Pressure Is The Point
CK (Chris ) Kidawski. Serious about the healing of pain.
It seems there’s hardly a day that passes without hearing someone complain of muscle pain. Stiff necks, aching backs, or tight hips, our bodies scream for relief. I personally suffer from tight hip flexors and an upper back riddled with knots so tight that a massage therapist once suggested I see a doctor. Talk about spiraling into a major panic. As an addict to physical challenges, and a regular at the gym, I am always seeking new techniques for not only training, but taking care of my body through stretching and recovery. A friend suggested I connect with CK (Chris) Kidawski to learn more about fascia and muscle pain from an expert. CK and I sat down for an enlightening conversation encompassing his path to healing his own pain, as well as helping others heal, and the emotional component to body aches.
CK’s energetic and gregarious nature commands attention. During our first phone conversation, his passion for physiology and healing was palpable. Immediately after our call ended, I stalked his instagram account; Pso_Rite. (CK currently works with PSO-RITE, which is a self massage tool designed to mimic the hand and elbow of a massage therapist.) Through instagram live videos, CK provides a roadmap for using the Pso-Rite product by educating viewers on how to relieve pain through applied pressure to muscles and fascia. (Fascia is a thin casing of connective tissue that surrounds and holds every organ, blood vessel, bone, nerve fiber and muscle in place.) In the direct and informative videos, CK answers questions posted by viewers,and there are some tough ones ranging from “Can I use the Pso-Rite system after surgery?”, to “How can I improve my breathing.”
CK’s journey began as a sporty teenage boy. He developed debilitating knee pain and although every doctor cleared him, citing no structural damage, CK’s severe pain persisted, as did his active lifestyle. In the years that followed, CK became a physical therapist, and a personal trainer to professional athletes as well as ordinary folks. He endured the pain for ten years until the suffering became unbearable and he was forced to embark on a journey to heal himself based on his background in physiology. “I read books and researched for three years to undo all the damage I had done. I finally regained the motility and mobility lost over the years.” says CK. When he opened his own gym, clients began asking for help relieving their pain and CK was prepared to help. After working on his own body, he knew exactly what to look for and how to release the soft tissue and fascia. “As I took on more clients, I also received more certifications in myoskeletal therapy, read books, and watched videos learning how to effectively heal my clients’ pain.” After twenty-three years of experience CK has much to offer his clients and instagram followers.
“My first question to my clients is,“What hurts you?” says CK, “Even if a client's reply is ‘I have no pain,’ once the body becomes active or pressure is applied to certain areas, pain appears where hidden flaws already exist.” Recounts CK. We reviewed common misconceptions regarding pain and injuries and here are a few to consider:
1. The day you feel pain is NOT the day you were injured.
2. Wherever you think the pain is, it likely is not.
3. You're going to be in as much pain as your activity level. Activity and exercise exposes existing injuries.
Whatever workout, or sport we participate in, it is bound to damage muscles, therefore rest and massage are vital to rebuilding the muscle tissue between activities. Recovery between workouts is key to reducing injury and pain. CK suggests a training routine which consists of thirty minutes of mobility work prior to a strenuous workout, and completing a workout with a light stretch. He also believes the best way to end the day is with fifteen minutes of mobility work to release the tensions of the day. When we stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system through pressure, we can rest more effectively.
There are small steps that everyone can take to improve their life and increase blood flow into your muscles to reduce pain. CK recommends the following strategies:
1. Apply some kind of pressure into your body everyday. A foam roller, or even a tennis ball will do the trick. Pressure tells the fascia web to loosen up and relax.
2. Sleep! Try to mimic the sun. Go to bed early and wake up with the sun. Staying up late watching netflix is a good habit to kick.
Pain is not only a result of physical activity. Emotional trauma, anger, nervousness, sadness, all contribute to our muscle aches and pains. Our emotions can cause tensions to remain trapped in the fascia, ready to create big problems. In addition to unresolved emotional stress, CK points out, “We feed our body toxins, such as sugar and alcohol and then we ask why we have pain.” From years of experience, CK believes if emotions are not dealt with properly they can contribute to pain. “Not everyone wants to address their emotions.” says CK, “People aren't comfortable with themselves, they’re not comfortable with their own body.” CK’s initial client intake addresses a clients life as a whole. The intimate sessions include questions which may reveal emotional triggers contributing to a client’s pain.
While we likely won’t stop our workouts, or active sports, CK is on a mission to educate and heal. His partnership with the PSO-RITE product line is a first step to sharing his knowledge and experience with a broader audience. With over a hundred thousand followers, CK seems to be well on the path to impacting those suffering from pain. Tune into CK’s instagram live on the @PSO_RITE account to see how you can get your soft tissue and muscles in 2021 off to a healthy start.
Check out CK’s books and social media :
https://www.amazon.com/Christopher-J.-Kidawski/e/B01MS6TXCV%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share
Instagram: @PSO-RITE