Testimonials Page 2
Raven Isidore, business development manager, age 30
I have lived with scoliosis for most of my life. My top curve is at 31.4 and bottom curve is at 36.5. I have lived with constant back pain and issues. Standing too long, sitting too long, and laying too long all caused pain to flare up. This definitely effected my sleep, constant tossing and turning. Hours of sleep, lost.
Along with the pain, being a young woman I was always self conscious about how the scoliosis made my figure look. This has all been things I have just accepted will be my life forever.
I was in a car accident a year ago that left me with 4 herniated discs. My back pain became more frequent along with episodes where I was just stuck. Unable to move or be comfortable in any position.
After my first visit with Elena I began to notice an immediate difference in my back pain. After 2 visits I began noticing a difference in my actual figure! After 4 visits my fiancé began to notice as well!
I have drastically less chiropractic visits and no flare ups with my back going out or neck/shoulder getting stuck.
I also have HORRIBLE cramps and one of my appointments landed on a day where I was calling to reschedule my appointment for the day and Elena explained that her work could possibly help reduce the pain. She was not lying. My cramps usually leave me bedridden for the first day and I was walking out without pain.
All my life I thought my back issues could only be fixed with surgery. Elena has completely taken surgery out of the equation. I feel like a new person without back pain and a new women with a figure I am excited about!
Skyler, military, age 34
Elena is the best therapist I’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing. She takes a very methodical approach in the way she cares for her clients which creates an incredible atmosphere. Not only did I feel my best after a few sessions with Elena but even after moving away from the area she has given me the tools to take care of myself.
Her office is always very comfortable and cozy and her manner is very sincere and professional. I can’t recommend her healing hands enough!! If you’ve never tried myofascial release or if you’ve tried it before and it wasn’t that great, I promise you won’t be let down by Elena!
Karen Reda, retired educational administrator, age 70
When I first heard a friend rave about the body work she was doing with Elena, I asked her about and was told it is called Somatic Life Coaching. I didn't know what it was but I knew Elena and trusted her. I started the work.
Elena is an amazing, kind, compassionate therapist. She also has a natural intuitive ability. In just 3 sessions Elena was able to lead me through and clear blocks that had been with me a very long time. She is a very gifted therapist.
Natalie Ellis, medical doctor, age 45
I recommend Elena to all my patients who require myofascial therapy. She is extremely knowledgeable and caring. My holistic patients are improving with her thorough approach.
Melina Santos, mental health professional, age 30
I don’t know where to begin to talk about the immense change Elena has made in my life and my own healing. So, I will start from the beginning :) My first session with Elena occurred 2 years ago, just a few days after I had lost my grandmother. I had scheduled the session prior to that unexpected event, but it was the perfect timing and the perfect start to kick off my healing journey beyond the mental and spiritual, and into the emotional and physical. I had been on a search for something more, something beyond self-help books, psychotherapy, psychics, and reiki because I felt that there was more to healing than that. I happened upon myofascial release therapy by the ways of the universe, and then Elena through a local search. From start to finish, Elena is on another level of intuition and empathy. She is such a gentle and calm soul that just her presence makes you want to let go of all the restraints that we unconsciously hold onto in our day to day and KNOW that she will be there to catch you and hold a safe space when you do.
I have worked with her in person and through zoom, and it has been one of the most empowering experiences of my life. I like to think of myofascial release therapy as a blend between conscious stretching and movement and hands-on healing. When I see Elena in person, she is able to tune into my body in the areas where I am holding on to stuck emotions that no other professional would have otherwise been able to access. You don’t even have to talk about what you’re coming in for, because she will tune into it by making observations on how you hold your body and any present imbalances she notes. Elena’s hands are warm throughout the sessions, which exemplified the healing energy that she has as she’s doing the work. She is extremely gentle while doing work that can be very uncomfortable and at any time is able to stop or ease off if it’s too much.
After my first session, I felt like a completely different person, not only physically, but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. It’s like she deflated all the tension that was attached to my fears and day-to-day stressors, and gave me a sense of relief of the part of me that is NOT me. I was able to speak my truth in ways that I couldn’t have before and helped me become more self-aware of my body and how my emotions impact it. She helped me release the grief I was feeling from the loss of my grandmother, and many other forms of grief I think I had been holding onto for most of my life. Since then, I see Elena at least once a month and I always feel rejuvenated and how I know I’m supposed to feel within my body.
