Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Ulanowski.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
When I was in physical therapy school in 2015 and it was time for our first round of clinical rotations to begin, I asked my program director if there were any holistic type clinics that would take me in as a student? “I have the PERFECT place for you!” she expressed with a big smile. That perfect place was called Pluta Movement Therapeutics owned and operated by Nataly Pluta in Solana Beach. When I had previously spoken with Nataly, whom would be my clinical instructor for the next two months, she informed me that our work attire would be casual yoga clothing and bare feet–I better get a pedicure before my first day!!! Walking into Pluta Movement, where Holistic PT and Yoga Healing is currently located, I was immediately put at ease. I removed my shoes and entered this “zen-like” environment with soothing music and essential oils filling the air. “Am I in the right place?” Most physical therapy clinics I have been to are big, open, noisy rooms with bright lights and equipment every direction you look. This clinic had one main room with a treatment table and an adequate area for performing stretches and exercises surrounded by two private treatment rooms. Over the course of the next two months, I learned things that were never even touched on in school (as most of us do because there is only so much time and infinite amounts of material to learn). However, Nataly had spent the past 15 years developing her own method of treating patients which she trademarked as the Pluta Movement Method. I remember one of the first patients I observed her treating-she placed a lacrosse ball under the patient’s RIGHT shoulder and then began working on the patient’s LEFT leg. “What in the world?!” I was so intrigued and knew I was in the right place from day 1.
Fast forward two years later…Here I am currently working my dream job at Pluta Movement Therapeutics when Nataly approached me and another therapist that worked there. She sat us down and explained to us that she was planning on semi-retiring and would like to sell the business to us. Whoa. What an array of emotions that went through me! Here I am, a year and a half out of school, no business background and offered to buy a business?!? Holy moly. Fortunately, we had three months to figure this out. Over the course of the next couple of months, my mind was constantly racing, I had many sleepless nights and in order for it to work out, multiple factors had to align just perfectly. No matter what options I was weighing, my mind kept going back to “What would our patients do without us? Where would they go for their physical therapy needs? This is such an amazing approach to physical therapy. We can’t just let it disappear? We need to continue the effective methods that Nataly had developed over the past 15 years.” Fortunately, the stars aligned with two weeks left to finalize everything and I became a proud business CO-owner continuing the legacy of the Pluta Movement Method and also incorporating the Results Treatment Method with my new business partner, Andreas Schenk.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Haha! It has been anything but a smooth road. My business partner and I always joke that nothing can ever come easy for us and if it did we wouldn’t know what to do. One of our biggest struggles in the first year was getting approved by Medicare. We began in January and didn’t get approved until September. It was awful telling our patients that we were STILL waiting for our Medicare approval nine months later. It pulled at my heartstrings having to say that every time and knowing that they weren’t getting reimbursed for their treatments. Even though we had done everything we could and we just had to wait, I felt guilty. Most people remained patient and understood while others not so much. Other simple things like buying a new printer. A week later, it breaks down. I could go on and on, but I won’t bore you. My business partner Andreas has the best saying, “PERSISTENCE not RESISTANCE” and we just smile, laugh, shake our heads and just keep pushing forward.
Personally, without a business background, the whole ride has been a learning experience. Stressful and exciting all at the same time. Unless you are or have been a business owner, you don’t understand how much work, time and energy goes on behind the scenes until you are in it. If it doesn’t get accomplished, it falls back on you. Treating patients is the fun, heart fulfilling part of the job where the admin part is the time consuming, not so fun part, but MUST be done. Balance is everything. I definitely struggled with finding that in our first year and am still working on it. You have to take care of yourself first and I was constantly putting myself on the back burner and the business on the front. I never get sick and was getting sick all the time. Andreas asked me one time, “What’s different this year than last?” Well, I own a business now! I was guilty of not making time for myself and my body was letting me know. As much as your business needs implementation and structure, so does your own personal health. Find that balance.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Holistic Physical Therapy and Yoga Healing Inc. – what should we know?
Holistic PT and Yoga is a unique fusion of the Pluta Movement Method and the Results Treatment Method creating a whole-body approach to treat the cause of your problem, not just the symptoms. Our treatments are an hour long with the same therapist-we don’t pass you down the assembly line like some physical therapy clinics do. Your treatments are as individualized as you are and we believe you get better quality care the more your therapist knows about you.
As mentioned before, our clinic has minimal equipment because our best tools are our hands. We treat heavily in manual therapy where our hands are on the patient at least 90% of the time including our warm-up. No there’s no jumping on the bike for your warm-up here, at Holistic PT and Yoga Healing WE move your body through a warm-up consisting of contract-relax techniques, active release techniques and joint distractions. This allows us to observe you and your movements and then determine a treatment plan of where we need to go with intervention for that day. We treat the body asymmetrically with the goal of getting the patient symmetrical and functioning in their most optimal movements. As our name says and noted above, we look at the whole entire body because we are ONE BIG connective unit. For example, a patient who presents with right shoulder pain may have alignment issues on the opposite side of their body in the left hip region.
Our mission at Holistic PT and Yoga is to empower our clients through the body and mind connection
to reduce pain and manage their physical ailments through our unique process of therapeutic treatment approaches to give them the tools to live a Happy, Fulfilling, and Pain-Free Life.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Oh man, where do I start?! There are so many key players involved in the process of making this dream become a reality, but the people I could absolutely not have done this without are Nataly Pluta, Andreas Schenk and Blair Arceo, but not in any order! Nataly for believing in me and having faith in Andreas and I to take over her business that she has built from the ground up and the trust to carry it on. For teaching the Pluta Movement Method and passing along her knowledge. Andreas, my business partner for being my mentor and advisor on aspects of maintaining and building the business. For sharing his knowledge and skill with the Results Treatment Method. For taking a leap of faith on a total stranger when he made the commitment to buy the business with me. Blair for her support and advocacy in the Pluta Movement Method and Results Treatment Method blending the techniques to create the unique Holistic PT and Yoga Healing approach. To everyone else, (you know who you are!) thank you for your love, encouragement and support. To all our patients, thank you for trusting us with your physical therapy needs and letting us serve you.
Contact Info:
- Address: 312 S. Cedros Ave. Ste 206
Solana Beach, CA 92107 - Website: www.holisticptandyoga.com
- Phone: 619-787-2729
- Email: getwellwithholisticpt@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holisticptyogahealing/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/holisticptandyoga1/?modal=admin_todo_tour
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/holistic-physical-therapy-and-yoga-healing-inc-solana-beach?osq=holistic+physical+therapy+and+yoga+healing
Image Credit:
Julie Silva
Suggest a story: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
