Carrie Koziol smiling warmly, standing in a bright studio, embodying health and vitality.
Every significant achievement in my career has stemmed from a personal quest to solve a problem I was facing, often driven by the realization of a significant gap or unmet need. This journey, born from personal experiences and a desire to improve the landscape of women’s health, has shaped my path as a women’s health physical therapist and program creator.
My journey began unexpectedly in the fifth grade, during a library performance by my sister’s fourth-grade class. Their rendition of “We Didn’t Start the Fire” was inaudible to me, sparking a determination to be heard. This childhood vow led me to theater, where I honed my voice, ensuring every word resonated. This early experience unknowingly foreshadowed my career, where I would strive to make vital health information accessible and impactful for women. Just as I amplified my voice on stage, I aimed to amplify the voices of women in health and fitness, ensuring their needs were not just heard, but effectively addressed.
While physical therapy wasn’t always my envisioned path, a junior year ankle injury during soccer season altered my course. A disappointing physical therapy experience – marked by disinterest and a generic exercise handout – ignited a new resolve: I knew I could offer more. This moment was pivotal, setting me on a trajectory to redefine women’s health and fitness. It was the first spark of what would become a career dedicated to providing comprehensive and empathetic care, a true Gift For Female well-being.
Despite not being at the top of my physical therapy class, my strength lay in making complex information accessible and engaging. Forming a study group, I transformed dense scientific concepts into digestible nuggets, a skill that would become my hallmark in the health and fitness industry. This ability to simplify and educate has been crucial in developing programs that resonate with women, making often-intimidating health topics approachable and actionable.
The Genesis of a Women’s Health Advocate
My initial five years in physical therapy spanned acute care and home health before transitioning to outpatient sports injuries, a field I believed would be my passion. While rewarding, a new opportunity arose to expand the Women’s Health program. Initially hesitant, I soon realized the profound impact I could have. Stepping into women’s health required me to move beyond my comfort zone, embracing a more intimate and comprehensive approach. This evolution was essential, leading me to understand the intricate needs of women and how to address them effectively, solidifying my commitment to providing a valuable gift for female health.
Prenatal Pilates: A Foundation for Birth
Pregnancy brought a personal and professional transformation. My determination to have an ideal pregnancy quickly met reality checks, from salami cravings to prenatal exercise frustrations. Discovering a void in prenatal fitness options, particularly beyond generic yoga classes, spurred me to action. Leveraging my Pilates mat certification, I specialized in Prenatal and Postnatal Pilates, learning techniques that would personally guide me through pregnancy and labor. This experience underscored the critical need for specialized prenatal fitness, a gift for female empowerment during pregnancy.
Postnatal Pilates: Nurturing Recovery
The postpartum period revealed even greater gaps in support and guidance. The standard six-week wait for postnatal check-ups felt inadequate, especially given the significant physical and emotional changes. My own postpartum experiences, from navigating intimacy to the challenges of returning to exercise, highlighted the lack of comprehensive postnatal care. Postnatal Pilates became my personal and professional focus, a gift for female recovery and strength after childbirth.
Recognizing the widespread need, I developed two six-week programs blending education and exercise for prenatal and postpartum women. These programs, initially taught in person, expanded online, reaching women globally. This expansion was driven by the desire to make these transformative programs a widely accessible gift for female health and well-being.
DRA Rehab and Core Restore: Reclaiming Core Strength
My third pregnancy introduced a new challenge: diastasis rectus abdominis (DRA), or abdominal separation. Traditional physical therapy resources offered minimal solutions. This personal struggle propelled an in-depth exploration, leading me to advanced education and ultimately, the development of the DRA Rehab/Core Restore program. This program emerged from necessity and a commitment to provide effective solutions, a true gift for female core health.
The DRA Rehab/Core Restore program, like my others, became available both in person and online, extending its reach and impact. This program exemplifies my dedication to transforming personal challenges into resources that benefit a broader community of women, offering a practical and empowering gift for female fitness.
Magic of Menstruation: Empowering Young Women Through Education
Parenting a daughter brought another gap to light: inadequate puberty education. A lackluster school presentation, focused on superficial changes and silence, missed crucial aspects of menstruation and female health. Driven by my daughter’s experience, I immersed myself in comprehensive puberty education, creating the Mom and Me Menstruation workshop and later, the online course, The Magic of Menstruation. This initiative became a gift for female empowerment through knowledge, aiming to destigmatize menstruation and educate both young girls and their mothers.
The success of the menstruation program sparked demand for similar education for boys, leading to the Mom and Son Puberty class and the Puberty for Boys online course. Expanding further, I developed comprehensive sex education programs for older students, addressing a critical need for accurate and inclusive information. This expansion reflects my ongoing commitment to providing valuable educational resources, a vital gift for female and male youth alike.
Powering Through Perimenopause: Navigating Midlife with Strength
Finally, my own journey through perimenopause revealed yet another underserved area in women’s health. Experiencing the physical and emotional shifts of midlife, I found limited resources and understanding. This personal challenge ignited a quest for knowledge, leading to certifications in peri/postmenopause wellness coaching and the creation of the Powering through Perimenopause program. This program is designed to be a gift for female empowerment during midlife, offering guidance and support through this significant transition.
The Powering through Perimenopause program addresses crucial aspects of midlife health, including sleep, stress management, nutrition, and exercise. It emphasizes self-care and empowers women to embrace this life phase with strength and clarity. This program, like all my initiatives, is rooted in personal experience and a dedication to providing valuable resources, a meaningful gift for female well-being at every age.
My career has come full circle, dedicated to educating females about their evolving bodies and crafting fitness programs that foster a positive connection with their physical selves. From puberty to perimenopause and beyond, my programs are designed to be a gift for female health and empowerment.
Just as a fire was kindled in me as a fifth grader, watching that school play, I hope to ignite a similar spark in women through my work. My programs are more than just fitness routines; they are a gift for female empowerment, health, and a deeper understanding of their own bodies.
Explore Carrie’s full range of offerings and register for her programs at www.carriekoziol.com.
