We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Amy Vander Linden a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Amy, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

One of the biggest risks I’ve taken in my life is my husband and I deciding to purchase a building for me to expand my physical therapy practice, add a yoga studio and collaborate with other providers to serve women in our community. We bought the building in December of 2018 and spent 2019 learning way more than I ever wanted to about permits, corrupt contractors and commercial building than I ever wanted to. We initially thought we’d be open in the spring or early summer of 2019 and had no clue what was in store.

God saw us through it and we finally found a legitimate contractor. We leveraged every asset we had and found a way through purely by the grace of God and tremendous family support, including financial investment in our dreams. One of the biggest challenges I had to face was receiving that support from my loved ones when it often felt like my dreams might literally cost us everything, including our home.

I often joke that the whole story would be a very boring Lifetime movie but there were extraordinary lessons learned, an entire journey of becoming who I needed to be to truly lead and see the vision through, way too many ups and downs to share in one article.

Then a grand opening July 2020 in the middle of the pandemic. Well at the time, we thought it was the middle. Turns out, it was just ramping up. Being a healthcare facility, we thankfully never had to close. The staff and clients were so faithful and committed to health and continuing to serve and pursue our healing journeys.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Amy Vander Linden and I have been a physical therapist for more than 20 years now. I started my own practice, Moment of Truth Physical Therapy in 2012, wanting to use myofascial release as the main healing modality I offered my clients. I shifted into pelvic health in 2015 and have gradually grown from there. In 2020, we opened Moment of Truth Healing Space, which houses the physical therapy business, massage therapy, the yoga studio, a midwifery practice and we have a naturopath joining us this month!

Our physical therapy practice specializes in pelvic health – we help women have healthy, active pregnancies, optimal deliveries and faster recoveries to get back to the activities they love. We are extremely passionate about educating our clients and women everywhere to know their bodies, to not settle for what may be common but ISN’T normal and IS treatable and to feel like themselves again. Our massage therapists truly support this being trained in pregnancy and post partum and building on the manual therapy we specialize in to create lasting results.

We have a full boutique yoga studio, including aerial hammocks, pre and post natal yoga, nidra, flow, Buti yoga and more. Our instructors are highly skilled and our smaller classes allow for any necessary modifications.
It’s so rewarding to collaborate with other providers in our space and offer more resources for women under one roof. Twice per year we host a large birth expo to help serve the community as well as regularly hosting workshops and other educational opportunities.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I shared some of the backstory already, but during 2019, I had to have a major reckoning with the unknown. No one who knows me would describe me as a patient person. I also don’t typically cope well in situations that are that far outside my control. I had to unlearn those patterns of control. I had to unlearn the tendency to just push forward, to make things happen – because most of my life I had been able to do that. God brought me to a full stop. Not only did I learn patience, but a whole new level of surrender. Repeatedly releasing anger and judgment. Repeatedly on my knees asking if I’d heard wrong? Had I missed my chance? Was my timing all wrong? Was my dream actually going to cost us everything? My husband and I used to joke about my personality where I would say “but that’s not the plan!” Well this time all my plans were upended.
I have definitely gained flexibility, perspective, greater faith and trust then I ever had before, and immense gratitude every time I pull into that parking lot and walk into our building and see all the mamas, babies, yogis and my awesome team!

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

Well the way I’ve set up my business as a cash based practice, my Mastermind Group has been invaluable. I would definitely not be where I am or with the amazing staff I have without the education, support and accountability from that group. This past year, I went to a level called CEO where 4 times per year, I travel and 12 businesses meet, boardroom style, to hash out financials, staffing, training and other aspects of our businesses. Some are smaller than my business and some are multi-million dollar businesses with multiple locations. This has helped me focus on what’s critical, has helped me learn more about levels of business, planning, leadership, growing a team and more!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.momentoftruthpt.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/momentoftruthpt
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/MomentofTruthPhysicalTherapy
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/80325393/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYGdUT5NgdaCPz7mkwS9Ksg
• Other: www.azhealingspace.com

Image Credits
Angel Martinez with Social Connections and Jean Laninga