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Kickstart Your
Healing
Get inspired by real stories of Tension Myositis Syndrome Recoveries
"As soon as I started working with Alec, my recovery took off"
George Hoffmann
Chronic ankle, shoulder, back,
knee & elbow pain
Winner - Ironman Victoria 70.3 2025
ROKA STNDRD RACING TEAM
Los Angeles, USA
George winning the Victoria 70.3 Ironman in 2025!
Meet George, an Ironman-winning triathlete who battled two years of relentless chronic pain, plaguing his ankles, knees, shoulders, back, and elbows, hindering both his athletic performance and daily life. Once we started to work together, George's journey to recovery skyrocketed. Within months, he eliminated his chronic pain, surpassing his previous level of performance with newfound confidence. Redirecting the energy once consumed by pain towards his passion, George's remarkable transformation, both physically and mentally, remains an enduring testament to his resilience and ongoing growth.
Click the video above to hear from George in his own words! Or click below to watch our entire YouTube interview!
"I really felt my days of doing the things I loved most were over. But I've returned to many of the activities I previously could not and remain optimistic for the future."
Ben Garland
Chronic Leg Muscle Spasms
Cyclist
Arizona, USA
My name is Ben and I was a competitive age group triathlete for many years. As I became more competitive I begun to experience what I later realized were TMS symptoms. For me this was muscle spasms/pain primarily in the upper leg. This progressed to a level where it would prevent me from performing basic functions of my normal life, not to mention took me out of racing. I tried every medical test under the sun and spent over $10,000 on tests, screenings, MRI's, etc... I even had one doc tell me I likely had early onset ALS or MS. I really felt my days of doing the things I loved most were over. I first found Dr. Sarno's literature which led me to Alec through a fellow athlete who had achieved recovery. My work with Alec was profound and highly effective. I made progress physically and took huge leaps forward on a deeper personal level all of which helped reduce symptoms. I've returned to many of the activities I previously could not and remain optimistic for the future.
Watch the full interview with Ben by clicking the video above! ​
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"I was able to go from not being able to walk more than 30-40 steps to walking over 13,000 steps without pain in less than 3 weeks! I can’t believe this transformation can happen. It’s the best money I’ve ever spent on my health!"
Nune Sargsyan
Chronic Groin Pain
Kentucky, USA
Enduring two years of debilitating groin pain, Nune's world was constrained to mere steps, robbing her of the joys of dance, basic errands, and visits to her loved ones despite exhausting every medical avenue. Our paths converged shortly after her hip replacement, amidst lingering discomfort.
In just three weeks, Nune underwent a staggering metamorphosis. From the agony of taking a mere 30-40 steps, she emerged triumphant, conquering 13,000 pain-free strides. Soon, she reclaimed her ability to journey internationally to visit her family, bolster her self-assurance, and even enhance her sleep quality.
Watch the full interview with Nune to learn about her awe-inspiring transformation!
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"I did not expect to be able to run, exercise, and live fatigue-free again!"
Edel Jordan
Chronic Fatigue
Coach & Entrepreneur
Ireland
Edel suffered from a severe bout of chronic fatigue, which started in 2016, and included 6 months in bed. Years later, she improved to the point of being able to work again, but she felt constrained - she needed to rest, and schedule her day to avoid fatigue. She thought that would be her ceiling. But within 3 weeks, she was running and strength training, able to live life freely again. Edel's confidence levels "skyrocketed" as she learned that she's in control, able to feel her emotions and sit with them instead of pushing them away, and returned to the essence of who she was - a strong and brazen woman.
Click the video above to hear from Edel in her own words!
"After not being able to walk for 5 minutes without stopping because of pain, I'm now doing 15 mile family hikes again. It's the best investment I've made since seeing Eckhart Tolle live!"
John Kenny
Chronic ankle, shoulder, knee, neck, & hand pain
Scotland, UK
Meet John, who endured nearly three decades of chronic pain in various parts of his body including his ankles, shoulders, knees, neck, and hands. When we started working together, John struggled to peel a single carrot or swim more than 10 strokes. He needed special modifications to his car, and had to use the airport assistance line whenever he flew.
