Workshop Participant Reviews

1. When the Pain Science Course was offered in Winnipeg in the fall of 2011, I was fortunate to have attended it and to experience the teaching style of Neil Pearson.  His easy approach to a complex issue was a very welcome resource.

As a nurse working in a women’s health clinic with women who have persistent pelvic pain, I have used his material in a course designed to educate and support women in their self management of pain. The participants were as excited about this information as I was. Thank you Neil.

Lynn Crocker Loat, RN BA, WHC, Wpg, Mb

 

2.  I was first introduced to Neil Pearson in 2008 where he presented for a concurrent educational session at a CPA National Congress in Ottawa. I had heard about some of the new research in pain sciences and that Neil was initiating the process to become a Division within CPA a few years earlier. What he spoke of in 50 minutes that day was profoundly amazing.

Despite our years of anatomical and neuro-physiological study, we often lack understanding of  the chronic pain or persistant pain phenomenon. We have struggled to have a modality that allowed us to achieve a level of understanding that could easily be shared with patients as an educational resource, and at the same time be empowered to utilize this knowlege as a treatment tool. Mr Pearson's presentation essentially opened the door to that new dimension in clarifying the chronic pain mystery we often face in clinical practice. Mr Pearson outlined the plastic changes within the brain and the desensitization processes through his innovative clinical skills, this shared with a packed auditorium that day.

Mr Pearson offers a truly insightful and clinically useful educational experience. I would highy recommend his lectures and presentations as essential core competencies to any professional involved in persistant pain conditions.

Sincerely,
Brian Hiscock,  BSc PT, LPT   
President, PEI Branch of The Canadian Physiotherapy Association, 2010

3. I just wanted to thank you so much for the course this past weekend. I cannot get over how valuable I found it and how much it can relate to so many different settings and truly not just a chronic pain setting. I haven't attended a course in such a long time that I found more valuable and will be able to apply so quickly.

I just wanted to express my gratitude and I truly found a great piece of my puzzle that I have been missing with so many of my patients. Thank you again, I haven't started raving about this course and I know there would be demand again if you decided to come back to Edmonton. Thanks.
Allison Gaudet PT,Registered Physiotherapist, Edmonton, AB.
September, 2009

4. The Pain Sciences course, taught by Neil Pearson, has been extremely useful for me working with clients in both Physiotherapy outpatients and in occupational rehabilitation programs. His course offered thought-provoking techniques, and gave me a very different paradigm from which to work. Neil taught insights on working with specific clients who present with pain but show minimal evidence of mechanical tissue diagnosis. I now teach them how to control their nervous system in a positive way, to lessen their pain and improve overall function.  The results continue to be quite significant.  I wish that these techniques were a part of my original training 14 years ago!

Neil Pearson’s teaching style lends itself well to this difficult subject and made the weekend thoroughly enjoyable! ***I would highly recommend this course for all therapists or doctors who work with clients who have pain.
Clarice Bower, B.Sc. P.T.,Registered Physiotherapist, Kelowna, BC
February 2007

5. Neil Pearson’s depth of knowledge and experience enables him to present a complex and detailed model of pain that is understandable and interesting. He generates excitement for the concepts as well as hope for gaining influence over pain. 
Arlene D. Cox, Ph.D., C.Psych.Canmore, 2006.  Dr. Cox has been working with clients in pain for over 11 years and is the past- director of the Canmore Pain Clinic
 

Product Reviews

1. Overcome Pain with Gentle Yoga, Level 1
Unfortunately for many people living with chronic pain finding effective solutions to reduce the pain can be difficult. Medications, even when initially effective often wane over time, and other interventions may only provide temporary relief. Many people in this situation begin to realize that chronic pain is something they must live with. Patients find that Yoga and breathing techniques can, when practiced over time, provide one component of pain relief. One patient, initially a skeptic, provided this insight when I asked her if her pain was any better. She said "I don't know if my pain is any better, Dr. Squire, but I am much better with my pain." Neil's excellent  DVD provides gentle, effective techniques for breathing and movement that anyone with chronic pain can learn to do. I highly recommend it.
Dr. Pam Squire, MD, Assitant Clinical Professor UBC, 2010

