The Sage Practice empowers you to turn your pain into healing

  • The Structural Specialist

    “Lara is a powerful voice in the field of mindbody medicine” (Curable).

    “Lara is a trailblazer — and one of the most thoughtful and courageous voices in the field” (Anna Holtzman).

    Lara’s SAGE Method is designed expressly for those with mixed structural / neuroplastic symptoms.

    "I got my life back, only better." You can too.

  • Sage Groups

    Get support, find community, & learn empowering skills for creating a full life, regardless of symptoms — take your power back.

    Winter 2027 Sage Group:
    10 Thursdays Jan 14-March 18, 2027 10-11:15am ET, capped at 7 people (a couple of spots left).

  • 1-1 Coaching

    Self schedule an appointment at your own convenience.

    Ongoing coaching opening coming up in October 2026: email if interested.

  • Practitioner Training

    Lara teaches her SAGE Method to practitioners whose clients live with mixed structural/neuroplastic symptoms.

    The pilot Sage practitioner consultation group begins in January 2027.

    Self-schedule a 1-1 consultation anytime.

  • Sage Online Course

    Empower yourself to live life again even when symptoms are present (premium options include Lara’s signature somatic tracking series & personal support).

  • Podcasts, Talks, Recordings

    Podcast Interviews‍ ‍(Like Mind, Like Body; How to Trust Yourself; Hope for Healing; TMS Roundtable; Beyond the Pain Cycle summit; and more.)

    Talks (15+ talks on Curable)

    Recordings (Somatic tracking & guided practices

  • Free Resources Library

    Take advantage of an ever-expanding list of educational videos, somatic trackings, podcasts, research, and more.

  • Selected Quote

    "Hope is the boldest act of imagination I know."

    — Edith Eva Eger

HOT OFF THE PRESS!

  • Because Lara is viewed as “trailblazer” in her field, she has been busy giving a lot of talks lately. Her October 2026 speaking schedule included:

    • The annual conference of the Association for the Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms

    • Dr. Howard Schubiner and Hal Greenham’s Freedom from Chronic Pain program

    • Spaulding Hospital’s FINER Program (Spaulding is a Harvard-affiliated hospital ranked # 2 in the nation for rehabilitation)

    • Kira Michelle’s Beyond the Pain Cycle Summit (you can register for free; the interview airs November 11 at 9am ET)

    • Ellen Alden’s MyCrew community Meet the Expert day

    • The Curable app

  • Join the Winter 2027 Sage Group designed especially for people living with mixed structural/neuroplastic symptoms — a couple of spots are still open. The focus is taking your power back from symptoms and living a full and meaningful life no matter what.

  • Join Lara’s inaugural 8 week pilot Sage Practitioner Training & Consultation Group (Jan-March 2027) to learn Lara’s SAGE Method for working with clients who have mixed structural/neuroplastic symptoms and get in depth consultation on your most complex cases. The first group filled within 24 hours! So Lara is now enrollment for a 2nd group.

  • Keep your eye out: Lara will be a guest on 5 new podcasts over the next few months, including TMS RoundTable (Jan. 6, 2027), Unstoppable Strides, and Beyond the Pelvis.

  • Check out Lara on Insight Timer!

  • Purchase downloads of Lara’s most popular somatic tracking recordings or request a personalized recording, individualized just for you.

  • Hear more of Lara’s story on Anna Holtzman’s podcast, How to Trust Yourself or on the Like Mind Like Body podcast.

  • Listen to Lara’s most popular talks, Redefining What Healing Means for You (the one about the River) or Living with Both Structural and Neuroplastic Pain on Curable (free to subscribers or via free trial)

“Lara Birk’s journey through years of chronic pain has led her to become a powerful voice in the field of mindbody medicine, particularly for those living with both structural and neuroplastic issues.”

— Curable Health

Click image above to hear Christie & Lara’s conversation on Like Mind Like Body.

The Sage Foundations of MindBody Empowerment

  • Self Trust: Cultivate inner safety

  • Agency: Step into your power

  • Growth: Embrace transformation

  • Engagement: Reclaim your life

A woman with shoulder-length light brown hair and blue eyes, wearing earrings and a gray shirt with a decorative white lace scarf, smiling in front of a blurred bookshelf background.

Lara Birk, PhD, Founder, The Sage Practice, LLC
MindBody Empowerment Coach & Teacher
Expert at Curable Health

Empowerment is Healing.

I was 16 and playing soccer when an exceptionally rare, life-threatening medical condition became acute in my leg. Because ER doctors did not believe me, I lost critical hours between onset and emergency treatment. I nearly lost my leg. Once I was out of a wheelchair and onto crutches, "the good leg" went acute too. 17 major surgeries later, I still live with often disabling pain, remain structurally impaired, and have been on crutches at least 15 years of my life.

It has not been easy, and yet... I have never been happier than I am today.

It's been a long, bewildering path from helpless patient to empowered human. I absolutely loved being a sociology professor, but when I discovered pain neuroscience and mind-body medicine, it inspired me to leave academia and use my teaching skills to help others in pain.

I created the Sage Practice to help you develop self trust, agency, growth, and engagement, empowering you to take your power back and start living your one wild and precious life.

Why not benefit from what I’ve learned in 35 years living with disabling pain?

For me, it’s not about “the way out” but the way in.

Make pain a portal into your deepest self and live your most vibrant life.

“It feels like Lara is a mirror to my highest self that even I hadn’t seen.
She is truly gifted."
— Rebecca Bauder

“I am so grateful for the time I spent with Lara — it changed my life.
In my healing journey, Lara has been my shining star.”
— Jascha Sonis"

“Lara has been integral to my healing process, guiding me to learn, grow,
and most of all, live a full & rich life. Lara is a true gift to the world.”
— Lisa Gold

“I am not afraid of storms for I am learning to sail my ship.” — Louisa May Alcott