“I’m 60 years young and have had severe scoliosis since I was 40.

After suffering from a rheumatic condition of the spine for over 20 years—with extremely painful inflammatory flare-ups in the sacroiliac joints, the lumbar spine, and, most recently, the thoracic spine— I developed scoliosis around the age of 40, which made even simple walking very difficult for me. My back felt stiff, and of course, in addition to the curvature of my spine, I had also developed a pelvic misalignment. As part of my rheumatic condition, my left collarbone fractured without any external trauma and only healed after several years, leaving it twice as thick as before. This resulted in limited mobility in my left shoulder.

After about 20 meters, I could no longer walk without using my hand to support my back. It felt as if I was missing some internal muscles or had lost them. Even simple everyday tasks were difficult for me: cooking, doing laundry, carrying small items, making the bed, sitting for long periods of time, etc.

Since I don’t plan on ever having surgery, I was delighted that Benita is offering her scoliosis workshop online, because I’m from northern Germany and the trip to Switzerland is quite a long one for me (although I would have made the trip anyway).

This course with Benita was my last resort, because none of the other therapies (water aerobics, physical therapy, chiropractic care, and all kinds of massages, to name just a few) had been able to stop the scoliosis.

What can I say: After just three lessons, the exercises have already given me a sense of inner alignment, strength, and clarity. My husband thought my new gait was a miracle (and so did I!!!); at first, he couldn’t believe his eyes.

For the first time in many decades, I can stand on both legs and feel as if my body is being supported by an inner corset as I walk.

The exercises should be incorporated into your daily routine, and they undoubtedly require a high degree of concentration and positive mental imagery to be most effective. 

Sometimes faster, sometimes slower, I reach my inner limits of what seems (to me) impossible… 

And that’s exactly where Benita steps in to support me and encourage me to keep going. Because we’re the ones who always set our own limits! I’ve learned that bone tissue can not only break down but also rebuild—no matter what age you are. It’s all a matter of your inner mindset, and it’s truly liberating when new thought patterns related to muscle exercises help straighten out the body.

I find the emphasis on self-love in all the lessons very encouraging. I’ve always seen my scoliosis as a shameful flaw that I want to hide. But Benita keeps saying, “Love your scoliosis, because it has done so much for you!”

No one has ever told me that in my whole life!

After so many decades of suffering, I can once again look forward to walking pain-free and upright, without any aids, through the dunes of my favorite island, Amrum. What a gift 😊.

Of course, this requires daily exercises—some small, some larger—to reprogram the body. It’s worth it!

My endless gratitude goes to you, Benita, for embarking on the path of exploring the body and for sharing your knowledge with precision, accuracy, and love. A big thank you also goes to Sandra, your sister, who painstakingly created her own sketches of the musculoskeletal system. As a result, the psoas muscle has become a friend to me—not only because it looks beautiful, but also because it will now be part of my own body, which I can love and appreciate so much more.

Thank you so, so much for everything. This form of bodywork—which is truly one of a kind worldwide—is a great blessing.

Warm regards to Switzerland
, Isabell Güldenpfennig (from Lüneburg)”