Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Alyssa Bryant. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alyssa, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
Intro:
Before I start with the risks, I must provide background.
The risks and endeavors I’ve chosen are supported by overcoming, resilience, and persistency… the need for those actions in this life, as we all know to succeed, thrive, and/or survive.
I enjoy the Reba quote, “I must have had my mamma’s will and God’s amazing grace!”
I can’t start this story without expressing gratitude to God and his miracles, and gratitude to my husband and son who are inspiring me in the work of it all now, too. I hold on. My son has given me a fresh and healing take on and in life. My husband, a fresh take on and in healing love since we met.
I consider how much of my life has had to be nothing other than a work in progress by the Lord, and I say that to give God the credit for anything I have accomplished and to thank Him. I ask to serve him daily and with the work I do.
Throughout the day. Through the ups and downs of days and life. I haven’t always been this grounded as I feel now. And though that too fluctuates, I can say I circle back to grounded in this message ultimately. I think it is important to share with others, who like myself, need that message. Since people look like they have it all together, people looking up to them need to know that life is messy. I’ll move on, but I should circle back to this.
In 2010, personally I was dying and undergoing surgeries, had been weakened for 8 years, without solution from the healthcare providers I had seen, other than survival. Thankfully it was a beginning. The Lord has a plan. It’s one of my biggest WHYs. The Lord used this experience to shape my ability to care for others today. He also taught me I could learn how to heal and that conservative and alternative measures should not be discounted. I was determined to do my part to heal, and thankful He showed me the way. I did desperately pray for answers. I had my own hopes and dreams to go to college and go to grad school, had for a long time, and start my own life, independent of family, at that point. There are reasons that I was working so hard for my independence. I grew up in a bit of chaos, that I had in my mind, I could change. I was already missing class to sleep in my car due to Crohn’s disease fatigue though. I was missing work as a result of the symptoms, or working through them. It was discouraging. I also was pretty hard on myself. At the time, I didn’t realize the connection between the inflammatory bowel disease and the social anxiety and general anxiety either. I didn’t realize how much I was juggling. There were people in my life that didn’t know how to help me and told me to just work harder. You all know that message. I hope you all know too that though there is a lot we can accomplish with hard work, we cannot control everything. I do remind myself of this often.
If I could talk to youth and young adults going through these struggles, I’d like to help them and their parents to know of and recognize some of these invisible struggles and how they affect academics and mental health. College students and graduate students with undetected struggles and those high functioning, need leaders educated to recognize the subtle signs and provide resources.
Truly though, no matter what happens, and what plans fail, and the losses we suffer in this life, we’re ultimately saved by the Lord, can be. The wrongs will cease one day.
Story: In a more recent hardship with family and feeling powerless to help, for my sister, she put it clearly that the Lord has a plan. In her current state of significant hardship, to see her reflect on this… It was a wake up call. She and her faith are inspiring, and she has renewed my strength and life perspective also. I realized that in being born, we have a role in the ongoing spiritual war. The Lord still saw fit for each of us to exist in the war and be light in our corners. Comparing to the times in my life that I wanted to give up, I am taking hold of that role to be the warrior God intended I and each of us be at this time. The Lord selected each of us to be here, now, and even our kids. I’m putting on the armor of God and seeing what he has in store. I started believing at some point in my life that things should be easy, including in thinking of having kids. I didn’t want to bring a child into this world that can be so dark. But now I know, I must serve and fight, and I should embrace that for my son and any other children my husband and I may have. To be alive, is to have and take risks and to have joy and hardship. It is unavoidable.
In 2010, I strictly changed my diet, outside of the status quo. I took a risk that I could change and heal, with God’s help. I took my own road online reading and learning, initially from Yahoo groups. I learned about books such as The Maker’s Diet and Breaking The Vicious Cycle and Healing Traditions. So much learned from the BTVC book that was needed for me. I was so determined to heal, that I went from a diet full of sugar, bread, and starch, to a grain free diet and whole foods diet over night. I learned to cook and near only ate my made from scratch cooked food. One of my grandfathers helped me with supplies, who I had moved in with after surgery. He also benefited from the meals at that time, from what I could tell: included less fatigue. I’m forever thankful for this miracle, that I did finally heal and thrive. Within a year I was healthy. I finally put on healthy weight, from 99lbs to 135lbs. I was no longer starving from what had been a war in my guts, brought on by processed foods, sucrose, lactose, and grains. I was telling everyone at the time too. There were so many different reactions to my diet in those first few years. From defense about someone’s own diet to disbelief. I was told it was “EXTREME.” Yet, I rather thought that dying of Crohn’s disease was more extreme. Those individuals came around though, as they witnessed my healing. Be careful what you eat. Calories are one thing. But ingredients, another. I learned what I could on my own, and then my educational path and goals changed. I had every intention of being a veterinarian. I’m a PT, because the Lord willed it.
With this healing I could enjoy college and independence on return and be free of medical intervention. It took me almost 4 years to give up veterinarian goals. I had also set my mind to it. I was stubborn. I started with functional and integrative nutrition health coaching studies and certification. Then, personal training certification. And my pre-vet sciences/classes were combined with business studies to complete an interdisciplinary studies degree. Two years after working in those particular health and wellness fields and being on my own and working 4 jobs, I was inspired by another PT to return to school. I was considering multiple sciences. I chose PT upon working for one. I saw happy patients, vs. the pain I witnessed in other medical offices.