John's transformation was truly dramatic. Within weeks of working together, his pain started to decrease and the stories about what he believed his body was capable of fell away. Within months, he unlocked a newfound level of freedom in his body, embarking on hour-long runs, all-day hikes, and mile-long swims. Now largely pain free, his physical feats - like a 100 mile bike ride and running a marathon - continue to push boundaries in an inspirational and incredible way.
Click the video above to watch our interview and learn how John achieved his remarkable transformation.
"I feel reborn. I'm not only back in my life but I'm excited about it again!"
Charlotte Burton
Chronic Lower Back Pain & Sciatica
Scotland
Charlotte was practically bed-bound with lower back pain and sciatica for nearly a year, diagnosed with prolapsed discs and annular fissures. She went from living an active life to being “stopped dead in her tracks.” She was 100% convinced that her symptoms were caused by the issues found on her MRI. But when she didn’t respond to the prescribed treatments, Charlotte kept searching and discovered TMS. Within two months of working with Alec, she came to fully understand that her symptoms were entirely neuroplastic — and that the prolapsed discs and annular fissures weren’t the true cause of her pain. Her pain began to subside, she developed a toolkit to navigate it, and increased her emotional awareness so that stress and tension no longer build up. In her words, she's been reborn. She’s even getting back on a horse for the first time in 15 years!
Click the video above to hear from Charlotte in her own words, or click HERE to listen to her extended interview.
"I played Division 1 baseball, but was in a spasm nearly every day, which kept me off the field. Alec has completely changed my life."
Max Toporek
Chronic Back, Hip & Neck Pain & Spasms
Division 1 Baseball Player, University of San Francisco
"I’ve struggled with major back spasms for the past three years. During that time, I played Division 1 baseball but was in a spasm nearly every day, which kept me off the field. I spent hours in physical therapy with no real diagnosis. Eventually, doctors told me I needed double hip surgery. I left school, got the surgeries, and spent a year recovering, only for the spasms to return even worse.
It became absolutely debilitating. I attempted a comeback for two months, but the spasms left me nearly paralyzed every other day. Finally, spine specialists told me I’d never play again, or even jog due to herniated discs.
I was desperate when I discovered Dr. Sarno’s work, and a week later, I found Alec. We got to work immediately.
In just two months, he gave me the tools to express emotions, create safety in my body and mind, and return to every physical activity I once thought was impossible.
Alec has completely changed my life. He was deeply present during our sessions and genuinely invested his time and energy into my healing—both during and outside of our work together. 11/10 experience."
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Click the video above to hear about Max's comeback in his own words
"I can't believe that just a few months ago, I struggled to walk from my front door to the car, and now I am living a full life again."
Maya Ganesh
Long COVID / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
England
I was diagnosed with long covid / chronic fatigue in February 2025 after a suspected viral infection. Prior to this, I was someone who was very active, walking almost 15k steps a day, running and lifting 3 times a week, and was overall very healthy.
Unfortunately, my symptoms - mainly consisting of extreme exhaustion - completely stopped me in my tracks, leaving me housebound for several months and close to bedbound by May 2025. I was unable to walk properly, socialise, or work, and had to move in with my parents. I began working with Alec in June, and now in late September - I walk over 10k steps a day, moved back to my home abroad, work full time, see friends regularly, and live completely independently. I can't believe that just a few months ago, I struggled to walk from my front door to the car, and now I am living a full life again.
My main advice to someone reading this - do not let go of the faith that you will recover, and allow yourself to move through challenges as they come. I always had a deep belief that this will work for me, and that carried me through the whole recovery process. I also realised that the symptoms are just a small a part of this journey; it's actually so much more about developing a deeper relationship with yourself.
" I just can't get over that I am running without pain. And the more mileage I add the better I feel....I would not be doing this if not for working with you. I would be stuck in fear."
Lisa F.
