After earning her Bachelors of Science degree from the University of WA in 1996, Serena went on to the University of Utah for her Masters of Physical Therapy degree in 2000. She became a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist in 2002.
Serena believes that every person is an individual and has unique therapy needs. She views the client from the perspective that we are dynamic individuals who are continually evolving. Therefore she believes in molding her sessions around, not only the individual’s current state, but also where they are evolving to.
Serena has a 14 year background in dance and enjoys working with performing artists. In addition, she has been practicing yoga for 11 years and utilizes her love for yoga to enhance her therapy sessions for the patient’s benefit. Serena has over 200 hours of yoga teacher training in both Ashtanga yoga and Iyengar yoga.
Recently, Serena embarked on a 3 year training to become a Hanna Certified Somatic Practitioner. Hanna Somatics is a technique developed by Thomas Hanna which involves neuromuscular retraining through the body’s own feedback system. The client is guided through movements to increase their awareness of a particular pattern of neuromuscular dysfunction which is causing pain, discomfort or limiting their abilities. Then with the guidance of the therapist, the client develops a new integrated pathway to achieve movement in a healthy, balanced, and non-painful approach.
One of the aspects that Serena enjoys most about this technique is the client involvement and empowerment, as well as the the increased kinesthetic awareness of their internal, body centered world. It is a joy to move alongside someone as they transition from pain and dysfunction to becoming able to move joyfully through life. It is truly a method of teaching a man to fish as opposed to just giving him the meal.