Today we’d like to introduce you to Melodie Daniels.
Hi Melodie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I got my start as a personal trainer at 24-hour fitness in San Diego. As I went through college, like many, I worked full time and went to school full time seven days a week. I graduated from San Diego State University with my BS in Pre Physical Therapy and went on to pursue a Master’s degree in Biomechanics. Prior to my pursuing my Master’s degree, I applied to over 20 Doctorate of Physical Therapy Schools and did not get into any.
When I started my Masters degree, to gain experience and better prepare me for reapplication into physical therapy school, I worked three jobs and took extra classes on the side to improve my resume. With the completion of my Master’s degree, I was then accepted into the top Physical Therapy School in the United States, The University of Southern California. When I moved from LA from San Diego, I started a 200hour Yoga Teacher Training where my passion for holistic recovery and physical therapy for body mind and soul was cemented. Through yoga and physical therapy, I now have had the opportunity to teach classes to support Black Lives Matter, have led recovery mobility training for JUMPMAN LA, have been medical staff for the special Olympics, and have been able to continuously grow more into the holistic physical therapy doctor I hope to be to impact my community.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
As a black woman in medicine, the road has never been smooth. But I have always believed that growth and true impact comes from continuously overcoming obstacles. In the field of physical therapy less than 4% of physical therapists within the US are of African American descent. As I’ve pursued higher education, I am more often than not the only black woman in the room. Constantly chasing an expectation that is a moving target with a never ending ceiling. From being doubted by patients, peers, professors, in the past, to having to work ten times harder and be ten times sharper, I have learned resiliency. That being said, The main obstacle I’ve faced is my desire to be a leader and powerhouse in a male-dominated field. Like many women who have fought to be standing where they are, I find myself constantly downplaying my thoughts and abilities to make those around me feel comfortable. The world is uncomfortable with a black woman, in leadership, with opinions, and desire to be in roles men are constantly encouraged to pursue.
Internally, I’ve faced the obstacle of trying to progress further, but make those around me feel supported in their decisions to promote me to leadership positions, to trust me as a medical provider, and to respect me as a woman with an even stronger mind worth more than physical appearance. As a black woman with high professional goals, you play a daily game of dialing up and down your emotions, filtering your opinion, and communicating in ways that you perceive make you fit in and accepted by those around you. The challenge here is to find the balance of strategic moves with impactful meaningful actions. This challenge Inspires me to uplift and encourages woman to pursue high professional careers. Propels me to keep pushing and breaking through the expectations of those around me. Failing doctorate level exams, reapplying to doctorate school after being denied over 20 times, and living weeks without financial means has been a few of the many obstacles faced. The starvation for continued success of my community and those around me keep me pushing forward.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
On paper, I am a student graduating soon to be a Doctor of Physical Therapy. I teach power vinyasa yoga, I am a personal trainer and a recovery manager at JUMPMAN LA. However, I use my career as a vehicle. A vehicle to promote mindfulness and recovery within the black community. To teach youth and professional athletes how to properly recover from sport. To improve the quality of life in the patients and clients, I work with daily through movement, health, and wellness. I am known for my holistic approach to recovery. Mindset is everything. I encourage my clients and athletes to adopt a new mindset. To see the opportunity rather than what could go wrong.
I inspire my clients to push physical and mental boundaries in recovery and yoga and to connect with the world around them in an organic and genuine way. As a clinician, I focus on the person I am meeting, tailor plans to support their goals and future growth and aim to have impactful meaningful experiences with them. What sets me apart from others is my desire to build a space for minority medical professionals, physical performance coaches, and therapists to feel supported and empowered as clinicians. To provide a place where patients can receive quality care from black and brown professionals who like myself continue to conquer the obstacles around them, To promote unity within healthcare, and wellness for all.
What makes you happy?
I am happy when I am doing things that make me feel alive. Things that make me feel alive is public speaking, teaching yoga, running/exercising at a high level, eating healthy, seeing woman constantly pushing the ceiling of professional growth and leadership, progression in minority communities, and seeing recovery in my physical therapy and performance clients I work with.
Pricing:
- 1 month online training program: $299.99
- 3 month online training program: $500.00
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.melodiedaniels.co
- Instagram: @melodiedaniels
Image Credits
@domiaedwardsstudios @adrian.go
