I am writing this (perfect timing) after a 45 min run, with zero knee pain, and all the running highs! I found Alex in January of 2015. I had just come from a weekend away in Palm Springs, where I had planned to relax, run, and engage in as much fitness as possible. I headed out for a run on New Years Day; new shoes, new lululemon pants, new Garmin watch, and after about 20 min. my outer knee was in so much pain I had to basically walk the rest of the way home. I was devastated and confused. Not only had I run for about an hour for 2 days in a row prior, I have been an avid runner since High School. Even with icing my knee for about 3 days straight, nothing was helping and I knew I had done something more serious.
My history of running - I have run a total of around 4 or 5 half marathons easily, no knee pain since 2012. Completed many 10K's and casual runs on my own at least twice a week for years. It was something that happened so out of the blue, I am just thankful that Alex entered my life when he did.
He started out with the basics, which at the time seemed a little out of context. "What other workouts do you do? What has changed in your exercise in the last year". I couldn't really come up with much, other than lots of YOGA. Becoming a certified Yoga teacher and basically doing yoga everyday for the past year only seemed like it was helping my running. Of course. Alex saw this as a red flag right away.
With the types of exercises that I was engaging in on a weekly basis, I was only extending ligaments and asking parts of my body (my knee) to over compensate. This then effected my IT band, more weight in my calfs, soreness, you name it. It's a vicious cycle.
After about 5 sessions with Alex - he not only identified the root cause of my pain, but trained me to run in a different pattern so I could alleviate the pain, without having to give up what I love. We took everything in phases, added in weights, combined static movements with real time workouts and in no time, I was back. To this day pain or not, I have shifted the way I run bc he has taught to me always look ahead. Alex sees prevention of injury like no one else I have ever met.
I am not a very optimistic person when it comes to my body, bc I am very in tune with how it wants operate, or not operate for that matter. I was completely in awe when I made it through my first 30 min. From January 25th, when I tried to run a 5K and made it 5 min, to about mid February, I was running about 25-30 min. and now, I can run over an hour with no knee pain.
Alex sees things and connections that no one else I have ever see does. I went to 2 different knee specialists who were runners themselves and left with very little optimism, and zero improvement. Alex has a holistic approach to the body that cannot necessarily be taught. It's in his intuitive nature and he sees the way in which body connects. This knowledge that he has is why he can not only guide people to overcome their injuries, but can advise on how to avoid degenerative tendencies that come with age, overuse, and in my opinion... a passion for your sport.
I couldn't be more thankful for his knowledge, expertise and precision when it comes to the human body and protecting it for the rest of the active I life I have. Thanks Alex! :) read more
