Your Body's Brilliant Design: A Revolutionary Approach to Relieving Chronic Pain

This is a great book for literally anyone who wants to learn more about their body and how to maintain its health and integrity. Karen Gabler has a way of making her decades of experience and knowledge about the complex inner workings on the body super accessible to a variety of readers. The book elegantly and clearly walks you through so many aspects of your body, in an easy to understand manner that leaves the reader feeling like an expert about their body. I bought the book to learn more about fascia and movements of the body, but was pleasantly surprised by how engaging the actual writing is. It's not a stiff textbook or guide, but rather it weaves together science, experience, client stories, personal narratives, and step-by-step movements in a way that actually makes it a page-turner! I read almost all of it in one sitting! The photographs are especially helpful for understanding not just how the body works, looks, and feels, but also the healing movements that Gabler describes.I could imagine this book being useful and relevant for a variety of readers, but especially to body workers (pilates or fitness instructors, physical therapists, massage therapists, etc.) and to people who have ever found themselves frustrated by pain that "traditional" pain management methods don't heal and instead cost them lots of money. Gabler makes it incredibly clear why so many traditional pain treatment methods fail us, or are only expensive, temporary fixes. If more therapists, chiropractors, physicians, and body workers read this book, we'd all save ourselves lots of time, money, and pain and be on the path to sustainable health!

Having been treated by Karen I was eager to have this book at home to help with maintaining and extending the work that she has done. Her treatments have helped me with a variety of issues resulting from injuries, chronic overuse and weaknesses. Now the book has been very valuable in helping me to continue with improving my health in so many ways! I feel stronger, more flexible, and taller! I love being able to refer to it when I need a refresher or reminder as well as when I feel a need to advance my practice. It is written very clearly and understandably. Even if I did not have prior experience with Karen's work I think it would be quite easy to get started.

I took two of Karen's workshops while she was writing this book and I couldn't wait for the book to come out. It has filled in more detail on what Karen taught and has allowed me to continue some of the exercises. It is written in a very easy to read style for lay people like me while still providing enough medical/scientific detail for professionals. A feat that I commend! It is my "body" guide and I expect will continue as such as I age. Karen, with this book, is my guru for my aging in a way that keeps me active and healthy. It is a wonderful book for everyone and I highly recommend it.

Your Body's Brilliant Design is a succinctly written, beautiful book that teaches the lay person about fascia, the part of the body that is responsible for posture, alignment, and chronic pain. Not only does Karen give an accessible account of the latest science on fascia, but she teaches you a simple movement routine that you can do daily to align and hydrate your fascia in the comfort of your living room. While others have buzzed about fascia, Karen is the first to synthesize fascial science with whole-body alignment and movement, which just may be the key to holistic health. She also lets you in to her own journey, and her poignant voice draws the reader in. The full-color illustrations and photos really add to the appeal of this book.Karen knows her stuff, and this book is a treat to read. You'll find yourself telling everyone to go out and buy it!

The author is a genius. Four months ago I had to get a handicap hang tag for my car and start riding the little scooters in the stores because I simply could not walk because of pain in my left leg that started in my foot. Zero diagnosis from any kind of doctor over many months, zero offers of any treatment that might help. I'm an engineer, and a systems approach rather than the silver bullet approach is what makes sense to me; I read the Kindle version up to the last chapter, where the information is given on what to actually do, and then I bought the paperback because I wanted to be able to turn pages and look at pictures. Last night I did just the very first thing, having to do with the feet. Results were immediate. Today I WALKED through THREE groceries getting my food items and did not have to ride the scooter. Formerly, I was good for 20 or 30 feet before I had to stop because of the pain in my leg.I had no idea that the fascia is a system in the body like the circulatory, lymphatic, and nervous systems, complete unto itself, nor that blockages and and injuries to it could cause pain. Or that something so incredibly simple in application could get the results I got in the time span I got them.100,000 stars for this book.

Too much detail, in the beginning. Brain too full to take in all this info, want to get to the pictures for stretching.

Sorry to say that I couldn’t get into this book. Not sure why. Am returning it.

Karen Gabler is truly a pioneer and creative force in the bodywork world. In this book she brings together over 30 years of knowledge, clinical experience and advanced study of Zero Balancing (a bone-focused body-mind therapy), Structural Integration and the KMI work of Tom Myers, along with many movement therapies, along with the latest research into fascia, to get a new handle on how we stay strong, upright and mobile. The book is so well written and clear and offers excellent case histories of Karen's clients who have found relief with her method. In the back of the book are wonderful photos and instructions of her very simple yet powerful exercises. I started doing these and was able to connect to my inner core. I have a new awareness of this source of stability within. As a massage therapist, this has helped me enormously in my work - and also in day-to-day activities. I've bought copies of Karen's book to share with my clients, too!

A must for bodyworkers looking to explore another way of thinking!

This is a great book for anyone interested in learning about the dynamics at play in our bodies, and how that understanding can be used to take advantage of your body’s design to move the way you were meant to for the purposes of efficiency and pain reduction/eradication.

Super interesting and easy to follow

It is an interesting book to read because the information has valuable points to cover and practice and heal the body.

This is the best explanation of the fascia and how it affects us on an everyday basis, that I've found. It also gives simple exercises that everyone can do to help themselves, plus the author actually answers emails if you contact her. I've now bought 3 copies - for myself and as gifts for other people!