Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mary Pavlantos. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Mary, thanks for joining us today. We love heartwarming stories – do you have a heartwarming story from your career to share?

Growing up, we had horses, sheep, dogs, ducks, chickens, frogs, and just about any animal you could have. I felt very blessed to have such a wonderful place to grow up until one day all of that suddenly changed. When I was still in high school, her father was in a rollover car accident and he suffered a terrible Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and they ended up losing his business and the family home they loved and cherished so much. In the blink of an eye, my life was forever changed.
At the time, I was having a tough time in high school being bullied, shootings, and dealing with high gang activity in certain communities her friends were near. Through it all, I focused on getting good grades and playing sports including basketball and running track. I always tried to be the kind person who was friends with everyone including the drama crew, basketball team, and my peers.
I moved away to attend Whittier College in Southern California where I got a full ride academic scholarship. I played college basketball and unfortunately blew out my knee freshman year as a starter, which got me into the career path as a physical therapist with a degree in Kinesiology & Leisure Science in 2006. I have always been passionate about helping individuals strive toward achieving functional goals and improving their quality of life.
All the trauma and loss has allowed me to appreciate each day as a blessing. I believe that God has a plan for our life and a path that sometimes is hard to see when you’re struggling in it.
I am a huge advocate for the Anti-Bullying movement and have dedicated her career to helping people with brain injuries also known as “The Invisible Injury.” I received her Bachelors in Liberal Arts with a degree in Kinesiology and Leisure Science from Whittier College, and then a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Thomas Jefferson University. I am a Certified Brain Injury Specialist and the owner of Roots Physical Therapy and Wellness LLC. My specialty is high-level trauma patients with brain injury, MS, spinal cord injury, Parkinsons, and other complex neurological conditions, but I also enjoys treating athletes and basic orthopedic injuries with dry needling, scraping, cupping, and manual therapy.

Mary, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My interest in sports was prompted by my amazing parents who let us try various activities including gymnastics, soccer, dance, and then basketball it was! I used baskettball as a healthy outlet for my traumas, it kept me moving, laughing and allowed me to escape with an adrenaline rush. Playing basketball in college was what led me to my profession, as I tore my ACL in my first collegiate conference game. I experienced going through physical therapy myself which led me to the profession of helping people.
Physical and mental well being play equal roles in our lives. We must treat our bodies well with proper nutrition and exercise; you only get one shot! Mental health is extremely important. I personally suffer from PTSD and a lot of trauma in my history and have found so much healing through God, the sunsets, embracing the earth, and breath work. Finding the right mental health provider is something I focus on with my clients as well.
What would be your advice for business leaders and entrepreneurs struggling with work-life balance and inclining towards an unhealthy lifestyle.
Life’s too short! Balance it out! If you work too much you don’t get to see your kids or visit the places you want to travel then you’re not really living life. Money is money, experience is priceless.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

An inspirational woman is one who has overcome the deepest pain, physical abuse, and severe emotional pain and chooses to have God bring her to the light. In my life, I have experienced a drive by shooting my friend was shot, rapes, loss off my childhood home, hazing, and the unfathomable murder of a woman who I loved deeply.

A powerful woman is one who sees herself, trusts her path, and doesn’t let anyone stand in her way. She will never let others put her down; she will be herself, be proud, and be strong! Integration of these skills allows you to be a powerful leader in whatever you do. As a physical therapist, I am a leader of my patients. I use my skills to help them believe in themselves, trust their path, and choose healing.

As a Covid survivor, you only get one body one chance. I had severe Delta Covid in Sept 2021 it almost brought me to the grave. Severe neuro inflammatory, couldn’t breathe, was on oxygen, drugs, 12 days on the couch lost 10 lbs . . . I fought to not go to the hospital because I wasn’t sure a ventilator was a better option. A voice said, “Live don’t die” as I watched my children stare down on me as the couch slowly started to consume my soul. I dug deep, really deep, and slowly started walking, breathing and living again. I got in really good shape with strength training and healthy eating. Unfortunately, I suffered from Covid Langhausers which caused fatigue, dysautonomia, memory loss and word finding difficulty, but since I treat brain injuries for a living, I decided to just do what I advise . .. “Use the brain to heal the brain!”

After suffering from Covid, a wild fire swept through Colorado taking 1500 homes down. I ran from it, covered in ashes, and couldn’t see where I was driving. This all triggered severe PTSD and a flood gait to open my past of childhood traumas to release all at one time. A drive by where my friend was shot, the bullets pasted right by me, rapes, hazing, friend shot at a party, losing my childhood home from an accident my father was in and then the worse pain . . . . losing your close friend from murder. I speak openly about my traumas because you have to deal with them, acknowledge them to heal and rebuild. EMDR and brain spotting trauma therapy really helped me, as well as faith, friends and having hope for a brighter tomorrow. I really hit rock bottom, also ended up divorced, but my break down has been a spiritual awakening and a rebuild with amazing light and hope.

A message from my angel friend Louise who was murdered by her husband, “Save them Mary” I started spiritually connecting to The Divine as an empath, seeing angels and connecting with the spirits of my loved ones. I saw the son I lost from a miscarriage, my grandparents and my beautiful friend. All at peace and in the most beautiful state of divinity. Before Louise was murdered, she emailed me and told me she was going home soon and she was ready to go. She knew he was going to kill her and didn’t get out quick enough, so my message to anyone in a trapped abusive relationship is run now and don’t look back. You got this, God’s got you and you can do it!!

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

Educational & Professional Background
Whittier College 2006 – Bachelors in Liberal Arts Degree Kinesiology and Leisure Science
Thomas Jefferson University 2009 – Doctor of Physical Therapy
Certified Brain Injury Specialist – Brain Injury Association of American
Roots Physical Therapy & Wellness – Owner – Specialist in all sports orthopedic conditions.
My speciality is is high level trauma patients with brain injury, MS, Spinal Cord Injury, Parkson and other complex neurological conditions www.rootsptandwellnessco.com

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.rootsptandwellnessco.com/
• Instagram: Mary_Alexandra_Pavlantos
• Facebook: Mary Alexandra Pavlantos