A practical self-care guide that helped me understand my own body

From time to time, I’ll be sharing things that have genuinely helped me along the way—especially when it comes to understanding myself and my body.

This is a book review of one such resource that’s been invaluable to me.

I first came across The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook back in 2011, before I’d even heard of the Feldenkrais Method®.

At the time, I was dealing with nagging shoulder and knee issues while trying to keep playing tennis. I didn’t want to stop doing what I loved—but I also didn’t have a clear sense of what was going on in my body or how to help myself.

This book gave me a hands-on, experiential understanding of anatomy that made sense of my pain and offered something rare: the ability to do something about it.

Clair Davies wasn’t a doctor or a scientist. He was a skilled piano tuner who developed intense shoulder pain and, like so many people, couldn’t find lasting relief through conventional methods.

In his search for answers, he discovered the pioneering work of Drs. Janet Travell and David Simons on myofascial trigger points—and used their insights to successfully treat himself.

His book is a clear, down-to-earth translation of that research, written for people who want to understand and help themselves.

A trigger point is a small, tight knot in a muscle that can refer pain to different parts of the body. It’s often not where you expect it.

Two key insights from the book:

• Where you feel pain is often not where the problem is. For instance, a trigger point in your back might cause hip pain, or tightness near your shoulder or neck could be the reason your hand hurts.
• With a little guidance, you can learn to find and release these knots yourself.

This was the first resource that made anatomy feel personal and useful.

It’s not abstract—it’s a manual for your body, grounded in your own experience.

I loved how approachable it was. The diagrams are clear, the tone is friendly, and Davies never talks down to you. You don’t need a background in anatomy to follow along.

More than anything, this book gave me a sense of confidence.

Finding and releasing trigger points felt like detective work. The more I explored, the more I realized I didn’t have to be at the mercy of mysterious pain. I could actually do something.

And that’s a powerful feeling.

If you’re curious about your body, if you’ve had persistent pain and want to understand it better, or if you like being hands-on and proactive—this book is for you.

But it’s not for everyone. It takes a bit of patience and trial and error. If you’re looking for a quick fix or don’t enjoy physical self-exploration, it might not be the right fit.

The main limitation is that it can take some experimenting to get it right. Because trigger points often refer pain elsewhere, it’s not always obvious where to begin. But that process of trial and error is also part of what makes it engaging—it teaches you how to pay attention in new ways.

The second drawback? The book doesn’t really address why you develop trigger points in the first place.

For that, I needed the Feldenkrais Method, which helped me explore the deeper patterns and habits in how I move and live.

Even after all these years, I still consider this book an invaluable part of my toolkit.

When I’m in pain, it’s often the first place I turn.

It won’t replace the insight of a skilled practitioner, but it’s an excellent first-aid guide—especially for people who want to understand themselves better and take an active role in their healing.

I highly recommend it!