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After a severe car accident, James worked on me consistently for 3 months. It helped
tremendously to realign my back and free up my pain. He also gave me suggestions
on how to sit, breathe, eat, stretch, etc. to speed the healing. A year later I
went to James because I had extreme lower back pain and nothing else seemed to work--
(herbs, yoga, acupuncture, massage, etc). In just a few sessions, James was able
to relieve the pain and I am now a big fan of James’ bodywork. I go back for preventative
maintenance every few months.
Rita G.
Vice President
Univision & Telefutura National Sales
Ten years ago I came to James with a severe case of cervical dystonia or torticollis,
basically a twisted neck. I had severe scoliosis in my spine that continued on up
into my neck. After weekly bodywork sessions and a daily yoga program that he set
up for me, I am happy to say my condition is greatly improved. My physical, mental,
emotional and spiritual growth has also amazed me. I am looking straight ahead,
instead of up to the sky and my alignment is almost normal. Most people wouldn’t
notice that I ever had a problem. James knows the anatomy and understands the connections
between body, mind and spirit. He uses that understanding to help you heal your
Self.
Jack W.
San Francisco
A year ago, I fell down a set of concrete stairs sustaining serious injuries, including
severe pain in my wrist and knees. X-rays revealed no broken bones and doctors could
not explain my debilitating pain. After a month, I still felt pain when I walked
or lifted heavy objects.† James had been my yoga instructor for 6 months and he
called to see if I was okay after my accident. When I explained my situation, he
suggested that I come by for a consultation for bodywork. After two sessions of
bodywork, my improvement was incredible. It is amazing what James was able to do
through neuromuscular therapy. I was able to walk and use my wrist without discomfort.
Most importantly, I was able to start my yoga practice again. As a yoga instructor,
James is very accommodating, checking in with me about my injury and suggesting
alternate poses for me if I experienced discomfort. I look forward to James’ yoga
class everyday. His manner is enthusiastic, entertaining and enlightening. He pushes
you to work hard but you are having so much fun, you barely notice. The year I practiced
yoga with James was inspiring and invigorating and improved my yoga practice for
life.
Thank you!
Anne Marie
San Jose
To anyone considering James Burkhardt and SomaBodywork / Yoga:
James Burkhardt and his practice at SomaYoga are wholly unique and wholly transformational.
I was 33yrs old when my back went out. I came to James practically crawling. I was
scared to death. The doctors had said surgery was what I needed, the chiropractors
“adjusted” me so hard it made it worse. I went to James on the recommendation of
a co-worker that heard me crying in my cubicle. James examined me and said I was
not a lost cause at all. He said he could help and talked to me about his practice
of Neromuscular Therapy, the practice of softening and releasing the muscles so
the frame adjusts naturally. He works with the whole body and muscular system and
adjusts the “reference” muscles and even the organs that affect those muscles. It
sounded much more logical than anything I had heard so far and James seemed much
more knowledgeable about the entire body and how all the parts interrelated than
even the surgeon or chiropractors. He also seemed to care more. That same day after
James worked on me, I was standing straight and walking to the bus stop to go home.
I cried again, in pure relief and joy. I continued a set routine with James at his
SOMA clinic that involved stretching, exercise, meditation, nutrition, supplements
and bodywork sessions. It was a holistic complimentary healing program for my back.
It has literally saved me. I continue to get work done by James intermittingly as
maintenance when I feel the need. I always find him and his practice to be truly
healing. I have recommended James to many of my friends and family. I recommend
him and his practice to anyone who is in pain or in need of healing, restoration,
health and balance.
Regards,
Robert B.
Berkeley
James is the best masseur/body work specialist I’ve experienced.† I have had over
100 massages in different locales…high-end spas, chiropractic offices, ect. and
he is the best.† He listens.† He is skilled.† James focuses on what you need and
provides the combination of part masseur, part chiropractor, and part physical trainer
(from a stretching standpoint.)† Engage him on a regular basis and you will stay
younger, stronger and more able to really live well in the world.
