The Fall That Lifted Me: Healing, Pelvic Health, and the Birth of Homebody Wellness
A Leap That Changed Everything
Fifteen years ago, I took a leap of faith, and not the figurative kind you might be thinking of. It was a literal cliff jump, from fifty feet above, into a sparkling Colorado waterfall pool. At the time, it was stupid, but now I would never trade it because the tailbone injury that it left me with silently changed the course of my life and ultimately fueled my journey to becoming the physical therapist that I am today.
Early Roots in Service
I recovered from my injury within a few months, or so I thought. I continued my undergraduate studies (while sitting on a pillow) and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services and a minor in Spanish. My degrees laid the foundation for me to support and advocate for individuals and communities, and to always be culturally sensitive and curious.
From my high school experiences volunteering with Habitat for Humanity to leading service-learning study abroad trips in college, helping others has always been a passion of mine. My grandfather, a doctor, served his community, and my grandmother, a nurse’s aide, supported soldiers in the war effort. Helping others is not just a passion, it is in my blood.
Finding My Bedrock of Self-Care
Flash forward to one year after college, when I had the unique opportunity to participate in a thirty-day, 200-hour yoga teacher training intensive. This immersive, experiential training definitively transformed my life. The deep dive into philosophy, anatomy, Ayurveda, teaching techniques, and the personal practice behind yoga set a flame inside me. What was designed to prepare me to guide others safely and effectively in the practice ultimately showed me how to build a bedrock of self-care - the daily foundational practices that have kept me grounded and thriving, even when life is full.
A New Direction in Boston
From the moment that training ended, I knew I needed to learn more about anatomy and that I wanted to seek a career in helping others learn how to support and take care of their bodies. Cue a move to Boston, Massachusetts, after my brother encouraged me to land in a mecca of academic possibilities. I chose Simmons University to pursue my Doctorate in Physical Therapy, which afforded me the unique opportunity to dissect cadavers, yes, dead bodies. Others can’t fathom it, but this experience profoundly deepened my appreciation for the human form.
When the Pain Came Back
The next few years involved an immense volume of studying and sitting, a ton of practical exams, and … a lot more sitting. My tailbone pain slowly returned. I subconsciously learned how to sit in every possible way to relieve pressure from my tailbone to get through my degree. I was developing deeply ingrained compensation patterns that would affect my posture, decrease the resilience of my back, and create worsening pelvic floor muscle tension with cascading effects.
Just in time, as I studied the human body, I became aware of the fault lines in my own. I had daily, growing symptoms that were getting quieted by my academic endeavors, including low back pain, bladder pain, and pelvic pain. Then came the one, single day of physical therapy school in which we were lightly exposed to a specialty called pelvic health, and everything changed. Another flame was ignited in me, and I realized:
I must learn more about pelvic health physical therapy
This path will become my purpose
Maybe I need help… to see a pelvic health physical therapist for my own issues
Learning, Working, and Finally Asking for Help
Stubbornly self-sufficient, I persisted in my pursuit of learning as much as I could about pelvic health to try to heal my own body and help others, including completing a pelvic health clinical rotation in school, working in a specialized pelvic health private practice as a new graduate with incredible on the job training, and taking as many courses as I could. Despite having a doctorate and advanced training in pelvic health, I realized only last year that I simply couldn’t self-treat my way out of nagging chronic pain that affected every part of my life.
I finally decided to ask for help. I sought out my kin, a pelvic health colleague, and never looked back. With just twelve weeks of targeted physical therapy treatments, including targeted postural assessment, joint mobilizations, muscle re-training, dry needling, and myofascial release, I turned a corner and I felt magically healed after nearly fifteen years of pain. I thought, why did I not seek help sooner? Now I am feeling more resilient than ever, thriving as I participate in Pilates instructor training, and preparing to start a family of my own.
The Heart of Homebody Wellness
Homebody Wellness is here to offer you the same treatments that helped me, including personalized guidance to help you reconnect with yourself. You don’t have to heal all on your own or brush your symptoms aside. If you are in Concord, Massachusetts, I am here to provide you with expert-level care for your pelvic health concerns! When you are ready to book a session, I look forward to connecting with you and supporting you on your path to finding your way back to comfort and joy in your physical body.
What began as a leap of faith became a leap into my truest calling. You can take the leap, too and find your way back home to your body. This is your permission to ask for help.
Join my newsletter to follow along, learn about upcoming local classes, and expand your body awareness with movement insights. Thank you for being here, for being a part of the Homebody Wellness community, and for spreading the word about pelvic health. We all deserve to feel at home in our bodies.
