We recently connected with Ashley Freedman and have shared our conversation below.

Ashley, appreciate you joining us 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.

Starting WomanAF, a pelvic floor physical therapy practice, feels like the biggest risk I’ve ever taken. I grew up conditioned to take a job for the benefits and financial security. However, my mother-in-law has been a major inspiration and support. After losing her husband, she started her own law firm while raising two young children. From the moment she met me, she has always encouraged me to work for myself, set my own hours, and be my own boss. Her belief in me has helped me find confidence in myself.

Another key supporter has been my neighbor, Lisa Moro, who owns the Pilates studio where my practice is located. She has always told me that whenever I’m ready to rent a room, she’d love to have me. Her support and encouragement have been crucial in pushing me to chase my dreams. She made space for me and kept the rent affordable, which made a huge difference. I’m lucky to be surrounded by women who see my potential and truly want what is best for me.

Starting something new and taking that first leap into the unknown is never easy, it is incredibly be nerve-wracking wondering if people will show up; but I believe that we women have to stick together, and that’s what I hope to do for my daughters someday. I want to inspire my patients and show them that anything is possible. I feel incredibly lucky to work with strong, incredible women every single day.

So far this risk is paying off!

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’m Ashley Freedman, and I founded WomanAF to offer specialized pelvic floor physical therapy to women. I have a doctorate in physical therapy and have been treating patients for six years. Pelvic floor PT is a unique form of physical therapy focusing on the muscles within the pelvis, which can be assessed through an internal exam. Many women often overlook these crucial muscles, yet they play a vital role in managing bladder and bowel function, they aide in delivering a baby, being able to have an orgasm, emptying the bowels and bladder, they prevent leakage of urine and stool, and much more. Additionally, women undergo numerous surgeries (such as hysterectomy, prolapse repair, hernia repair, etc.) that necessitate proper rehabilitation.

Imagine this: After spending nine months growing a baby and experiencing the trauma of childbirth, women are typically sent home with minimal guidance. Contrast this with a total knee replacement or ACL surgery, where patients receive extensive physical therapy. When pregnant or postpartum, a pelvic floor PT is essential. In countries like France, all women receive pelvic floor therapy in the hospital post-delivery, and it’s covered by insurance. Unfortunately, this is not the case in the United States. My goal is to normalize this type of treatment because it is so crucial for all women.

Starting pelvic floor therapy before having babies by learning to coordinate and strengthen the pelvic floor muscles can significantly reduce the risk of urinary leakage, prolapse, and other bladder and bowel issues as we age. I also see many menopausal and post-menopausal women for various issues. If women received this type of care earlier in life, we would most likely see fewer surgeries and less reliance on medication for urinary leakage.

At WomanAF, I treat a wide range of clients, from teenagers struggling with bedwetting, pregnant women working on positioning for childbirth to prevent tearing, postpartum women aiming to return to exercise safely, to older adults dealing with leakage. I firmly believe that prevention is wellness. Start now, because my older clients often express regret that they didn’t start earlier.

What sets WomanAF apart is our comprehensive approach to pelvic health. We focus on long-term wellness and prevention, offering a supportive and informative environment for women of all ages. I am incredibly proud of the positive impact we have on our clients’ lives, helping them regain confidence and improve their quality of life.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

A lesson I have had to unlearn is that it’s okay to take a risk. I was taught and conditioned to believe that we must work for someone else, that stability is good, and that benefits and a 401k are safe. We are encouraged to be in a profession that is secure because working for yourself and building your own business is seen as risky and filled with unknowns.

I have learned that working for yourself is the American dream. We have the opportunity to create and build anything we want. I’ve realized that working 50+ hours a week is not necessary to be successful in the workforce. Rest, balance, and working for yourself can coexist. By putting yourself out there and having passion, anything is possible. I never thought I could start my own business providing medical services, but I grew tired of asking for PTO or taking sick time to go to the dentist. Now, I make my own schedule to accommodate my needs, allowing me to remain healthy and happy so I can be the best provider for other women. I lead by example, showing that the stress of corporate life and seeing 55+ patients a week is not necessary to be successful.

Have you ever had to pivot?

During COVID, I was a new PT working for a company treating orthopedic injuries. I was about 2.5 years out of my doctorate when COVID hit, and I was furloughed with no return date. It was heartbreaking to start a new profession and get into the field only to be essentially let go by a company. During that time, I began taking continuing education courses for my women’s health specialty, which I had always wanted to pursue.

The company I had been working for said they would eventually bring me back on, but instead of waiting for them to call me back, I took matters into my own hands and applied for Pelvic Floor PT jobs in the valley. I had no experience treating this population, but I did have the education and was eager to finally put it to use. It felt like I needed to be let go from that job to find The Women’s Center of Advanced Pelvic Surgery (TWCAPS).

The Women’s Center trained me in-house, and this is where I learned everything I know. I received advanced training from urogynecologists who perform pelvic floor reconstruction surgery and worked alongside my mentor, Dr. Andrea Levkowitz, PT, DPT, and four women’s health nurse practitioners. Because of my career of 4+ years at the Women’s Center, I feel comfortable treating very complex cases and have had training that many other pelvic floor PTs do not get. I still work at the Women’s Center 1-2 days a week, where I get to work on amazing cases and alongside incredible people. I am so grateful for my experience there and the education and resources I gained from working at TWCAPS.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ashleyfreedman.com
• Instagram: @womanaf_
• Facebook: Womanaf
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-freedman-pt-dpt-560b071a6?trk=people-guest_people_search-card
• Youtube: Ashley Freedman
• Other: My personal IG: @badash
  my youtube channel is a lifestyle vlog- that is another passion of mine!

Image Credits

Photos by: Shelby Burchfield Photography