Today we’d like to introduce you to Helene Darmanin

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?

Growing up I was a dancer, an ardent feminist raised by a single mom, and I absolutely loved science. I had no idea that it would be possible to combine my love of movement and science into a career supporting women. I followed my passions to Smith College, an all-womens’ college, into fitness, then medical research, and then my doctorate in physical therapy. It was in graduate school that I then found pelvic health, and was fortunate enough to be able to begin to specialize during my last year of school. I continued my education with extensive continuing education courses in pelvic health and obstetrics.

During the Covid pandemic I began practicing virtually out of necessity, and I found that it was a powerful way to give my patients the tools that they needed to heal themselves. I began Mama Bear PT in March of 2021 to offer convenient solutions to expectant and new parents who needed care, and included complementary services of childbirth education, lactation support, and nutrition. As the pandemic improved, we also began offering home visits.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

When I was 16 I was convinced that I would attend a conservatory and dance professionally. I suffered an overuse in jury in my ankle and ended up in physical therapy on and off for the next five years, undergoing three ankle surgeries int hat time. My physical therapist supported me, encouraged me, mourned with me, and gave me a feeling of agency by giving me things I could control on this journey. I was devastated to quit dancing, but ultimately ended up in a wonderful place that I wouldn’t have gotten to without that step in my journey.

The other big challenge was my pregnancy with my second child. I already had a toddler, and a young business, and then I had a very difficulty pregnancy. I had a lot of musculoskeletal pain, and had covid, colds, and stomach viruses multiple times throughout. I was exhausted! My youngest is now 27 months, and I feel like I am just now getting my energy and mojo back. I feel tremendous empathy for my patients who are in pain during pregnancy, and am grateful for the physical therapy and chiropractic care that I’ve received from colleagues to get me feeling my best again.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?

Mama Bear began to make pregnancy and postpartum support more convenient for parents in my community. I know how hard it is to try to get to an appointment with a baby (or a toddler). We specialize in pelvic health and obstetric physical therapy, and also support folks with chronic pain or who would like an introduction to strength training. Mama Bear also offers nutrition and lactation support, childbirth education, and perinatal coaching.

As a physical therapist, I feel it is essential to give my patients agency in their own healing journey. We make decisions together, based on the education I provide of the most up-to-date research and best clinical practices. The exercise programs are designed to be enjoyable and accessible, to make it easier to prioritize them at a time when it’s hard to find time and energy for anything extra.

My other team members are Disa, our lactation counselor, and Erica, who is a doula, childbirth educator, and nutritionist. They were on my birth team, and I found their warm, caring, practical support invaluable, as do our clients.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?

I think that my love for what I do is the most important factor in my success. I want to stay up at night finishing my exercise programs for patients, reading current research, and networking with. local colleagues because I find it interesting, challenging, and incredibly rewarding.

Pricing:

• All listed on mamabearpt.com

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Mamabearpt.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mamabear_pt/

Image Credits

Charissa H. Yang Photography