Transform Your Wellness

In my early 30s, I hurt my back skiing. When you're young and athletic, you just power through thinking the pain will go away. For the next 20 years, I did exactly that. I was functioning, yes but always in pain. Seeking back pain relief became a constant thought. 

By the time I hit my 50s, my condition had worsened dramatically. I was tweaking or throwing my back out at an alarming rate. Years of working at a desk, poor posture from the original injury, and the pull of gravity had taken their toll. I relied on pain pills and muscle relaxers just to keep up with things I loved—like golf and skiing. But I was running out of options. 

Determined to find a solution, I dropped 25 pounds, built up my core, walked 10,000 steps daily, attended physical therapy, and even leaned on chiropractic care. While all those efforts made me healthier, none of them broke the cycle of back pain. I was still throwing out my back regularly. 

Desperate for real back pain relief, I saw a neurosurgeon in 2022. After reviewing my MRI, he diagnosed me with L4/L5 disc herniations and spinal stenosis. We began prepping for surgery. However, while waiting for insurance approval, my surgeon made an unexpected suggestion: try Foundation Training. 

Skeptical but willing, I began the basic 12-minute Foundation Training routine six days a week. Within a month, my back started to feel different—better. I had a setback and threw it out once, but it felt like something was shifting. At my follow-up, my surgeon was encouraged and asked me to keep going. 

Six more weeks went by, and my back pain had decreased by over 80%. I could tie my shoes again without bracing myself like I was about to deadlift a piano. Eventually, the surgical path faded into the rearview mirror. 

Now, three years later, I haven’t thrown out my back once. I’m off all the meds. I golf and ski freely. I’ve even become a certified Foundation Training Instructor so I can help others find the same freedom. 

I recently retired and now live on Lake Oconee with my wife and four adult daughters when they visit. What’s next for me? Giving back and supporting others who live with back pain because I know just how isolating and unnecessary it can be. 

Foundation Training didn’t just ease my pain; it changed the way I move, breathe, and live. That’s why I share this story. Because sometimes the path away from pain isn’t a prescription, it’s permission to move differently, proving that movement matters.