During our zoom sessions, Elena is focused on teaching you myofascial therapeutic techniques that you can do on your own when engaging in self-care. Every time I think that I’ve learned it all or I’ve experienced it all, something else gives me a new sense of empowerment and relief in my life that allows me to be more present and at peace; that is what Elena’s self-care session have done for me, especially during the COVID crisis (when we can’t go out and seek our typical healing practices in person). She has taught me how to just remove the restraints I had on my body from expressing itself, and allowing it to do what it wants because your body truly knows what it needs, and it’s our job to listen to it and let it do its thing. I don’t even know how to explain it because you simply have to do it. I have deepened my relationship with my body in a way I never thought was even possible and feel an immense sense of empowerment because I can heal myself now.
I consider Elena to be a critical part of my spiritual healing team I have and I am forever grateful for the impact she has made in my life.
Alexander Littell, technical software sales, age 48
I'll try to keep this very short although I could probably write a book about my journey by this point. I cannot recommend Elena more highly and encourage anyone who is experiencing chronic pain and/or limited mobility to seek her out.
I was at my wit's end with lower back issues that were getting worse. I couldn't stand for more than five minutes without experiencing debilitating pain. I had tried many different ways to resolve these issues and was about to start researching surgical options although I am relatively fit and had never had any major accident or traumatic experience which precipitated my problem. Nevertheless, I couldn't take it anymore.
I decided to check out Elena as a last step before surgery and I'm so happy that I did. Over the period of a few weeks she has expertly assessed the situation and has worked on problems areas (spoiler alert: almost none were in my lower back) to help resolve a lot of the pain I was experiencing. I'm still working with her but I have my life back again. Thank you, Elena. You have been a true life saver!
Chenoa, clinical social worker and addictions counselor, age 45
I have lupus and a history of multiple abdominal surgeries. Joint and adhesion pain have been constants most of my life. While on vacation, as part of engaging in some much-needed self-care, I received a treatment from Elena. She began the session with education about MFR, fascia and a discussion about my concerns. Through our session, she provided not only competent and intuitive hands on body work, but also discussed how to effectively use a foam roller and ball for continued practice when I got home. My session with Elena inspired me to connect with a MFR practitioner in my home town, where I continued to progress in treating my pain.
When COVID-19 surfaced, I was no longer able to see my local practitioner. Luckily, Elena is now providing virtual coaching sessions. I have been able to continue in my journey of healing despite the limitations created by COVID-19. I have learned new unwinding techniques and we have had further discussion in the use of the foam roller and ball. One of the things I appreciate most about my sessions with Elena is her passion for MFR and her commitment to education in the field of MFR. She is a wealth of information and applies her knowledge to create a personalized experience for her clients. A session with Elena leaves you feeling like you’re not just another client, but someone whose concerns she has seriously considered and is invested in helping remedy.
Julie H, office manager, age 37
After a particularly challenging yoga class, I immediately knew something was wrong with my left shoulder. At first, I tried all of the typical things one does when faced with pain: ibuprofen, ice, rest, epsom salt baths, etc. with no reprieve. After 48 hours my left arm was useless and I reached my pain threshold. It was apparent the mystery pain that crept into my shoulder was going nowhere fast.
I called Elena at the recommendation of a friend, and while speaking to her on the phone, she quickly put much of my anxiety about seeing a non-traditional medical practitioner at ease. My first session meeting Elena and experiencing of myofascial release was exceptional. She listened to me and with tremendous care and talent, my frozen shoulder began to loosen with relief quickly following. During our two sessions, she also took the time to educate me on the sometimes-emotional condition of frozen shoulder as well as aftercare.
Elena’s dedication to the practice of myofascial release produced a tremendous benefit for me when I was in a great deal of pain and discomfort. I urge anyone who is suffering to seek out her care.
Allison, student, age 32
Elena is a conscious, patient listener and takes time to carefully consider before responding or offering her opinion. She draws on a wide range of experience and learning along with strong intuition and body-centered knowing. I love how she is able to both be compassionate and direct, realistic and kind, grounded and expansive. In our sessions I never feel rushed and nothing is too small to be overlooked nor too big to be acknowledged and addressed with kindness. She is very perceptive too - often she sees patterns and underlying issues that I would have never thought to consider, and she has helped me greatly on my journey towards greater self-awareness, well-being, and healing.
Lisa L, stay at home mom, age 41
I would highly recommend, Elena and MFR. I’ve struggled with back pain and tension for years that would come and go. Over the years I tried everything, including physical therapy, chiropractic adjustment, massage, acupuncture, heat, ice, you name it. Things would help, but never permanently.
