Deep Tissue Talks

What does it take to become the greatest defender in NBA history and stay elite at 33?In this episode of Deep Tissue Talks, 4x NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert gets on the massage table to talk about the recovery systems, mindset work, and lifestyle choices that keep him at the top of the game — and his unprecedented chase for a record-breaking 5th DPOY trophy.Rudy goes deeper than any interview you've seen. He breaks down the private performance ecosystem he's built over 13 years in the NBA: how he uses the hyperbaric chamber from Oxygen Health Systems, red light therapy, grounding, and why he made a decision that was particularly hard as a Frenchman. He also unpacks the somatic work that anchors his presence on defense — and explains why most of what he does never shows up in the highlight reel.We also go into the childhood in Saint-Quentin, France that forged his resilience, what Little Rudy needed to hear that nobody said, and how becoming a father completely restructured his sense of identity and purpose.This is a conversation about the invisible work behind elite performance — the body, the mind, and the spirit of someone chasing history.HYPERBARIC CHAMBER: Oxygen Health Systems - (630) 812-7865 - https://www.oxygenhealthsystems.com/— — —Topics covered:• The 2026 DPOY race: Rudy vs. Wembanyama• Why winning four, maybe five, is a bigger miracle• Hyperbaric chamber: his protocol, what it feels like, why he swears by it• The decision he made that's hard for any Frenchman• Red light therapy and grounding in Minnesota winters• Building a private performance team outside the franchise• Defense as identity: growing up in the projects in France• The somatic framework behind elite longevity• What Little Rudy in Saint-Quentin needed to hear• How fatherhood restructured everything— — —Deep Tissue Talks is hosted by Doris Martel, performance therapist and somatic specialist. Every episode is recorded on the massage table — where athletes say what they never say anywhere else.Follow Deep Tissue Talks: @DeepTissueTalks

Lauren Sesselmann competed at the highest level of women's soccer — representing Canada at the World Cup, winning an Olympic medal at the 2012 London Games, and playing professionally for years. From the outside, her career looked like everything an athlete could dream of.But behind that career was a story most people never heard.In this conversation, Lauren opens up about the mental and emotional toll of elite sports — from nearly walking away from professional soccer in her first three years, to a pivotal World Cup moment that pushed her into one of the darkest periods of her life. She talks openly about the depression and concussion-related challenges that forced her retirement, what it felt like to lose her identity when the game ended, and the long road back to finding purpose.She also gets into what she is building now — mentoring the next generation of female athletes, working as a soccer agent and advisor, launching programs globally, and joining the AS Monaco women's team. And she shares the practical things nobody taught her as a young player: how to actually take care of your body, why overtraining is quietly breaking young athletes, and what she would tell her younger self today.This one is for every athlete who has ever felt the weight of performance, every parent trying to support a young player, and every person navigating who they are when the thing they love most is taken away.In this episode:The mental health crisis quietly affecting young soccer playersWhy overtraining is more dangerous than most coaches admitThe World Cup moment that changed everythingConcussions, brain health, and what her scan revealedDepression, identity loss, and life after professional sportsMentorship, agency work, and her next chapter in women's soccerWhat she would tell her younger selfAbout Deep Tissue TalksDeep Tissue Talks is hosted by Doris, a licensed massage therapist and physical therapy educator whose work sits at the intersection of body care, athlete performance, and human stories. Each episode is recorded during a real session — creating an intimate space where guests open up in ways a traditional studio never allows.New episodes available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Amazon Music.Connect with Deep Tissue Talks 🎥 YouTube: youtube.com/@DeepTissueTalks 🌐 Website: www.deeptissuetalks.comLearn with Doris — Online PT and Massage Classes 📚 Access courses: triphysical.learnworlds.com/courses

If your hips feel tight all the time — not injured, not broken, just never fully at ease — this episode might feel uncomfortably familiar.In this session of Deep Tissue Talks, Doris Martel brings you inside a quiet, intimate treatment with an NBA player who comes in with a simple concern: “My hips are always tight.”Not painful. Not limiting. Just always there.Through slow, attentive manual work on the hip flexors and deep rotators, combined with breath and somatic inquiry, this episode explores what chronic hip tension can really mean — especially in bodies that never stop moving, planning, or carrying responsibility.You’ll hear how:Hip tightness can show up most strongly when the body finally stopsThe psoas and deep hip muscles often hold vigilance, not weaknessBreath changes reveal more than wordsGuilt around rest can live deep in the pelvisSoftening isn’t about losing edge — it’s about restoring trustThis episode isn’t about flexibility or performance metrics. It’s about learning how to power down — just enough — to feel safe again.If you’ve ever felt like your body doesn’t know how to rest… if stillness feels unfamiliar or even uncomfortable… this conversation may offer a mirror.As always, if you’re dealing with ongoing tension or pain, consider reaching out to a licensed massage therapist, physical therapist, or a mental health professional trained in somatic approaches. Support can make the difference.Check out our website: www.deeptissuetalks.com for more info