Grade 4 Knee Osteoarthritis
Lisa, a lifelong runner and nurse, was diagnosed with grade-4 osteoarthritis in her knee after it suddenly swelled up before a race. Her doctor told her she shouldn’t run downhill, shouldn’t run on back-to-back days, and shouldn’t exceed a few miles at a time. For years she followed advice like getting cortisone and hyaluronic acid injections and focusing on anti-inflammatory diets — but the fear of causing more harm never left.
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Eventually, Lisa began to question whether those warnings were true. She noticed her knee pain flared more during stressful times, especially after a major life change, and she started researching whether running really worsened arthritis. What she found surprised her: there was no evidence that running damages joints — and, in fact, movement might help.
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That realization led her to explore the mind-body connection and understand how the brain can amplify pain through fear. When we began working together, she learned to observe her symptoms, connect them to stress, and most importantly, trust her body again instead of fearing it.
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Today, Lisa runs freely — even tripling her weekly mileage, running on back-to-back days, and feeling stronger and calmer than she thought possible.
She describes the shift as giving up the worry that she was “making something worse” and discovering that nothing actually got worse. For her, the process has been transformational — physically, mentally, and emotionally.
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Click the video above to hear about Lisa's comeback in her own words
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"In just a month, my debilitating back pain decreased significantly!"
Malkie Rothman
Chronic Back Pain
New York City, USA
I began working with Alec after seven months of debilitating back pain from two herniated discs -- and no relief from physical therapy, chiropractor, acupuncture, etc. Despite uncertainty about a mind-body approach, I figured I had nothing to lose. I am so glad I went for it. I gained valuable insight into the connection between thoughts/emotions and physical well-being -- and the scientific data to back it up. More significantly, in just a month, my pain decreased significantly, allowing me to resume activities like running, yoga, and tennis. Alec is an incredibly thoughtful person and super knowledgeable, exactly the combination you want for this type of work.
"I'm back to a normal training load and racing again"
Isaac Hergott
High Hamstring Tendinopathy & Hip Pain
Triathlete
Illinois, USA
"For several months, I was struggling with high hamstring tendinopathy. Despite many different physical interventions and time away from training, I couldn't get past it and was particularly struggling with pain sitting. As an avid triathlete I was very frustrated and almost ready to give up on the season. It wasn't until I started learning about neuroplastic pain and working with Alec that things started to actually change. I have learned how strong my mind body connection is and how much my body follows my brain's expectations. I have gained much more appreciation for how strong my body is and that movement is not harmful - my body was made to move. It wasn't instant, but after working with Alec I am barely thinking about sitting discomfort anymore and am back to a normal training load and racing again. I would really encourage anyone who finds themself fearing injury or struggling with pain lingering longer than makes sense to consider with an open mind what role the brain and your emotions could be playing- you might be surprised!
"I now exercise without fear!"
Katrina Seidman
Chronic Headaches, Migraines, Upper Back, And Hip Pain
Baltimore, MD
I have migraines and upper back pain and now hip pain, lol. I grew up dancing almost daily, and now enjoy all sorts of physical activity on a regular basis. Before coaching, I feared exercise and limited myself to certain times of day and certain intensity levels so that I would minimize my symptoms being triggered.
Coaching with Alec has allowed me to not fear my symptoms and to not fear exercise, as this was keeping me stuck. I now exercise without fear and encourage my symptoms to come so that I can retrain by brain that I'm safe and I'm in control of my nervous system so that my symptoms reduce.
I now don't worry about missing experiences with my kids because "mommy is laying down in pain." I also focus on fun and setting boundaries with others as needed, in addition to expressing my emotions in a safe way using the resources Alec has provided. I have learned to be my own advocate and guide, choosing how to respond to symptoms and emotions in a way that works for me, and not in a way that is dictated by certain TMS experts. Alec encouraged me to believe that no one has all the answers to curing chronic pain and only we can truly know what we need and how to get through this pain journey because we are the ones living in our bodies and relating to it on a daily basis.