• Educational background: MSU 2013, UMMC 2019, IIN 2013, NASM 2014, and currently, taking classes online in alternative and complementary medicine and public health with Everglades University.
• Over a decade of experience in holistic health and wellness and six years in physical therapy
• I thought I’d stop being a personal trainer business owner and a health foods business owner and be an employee PT. That didn’t last, or it did for one year. I transitioned to virtual fitness and independent practice in 2020, quickly, but with dual employment from 2020-2023 with a PT company.
This wasn’t just about an entrepreneurial drive though, I need to create solutions and I need room to do so. I learned why many in PT are burnt out and that they are. I learned many PTs are leaving the field. Corporations often cease hands-on and thorough PT to increase billing productivity. I offered to help run a mobile and wellness practice with my last employer, when they declined, I started moving on. The position I held was as a full time IC. I did not have benefits. My employer told me that he did not want to pay for the payroll fees for me to be W2. That was another deal breaker.
I had my son in 2021, took a short and hybrid maternity leave. Temporarily thought of staying home.
• Evolution from virtual care in 2020 to opening a full practice facility in 2024.
• There have been many lessons learned along the way, including that I need to let go and trust the Lord. Also the business lessons. I feel empowered having learned the office details of my field as well. When you’ve done all the work you can do though, and rather than worry, you remain at peace in the waiting. This had to be developed. Antsy, fine. But ultimately, trust and faith. I once believed that it was worth being in fight and flight mode about business outcomes, as I’ve been on a start up roller coaster. But it’s not. A wise patient told me before I opened my first center, who was also someone that counseled me, that someone else told her, “what does it matter if you even go bankrupt,” And…. with complete peace about it, it seemed to me. I’m not wanting to ever do that, but however my life and work evolves, I’ll be listening for new instructions from the Lord.
• There has been significant growth in our practice, and with starting a team, since this time last year. And boy, has it been a mission for this these past few years.
• I’ve been putting all my resources into this. Despite significant obstacles, we’ve kept moving past those.
• There’s more to share across these subjects than we have time for. I’ll finish by saying:
Our practice is a needed and patient-centered approach – a healing, whole health, comprehensive approach. If you are crippled by inflammation, you need a provider to look at and discuss root causes, not just the symptom of lack of movement in our field.
• Combining evidence-based physical therapy and holistic health
• Emphasis on supporting recovery and empowering people, and long term health, and prevention. We are committed.
Focus on hands-on services, Emphasizing the importance of full therapist participation.
• And taking care of our staff, PTs and support staff
I want to inspire others to thrive, physically, mentally, and spiritually, and want that for our team. Pursue it.
To anyone facing their own struggles, I want to say this: keep moving forward. Your body, your health, and your life are worth the effort. Thank you for listening, and thank you for letting me share part of my story.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I believe I skipped ahead, and answered this question in the previous post.
We are set apart with our exceptional provision of service and humility and our choice to collaborate with our clients in their health journey. We choose people first, not productivity. My empathy and experience as a patient only helps me with my listening skills. We desire long term relationships, not quick fixes. We provide accessibility by phone and text to the therapist and coach/practitioner outside sessions. I am grateful for each and every person that walks in our door, and mean to express that appreciation to the patient/client. Nothing is taken for granted.
1-1 Physical Therapy
Joint and Soft Tissue Pain Relief 🙏🏻
5 Star Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Private Room or Gym Available by Patient/Client Choice
Adults of All Ages and Fitness Levels
1-1 Injury Prevention Screens and Plans 🏃🏼♂️
2 Convenient Locations ✔️✔️
Virtual Software and Appointments 📲
Text and Phone Support and Q&A Outside of Appointments
Return to Gym and Recreational Sport ⚡️🏋🏻♀️🚴🏾
Restore Mobility 😌
Geriatric Care
Strengthening and Conditioning 💪🏻
Class IV Laser Deep Tissue Pain Relief
Muscle and Fascia Massage Relief Services 💆🏼♀️
Post Surgical Rehab 👩🏻⚕️👩🏾⚕️
Integrative Healthcare
Scheduling: 6013976620 👋🏻
Accepting Same Day Appointments and Walk-ins per Availability
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
Previously answered with detail. It is NOT all up to me. We cannot control everything. Acceptance and being able to pivot is needed in life. God’s plan, ultimately. Trust God. Accept that life is both good and bad. Just because it is not all perfect, it does not mean that we should give up or that we should want to. Be a light in your corner. Step up to the plate and be a warrior in your corner as needed also.
If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?
Yes, ultimately yes, as you can see this life and career was chosen for me. My clients who deal with exceptionally hard circumstances express their gratitude to find help with me, sometimes when no other provider has given them time of day. The latter is devastating, but I’ll keep on showing up for those who need light in their darkness.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bryantptandwellness.com
- Instagram: bryantptandwellness
- Facebook: bryantptandwellness
