BIFocals? - Henry Ford Health System

In 10 Weeks, Find a
Stress-Free, Pain-Free Life!
Now in its fifth year, the Stress and Pain Free Living Program at Henry Ford
Health System offers community members with chronic health conditions —
such as back pain, headaches, anxiety, high blood pressure, and obesity —
the opportunity to take control of stress and pain.
“I went to the program with my arms crossed because I couldn’t believe this
could actually help,” says Connie Franklin, a Medical Charge Analyst at
Henry Ford Health System.
Connie has suffered from cerebral palsy, degenerative arthritis, and
stenosis of the spine. After receiving an interoffice email about the
program, she decided to give it a try.
“I was 54 years old and walking around like my aunt Lulu, who is 79. I had
three canes and a mobilizer at the time. I was looking for a better quality of
life for myself,” Connie says. “Participating in the program helped me let go
of a lot of personal stuff I didn’t know was compounding my physical health.”
“We help people identify any dysfunctional patterns in their lives contributing
to their pain and stress, and help them correct those patterns in a way that lets
them find substantial relief and can even eliminate certain conditions,” says Robert
A. Levine, Ph.D., Director of the Center for Integrative Wellness and Integrative
Wellness Research at Henry Ford Health System.
The 10-week program teaches people how to:
• Relax overly tense muscles in the body
• Release mental tension that contributes to stress and anxiety
• Correct dysfunctional walking, sitting or standing, and other daily activities
• Control their bodies’ responses to stress
Within just a month, Connie saw a reduction in pain and stress. She was
able to reduce her use of pain medication drastically, give up her
walking-assistance devices, and even take a five-day hiking trip
without using her medications.
In addition, the movement routines used in the program
helped Connie lose about 20 pounds.
Start Your
Journey to
Better Living
Today!
The Stress and Pain Free
Living Program is offered free of
charge to eligible individuals in
the Detroit-metro area. To find
out how to take part in this
life-altering program, visit
stressandpainfreeliving.com
and take a quick
informational survey.
“We teach people to do simple movements designed to
recognize muscles that are in excess contraction and burning
excess energy, and then release those muscles to become relaxed,”
explains Levine. “Relaxed muscles burn less energy, which helps
people experience less pain and fatigue and feel energized.”