I finally decided to give MFR a try, and it worked! Elena helped me understand how interconnected my whole body is. Pain in one place can actually be from tightened up fascia in another place. Over several months of work, we got things corrected. Elena also taught me strategies I could do on my own at home. Now I use these strategies for maintenance. Highly recommend!
Bryce E, technology executive, age 46
Elena does a remarkable job of assessing and treating very complex issues, holistically. I can describe symptoms (most related to extreme impact trauma from 25 years ago), she quickly ascertains the causal chain and goes about remedying the issue. Always pleasant and professional. As tough as the path to healing can be in some cases, she offers a serene space that is perfect for getting your mind and spirit in a state to enable healing. If you knew enough to look for myofascial work, you found have found a rare practicioner in Elena.
Shay M, educator, age 56
Elena is very perceptive. Her warmth and presence allow for a lot of powerful healing. Her body work experience supports her coaching even in distance work through inquisitive movement practices that helped me with personal transformation. I highly recommend her work.
Ricardo Arcetti, engineer, age 43
As a result of a surgery 18 years ago, I have been dealing with low back and hip pain for a while, to a point that the pain became normal. I had been treated monthly for a couple of years with different types of bodywork, those treatments helped me to certain degree, but after starting my first session with Elena, I have a totally different experience with a lot of positive changes and I knew then that I was finally in the right direction for my whole body healing.
Elena is amazing. She understands the Whole Body, she focuses on the body as a whole and not as a separate parts, and I think that is what made the main difference in her treatment. Additionally and very important, she guides you to learn about yourself and how you can be a part of your own healing process. It is not easy, but she will walk you through it in each session.
I highly recommend Elena to anyone feeling hopeless from the physical pain or high stress levels. She is an expert in MFR and you will notice the difference after the first session.
Thank you Elena!!
Raluca Arcetti, bank associate, age 43
For many years, I suffered from headaches, neck and shoulder pain, and that caused me a lot of stress and anxiety. After trying different treatments, I am glad that I finally found Elena, because she helped me not only with the physical pain but to reduce and manage my stress levels and anxiety.
She is helping and teaching me how to understand and listen to my whole body. I felt the difference after the first session.
Elena is gifted, after each session, I felt renewed and very relaxed. She really understands how the body and mind work together in your own healing process.
I can’t recommend her highly enough!
Thanks Elena !! Looking forward for the next session!
Julie L, university professor, age 53
I met with Elena during the pandemic when I was feeling disconnected and battling anxiety. Over zoom, she was able to better connect me with my body through somatic life coaching, thus deepening my yoga and meditation practice. I’m so grateful for her help and can’t recommend her highly enough. If you’re hurting and are not sure why, call her today.
Alia Qureshi, teacher, age 50
Nobody could relieve me from my severe sciatica pain but she did. I highly recommend her. Thank You so much Elena. I am looking forward to more fascia release massages.
Russ, retired dental lab technician, age 65
After experiencing years of lower back pain from scoliosis and trying different modalities, ie, chiropractic, massage, rolfing, etc, what I found was none of the above could get me over the "hump".... out of pain.
After meeting Elena through a mutual friend and having her explain "myofascial release," it made sense to give her a try. And what I found is, through several treatments and me doing my part at home, I am now almost completely out of lower back pain.The feeling only comes back occasionally, and those times seem to be getting further apart...... Awesomeness!
Thank you so much Elena
Emmy A., nurse practitioner, age 52
Elena is so kind and compassionate, a rare soul. I wish we had more people like her in the health care field! She really takes the time to listen deeply and helps me uncover the root of what I'm experiencing. I have these amazing a-ha moments in every session, and it just keeps growing and deepening.
When I'm feeling exhausted and burnt out at work, a coaching session with Elena brings me back to myself and energizes me. I never needed this more than when the Covid-19 pandemic hit. Elena got me through some tough patches. Now, I get through the day more joyfully and easily and my relationships with my co-workers have improved. I feel more focused but also just plain happier and less rushed and pressured. It's spilling over into my relationships with my family as well and I notice that I'm able to handle stressful situations with much less drama and grief. What a relief!! My only regret is that I didn't start working with Elena sooner!!
