I started experiencing various aches and pains in my early 30s, despite the fact that I liked to exercise and was practicing yoga for many years. I was very frustrated that my chronic back pain was slowly getting worse, no matter how many hours I spent in a gym. I felt that something was off in the way I moved and was trying to figure out how to solve it.
My journey to becoming more aligned began in 2008, when I first tried the Egoscue Pain Free Method™ to deal with a severe shoulder pain. At that time, I developed a serious condition called “frozen shoulder”, which often lasts from one to three years. I was able to recover from it in mere 8 months, by combining Traditional Chinese Medicine herbs (for my shoulder pain) and the Egoscue Method™ to restore my shoulder range of motion. Surprisingly, as a “side effect” of daily postural exercises to heal my shoulder, my chronic back pain has stopped as well!
I did not start my professional life in the fitness world. I have an MS in Electrical Engineering and I worked in a computer field for over 25 years. I was so impressed with the results of postural therapy that I wanted to learn more about it. I decided that becoming a postural therapist could be my retirement occupation when the time came.
Everything in life happens for a reason. In 2010, in order to take care of a family member, I needed a more flexible occupation. I could only work for a few hours a day and it was not available in my field. I decided then that it was time to train myself in postural therapy.
I received my initial Postural Alignment Specialist certificate at the Egoscue University in 2011. Soon after that, I started seeing clients at my Upright Posture Fitness, LLC studio in Hudson, MA. I practice what I preach, and I am constantly learning to be able to help my clients better.
Over the last 8 years, I have looked into additional approaches to postural health –Gokhale method, MELT, somatic exercises, etc. They all expanded my understanding of proper body alignment and natural way of movement.
The most significant breakthrough, however, happened in 2014, when I came across Katy Bowman’s work that explores body biomechanics in a modern world. I knew right away that my clients would greatly benefit by adding her Nutritious Movement™ concepts to my skills set.
I started my path towards becoming a Nutritious Movement™ certified Restorative Exercise Specialist (RES) in 2015 by getting a Nutritious Movement™ Healthy Foot Practitioner certification, and now completed my full RES training as of September of 2018.
While I am still using some of the Egoscue exercises in my practice, I mostly follow Nutritious Movement™ principles personally and professionally. My clients can now get a more limber and pain-free body by combining restorative exercises with healthy, functional, and effective daily alignment practices.
In addition to practicing in my studio, I am a member of the IDEA Health & Fitness Association and I teach knee and feet health classes twice a year at Assabet After Dark continuing education program for adults in Marlborough, MA.
I know the struggle of living in a body that does not function the way it should. However, it does not have to stay that way. I already helped many of my clients to improve their body’s alignment, and I would love to help you do the same and live pain-free!