The Neck That Carried PerfectionWhat happens when precision turns into pressure… and the body starts holding its breath?In this episode of Deep Tissue Talks, Doris Martel takes you inside a treatment session with a figure skater dealing with persistent neck and shoulder tightness — a tension rooted not only in biomechanics, but in the quiet demand to never make a mistake.Through hands-on manual therapy, fascial work along the arm–shoulder–neck chain, breath, and somatic exploration, this episode reveals how control, vigilance, and perfectionism can live in the body — and how release begins when safety replaces pressure.You’ll discover: • Why neck and shoulder pain is rarely just mechanical • How arm and hand tension can silently overload the upper trapezius • What precision sports teach us about control and fear of mistakes • Why true performance doesn’t come from holding on tighter • How presence creates freedom, fluidity, and confidenceThis episode is for anyone who: • Carries responsibility in their shoulders • Feels tension even when they’re “resting” • Strives for excellence but forgets to soften • Wants to understand the deeper message behind physical painIf you’re experiencing recurring pain or tension, consider reaching out to a licensed massage therapist, physical therapist, or a mental health professional trained in somatic approaches. Healing often happens faster when you’re supported.💛 Share it with someone, you never know who you can Help.Follow us on Youtube: Deep Tissue TalksBecause healing doesn’t start with force. It starts with safety.

In this episode of Deep Tissue Talks, Doris Martel dives into the story of a man in his mid-50s — an executive, husband, father, and semi-professional pickleball player — whose right calf has started whispering pain again.What begins as “just tightness” unfolds into a powerful exploration of the three layers of pain:• Biomechanical — old compensation patterns from a past calf strain, tight plantar fascia, overworked hamstrings, and a protective nervous system. • Somatic — the emotional weight of carrying work, family responsibilities, aging, and performance pressure all at once. • Spiritual — the deeper truth that sometimes we move faster than our spirit can keep up.Through detailed hands-on work above and below the calf, fascial decompression, breathwork, and somatic inquiry, this episode reveals how the body holds stories of survival — and how it releases when it finally feels safe.You’ll hear how one man realized he didn’t need to outrun his life… he simply needed to move with it.This episode is for anyone who pushes themselves, anyone who carries too much, anyone whose body is asking for permission to slow down.If you’re experiencing persistent tightness, recurring tension, or pain that keeps returning, consider reaching out to a licensed massage therapist, physical therapist, or a psychologist trained in somatic pain. Support exists and your body deserves it.

In this episode, Doris Martel takes us inside the treatment room with a professional soccer player carrying a familiar fear: his right quadriceps is tight, heavy, constantly loaded… and he can't afford to miss a single game.Through detailed hands-on work, fascial assessment, breath, and somatic dialogue, this session reveals the deeper story behind chronic quad tightness — a story of pressure, survival mode, and the silent belief many athletes carry: “If I slow down, I disappear.”You’ll learn: • Why quadriceps tighten even without an injury • How the nervous system “braces” before any real damage happens • The meaning behind tight quads — force, control, and inherited beliefs • How fear of losing position keeps the body in constant protection • The exact moment an athlete realizes he doesn’t have to play scared • How shaking, breathwork, and myofascial release reset the entire systemThis episode is a reminder that the body doesn’t tighten to sabotage us — it tightens to protect what matters most.If your quads always feel heavy… if your legs never fully rest… this story might speak to you.💛 Share this episode with someone who feels pressure to stay strong at all costs.Because healing doesn’t begin with force — it begins with safety.

What happens when a muscle refuses to release… even after rest, stretching, and recovery?In this episode of Deep Tissue Talks, Doris Martel takes you inside a real-life inspired treatment session with a college basketball player struggling with chronic hamstring tightness. Through hands-on bodywork, fascial release, breath, and somatic dialogue, this story reveals how physical tension can reflect the emotional pressure athletes carry — and how true healing begins when the nervous system feels safe enough to let go.You’ll discover: • Why hamstrings often tighten when we’re under constant pressure • How fascia connects the body from the feet to the spine • What the body is really saying when it “won’t release” • How breath and nervous system regulation unlock deep recovery • The moment an athlete realizes he no longer has to run on pressure aloneThis episode is about more than a hamstring. It’s about learning when to slow down. And remembering that power doesn’t come from pressure — it comes from presence

