Using exercise as medicine is my greatest tool. Almost all health conditions can be benefited by exercise or physical activity in some way.
I was always involved in sports and different kinds of physical activity, and wanted to pursue a professional that would empower myself and others to keep healthy. I started in this field as part of sports medicine classes in high school, while playing multiple sports including rugby, volleyball, tennis, and horse riding.
I wanted to further my understanding of the human body and benefits of exercise for health, so I sought out university degrees to kickstart my career in this field, and here I am now!
Professional skills
My skillset includes ways to find what specific exercises are best for each person and help them achieve their physical and mental goals in a way that is enjoyable!
This approach branches further from the typical rehabilitation exercises most people come to clinics for, and also includes structuring exercises and finding motivations to keep people overall physically active and healthy.
Proudest moments
Completing my master’s degree and subsequent certification with the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology was a big highlight for me.
Following that, I am proud to have completed other specializations such as pre/post natal exercise training, and being involved in ongoing cardiorespiratory rehabilitation programs and exercise programs for those going through cancer treatments in British Columbia.
Core values
I practice and believe in holistic, patient-centred care. Health includes not just one aspect of your life, but multiple!
Your nutrition, physical activity levels, mental health, stress management, and social life impacts your overall quality of life. My sessions with clients will touch on all of these realms to ensure we are finding what is best to work on using the most current research to guide decisions.
Client input is very important to the process, so sessions well focus on what is best for the client and how to achieve that effectively!
Overcoming challenges
Kinesiology is still a growing field in Canada, and there is a lot of advocating required to ensure that kinesiology becomes available to all people. There is immense benefits to include kinesiology in active rehabilitation and healthy living, but there are still barriers and challenges to get it recognized.
I belong to the British Columbia Association of Kinesiologists and sit on the Board of Directors in order to help advocate and progress the profession of kinesiology in BC and Canada. I also ensure all my clients understand the benefits of kinesiology and the populations it can help to further the image of kinesiology in health care.
Hobbies and interests
Vancouver Island is a great place to spend time outdoors, and I love being outside! I walk my dog as much as possible on the local trails, camp and fish frequently in the summer months, and hit the ski hills in the winter.
As for new hobbies, how about motherhood! Spending time with my newborn daughter has become a recent hobby that I am fortunate to embrace, and I enjoy every minute.
When my family and I need a break from the island life, we enjoy travelling, mostly to visit family in Ireland and South Africa.
Most rewarding
The most rewarding aspect of my job is seeing people become more confident in doing physical activity, moving their bodies in ways they enjoy, and fitting in exercise into their lives in a meaningful way.
Reductions in pain and weakness normally come hand-in-hand with this, and the confidence for clients to move and find their own way to keep health long term is very rewarding!
Educational background
- I attended the University of British Columbia Okanagan and completed my Bachelor of Human Kinetics in 2017.
- As I wanted to specialize more in complex or clinical health conditions (again using exercise as medicine) I completed my Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology in 2019 at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia.
- Throughout these degrees I was able to work with multiple populations and learn best-practice assessments and exercise prescription to use for all conditions and injuries.
- Following my education, I continue to participate in many professional development opportunities and volunteer jobs that have focused on working with people going through cancer rehabilitation, cardiorespiratory rehabilitation, managing neurological conditions and metabolic conditions such as diabetes, as well as women’s health.