Taylor S, corporate sales, age 30
Elena was highly, highly recommended to me by my friend and health coach who has come a long way with myofascial treatment. I have autoimmune diseases that cause inflammation and pain in my body and had never tried this method of body work, so I was excited to try it out! I barely made it to my first appointment because I was in so much pain that day. It was a high inflammation day with menstrual cramps and my lower abdomen and pelvic floor were hurting so much that I could hardly stand up.
I met Elena and said “I’m so sorry, I’m usually very chipper but I just can hardly stand, I probably should have rescheduled this appointment for when I was functioning a little better”. In the most calm and accepting voice she said that I came at the perfect time and that I was right where I needed to be.
Wow was she correct! My pain literally disappeared on the table from her work. I’ve never experienced such immediate and lasting relief before. I was in shock!! She is such a calm and caring soul. I looked forward to every session from that point forward. She is so incredibly skilled at what she does and her work is so important in helping the body heal. I’m just so beyond grateful that she was recommended to me!
Michael Oates, civil engineer, age 53
When I first saw Elena, I had been experiencing unknown pain in many parts of my body for 20 years, mostly shoulder impingement with forward head syndrome and tight hips. I have played many sports my entire life which has likely been a major contributor to my pain, between countless broken bones and general muscular trauma. And then the worst part - sitting a desk job for 30 years to allow everything to freeze up. My pain now had sidelined me from being active, which made me even more sedentary and sent me in a downward spiral, physically and mentally. I had previously taken MRI’s of my hips and shoulder and seen 5 orthopedics/neurologists and countless massage therapists, all of whom told me that nothing is technically wrong (nothing broken or torn) and they cannot help me, primarily because they don’t know what’s wrong. But something is wrong since I get shooting, debilitating pain in several parts of my body; they just don’t have the solution. And I don’t want to just take medications to calm the pain and not solve the actual problem.
Then, I discovered Myofascial Release and how it constricts the muscles, tendons and everything from moving, exactly what my problem is. I knew this was the solution to my pain!
I have just started my journey with Elena, and I am getting better every day. She truly is a holistic healer who can feel problem areas and energy restrictions and guide the body to heal itself through Myofascial Release. She genuinely cares about each patient and spends time to listen to each person’s unique issues which allows her to address each person individually. Elena has an incredibly deep understanding of Myofascial Release and applying it in various ways to revitalize the body’s natural healing capabilities. She has helped me reduce my pain, improve range of motion and gain an understanding of my myofascial issues which is guiding me on a path to regain my overall health. In the improvements I have made, I am back to playing competitive beach volleyball and tennis again, each week I am better and better. I am excited to continue to work with her on my journey back to health and youth. I highly recommend her to anyone in search for true healing. She is amazing!
Rebecca Bush, health coach, age 42
I have a strong passion for bodywork and it’s far-reaching positive effects on the holistic health of our bodies. I vehemently believe that releasing emotional traumas from our tissues is an important step to achieving full health and eliminating symptoms or reversing disease.
MFR was my most recent exploration in healing. When I became more physically active and started taking figure skating lessons, I noticed that I had many restrictions in movement. I could twist more to one side than the other side, one arm went higher than the other, my hips were very closed off. As I got better and wanted to achieve more in figure skating, I started to explore ways that I could self-correct after practice so I didn’t have to suffer until my next chiropractor or Visceral Manipulation appointment.
I also started to use the fascia blaster and foam roller. I was mainly focused on my very tight calves. I noticed that I would feel loser and more stable after fascia blasting or foam rolling, but I may end up with a more serious restriction in another part of my body, such as my lower back. At one point, my calves were very loose but I developed a sort of duck walk! The chiropractor was becoming less and less effective for me. It may help for 24 hours, but the rewards were never lasting and usually, once again, I would develop a tweak in another area of my body.
Knowing that the fascia blaster and foam roller had some positive impact on how I felt, I did an old-fashioned Google search on fascia. “Treatments that help fascia,” “How to heal fascia.” And then I stumbled upon the work of John F. Barnes and Myofascial Relief Therapy. I searched my area for a practitioner and called Elena Gournelos of Whole Healing Myofascial Release Therapy. After speaking with her about her philosophy, I made an appointment.
I have been receiving myofascial release therapy from Elena Gournelos monthly for about 8 months now and I can honestly say it has given me an enormous leap forward in my healing. It has helped my progress in my PTSD treatment dramatically. I have more overall mobility, less body-wide pain, less fatigue and I stay empowered versus waivering. I feel I have been able to work on aligning all the areas of myself that needed healing. The pain relief has been a game-changer in my quality of life. I deal with Celiac, Hashimoto’s and Pernicious Anemia and this has been the missing link for me.
