The Story Behind Somatic Tennis

Years ago, a serious back issue became the unexpected catalyst that liberated me — and eventually gave rise to Somatic Tennis.

At the time, surgery was presented as the logical solution. Instead, I chose to explore another path. I was introduced to the concept of mind-body pain through reading Dr. Sarno’s books — the idea that unresolved stress and emotional tension can manifest physically.

After eventually seeing Dr. Sarno in person and being told structurally I was healthy, something shifted. I felt liberated. The fear dissolved. As part of his recommended approach, I began analytical, Jungian-oriented therapy.

As my back pain subsided, all the deep analytical work I was doing in therapy seemed to turn my backache into a headache — a classic mind-body substitution pattern. That experience opened my eyes to the profound intelligence of the nervous system.

Through Dr. Sarno’s teachings, I came to understand that certain types of chronic pain may be linked to reduced oxygen and blood flow to affected tissues — often the result of stress patterns and protective muscular tension. When you’re told something is injured, you naturally guard it. You stop moving it. You brace. Blood flow decreases. The area becomes more sensitized — and the pain can intensify.

Once I understood that I was structurally sound, I began moving again.

That freedom allowed me to explore yoga, breathwork, mindful movement, tai chi, Chi-Gong, somatics, and energy work — increasing circulation, restoring mobility, and reconnecting to my body in a new way.

What began as recovery became revelation.

I started to understand how the body organizes movement. How breath influences power. How tension interferes with efficiency. How awareness transforms coordination.

When I returned to the court, I didn’t move the same way.

I began blending healthy modern tennis mechanics with body and breath awareness, integrating the Eastern modalities I had studied for years into how I played — and eventually how I coached.

The results were remarkably different.

Not only did I avoid surgery and return stronger, but my students — many dealing with chronic pain, recurring injuries, or performance plateaus — began experiencing something new:

Effortless power.
Fluid movement.
Freedom from strain.
Greater confidence.
A deeper connection to the game.

After more than 30 years of coaching, this evolution has become what I now call Somatic Tennis — an integrative, nervous-system-informed approach to performance that prioritizes longevity, intelligent mechanics, and whole-body awareness.

I moved to the Westside of Los Angeles in September 2025 and have already built a strong and growing group of Somatic Tennis students — players discovering that tennis can enhance the body rather than wear it down.

Tennis doesn’t have to be forced to be powerful.
It can be organized, felt, and allowed.

That is Somatic Tennis.