Natalie
San Francisco
I was in a nasty car accident that left me with a†double fracture of my pelvis as
well as shoulder and ankle injuries. I worked hard in my†rehab, but in the wrong
way.†I thought all†I needed was exercise in order to get back to my previous level
of fitness, so I would push myself harder and harder.† Over time it became obvious
that I needed some serious therapeutic help, because I found myself unable to walk
as a result of†debilitating hip and butt pain from my rehab “strength” exercises
and unreleased scar tissue from the accident.†The exercises physical therapists
gave me just made me tighter and tighter, until I literally could not walk. I heard†through
the grapevine that James had helped someone with similar problems so I decided to
give†him a try. Within 3 months of a regimen of his neuro muscular bodywork, hip
opening sessions and yoga, I was back to 5-hour bike rides, running frequently and
trekking for weeks in the Himalaya. His approach was the key to my recovery. I recommend
him highly.
John E.
San Francisco
I was injured in a mountain fall 3 years before I met James. My hips and body were
stretched and twisted into abnormal positions as I slid down the ledge. Since then
I have had trouble walking, bending and twisting and I have had terrible pain in
my hips, back and shoulder. I was told by two orthopedic specialists (department
chiefs) at major medical centers, that my only recourse was hip replacement surgery
on both hips. A friend suggested that I see James. Within just a few bodywork sessions
with him, I immediately began to feel less pain and was moving about more easily.
His ability to pinpoint and zero in on the injured areas amazed me. James used almost
every holistic technique in the book as he worked on the connections of my injured†body.
He started with gentle compression, traction and stretching and moved on to deeper
compression as my body opened up and craved it. It has been very relieving. The
thing I am most grateful for is that I did not have to go through the trauma of
hip surgery. Today I continue to see James for maintenance work and will always
be indebted to him for helping me avoid the trauma of hip surgery – an astonishing
outcome.
Eddie M.
Seattle
As an artist and computer animator, I use my arms and hands many hours a day. I
love doing animation, but it is also how I pay my rent. Ten years ago, my art and
my business were on the brink of collapse because I had developed extensive repetitive
strain injuries: work-stopping pain in my neck, upper back, shoulders, arms, wrists
and hands. I had both sharp and dull pains in various parts of my arms and was starting
to get electrical zings all the way to my fingers. I was diagnosed with repetitive
strain injury (RSI), thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).
I could only work for about five minutes at a time. I felt myself sliding into depression
as my ability to do the work I love crumbled and the pain extended into the rest
my life. I am normally a pretty optimistic person, but it seemed so bleak with all
these syndromes and acronyms! I couldn't hold a steering wheel, I couldn't turn
a doorknob, and I couldn't sleep when the stabbing pains lurched me out of bed.
I tried everything to remove the pain. Conventional doctors, acupuncture, massage,
meditation, yoga- nothing seemed to reduce the symptoms effectively. Surgeons told
me I needed surgery. Deeper depression. Then, while at a yoga class, I met James.
He told me about the work he did and we discussed my situation. I decided to give
his neuromuscular bodywork a try. Within a few weeks I began to feel less pain and
was to be able to start working again for increasing periods of time. Within 5 months
I was back to full capacity. Hooray!!! James' treatment also included a home / work
stretching program, scheduled work breaks, ergonomic evaluation of my workstation
and ergonomic coaching of how I used my body at the office. I am happy to say that
the pain is gone, the joy of animation and my optimism are back in my life big time.
Deep thanks, James, for helping me through a very tough and frightening time!
Sincerely,
Mark L.
Hawaii
About a year ago my trapezius muscles spasmed and I went to a couple different therapists
to address this problem. Little did I know that this would be a waste of money because
none of those sessions helped. Then I met James and within 6-8 sessions he was able
to do what no other therapists was able to do, he was able to finally alleviate
the tightness in my traps that had been killing me for months. He was also relieved
some old sports injuries that were keeping me from playing my favorite sports. James
is the real thing. I am glad I met him and whenever I have any muscular pains or
problems, he is the first person I will be calling.
John
West L.A.
I sustained a lower back injury associated with my weight lifting training program.
The injury manifested itself as sciatic pain in my right hip and leg. This pain
did not allow me to continue my weight-training program nor allow me to peruse my
passion for skating and dancing. James provided bodywork focusing on my hip and
leg.† His efforts have eliminated the pain and restored my function to pre-injury
strength.†With his guidance, I have also instituted a new yoga stretching regime
that has added flexibility to my hip and legs.
Maggie
Venice
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