Living in California and willing to travel turned out to be my golden ticket. I found myself learning from some of the biggest names in Orthopedic Physical Therapy—the kind of practitioners whose techniques are taught in textbooks.

At the renowned Kaiser Hayward, I dove into the Australian approach to Manual Therapy. Brian Mulligan, the pioneer of Movement-based Joint Mobilization, didn't just teach me groundbreaking techniques—he entertained while doing it. Michael Shacklock opened my eyes to the intricacies of treating the nervous system through Clinical Neurodynamics. I even have a treasured photo with Shirley Sahrmann, the visionary behind Movement System Impairment Syndromes.

But perhaps the most transformative learning experience came from Christopher DaPrato at UCSF, who introduced me to Myofascial Decompression™—essentially cupping combined with specific movements performed simultaneously. I believe it's one of the most effective therapeutic interventions ever developed. Since then, I've taken it further, applying cups during functional movements like sit-to-stand or walking, rather than isolating single muscle groups. (Sometimes being a patient yourself and knowing how/learning new ways to self-treat leads to the best innovations!)

The letters after my name tell their own story: Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (2003), and Certified Ergonomic Assessment Specialist (2005). Most recently I became Certified as a Neuro Specialist (2024). Each certification represents not just credentials, but tools I use daily to help my patients move better and live fuller lives.