What happens when the thing that once defined you… starts to fade? In this episode of Deep Tissue Talks, manual therapist and somatic healer Doris Martel explores the emotional and physical journey of Yesenia Serratos, a professional dancer whose body began saying stop long before her spirit did.❤️ This story is not just about dancers. It’s about all of us ❤️ Athletes, performers, parents, and anyone aging or recovering from injury will recognize the moment when the body can no longer do what the mind remembers.We explore: • Hamstring and shoulder pain in dancers • How the body stores emotional stress • Somatic layers behind chronic pain • Identity loss when movement fades • Resilience, reinvention, and healing • The link between fascia, emotions and memoryYesenia’s story is a powerful reminder that losing one form of expression can open the door to another and that healing begins when we learn to listen to our body’s truth. If this episode resonates with you, share it with someone who needs it. Your story matters. Your body remembers. You are not alone.

Get ready to uncover a whole new side of NBA player PJ Tucker! From growing up in a challenging neighborhood to becoming a devoted father, PJ opens up like never before. He reflects on how basketball shaped his life, candidly discusses living with ADHD, and shares his passion for high-end fashion—revealing the incredible collaborations he’s had with some of the biggest brands. 🏀❤️‍🔥 Join us for an unforgettable conversation that proves there’s much more to PJ Tucker than what happens on the court. From fatherhood to fashion, this interview is packed with inspiration, vulnerability, and style. You won’t want to miss a single moment!

Discover the story of LA based renowned celebrity healer, Fabrice Gautier. 💆‍♂️✨ Healing isn’t just about understanding anatomy or biomechanics—it’s also about addressing the three layers of pain (mechanical, somatic, and spiritual) and mastering self-healing first. And there are very few therapists able to treat with that mindset.In this heartfelt conversation, we uncover Fabrice’s powerful journey of resilience, his unique approach to patient care, and how he integrates the mind-body connection to get to the true root of pain.Plus, You’ll witness how I use talk therapy to release emotions stored deep in the fascia and muscles. 🌿💬💡 “You are not your pain; your pain is you.”To view the video version of this podcast head on to Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DeepTissueTalks

Today we are discussing the Power of Mantras combined with Self-Massage for effective pain relief. 🌟 Learn how personalized mantras can help release somatic pain, align your mind and body, and transform challenges into growth. We also explore how self-massage can be a game-changer for your healing journey. 💆‍♀️✨Ready to take the next step? ➡️ Get Your Personalized Mantra: bit.ly/3Bf5q5v ➡️ FREE Intro Class: Learn About Self-Massage & Somatic Pain: bit.ly/4iCc3QE➡️ Live classes Zoom and In Person: bit.ly/49CEKJd#DeepTissueTalks #SelfMassage #SomaticHealing #MantraPower #PainRelief #MindBodyConnection 💜

In this heartfelt episode, I take care of the inspiring Florence Azria, a French philanthropist dedicated to changing lives in Los Angeles, Watts, and Tijuana. Using her passion for food as a catalyst, Florence works tirelessly to end gang violence and hunger, and uplift communities by providing hope to those who need it most.While receiving a therapeutic massage, she opens up about the harsh realities of gang culture, the power of communal healing, and solutions to alleviate body pain. ✨ Doris also provides expert insights into body pain relief and strategies to release tension, making this episode both powerful and practical.🛠️ From the magnificent clash of worlds she navigates, Florence shares her journey of resilience, food as a healing force, and the emotional toll of witnessing trauma and survival.

🌟 In this special bonus episode, we dive into a side of pain that often gets overlooked: spiritual pain. In the last bonus, we explored the somatic and mechanical layers of pain, but today, we’re peeling back the layers even further. 💫🔍 You might be asking yourself: What does spirituality have to do with pain? How can you tell when your pain is spiritual, and what are the signs? 🤔I’ll share with you how I stumbled upon spiritual pain and how it found me when I least expected it. My journey began with a focus on the mechanical—posture, overuse, tight muscles. It was what I knew best and felt most confident treating, especially in a world where athletes needed immediate, tangible results. 🏀💪As I grew as a therapist, I gently ventured into the somatic—the emotional roots of pain. It was delicate work, especially in a professional sports world that shied away from emotions and energy. I introduced these concepts subtly, letting clients uncover for themselves that their pain was more than physical. 🧠💔 And it worked.But then, something changed. The spiritual side of pain appeared, and this was a whole new ballgame. 🌀🎙️ In this episode, I’ll help you understand:The difference between somatic and spiritual pain.How to tune in and recognize what type of pain you’re experiencing.Questions to ask yourself to dig deeper into your pain’s roots. 🌱➡️ Get Your Personalized Mantra: bit.ly/3Bf5q5v➡️ FREE Intro Class: Learn About Self-Massage & Somatic Pain: bit.ly/4iCc3QE➡️ Live classes Zoom and In Person: bit.ly/49CEKJd🩺 Disclaimer: This isn’t a diagnosis. Always seek professional medical advice for pain or health concerns. This episode offers a tool to help you explore your pain more deeply, alongside professional care.Tune in to hear how opening to the spiritual side of pain has transformed my practice and, most importantly, helped others find true healing. 💛#Healing #SpiritualPain #Breathwork #BodyMindSpirit

