscue Method.

In 2018 he retired from federal law enforcement and founded “Healing Movement”with the intention of helping those suffer with chronic pain, or who simply want to improve the quality of their lives through movement and other natural practices.

Marty draws on his background and training in the Egoscue Method, Tai Chi Chuan, Qigong, Yoga, as well as his studies in Somatic’s and other eastern and western healing and wellness methods in his practice. He teaches Tai Chi and Qigong both within his therapy practice and independently, as a method through which to heal, maintain health and longevity.

Marty is certified as a Postural Alignment Specialist (PAS) with the Egoscue Method, holds an M.A. in Human Development- Holistic Health and Wellness, from St. Mary’s University in Minneapolis, and has been studying and practicing movement arts including Aikido, Tai Chi, Qigong, Yoga, and a variety of Somatic methods for over 40 years.

In addition to his work in human movement, he is the co-founder of Wild Rice Retreat, a year-round respite on the shores of Lake Superior in Bayfield, Wisconsin. Founded on the pillars of expression, movement, and nourishment, Wild Rice Retreat offers resort stays for guests looking to curate their own getaway and guided retreats for those looking for an instructor led experience. The retreat offers a safe and vibrant space for grounding the mind, body and spirit through integrative artistic and holistic life experiences that support creativity and human development.