From long-term pain to trusting your body again
Personal trainer in Amsterdam for long-term pain and injuries
Physio, massage, dry needling, stretching: you’ve tried it all. Yet the same pain keeps coming back. Your body isn’t broken. It’s trying to tell you something. With 1-on-1 personal training and strength training, I help you tackle the cause.
1-on-1 at Training Boutique, Marnixstraat 232K · on the edge of the Jordaan and Amsterdam-West · in English or Dutch
Does this sound familiar?
- The same pain, in the same spot, for years.
- From physio to chiropractor to sports doctor. Everyone told you something different.
- Massage, dry needling, foam rolling, rest: it helped for a while, and then it was back.
- You avoid certain movements, afraid it will get worse.
- You miss your sport, your energy and your trust in your body.
That’s not your fault. It’s the result of a system that treats symptoms instead of solving causes.
The DYBS method · Decode Your Body’s Signals
Solving long-term pain in three phases
01
Map it out
We don’t start at the painful spot, we start with you. Your complaint, your work, your sleep, your stress and what you’ve already tried. And we make crystal clear where you want to go: the sport you miss, the freedom you want.
02
Discover
Strength training as a mirror. Under load we see how your body and brain respond, and which pattern keeps you stuck: avoiding, forcing or ignoring. The first session ends with a win: something you haven’t done or dared to do in a long time.
03
Build
12 weeks of controlled, serious training towards your goal. Every session gives you one action point. Meanwhile we break your pattern, so you know when to push and when to step back, and can carry on independently.
Client reviews
From years of pain to moving freely again
“Everyone recommended all sorts of things, except: make your body stronger. With Desley it felt good within a few sessions. When people ask how my back is now, I say: no problems at all.”
Fabienne, client
8 years of recurring lower back pain, now pain-free
“What I didn’t expect: how quickly you got to the core of the problem. Less in my head, more in my body. I enjoy going to the gym again, instead of an endless loop of stretching.”
Britt, client
Squatting and deadlifting pain-free again
“Doing nothing at all isn’t really an option. I dare to box again. My body works with me again, and that gives me the freedom to do what I want.”
Walter, client
Back to boxing after years of shoulder pain
Reviews translated from Dutch. Read all reviews on Google →
I’ve been where you are now
I’m Desley Baars, personal trainer and strength coach for long-term pain. For two years I went in and out of physio practices with a severe back injury. Massage, dry needling, stretching: it helped for a while, and then the pain came back.
The turning point was one question: what do you think your body is trying to tell you? By training and changing my behaviour, I recovered completely. That’s exactly what I do with my clients now.
Frequently asked questions
Do you train in English?
Yes. The movement assessment, every session and all communication can be fully in English.
What does a personal trainer do for long-term pain?
I look at why your pain keeps coming back: how you move, sleep, handle stress and respond to your body’s signals. Then I use strength training as a tool. Every controlled repetition shows your brain that moving is safe.
Do I need a referral?
No. You can book a free movement assessment straight away. If you’re already seeing a physio, I’m happy to work together.
What does it cost?
The movement assessment is free. The 12-week programme costs €1,500 at once a week (12 sessions) or €2,750 at twice a week (24 sessions). Health insurance doesn’t cover it. If you’re self-employed you can deduct it as a business expense, and some employers pay for it.
Will my pain be gone after 12 weeks?
My goal is for your pain to be noticeably less after 12 weeks, and possibly gone completely. I don’t give guarantees, because nobody can honestly promise that. What you’ll always take with you: you understand what your body is telling you, and you know what to do when it flares up.
Start with a free movement assessment
Together we discover what’s going on, what’s causing it and which movements trigger your pain. No obligation, and you’ll go home with insight either way.