I’m the former owner of Strive & Uplift and was a personal trainer and strength and conditioning coach for more than 20 years. I used these skills to help craft effective postpartum exercise programming with an emphasis on performance and injury reduction.
I had two kids via C-section and have gained strength and resiliency through PT, training and therapy to get to the place where I feel comfortable exploring new activities like pole dance and stunt work. I have worked with many clients during pregnancy and postpartum, helping them stay connected to their changing bodies and finding new balance, and have always wished I was able to offer those resources to people who weren’t able to meet with me face-to-face (or afford personal training). I did not have a lot of support or education around returning to activity after having kids, so I’m excited to be offering you that guidance now in collaboration with S&U and these awesome PTs!
I am a Doctor of Physical Therapy practicing orthopedic and sports rehab at Sage Physical Therapy in Seattle. My goal as a PT is to help people learn to move better, without pain or limitation, so they can freely perform daily life stuff and all the fun sports and recreational activities. I enjoy taking my training and expertise in functional biomechanics and working with individuals to match treatments, exercises, and pattern training to help people understand their own body better. Athletically I have a diverse sports background to draw from. I grew up playing all kinds of sports and games with my brothers and competing in soccer, Nordic and Alpine skiing, softball, and basketball. I started playing competitive ice hockey and Ultimate at Carleton College. My Ultimate career took me through the highest levels nationally and internationally, including multiple Club Nationals and World Club Championships titles with Seattle women & non-binary club teams, and two World Games Gold medals with Team USA mixed teams.
As a mom of 2 young boys – both delivered by C-section – I have struggled with body and identity changes through pregnancy and delivery, and the time, energy, and fitness challenges of being active and feeling strong again for life and as a competitive athlete again. Some underlying foundational weaknesses and inefficient patterns were revealed when I lost most of my muscle mass while on bed rest for 6 weeks prior to the delivery of my second child. It is still a process to work on those foundational patterns and improve biomechanical efficiency and strength, but I have been able to rebuild my body and get to a point where I feel strong and powerful competing again at the highest levels of Masters Ultimate (winning Worlds in 2018, runner-up at Nationals in 2019), and playing for Seattle Mixtape, one of the top Mixed club teams in the country. I hope this Return to Performance program helps you navigate through your postpartum journey a little more smoothly.
I am a sports Physical Therapist and Orthopedic Certified Specialist (OCS) with advanced training in pelvic health, based out of Prevail Physical Therapy in Shoreline. Early in my physical therapy career, my enjoyment of working with patients with multi-dimensional lower extremity conditions evolved to treating pelvic pain, core issues, and pelvic floor dysfunctions. I am especially passionate about helping people along the pregnancy spectrum. I’ve worked with countless folks throughout their rehabilitation journey, from pregnancy through postpartum to return to competitive sport/performance. I believe that building efficient postpartum movement patterns is essential to recovering from pregnancy and birth, as well as decreasing injury risk in years to come. The recovery process is also an opportunity for the athlete to reset inefficient movement patterns that existed prior to pregnancy.
I’ve been an outdoor and movement enthusiast throughout my life. I played many sports as a young athlete, and I am currently enjoying open water swimming, hiking, and cycling. Through my PT practice and my own athletic adventures, I recognize the importance of building strong foundations for complex movement patterns. My commitment is to healthy movement that creates a lifetime of activity and joy. I truly believe that movement is medicine. My hope is that this program empowers you in every part of your postpartum journey.
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