Finding New Strength: Pilates-Based Pelvic Floor Therapy

I'm your homegrown Arizona girl with an insatiable appetite for adventure. In 2005, my ventures took me to

Chicago, IL, where I attended Northwestern University and obtained my doctorate in physical therapy. After graduating, I traveled around the country. I got to call incredible places like Los Angeles, Nashville, and Philadelphia home.

Seven years ago, I returned to the Grand Canyon state with my husband and our one-year-old son in tote. With all the joys of becoming a mother, I joined the club and struggled to get my "pre-baby body" back. My body no longer felt strong, especially my core. After a 42-week pregnancy, 36hr labor, and a challenging recovery post-cesarean section, I found it especially difficult to find the core strength I once had and desperately wanted back. I needed a new exercise routine to kick my core back into shape while allowing me to explore my body's new strength postpartum.

Enter my first Pilates reformer class. I'd been Pilates-curious for ages but had always been intimidated by the reformer. I finally leaped! That very first class? I fell head over heels in love with Pilates. I've been hooked and practicing since 2017.

One particular Pilates class changed the course of my professional career. Wrapping up that class, I couldn't stop thinking how fulfilling it would be to teach Pilates myself. I discovered a new and improved way to take care of my body that I believed in full-heartedly. A new passion was awakened, and with all of the excitement I even considered a new career as a Pilates instructor. After serious contemplation, I realized that I could (and should!) still be a physical therapist but could (and should!) incorporate Pilates into my treatments as a physical therapist.

Giant lightbulb: On! Pilates and physical therapy was the match made in heaven I was looking for! Giant lightbulb: On! Pilates and physical therapy was the match made in heaven I was looking for! I also found Pilates invaluable in treating patients that come in for pelvic floor therapy. After extensive research, I registered with Balanced Body Pilates, one of the country's most reputable training and certification programs available. My belief in Pilates has only grown after seeing that my patients' outcomes are better than ever.

At the center of Pilates is proper breathing and movement, and these principles are essential for every single one of my patients' physical therapy. For patients with pelvic floor needs, breathing and moving correctly are everything. As part of their individual program, I provide each patient with pelvic floor dysfunctions with a comprehensive Pilates-based rehab, and I absolutely love seeing the results!

As a mother, woman, and practitioner, I know firsthand how challenging it can be to find the body we had before childbirth. I also know that our bodies are transformed through the tremendous changes pregnancy requires, and there is a new strength to be found after. No one postpartum story is the same, and each patient is a unique opportunity for me to provide the best outcomes possible through individual care.

Try out our Prenatal & Postpartum Home Exercises here

You only get one body! Make it strong. Make it healthy. Keep it fun! And don't wait! For a program tailored specifically for you and your concerns, reach out! Schedule your initial evaluation today to start your journey toward a stronger, healthier body.