3643 - Understanding Head, Neck & Shoulder Pain: A Practical Approach to Relief (Eve Smith and Chris Manella)
Course Description
Instructors: Eve Smith and Chris Manella
In this experiential course, physical therapist, Chris Manella and Reiki and sound practitioner Eve Smith, guide participants through an exploration of head, neck, and shoulder pain. Drawing from their book on the roots of pain, this class blends science and energy awareness to help you understand why pain arises—and what you can do about it. Each session includes practical exercises to reduce tension, improve mobility, and support nervous system regulation. Participants will also learn how pain can show up energetically through patterns of stress, emotion, posture, and breath. You’ll discover simple techniques to restore the body.
Bio: Eve Smith is a sound and Reiki master practitioner with over twenty years of experience in energy work, somatic awareness, and mind–body healing. Her teaching blends scientific understanding of the nervous system with spiritual wisdom from her international training in Reiki, shamanic practice, and sound therapy. Eve has facilitated hundreds of group meditations, energy-based pain sessions, and experiential courses designed to help students reconnect with their bodies and develop practical tools for well-being. She is the co-author of Reiki Journeys: Personal Stories of Healing, Strength, and Renewal and teaches widely throughout Atlanta, including at Decatur Healing Arts and Emory OLLI.
Bio: Chris Manella, PT, LMT, is a physical therapist, educator, and co-author of Reiki Journeys: Understanding Pain for Reiki Practitioners. With over three decades of clinical experience, she specializes in the relationship between movement, fascia, and the body’s natural capacity to heal. Chris integrates evidence-based physical therapy helping clients understand the deeper patterns behind pain and how to restore function through mindful, accessible practices. Her teaching style is clear, practical, and empowering, offering students tools they can use daily to decrease tension, increase mobility, and reconnect with their bodies. Chris practices throughout Atlanta in both clinical and community settings.