2. Overcome Pain with Gentle Yoga, Level 1 and Audio CDs
Hurt versus Harm is a difficult concept that I have taught my patients for 25 years: they don’t always believe me that they won’t harm themselves as they become more active.  However, our understanding of brain neurophysiology has grown leaps and bounds, but getting these difficult concepts through to our patients still remains a challenge.  Neil’s educational tools have bridged this gap in clinical practice.  He has developed simple, patient-friendly tools to not only educate our patients, but practical tools, as well, to help down-regulate their central nervous system’s response to their injury.  I use the whole gamut of tools that Neil has developed including the “Understand Pain, Live Well Again” materials, as well as the deep breathing CD, Body Awareness CD, and his latest and much anticipated addition, Overcome Pain with Gentle Yoga.  My patients find them very helpful, and they now have the confidence to “reset their alarm system” to achieve their goals of living well, with less pain.
Carolyn Vandyken, PT. Cambridge, ON. 2010

3. Overcome Pain with Gentle Yoga, Level 1
My multidisciplinary team of health professionals has taught me that the more you understand your pain the better you are able to manage it, and that treatment cannot replace what you must learn to do for yourself.  I left the DVD “Overcome Pain with Gentle Yoga” on the bookshelf, where it sat within my view for several months, until I felt ready to add something new to my current repertoire of pain management strategies.  Beginning yoga felt like the next step, but it was intimidating since my friends who practiced yoga were already fit and flexible. I could not envision a place for me in any of their programs or classes. 

When I watched the DVD “Overcome Pain with Gentle Yoga” I noticed the gentle, matter-of-fact calm that pervades the introductory explanation and the three highlighted yoga routines.  Listening to the introduction was key to “taking the plunge” and having the confidence to try something new.  Having a supersensitive neuromatrix  I could relate to Neil’s explanations about what happens in the nervous system when pain persists, and visualize how adopting and developing my yoga practice could have an impact on making my nervous system less reactive and less sensitive, thereby decreasing my chronic pain.  

I started by watching the sessions several times and just worked at breathing in sync with the DVD.  I have worked extensively with my two physiotherapists and massage therapist on developing breath awareness in lying, sitting and standing, so I was confident incorporating what I had learned from my experience into the three routines featured on the DVD.  Next I zeroed in on the positions and the rhythmic pacing of each series of movements.  I tried practising some movement patterns from each section.  I knew I had to add towels and pillows to hold a position and be comfortable.  I recognized from my previous guided core exercise routines and 1:1 rehab aquafit that I can easily recruit the wrong muscles to make the movements, and have difficulty deciding when to keep going and when to pull back.  Muscle tension is a HUGE hurdle for me.

So after familiarizing myself with the DVD I became determined to incorporate yoga practice into my pain management treatment plan, but realized that I would need individual lessons. What I appreciate the most about my practical introduction to yoga through the DVD “Overcome Pain with Gentle Yoga” is learning firsthand that yoga is not just another exercise routine, but a whole mind-body experience.

 I researched yoga classes in my area.  I found an inspiring yoga teacher and have started one-to-one yoga therapy sessions aimed at moving my body in its optimal range without pain, and to develop better balance, stability and flexibility with the intent to move into a therapeutic group class down the line.  As Neil summarized in the DVD, “repetition, persistence and patience” are keys to creating positive changes in the body and mind. Incorporating yoga has widened my perspective and facilitated my moving forward physically and emotionally along my chronic pain journey.

Cathryn Morgan is the author of GrrrOUCH!  Pain is like a grouchy bear, a children’s non-fiction book about coping with physical and emotional pain.  The book encourages children to express their emotions and describe their feelings, impacting positively on mental health and physical well-being.  GrrrOUCH!  Pain is like a grouchy bear is a great discussion tool for adults with pain in explaining to their children and grandchildren about the adult’s pain.  The book has won two awards, Pain Awareness Award 2011 from the Canadian Pain Society and Canadian Pain Coalition, and the Children’s Literature Award 2011 from the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario.  It is available for $12.95 from her website at www.cathrynmorgan.com.