Lower back pain dominated my life beginning in 2002. I saw a chiropractor three times a week, went through repeated physical therapy and massage, took medications that caused negative side effects, and eventually underwent spinal surgery and fusion. At one point, doctors told me my MRI looked like the spine of a 90-year-old man. Despite every intervention, the pain continued.
At the same time, I was a triathlete. More exercise was not the problem. The problem was learning which exercises were right for my body’s specific needs.
In desperation, I prayed: “God, please lead me to a place where my life is no longer ruled by low back pain. And if You do, please allow me to help people along the way.”
That prayer led me to leave my sedentary career and pursue personal training, with a focus on older adults. I wanted to better understand my own body and help others care for theirs.
Today, I hold 13 certifications, have been in business for 12 years, and lead a team of in-home personal trainers serving adults 50+ across Greater Columbus. While I value my credentials, they cannot compare to the personal experience that shaped my work. My journey gave me a lens for seeing each person more clearly and entering into their story with compassion, because I understand some of what they may be feeling.
That perspective has helped me serve cancer survivors, clients with multiple joint replacements, people with chronic pain, arthritis, osteoporosis, and active adults whose posture or mobility challenges affect daily life. I carry that lens with every person I serve. I believe it is one reason many of my clients have continued with me for more than eight years.
So what happened to my pain? Through a deeper understanding of human anatomy, I learned how to train my body based on where I was tight, weak, or out of alignment. I discovered how muscular imbalances and posture affect overall health, and how targeted movement can help restore strength, mobility, and confidence.
Today, it is my joy to empower older adults with the tools to strengthen and realign their own bodies so they can enjoy the active, mature years they desire.