My Red Light Therapy Journey – From Chronic Pain to a New Beginning



 Hi, I’m Mary Elges I am a professional cyclist and Ski Instructor living in Evergreen, Colorado and I wanted to kick off my blog by sharing my personal red light therapy story—one that completely changed the course of my life.


Back in 2014, while training for the USAC National Pro Downhill Championship, I suffered a serious mountain bike crash. I flew over the handlebars at high speed and slammed into the ground, landing hard on my hip. The injury was severe, and as the years passed, the pain only worsened. I walked with a limp, dreaded physical activity, and anytime I tried to ride my bike or go for a hike, I paid for it with intense pain during and after.

I tried just about every form of therapy—physical therapy, dry needling, massage, stretching—you name it. But nothing brought lasting relief. The pain continued to increase, and my hip grew weaker.

I’ve never been a big fan of doctors, but eventually, with encouragement from close friends, I went to see an orthopedic specialist. The diagnosis hit hard: bone-on-bone arthritis in my hip. The only real solution? A total hip replacement. I reluctantly scheduled the surgery for October 2024, planning to get through one more riding season before going under the knife.

While waiting for surgery, I stumbled across a Facebook ad offering a free trial of red light therapy—right in my hometown. The ad claimed this FDA-approved, scientifically-backed treatment could reduce chronic pain and promote healing. I had tried everything else, so I figured, why not?

I booked my free trial the same day and headed to the Light Lounge in Evergreen, Colorado. The staff was incredibly welcoming and knowledgeable. They walked me through the entire process and showed me just how easy and completely painless red light therapy was.

The session lasted about 15 minutes—and the difference was immediate. I walked out of that pod with noticeably reduced pain. I signed up for a membership on the spot and began visiting the Light Lounge 4–5 times a week.

After just three weeks of consistent sessions, I noticed major improvements. I had better range of motion, less pain, and even started experiencing completely pain-free days. It was unbelievable.

With renewed hope and mobility, I applied to work as a ski instructor at Loveland Ski Area. I returned to the gym, started riding again, and felt my hip continuing to heal. Honestly, I was still scared of surgery—so I made a bold decision. I canceled my hip replacement and chose to continue healing with red light therapy.

Now, it’s spring 2025—and I’ve taken the leap into something even bigger. I’m beyond excited to announce that I’m opening my very own Light Lounge franchise in one of my favorite places: Boulder, Colorado. I can’t wait to bring the incredible healing power of medical-grade red light therapy to this amazing community.

If my journey can inspire even one person to try something new, find relief, and regain control of their body and life—then it’s all been worth it. Stay tuned for more updates as I open the doors to Boulder’s newest wellness destination!

Light Lounge Boulder
(720) 817-3666
maryelges@lightlounge.life
www.lightlounge.life/boulder
1800 Commons 30th str, Suite 206, Boulder, Colorado


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