From Pain to Purpose
How My Own Pain Led to Creating the MELT Method
A reflection on listening to the body, following sensation, and building a global movement rooted in self-healing
Unexpected moments can completely transform our lives. For me, that moment came in the form of excruciating foot pain that appeared seemingly out of nowhere. What began as a personal quest for relief evolved into something I never could have imagined — a revolutionary approach to self-care that would eventually help thousands of people reclaim their bodies and lives.
Today, I’m sharing the story of how the MELT Method came to be, and the journey that continues to unfold as we grow this movement together.
In this blog, I’ll take you through my path from fitness professional to fascia researcher, from someone seeking answers to someone providing them. You’ll discover how a single question —
“Why am I in pain?”
— sparked a lifelong mission to help others reconnect with their bodies through sensation rather than correction.
This is the story of listening to my body when it spoke, following the science where it led, and creating a method that empowers people to become their own healers.
From Pain to Purpose: My Journey to Now
It started with my feet.
As a fitness professional at the peak of my career, I suddenly found myself unable to walk without excruciating pain. Doctors offered little help — no visible injury, no clear diagnosis. Just recommendations for orthotics, pain medication, and the suggestion that perhaps I should consider a different career.
But something inside me refused to accept that this was just “how it was going to be.”
This wasn’t just about fixing my feet — it was about understanding why my body, which I had trained and cared for meticulously, had seemingly turned against me.
What followed was a relentless pursuit of knowledge that led me across disciplines I never expected to explore:
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Neuroscience
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Connective tissue research
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Manual therapy techniques
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And more
I became obsessed with understanding the body’s communication system — not just the symptoms, but the underlying causes of pain and dysfunction.
Through this exploration, I discovered something transformative:
By learning to feel and respond to my body’s signals rather than override them, I could initiate my own healing.
This realization was the first seed of what would eventually become the MELT Method.
The Spark: Pain as a Portal 🔥
What I came to understand through my own healing journey was revolutionary to me:
Pain isn’t just something to eliminate — it’s information.
Pain is the body’s way of demanding attention, of highlighting areas that need care and awareness.
My foot pain wasn’t a setback.
It was a doorway.
It forced me to slow down, to listen, and to question everything I thought I knew about fitness, wellness, and healing. As I started to experiment with techniques focused on connective tissue hydration and nervous system regulation, I experienced remarkable improvements.
But the true breakthrough came when I began teaching these techniques to my clients.
People with chronic pain conditions that had plagued them for years started reporting significant relief. What worked for me was working for them too — and often in ways that surprised us both.
These early success stories ignited something in me:
a mission to codify what I was learning into a system that could be shared widely.
The Alchemy: Science Meets Soul ✨
Creating the MELT Method wasn’t just about collecting effective techniques — it was about integrating cutting-edge science with practical, accessible application.
I immersed myself in fascia research, studying how this previously overlooked connective tissue system impacts everything from posture to pain patterns.
What emerged was a unique alchemy — a method that honors both rigorous science and intuitive wisdom.
MELT became a bridge between research and real life, between clinical understanding and daily practice.
At its core, MELT focuses on:
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Restoring the natural hydration of the fascial system
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Rebalancing the nervous system
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Using specially designed soft rollers and small balls to stimulate connective tissue
These tools rehydrate tissue, release tension, and reset the body’s internal balance.
But MELT is more than a physical practice.
It’s a doorway to embodied awareness.
It teaches people to recognize and respond to their body’s signals before pain becomes chronic.
The Expansion: From Method to Movement 🌍
What began as a set of techniques for my personal clients soon grew beyond anything I could have imagined.
Writing my first book, The MELT Method, was a pivotal moment. The book became a New York Times bestseller, opening doors to national media appearances and partnerships — but more importantly, it created a community.
A community of people experiencing real, lasting change.
Creating a thorough instructor training program became my next focus. This wasn’t about cookie-cutter classes — it was about cultivating skilled practitioners who understood both the how and the why behind each technique.
Today, our global network of certified MELT instructors continues to grow, enriching our collective understanding of how this work supports different bodies and conditions.
The Evolution: Research, Ritual, and Reach 🔬
As MELT has grown, so has our commitment to research.
Recently, I had the incredible opportunity to orchestrate a 500-person Fascia Hydrator pilot study — bridging the gap between clinical research and real-world application.
This research isn’t about proving MELT works.
We already know that from thousands of success stories.
It’s about understanding:
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Why it works
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How it works
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How we can make it even more effective
Alongside this scientific evolution, MELT has expanded into immersive retreats, deeper instructor education, and emotional intelligence training — recognizing that healing is both physical and emotional.
Where I Am Today
Today, my role continues to evolve.
I see myself as a steward of sensation — a guide helping people remember how to feel and respond to their bodies’ wisdom.
Every day, I’m inspired by stories from our community — people who have reclaimed mobility, reduced pain, and discovered new levels of well-being through MELT.
Creating lasting change requires both the precision of good science and the openness of genuine human connection.
MELT Manifesto: A Declaration of Embodied Healing
As I reflect on this journey, I return to these core principles:
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Healing begins with sensation. Before we can change patterns, we must be able to feel them.
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Teach people to feel rather than fix their bodies. True healing comes from within.
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Accessibility is non-negotiable. Everyone deserves tools for self-care.
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Emotional and physical healing are inseparable.
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Community amplifies healing.
By reclaiming our connection to our bodies, we reclaim our agency in our health and wellbeing.
When we learn to listen — to feel and respond rather than numb and ignore — we tap into an incredible source of self-healing potential.
MELT will continue to evolve as we learn more about fascia, the nervous system, and human resilience. But the heart of our work remains the same:
Empowering people to become active participants in their own healing journeys.
Join Me on This Journey
Whether you’re new to MELT or have been practicing for years, I invite you to continue this journey with me.
Our bodies speak a subtle language that modern life often drowns out — but with attention and practice, we can relearn this essential conversation.
Here’s to sensation, to healing, and to the continuing evolution of how we care for these remarkable bodies we call home.
With gratitude,
Sue
💙
Continue exploring the MELT Method and learn how simple, sensation-based self-care can support your body’s natural healing process.
👉 Explore MELT Resources
👉 Find a Certified MELT Instructor
👉 Learn More About Fascia & Self-Care