I wish this for everyone, and Elena has a powerful touch, advanced skill-set and the gift of patient guidance. Highly recommend!
Izabella L, student, age 21
Elena is incredible. She is very welcoming and always made me feel comfortable. After meeting with her various times I can say that I've gained a lot of knowledge about my body and where my emotional stress is stored, as well as ways to correct my posture and reduce the tension in my body. I feel renewed whenever I leave her office! She also gave me a myofascial release ball to take home, and we talk about the various self release and relaxation techniques I could do at home to maintain if I want. I will definitely keep coming back :)
Mark Berntsen, retired, age 75
I had fallen out of bed due to a night time seizure and hit my right shoulder and upper back. I had also had fallen off a ladder several years ago and hurt my right hip. As a result I had severe persistent pain in the right shoulder, lower back, right hip and feet. My daughter told me about myofascial release and how the procedure could help. I had tried physical therapy, normal massage, dry needles and chiropractic manipulation. They would help in the short term but nothing more than one day.
I started going to Elena with a lot of questions about how this really worked and if it would help me. She gave a tutorial the first session about what myofascial release was all about. She assessed my overall body and decided what she would work on first.
After a few sessions my right shoulder pain for the most part subsided and I could live with the minor discomfort. At the same time, she worked on my lower back and that pain essentially went away much to my relief.
She was working on my hip pain until the virus shut everything down. I am still living with that but the foot pain has subsided enough that I can live with it.
She has helped me learn about myofascial self care techniques using ordinary therapy balls and a foam roller I bought online. This relieves a lot of tension in the chest area which helps to straighten my posture. I now stand upright and am again 6’ tall. I'm glad I have the self care techniques. It's what minimizes the pain while I have to stay at home because of the virus.
Overall I highly recommend Elena and myofascial release therapy to anyone. My daughter emphasized that I find a person trained by John Barnes. Elena is one of those persons. She also has a nice place for treatment and tries to get me to realize that my emotions have a lot to do with my pain.
I highly recommend Elena.
anonymous, corporate consultant, age 49
I value Elena's willingness to explore and discover together, willing to go into whatever is wanting and needing to be learned. Coaching with her is like going on an exciting, emotional adventure - it can be hilarious and we have a great time! She really helps me get into it with her infectious enthusiasm and presence.
One of the things I love the most about her is her voice. Peaceful, melodious and reassuring – her voice is like a safe nest, and I feel I can rest safely in the melody of it. She is also really spontaneous and can spot a new direction or something subtle and hidden that wants to be uncovered, and she's not afraid to go there, going wherever we need to go.
Recently I was exploring a part of me I called 'bad girl'. I had viewed her as the defiant part of me, that was selfish, and did what she wanted. Elena, through breathwork, movement and facing the fear, helped me arrive at the natural insight that 'bad girl' does this to protect me and put boundaries up to be treated respectfully. She was a less feminine part of me I had felt wasn't OK to express - I had internalised the message as a child that 'good girls don't express anger'. I've realised she's a much needed part of me to help me achieve wholeness. I renamed her 'powerful girl' and appreciate having her in my life.
I enjoy deep listening, calm holding, a boldness to enter unknown territory, have fun and laugh with Elena.
I O'M, linguistics professor, age 68
Although time permitted only three sessions with Elena, I can highly recommend her. I found myslef quickly trusting her holistic and knowledgeable approach coupled with skillful, gentle and effective treatment. I experienced improvement with each session. Thank you Elena.
Brenda, realtor, age 56
I highly recommend Elena. I was very impressed with her caring approach and effective treatment. I felt significantly better afterwards!
Lila M., artist, age 38
When I found Elena I was going through a really difficult period of my life, both in relationships and career, and looking for a way out and forward. I felt like I couldn't stand it any more and if I didn't make a change I would fall into a deep depression. I was scared to stay where I was but also scared of the unknown. I'm so grateful I stumbled across her website!
I started doing somatic coaching with her and it has made a huge
difference in my life. I'm learning to recognize when I get scared and self sabotage, and she's teaching me easy ways to get back on track whenever that happens. I'm making better decisions that are in alignment with **ME** and what **I** want as opposed to what everyone else wants, which is what I had been doing my whole life!!! I feel more optimistic and confident that I can make my dreams a reality. Elena is showing me how!!!
