I Can Breathe Again....
I can’t pinpoint when my troubles began. In fact, until a few months ago, I didn’t know I had any trouble at all. I was very use to living my life as I always have. Serving in the Army, and enjoying physical activities such as crossfit, hiking, swimming and running ultra marathons, I assumed I was doing the very best my body would allow me to do. When I’d run out of breath I’d slow my pace or take a break during crossfit WODs. After a few moments, my breath would come back, and I could pick the intensity back up….until I was out of breath again. I started having chest pains a few years ago. I went through intensive cardiac, pulmonary and gastric workups. All of the analysis proved I was perfectly healthy. The various Doctors, all highly professional and genuinely concerned couldn’t tell me why I hurt. The assured me there was nothing wrong with my heart, and not to take counsel on my fears when I felt heart attack like symptoms. A few months ago, my old friend pain came to visit me. I was sitting at my desk late one evening when I felt like I’d been hit in the chest with a hammer! I clutched my chest, and to my amazement and horror I felt a protrusion in the middle of me chest. Roughly 4 inches wide, an inch or so tall and protruding out about an inch. I gently pressed it back into my chest and it rapidly receded. After a few moments I felt alright and headed to bed. A few hours later I woke up sweating with the same pain and felt like I was going to pass out. This earned me a trip to the emergency room.In the ER they verified that I hadn’t had a heart attack and sent me home to follow up with my primary care provider This started the cycle all over again…rule out the heart, the lungs and gastric system. I knew up front that this wouldn’t solve anything…this would be the 4th time going through the motions. Experiencing the pain again, I decided to go to the emergency room at Walter Reed Military Medical Center. Prudently, they went through the procedures to rule out any cardiac issues. The difference was that I was very persistent with them and made them go beyond their normal specialty work. After the combined medical team ruled out the typical potential causes, they referred me to the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic. I was optimistically hopeful at this new method of attack. As I described my pain, symptoms, lifestyle and observations to the Doctor, he began to ask very specific questions. As I responded, his tone grew in confidence and he started to slowly grow a smile. A few basic tests led him to diagnose my pain and the root cause of the problem! It turns out I have been using my diaphragm to do the work of my core muscles. I had learned to breath the wrong way! The Doctor walked me through the corrective action and gave me exercises to start working the problem. I felt an immediate improvement of perhaps 10 percent. In the six weeks I did the exercises I felt gradual improvement, but rapidly leveled out after eliminating roughly 15 percent of my pain. My Doctors told me to continue on with the exercises and informed me that it could take a year to completely resolve the problem. Seeing my frustration, they offered me another possible solution. There was a motion specialist that they referred a few tough cases to in the past. All of these patients reported significant improvements in their quality of life in just a few weeks. How could I say no to getting my life back? I’d happily do anything to eliminate my pain and get back to crossfit and running! This led me to my first session with Mr. Dominic Sessa. I didn’t know what to expect, but was very hopeful going into the session. Dominic took the time to listen to me – from start to finish. He asked the right questions about my condition, hopes and expectations, all the while observing my body mechanics, posture and physical habits. We spent the hour together exploring my condition, explaining the factors that may have caused the condition and designing a plan to fix it and give me my life back. Dominic made multiple adjustments and really worked some of the muscles that needed to be retrained. By the time he was done, I felt no pain! He gave me a series of breathing exercises to work on daily. I was surprised that such seemingly simple exercises could make an impact. However, the longer I did them, the less pain I felt. I like to think I’m much closer to getting back to the activities that I love after only two weeks of exercising! I’m really looking forward to our next session and the improvements I’m confident I’ll see. I’m very optimistic about my future – I believe that I will be pain free and able to do the things I enjoy. I am also hoping that by learning to breath properly, I may see big improvements in crossfit, my ultras and normal day to day activities! So, you’ve been very patient reading my story, here is what I’d like you to take away from it: Trust Dominic – he can help you. Trust the exercise regimen he prescribes – if you follow it, you will improve. Take the time to make it a priority. You will be very happy you did! Wishing you all the very best for success.

Candace Sharrow

I have had scoliosis for almost as long as I can remember. When I was in elementary school, my pediatrician told my mom not to worry about the fact that I seemed to be leaning over, that it would sort itself out. Finally, in middle school, an orthopedist confirmed that I had scoliosis severe enough to qualify for surgery.

Surgery came with a laundry list of drawbacks, including a possible recurving of the spine, so my parents sought other options. My family spent thousands of dollars and I spent hundreds of hours seeing chiropractors, wearing a thick plastic back brace, eating limited diets, taking expensive supplements – we even tried hypnosis. The curve and pain in my spine didn’t improve, and by the time I had graduated from college, I was feeling burnt out, frustrated and helpless.

