We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sarah Glaza. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sarah below.
Sarah , appreciate you joining us today. Can you share an anecdote or story from your schooling/training that you feel illustrates what the overall experience was like?
I went back to school in my mid- 30’s for my physical therapy degree which was a 2 year full-time masters degree at that time. I had a 2 yr old and 4 yr old. That was a crazy idea but I so badly wanted to finally be a physical therapist and the timing and place was finally right….mostly. The graduate program was very intense and I was on my own a lot as my husband, at the time, was traveling weekly for his sales job. After an 8-9 hour day at school I’d go race to pick up my kids at daycare, make them dinner, bathe them, tuck them into bed, and then study from about 8 – midnight and get up at 5 am the next day and start all over. I often practiced my skills on my little kids, doing muscle testing and range of motion, palpation skills and whatever else we learned that day. So they were my “crash test dummies” allowing them to learn as I learned. During my Pilates training, 10 years later, I had the worse case of Vertigo on two of the intense weekends, so in-between sessions I’d have to run to the bathroom barely making it to the stall, then lie on the floor until I could get up and return to the classes. I guess, in both cases, I really wanted to learn!
Sarah , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I had never heard of physical therapy when I was an undergrad in the late 70’s. I started as a business major but ended up with a degree called “commercial sports” which combined business and exercise science with the idea that I could run a corporate wellness program. Upon graduation, a big recession hit and companies dropped any fitness/wellness programs they may have had. So, my first “real” job after college landed me with a group of PT’s in Los Angeles who all had their Master’s in Physical Therapy specializing in cardiopulmonary therapy and were running a very “ahead of its’ time” cardiac rehab practice. I was fortunate to obtain an aide position with them. I learned so much and loved their thirst for knowledge, desire to help people, and the “class acts” that they all demonstrated. I wanted to go back to school and become a physical therapist after that, but was married and we were moving every few years between Denver and LA as my husband, at the time, was “climbing the corporate ladder”. Finally, 10 yrs. later we looked to be permanently in Denver and I got to start the process of applying for graduate school in physical therapy. To make it even more challenging I was required to repeat ALL of my science credits from my undergrad as they were over 7 years old. I guess I really wanted that “PT” behind my name! It was a rough few years, but I’ve never regretted a moment. I’ve always worked in outpatient orthopedics/sports medicine and met some really great people along the way. As you progress in this profession you can take a WIDE variety of continuing education classes and various certifications to start focusing on what you love. I loved all the young and old athletes I’ve worked with throughout the years. I gradually added many manual certifications as I felt there were better outcomes when you could do more “hands on” work with a patient. I also got certified in constructing orthotics and saw how that could also help to relieve many orthopedic issues. Spine issues I experienced myself as well as in so many patients that I treated, steered me towards becoming certified as a Pilates Rehab specialist and I continue to find that specialty extremely helpful for so many clients, from right after getting a total knee replacement, to helping an athlete get back to the track, dance floor, or many other sports. About 10 years ago I added dry needling certifications to my resume which has been another great addition to my practice. Dry needling allows many clients to find relief from tight muscles and trigger points, dysfunctioning movement patterns, and pain. I love that my degree/craft can offer so many options to help people reach their own goals, whatever that may be….picking up a grandchild, playing a round of golf, climbing mountains, or dancing the salsa. It’s endless! I’m very proud that I’ve continued to expand my knowledge, constantly learning new techniques and methods to help people get out of pain, improve their function and achieve their goals. I honestly believe that anyone can achieve their physical goals, whether it’s jogging across the street, running a marathon, or getting off the ground after playing with their grandkids. They just need a little professional guidance and their own motivation. I’ve been very fortunate to work in my field for over 30 years helping people of all ages reach their goals.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
My Physical Therapy business had been doing pretty well with a combination of my in-home office clients, as well as going directly to clients’ homes, and seeing others for private Pilates sessions in a Pilates studio nearby where I pay rent. I was seeing a nice mix of clients in the aforementioned locations. Then Covid hit. Within a week I decided to try offering some of my clients virtual visits. This worked with those that were already mostly doing therapeutic exercise or private Pilates. With a little encouraging, many of my older aged clients were willing to try these virtual visits. To all of our surprise, it worked out quite well and to this day I continue to have a group of clients that actual prefer mostly virtual appointments. Shortly after, I went back to seeing clients in their own home and at the Pilates studio donning our masks and taking all the recommended precautions. Those virtuals then led to referrals to friends or relatives out of state and my business ended up growing in spite of, and with the help of Covid!
Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?
To be successful in the field of physical therapy you obviously need to be a caring person and one who enjoys working with a wide variety of people. Although physical therapists are required to take yearly continuing education courses to maintain our state licenses, I have also always searched for courses and books on personality types, emotional intelligence, understanding my own personality style and how to deal with other styles. Whether it’s been with patients or staff as I ran various clinics, I think interpersonal communication training is vital for success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sarahglazapt.com
- Instagram: @sarahglazapt
- Facebook: @sarahglazapt