🎙️ In this episode of Deep Tissue Talks, we dive into the fascinating journey of Dr Robin B a Dr in pharmacy turned fitness expert and content creator! 💪 From being called the "little doctor" by her grandfather to being a part of a successful fitness app that helps thousands of people, she shares her unique perspective on medicine, fitness and wellness. 🧘‍♀️ We discuss the reactive nature of medicine versus the proactive power of fitness, how women are thriving in the fitness industry, and why caring for your body—like a luxury car—is key to longevity. 🚗✨ We’ll also explore how tight muscles impact performance as well as the benefits of foam rolling and fascia release for Muscle Growth and recovery. 😌💆‍♀️

In this episode, we dive into the world of Aliya Janell, a renowned dancer, choreographer and emerging singer. 👑 Aliya Janell has not only danced alongside the biggest names in the industry, she is also manifesting two exciting new career paths—music and studio ownership. 👑👐 You will witness how manual therapy treatment combined with self-reflection and talk therapy, can really get to the root of her pain.We’ll also explore how using a MANTRA during a session can be a powerful way to address both the physical and emotional sides of her discomfort.As Aliya's knots melt away, we uncover the exact techniques helping her rise to stardom to become a key figure in the dance world.⭐ If you are a healer, PT, Massage therapist, Manual DO Please leave a comment with your specialty and where you practice so that people can find you ⭐If you want to see how she is being treated, check out the Youtube channel: www.youtube.com/@DeepTissueTalks-------------Connect with us:Website: https://deeptissuetalks.com/Instagram: @deeptissuetalksEmail: [email protected] with Doris:Self Massage for Somatic, Postural and Mechanical pain: https://bit.ly/3Bf5q5vPersonalized Mantra: https://bit.ly/3zwiFhK------------Connect with Aliya:Instagram: @thealiyajanellYoutube: @AliyajanellTiktok: @therealaliyajanell----------

This is the 1st BONUS episode of Deep Tissue Talks!In this episode, we'll talk about Neck and Shoulder Pain by revisiting some of the golden insights from episode 1 with professional dancer and choreographer Aliya Janell.Stay tuned until the end as we share the exercises Doris recommended to help Aliya on her healing path.Join us for this deep dive into the mind-body connection and the power of movement!If you want to see how she is being treated, check out the Youtube channel: www.youtube.com/@DeepTissueTalksConnect with us:Website: https://deeptissuetalks.com/Instagram: @deeptissuetalksEmail: [email protected] with Doris:Self Massage for Somatic, Postural and Mechanical pain: https://bit.ly/3Bf5q5vPersonalized Mantra: https://bit.ly/3zwiFhK🇫🇷 Classe Thérapie Manuelle et Massage sportif 🇫🇷 : https://bit.ly/3ZweaOQ

This is the 2nd BONUS episode of Deep Tissue Talks!In this episode, we're revisiting some of the golden insights from our amazing conversation with professional dancer and choreographer Aliya Janell from Episode 1. But this time, we're diving even deeper into the heart of her pain free journey.We’ll unpack the three layers of pain: mechanical, somatic, and spiritual—plus, we’ll talk specifically about hamstring pain and its impact.Stay tuned until the end as we share the exercises Doris recommended to help Aliya on her healing path.Join us for this deep dive into the mind-body connection and the power of movement!If you want to see how she is being treated, check out the Youtube channel: www.youtube.com/@DeepTissueTalksConnect with us:Website: https://deeptissuetalks.com/Instagram: @deeptissuetalksEmail: [email protected] with Doris:Self Massage for Somatic, Postural and Mechanical pain: https://bit.ly/3Bf5q5vPersonalized Mantra: https://bit.ly/3zwiFhK🇫🇷 Classe Thérapie Manuelle et Massage sportif 🇫🇷 : https://bit.ly/3ZweaOQ

Welcome to the Deep Tissue Talks —where healing, resilience and transformation come to life. This is an introduction about this never done before podcast, recorded right on a massage table.Hear the untold stories of personal journeys, triumphs, and the art of self-care. Join me, Doris Martel, as I bring you inspiring conversations with athletes and incredible guests, all while blending mind, body, and spirit. Get ready to explore the deeper side of healing and learn how to turn life’s challenges into gold.