I don’t feel that way anymore. Now I’m 28 years old and I’ve been working with Dominic once a week for a few months. For the first time in my life, I stand up a little bit straighter. My shoulders and hips aren’t as sore as they always have been. After feeling let down by a myriad of treatment options, I wanted to give up and ignore my scoliosis.

I am so thankful that I reached out to Dominic and began treatment instead. I feel like I have the tools to live with a straighter and more pain-free back. I am so grateful for the opportunity to work with him – he customizes everything to my specific needs and motivates me to take control of my body and health. I am so excited to continue this process with Dominic and I am so grateful to have finally found something that actually works.

Douglas Wylie

Went to Dom with my hips and he succeeded where everyone else failed. Life had a touch of normality again and it was awesome. Great character with innovative ideas that really do work… an out the box thinker.

Forrest Foss
I have been seeing Dominic since shortly after I retired at the beginning of of 2009. Working with Dominic has been fantastic. He has kept it fun and interesting and he has kept me fit and flexible and away from injury. He is a seeker of knowledge about his craft and people and is constantly exploring the best way to connect with and help his clients. I have referred friends to Dominic and they have all thanked me for putting them in touch. In sum, Dominic is a special person who makes the world a better place and those around him healthier and stronger.  

Josh Spiegel
Dominic is one of a kind. He knows his stuff and is always willing to go the extra mile. I’ve never worked with a trainer like him. Not only is he a pro, he is also a great person – always showing concern and always willing to help. I highly recommend him.

Dave Berdan
Dave won the 2015 Baltimore Marathon. In 2014, Dave developed a stress fracture in his femur while running so he had to drop out of the Marathon. A couple of weeks before the 2015 Marathon Dave wasn’t sure if he was going to be able to compete, let alone win. Listen to his story HERE.

Max Major
Dominic is a hard working and disciplined individual. His drive and motivation infects other around him. I thoroughly trust his knowledge and abilities both as a trainer and a presenter.

G. Donelly
Working with you, so far has taught me a lot and has made me reflect upon my injury and my future. My main concern after surgery was that the compartment syndrome that I have dealt with since my freshman year at college would come back. After a few months of therapy and a delay of getting off my crutches, I was back to where I was, back to being diagnosed with compartment syndrome for the third time. I have been to at least 7 or 8 doctors, which includes one of the best orthopedic surgeons in the country at the Hospital of Special Surgery in New York City. My goal of playing soccer again was going further and further away. Even though you torture the hell out of my body with different pressure points, you have really given me much more confidence than I ever had since having compartment syndrome. I had a legitimate fear of running and playing again because of my legs getting numb and the pain that I experience after exercise. But after the five visits I’ve been able to run 12 laps and doing stop and start running. Doctors told me that I would’ve needed to reconsider my soccer career, but you taught me that it’s up to ME, not some white coats. In order for me to play again, I need to want to play and have a structure that will help me get there. In regards to my symptoms, I have been able to rationalize them. You have taught me that my legs being numb after running and exercise actually isn’t a bad thing, because it is an absence of pain, and an absence of pain is better than being in pain. Another thing that I have learned while working with you is dedication. I have really been working hard on implementing changes when it comes to doing my homework that has been assigned like doing my 100 steps and writing down my food that I eat everyday. Another thing that you have taught me over the past 5 sessions together is calming down whenever I am in pain. I always try to breathe when I am in pain instead of hyperventilating and crying in anxiety. This has really been helping a lot. Thank you so much for all that you’ve done for me and I can’t wait to continue working on my injury and hopefully be able to get back on the field next year.  

Jessica Alsofrom, M.D.
I would call Dominic a magician because he seems to perform magic. But after all, there seems to be a more plausible explanation. Even after multiple dentist and doctor visits, I had unremitting jaw pain from my Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) and was taking Tylenol AND Ibuprofen every 6 hours to keep the pain at a bearable level. Then Dominic and I had our first session, during which he focused on massaging my jaw. This provided short-term improvement. During the second visit, we had more time to explore the pain and Dominic discovered the source of my imbalance just by his physical exam skills. He focused on abdominal massage and after that second session, my jaw has been pain free. I am a Pediatrician and try to explain pain based on what I’ve learned in medical school and residency. Dominic explained to me how the abdomen and jaw are related physiologically. It’s something that I understand but would never have connected the dots myself because traditional medicine does not take that holistic approach. Learning to be more open-minded and trusting Dominic’s technique was just the magic I needed.