When she first came to see me, she’d been battling pain on one side of her upper back for over ten years.

It was always there—sometimes mild, sometimes intense—but every few months, it flared up so badly it radiated into her neck, shoulder, and arm. Her hand would tremble. The headaches were debilitating.

It had taken a serious physical and emotional toll.

She’d had MRIs and X-rays. Seen doctors, specialists, therapists. Nothing brought lasting relief.

But when I assessed her posture, the bigger picture emerged.

Her head and shoulders were rounded forward. That much was obvious.

But posture isn’t just about the upper body.

I always look at the whole body—because everything’s connected.

And when I looked closer, I noticed something else.

Her hips were tilted forward and leaning away from her ankles. Her pelvis—the foundation of her spine—was out of balance. And when the base isn’t working, the upper body has to compensate.

That’s the thing about chronic pain. It often shows up far from the actual cause.

So we didn’t just focus on her neck and shoulders. We built a plan that addressed the root of the issue.

I gave her just four simple exercises: one for the upper body, three for her hips.

They were short, equipment-free, and tailored to her strength and posture. Easy to fit into daily life—and powerful enough to spark change.

We met about ten times. At first weekly, then gradually spacing out sessions as her posture improved. I kept refining her exercises and adding new ones to keep her progress going.

Her posture changed. And with it, the pain faded.

Within a few months, it was gone.

Is her posture perfect? Of course not. Nobody’s is.
But after 10+ years of headaches and pain, this shift was life-changing.

In her words: “I finally feel like myself again.”

Helping her reach that point was a privilege. Her story is a reminder that even after years of pain—real change is possible.

Written by Ameet Bhakta, BSc, DipHE
Certified Postural Alignment Specialist (Egoscue Institute)
Founder of Health Through Posture, London & Tunbridge Wells