Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Krentzman.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Embody Physical Therapy & Yoga started as a unique idea to blend Yoga with Physical Therapy in 2002. After suffering from scoliosis and a herniated disc, I learned that Yoga was a very effective way to heal from back pain and other injuries. I initially started seeing patients in my garage in Ocean Beach, then moved to renting a room in a yoga studio, a holistic health center and finally opened a center of my own. We are now a staff of four physical therapists who are all trained in orthopedic manual therapy and yoga.
Last year, I published two books on Yoga for back health. The first “Yoga for a Happy Back: A Teacher’s Guide to Spinal Health through Yoga Therapy” is a detailed book for teachers, therapists and serious practitioners. The second, “Scoliosis, Yoga Therapy and the Art of Letting Go,” is aimed to educate the general public about the benefits of Yoga for Scoliosis.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road has not always been smooth. First, since this is a new approach, we had to educate individuals about the benefits of this kind of treatment and the advantages to going to a physical therapist and paying out of pocket for a different level of service and unique approach. I put in a lot of hours and taught many yoga classes around the city so that I could make people aware of how yoga can help heal from back pain. Luckily yoga became very popular, especially in San Diego and it wasn’t long before everyone had attended some form of yoga class.
I also struggled with figuring out the best model for the business. I had opened a yoga studio and physical therapy center in Bird Rock, La Jolla and ran that for two years, but decided that it would be more effective to focus on one of one therapy instead of group classes. That’s when I moved the office closer to my home in North Park. We now work one on one for a one hour session in a private room. We find that this model helps people get better faster.
Another challenge has been working with insurance companies. Since we don’t want to cut the quality of our service, we have had to really narrow down the insurance companies that would cover hour long sessions. Navigating the health care system has been tricky at best, but we are trying to help those who couldn’t afford the services get reimbursed, but it is getter harder and harder to work within a system that does not favor quality of care.
Embody Physical Therapy & Yoga – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
What sets us apart is the fusion of yoga with physical therapy. We use a system called “The Great Yoga Wall TM” that is unique and very effective for spinal traction. We also only use licensed physical therapists (no aides or assistants) and each patient is given an hour of individualized attention. They don’t need to come in as often and we find that the outcomes are exceptional.
We are known for our work with lower back and upper back pain, scoliosis, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, neck problems, balance and vestibular rehab as well as shoulder and knee pain. We are the home for Yoga for a Happy Back and we specialize in teaching you Yoga based exercises and techniques that you can practice at home.
We are most proud of the quality of care that we offer and the integrity and authenticity of Yoga that we represent.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is about being true to our vision and not compromising quality of care, no matter how hard the insurance companies pressure us to do so. Success is treating each person and each injury from a holistic perspective and taking the time to get to know each individual and their needs. Success is helping people feel better faster, with the need for less medication, avoiding surgery and having our patients develop a better relationship to their bodies which will last a lifetime.
Pricing:
- Physical therapy sessions – $135 per hour
Contact Info:
- Address: 4411 30th St.,Suite 100,
San Diego, CA 92116 - Website: www.embodyphysicaltherapy.com
- Phone: 619 – 261-6049
- Email: rachel@embodyphysicaltherapy.com
Image Credit:
Tim Hardy
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