03 Dec My Pain No Longer Defines Me…
My Pain No Longer Defines Me, I Have Taken Back the Reins of My Life
For a long time, pain felt like it was in charge of my life. It dictated how I moved, how I slept, and how fully I could take part in each day. I followed every route I was offered, doctors, physios, consultants, and eventually surgeries hoping something would finally make a difference. I did the exercises, stretched, worked on mobility, believing that if I just did “enough”, the pain would disappear.
But it didn’t, it lingered and returned as different injuries over many years. I lived with frustration and fear, convinced my body was working against me. I began to believe this was simply how life was going to be, that I was the person who stayed on the sidelines “just in case.”
A Very Important Realisation
What I didn’t realise then was that my pain wasn’t the enemy, it was information. My body was trying to communicate, but I didn’t yet know how to listen. That changed when I discovered the work of Joanne Elphinston, who taught me the principles of beautiful, supported movement. It reshaped how I approached my body, my learning, and my life. From that point on, I stopped trying to “out-train” pain and started understanding what my body needed from me.
And with that, things began to shift.
I started to feel more at home in my body.
Daily tasks became easier.
Exercise became something I could trust instead of fear.
My confidence returned.
I took back the reins.
The Approach That Changed My Path
My personal and professional journey is rooted in the Joanne Elphinston Movement System (JEMS), which completely reshaped how I see the body. It taught me that movement isn’t mechanical — it’s human. It’s physical, emotional, cognitive, and social. It is how we express ourselves in the world.
My approach brings together what is now many years of movement expertise, coaching, and my own lived experience to support the whole person, helping the body feel safe, capable, and confident to move well. Real progress doesn’t come from doing more, It comes from understanding your body, responding to what it needs, and building movement that genuinely supports you.
Today – Helping Others Take Back Their Own Reins
Now, I work as a healthy movement practitioner. I support people who feel limited, stuck, or unsure where to turn next. People who have tried classes, exercises, stretches, or rehab plans, yet still don’t feel safe or confident in their bodies.
My work is about helping them rebuild trust — not just in movement, but in themselves.
When you know how to move well:
- Exercise feels possible again
- Fear starts to loosen its grip
- Everyday life gets easier
- You get to do the things you love without second-guessing your body
Pain Doesn’t Get the Final Word
My pain no longer defines me.
It doesn’t decide my limits, my movement, or my life.
And I want others to feel that shift too.
Because when we move with understanding, we don’t just exercise with confidence, we live with confidence. We reclaim choice – We reclaim freedom – We reclaim ourselves.
And that is what Powered By You is all about. Not fixing you but helping you discover what’s already possible when your body is supported, understood, and trusted.
If you’re curious about what healthy movement could look like for you, let’s start the conversation. You don’t need a perfect plan; this is your first step to taking back the reins.