In this week’s podcast I talk to Sandra Weber who helps her clients reduce or prevent chronic pain. We talk about the connection between sleep and repair and Sandra shares her expertise with us to encourage us to change our rhetoric and to promote healing.
About Sandra
Sandra Weber is a wellness mentor empowering her clients to rebuild a mind/body connection.
Sandra has over a decade of experience in hands on clinical bodywork and is now using that experience to assist her clients in reducing or preventing chronic pain through mind/body awareness.
Sandra owns and operates Integrative Bodywork in Charlotte, North Carolina. When she is not working with clients in the treatment room, she hosts training for corporate and private groups providing ACTIONABLE steps to rebuild the mind body connection. Elevating clients physical, mental and emotional well-being is the foundation of the #RELENTLESS mindset.
Sleep & Pain
Our bodies heal when we sleep, so if we are not prioritising sleep then we simply will not be able to heal. Sandra challenges the internal conversations and stories we tell ourselves. Calling out the comment that we both hear often ‘I just don’t sleep well’ as a manifestation that we can change.
Sandra has a hands on practise where she assists her clients in managing pain by helping blockages. However, she understands that it is key that the mental attitude of clients, their support network and their beliefs all impact their pain management and recovery.
The Power of the Mind
She is a firm believer of not ruminating on a diagnosis and taking control back of our own health.
A healthy body is not the absence of illness but the ability of the body to recover from illness.
We discuss the power of the placebo effect, and how studies now allow for the placebo effect when analysing results.
Sandra’s Story
After struggling with asthma as a child she worked on her diet and wellbeing and managed to be part of the school and college volleyball team. This gave her both mental and physical strength.
She was diagnosed with an ovarian cyst at just 17. After further cyst being removed and one successful pregnancy she unfortunately was advised at just 21 to have a hysterectomy. Sandra questioned this and elected to just have the minimal procedure needed and retained an ovary and thankfully fell pregnant and had her (now teenage) son.
Sandra believes that it was the support network she has around her: her family and friends, as well as her ability to ask for help that was key. She encourages everyone, if they are not surrounded by support, to use social media and the internet to seek out that support for themselves.
Sandra’s Practical Tips
- We are just big babies – put yourself to bed like you would your a baby. Go to bed at the same time, get up at the same time, have quiet time before bed.
- Work at it – we don’t get good at things overnight, it takes work and commitment
- Does it hurt, or is it just uncomfortable – learning to realise that being a little bit uncomfortable is part of the process.
- You can get from 10 to 0 all in one go – take time to unwind, using tools such as a playlist that calms you for an hour before bed will help reduce stress and encourage the SNS and sleep
- Have a game plan – pick the low hanging fruit first, make the small changes but always have a long term goal and a plan how you get there.
Quick Fire!
- Jeans/Dress both, depending on the event and time of day
- Sushi/Pizza hate sushi so it would have to be pizza but organic with lots of spinach
- City – from the countryside but city wins
- Beach holiday definitely
- What have you got for tea? Steak and veggies
Sandra’s Links
My links
What do you think of this episode? Let me know!