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

Kendra, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard

At Movement In Science, we do things differently because I believe healing isn’t one-size-fits-all. I’ve built this practice around fascia-focused, science-driven care that evolves with each person’s body and story. We don’t just stretch or massage—we listen to the nervous system, educate through movement, and use hands-on therapy in a way that honors the whole person. A lot of places offer quick fixes, but I’m here for lasting change. This work is personal, purposeful, and rooted in clinical reasoning, not trends. I help people learn how to feel good in their bodies again—and that’s the difference.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Kendra Pena-Collazo is a dedicated wellness expert with a background in Visual Anthropology and African American Studies from Temple University and a Master’s in Management and Leadership from Webster University. Born in Massachusetts, Kendra’s journey into wellness began in 2009 when she became a personal trainer while her husband was serving in the military. Her experience leading fitness departments for Army installations worldwide allowed her to identify patterns in movement that often led to pain and dysfunction among service members.

Driven by a passion for holistic healing, Kendra pursued certifications as a Fascial Stretch Therapist, Massage Therapist, Reiki Master, and Corrective Exercise Specialist. She also obtained certifications in various exercise modalities to support her comprehensive approach to movement and wellness.

Kendra’s approach to healing is deeply rooted in her Cape Verdean heritage. Growing up in a household of healers—her mother practiced cupping and herbal remedies, her grandmother was a naturopathic healer, and her great-grandmother was a midwife—Kendra combines her ancestral healing traditions with scientific knowledge to promote holistic, human-centered wellness.

Beyond her commitment to bodywork, Kendra is committed to teaching, speaking, and creating spaces that foster connection and community

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the lessons I’ve faced as a manual therapist and business owner in allied health is this: I’m not just doing the work. I’m constantly having to explain it. People hear “stretch therapy” or “massage therapy” and think it’s a “nice to have,” but not necessary. But what I do is clinical. It’s intentional. It’s built on science and designed to help people move out of pain, not just temporarily, but for good.

Every session isn’t just hands-on work, it’s education. I have to teach people that fascia matters, that the nervous system plays a role in how we move and feel, that pain isn’t just physical, that it’s stored, patterned, and can be shifted. And I’m doing that in an industry that often overlooks what we do unless it fits into a box with insurance codes and standard protocols.

It can be hard work, but I’m building trust in real time, every day, one client, one conversation at a time. What I know to be true is once someone feels the difference in their body, when they take that first full breath, when they stand up without pain, when they realize they’ve been surviving instead of thriving—that’s when they get it. That’s when the work speaks for itself.

I definitely didn’t choose the easy route. I chose the one that requires presence, patience, and proof. I’m not just running a business, I’m shifting how people understand their bodies, and that kind of change takes time. But it’s worth it. Every single time.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Resilience isn’t something you’re born with; it’s something you build, one obstacle at a time. As a military spouse and the founder of Movement In Science, I’ve learned this truth intimately. My story is one of navigating uncertainty, embracing constant change, and turning the instability of military life into the foundation of a thriving, purpose-driven business.
When I first began my journey into the world of personal training, I was motivated by a deep desire to help people find freedom in their bodies, especially those struggling with chronic pain, trauma, or limited mobility. I envisioned a business that merged science with soul, blending fascia-based education, therapeutic stretching, and somatic awareness in a way that felt transformative. But I had no idea just how many times I’d have to start over to keep that vision alive.
Being married to an active-duty service member means that your roots are never quite allowed to take hold. Every couple of years, we would move across the country or overseas. Each relocation meant a new home, a new community, and for me, new state laws, new licensing requirements, and often, the daunting task of rebuilding my business from scratch. While others were refining and scaling their brands in one city, I was often repackaging mine with each zip code change, trying to meet new local standards for bodyworkers, therapists, and educators.
Getting licensed in a new state wasn’t as simple as transferring paperwork. Some states didn’t recognize my prior training. It felt like a slap in the face after years of study and hands-on experience. But I didn’t quit.
Being a military spouse taught me adaptability, but being an entrepreneur taught me strategy. Today, Movement In Science is more than a business—it’s a movement. It’s a living example of what happens when resilience meets intention. Resilience in business as a military spouse doesn’t look like perfection. It looks like showing up again and again, adapting, innovating, and believing that your work matters, no matter where you land. And if I’ve learned anything on this journey, it’s that the story you build in pieces eventually becomes the masterpiece you were meant to create all along.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.movementinscience.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/movementinscience/https://www.instagram.com/movementinscience/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/movementinscience