Hi. I’m glad you are here

My name is Priya. From a crazy nutritional freak to exercise enthusiast to moderate at best, I gone through many different phases when it comes to health and wellness. In all honestly, I could write a book about my experience with all things health and personal-development-related like intermittent fasting, intuitive eating, superset training, power naps, meditation, self-love, a growth mindset, etc… But the story of how I got here begins with the story that lead me to pursue a career in Physical Therapy. Here it is:

“I have bulimia”

I will never forget the moment my friend, Julia, confided in me about her eating disorder. For as long as I could remember, I was interested in nutritional sciences, more specifically food. I learned to count calories from an early age and could recite nutritional values and macronutrient composition of foods by heart. I was enticed by natural Ayurveda medicines and every new superfood. Call me crazy (because I kind of was) but this was actually a hobby. However, with Julia, my interest in nutrition suddenly became more personal. It’s one thing to see how something you love can be so debilitating for someone else, but to see my friend struggle was heartbreaking. After finding out about her diagnosis, her light appetite and her additional long distance runs on top of her cross country practices began to hold a whole new meaning.

Soon enough, she suffered a stress fracture, and was thereby prescribed physical therapy. Although I never attended the physical therapy appointments with her, I actively took note of her progress. Since the initial rehabilitation required rest, the first few weeks were hard for her. As someone that was constantly over-exercising as a coping mechanism, she struggled with inactivity. After her pain became more manageable, her range of motion and mobility started to improve. More importantly, I was happy to notice subtle changes in her mood.

Towards the end of her physical therapy treatment, Julia was encouraged to continue with strengthening exercises and so, as a New Year’s Resolution, we decided to start strength training together. Our new workouts felt challenging in a new way. In an empowering way. It was a welcomed change to focus on building functionality and strength. Along with the physiological improvements, the mental transformation was huge. The same changes were evident in Julia.

Wanting to learn more about physical therapy, I started a job shadowing program during my senior year in high school, where I observed daily patient care regimes, exercise protocols, and the utilization of rehabilitation modalities. I watched Physical Therapists design and evaluate treatment regimens specifically for individual patients, and aid them in carrying out their exercises. Throughout my job shadowing, it became apparent to me that patients’ thoughts and emotions significantly affect their motivation and mental health. Especially in this age, mental conditions such as depression and anxiety are on the rise. Negative body image and eating disorders are growing in adolescents perhaps due to the role of the media and by listening to the way well-meaning adults talk about their displeasure with their bodies. Thinking of Julia, she found strength by refocusing on health, and finding capability in herself. This lesson stuck with me because it made me re-examine myself.

I prided myself for my interest in nutrition – so it was hard to admit when I was being obsessive for reasons other than wellbeing – like a six pack or a thigh gap (which was all the rage in high school). Fortunately, I never succumbed to the bad elements of diet trends for too long. The introduction of strength training showed me that nourishing and strengthening my body was always the intention behind my interest in nutrition. Exercise combined with healthy eating were my pb&j. For both mind and body.

I carried this with me as I attended college.

Physical therapy was attractive to me because the number one priority is on improving physical wellness, and thus improving mental wellness and daily functionality over time. Not only do I internalize the values of physical therapy, I am amazed by the strength and resiliency of the human body. It’s astonishing how gradual change in structured exercises has the power to improve the quality of lives for patients dealing with orthopedic disorders, chronic pain, injury rehabilitation, and even mental health conditions. Nutrition is still an important component for me. Over the last two decades, research evidence has accumulated regarding the positive influences of nutrition. Due to which, Physical Therapists are now actively implementing nutrition as an evidence-based intervention to improve physical function and the quality of life.

Still, I felt like I was missing something. Working with individuals recovering from injuries and/or managing chronic disease is the prime component of PT. As a PT graduate student, I’m learning more and more about how to attend to the needs of patients. But I believe its equally important to improve the wellbeing of the general population through preventative care, awareness, and application. With that in mind, I made learning about general wellbeing in terms of fitness, nutrition, and self-care a priority during college – hence leading to my certification in personal training and nutritional specialist.

So here I am, armed with a good amount of knowledge, and ready to put to use.

I won’t pretend like I know everything. Truth be told, I will always be a student in one matter or another. But one thing is for sure. I have made the conscious decision to share what I do know and learn along the way.

My journey began with my friend’s recovery from her eating disorder, as I realized that physical therapy is more than just exercise. Julia found empowerment in using movement to heal her injury and strengthen her body— the results of which manifested physically and mentally. I’m enthusiastic about the process of enabling patients to discover their own strengths and achieve personal goals. I’m equally enthusiastic about enabling you to make your health a priority. Which is why I created this blog. This website serves as a way for me to apply the information I have learned throughout my journey as a physical therapist, personal trainer, and nutritional specialist in a way that benefits you. In the end, I hope this empowers you to take action and instill in you the same love and respect for your body.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for taking the time to learn more about me.

Here’s to your health, your happiness

Priya