I have switched from turning outward for answers to turning inward. If you are unsure of who to work with, I highly recommend Alec. He is humble, honest, and authentic, and he knows a lot. He has been a safe space for me during this time; which was surprising to me as a sensitive female. Do yourself a favor and sign up! You will not regret it.
"After suffering with migraines for 15 years, I've learned to stop them in their tracks."
Claire Joyce
Chronic Migraines
Ireland
"I had suffered from migraines since I was a teenager. I believed something was physically wrong with me, and was always fearful of when my migraines would strike again. Over the course of a month’s coaching with Alec, I learned what truly triggered my migraines - not my perceived allergies - but my repressed emotions. The transformation has lasted - it's been well over a year since I took a painkiller for a migraine. I was very resistant to this entire concept at first, but with Alec’s initiative and empathetic approach, I choose to trust myself and be curious about my physical sensations and pain. Trust your curiosity, too.”
6 Pillars of a Pain Free Comeback
Countless individuals have not only become healthy and pain free, but also reduced mental pressure and achieved next-level performance thanks to the principles of the Pain Free Comeback Program. Those that embark on the transformational journey learn the below skills, which serve them in all walks of life.
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"I was initially quite skeptical that mindbody techniques could help me with my pain... I'm blown away by the results."
Saahil S.
Chronic Shoulder & Lower Back Pain
Weightlifter & Martial Artist
San Francisco, CA
"I had chronic pain for several years, in my shoulder and lower back. As a life long athlete, I have done endeavors from martial arts to weight lifting. When I got my chronic pain symptoms, they got so bad that I reached a point where all I could do was walk as exercise. I would also feel the need to do tons of stretching and foam rolling. Being able to resume movements that bring me joy, such as lift weights, running (which I hadn't been able to do in years) has been such a gift. No need to stretch and foam roll at all, thus saving me massive amounts of time in my day. I was initially quite skeptical that mind body techniques could help me with my pain. But through experiencing greater freedom in movement, I'm blown away by the results and recommend this to anyone that suffers from chronic pain. There is no downside to trying this. It is tough work, but is worth it, as most worthwhile things in life are.
"I had seen 5 physical therapists, 3 doctors, received cortisone injections, and even got arthroscopic knee surgery, but my knee was still in pain. Now I am squatting 100 lbs no problem!"
Emily T.
Chronic Knee Pain
Swimmer & Cyclist
San Francisco, CA
“When I had a conversation with Alec, I was suffering from knee pain for over two years, and was diagnosed with Runner’s Knee. I had seen 5 physical therapists, 3 doctors, received cortisone injections, and even got arthroscopic knee surgery, but was still in pain post-surgery. I wasn’t swimming, cycling, and was barely walking to manage flare-ups; I was even nervous to go into the office because it was too much walking.
After Alec introduced me to the idea that the ongoing pain may not be from a structural issue with my knee, but rather a learned response in my brain, my recovery was incredible. Within weeks, I went back to swimming, biking, hiking, and yoga, and even did a huge trip to Patagonia where I did a 5 day trek. Now I am squatting 100 lbs no problem! I really haven’t had knee pain for 9 months, aside from a single flare-up. I’m so grateful to have my life and hobbies back!”
Hi! I'm Alec.
And I was in constant pain just like you.
In 2011, I was diagnosed with a ruptured spinal disc. It ended my promising cycling career, and I withdrew from college - partially bedridden, depressed, and on strong painkillers.
I tried every physical treatment I could find - none worked.
My life changed when I discovered from a pioneering chronic pain doctor how the brain creates pain.
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I became pain free not by fixing my back, but by realizing nothing was wrong with it in the first place.
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I'm not special - tens of thousands of others have done the same.
Despite still having the same ruptured disc, I haven't had chronic back pain, or had to worry about my back, in over a decade.
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And using my Pain Free Comeback Methodology, I've empowered numerous athletes and chronic pain sufferers to create their own breakthroughs - without drugs, surgery, or physical treatments.
My mission is to change the way the world sees and treats chronic pain - from 'pain management' to 'pain free'.
