The Passions and Perspective of an Amazing, Holistic and Integrative Physical Therapist: an interview with Hina Sheth
This is part of a series of interviews I am conducting with practitioners of holistic medicine with he aim of answering the question: "How can we increase our quality of life?" I also find folks drawn to help others in an integrative way to be ignited with a deep passion and purpose. These interviews were created to delve into that drive and to discover their tips and insight into living life to its fullest.
Hina is the owner of and amazing Physical Therapist at Rebalance Physical Therapy in Narberth, PA. She was kind enough to answer my questions about her passions and the unique aspects of her physical therapy practice.
Enjoy the interview!
Lance
p.s. Hina was generous enough to offer our Village Wellness Members a very special discount at her Rebalance PT. Check out the details here.
Q: Hina, thanks so much for taking the time to answer these questions. Can you tell us where you are from originally?
HINA: I was born in London and boy do I wish I still had a British accent…but I moved to Orlando, Florida when I was 4. Yes Micky Mouse was my best friend.
Q: What initially inspired you to become a more holistic Physical Therapist?
HINA: I was frustrated with not being able to completely help someone with spine, hip and pelvic issues. I didn’t like the current model of how physical therapy was being delivered. I knew there was something missing and I was motivated to figure it out.
Seeing someone go from looking and feeling lifeless, anxious and in pain to then seeing them become motivated, active and happy is enough to keep me doing this forever. What better gift then to know you had a part in helping that happen.
Q: What are your thoughts about how a more integrative medicine approach fits in to our current health care model?
HINA: I feel that our current health care model has become highly specialized. Even though this can be a very good thing, I think we have lost the “global” picture in creating such specialization. Our bodies don’t work in parts. It’s a brilliant system that communicates with each other and works together.
My mission is to educate the community and my peers on how this happens from a musculoskeletal point of view. Nutrition, the brain, and movement are all important to maintaining and healing.
Q: What makes the PT you offer at Rebalance different?
HINA: What makes Rebalance different is that we look at the person as a whole. Our bodies function as a whole so why are we looked at so often in pieces and treated in pieces. We really listen to the client and try to connect all the pieces of their past and present injuries or dysfunctions and try to connect it together to get a clear picture of their current problem. We use our hands to evaluate and assess from everything from the the soft tissue (which is the fascia, muscles, tendons and ligaments) to the joints. We look at the efficiency of the body and look for the area of breakdown in performance.
Q: What are your 5 top healthy habit recommendations you share with your patients?
HINA:
1. Eat less sugar, eat more organic rainbow color vegetables, eliminate processed foods, and drink water
2, Sit less!
3. Mediate or do at least 15 minutes worth of something mindful everyday
4. Spend some “me” time.
5. For a longer healthier life….seek advice, even if its just once, from a holistic integrated physical therapist…you’ll be amazed at what you can learn!
Q: Hina, do you have spiritual practice?
HINA: I try to meditate 15 min at least 3 per week…but we know that life can get busy. So I try to be as present as possible throughout the day. Whether it’s when I am treating, with the kids, driving, or cooking. I try to focus intently on what I am doing and the feeling it gives me. I also try to spend time alone and I find this is when I am connected most to something greater then me.
Q: What does your morning routine look like?
HINA: I meditate for 15 minutes, down a big glass of water, make sure I hug my kids (even if they are sleeping), and get 1 hour worth of intense work done before seeing clients.
Q: What is your Favorite book?
HINA: The power of now and life of Pi
Q: Do you have a favorite quote?
HINA: If you always do what you have always done, you get what you’ve always gotten.
Q: What are you most passionate about right now?
HINA: I see it more and more often that into a women’s late 50 and 60’s…way after they have had children…. neck, back and hip and other issues start. So many times women, after having children, are not given the right tools to rehabilitate their bodies. This imbalance that happens doens’t manifest right away but in other ways later on in life. I often times find that their issues started right after pregnancy. Creating a new way for post-partum moms to learn what they need to do is what I am passionate about right now.
Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
HINA: I love good food. My favorite thing to do is going with good friends to an amazing restaurant and also cooking and entertaining with gourmet dinners. It’s often challenging now with 3 kids…but I still find time to do it. It’s another spiritual practice of mine. Outside of that I love hanging all day, often in pajamas, with my kids, husband and my cockapoo, Rooney, during the winter with a nice fire.
Q: Who do you consider a hero?
HINA: Oprah! She is someone who against some of the greatest odds has created a spiritual movement, and motivated and inspired so many. She is also super successful and yet still humble.
HINA SHETH MS, PT, OCS, MTC
Hina Sheth is the owner and practitioner of Rebalance Physical Therapy with over 16 years of clinical experience. She is a board certified physical therapist specializing in orthopedics including spine and pelvic floor rehabilitation. She is an orthopedic clinical specialist through the American Physical Therapy Association and a manual certified therapist through the University of St. Augustine. Hina received her Masters in Physical Therapy from the University of St. Augustine in 2000. Her post graduate coursework is focused on manual therapy, biomechanical assessment for prevention and injury, men’s and women’s health, chronic pain, and holistic health.
In 2001, Hina started working a sport and spine clinic in NYC where she was the primary therapist treating spine and hip dysfunction.
Hina realized there was a missing link to people’s chronic spine, hip and pelvic issues and that they were not being addressed in a holistic manner. She became motivated to find the solution and started her journey by training as a pelvic floor specialist at the University of Pennsylvania in 2004. During this time she worked closely with renowned physicians, mentored and trained junior staff and assisted in teaching physical therapy students at Arcadia University. In 2008 she started her own practice, Rebalance Physical Therapy, to deliver therapy the way she believed it should be provided. Her practice incorporates a unique combination of both eastern and western philosophies with the best and most up to date evidence and clinical based therapy. Hina believes therapy should be delivered in a private and mindful environment with a one-on-one holistic hands on way in order for clients to see fast results.
She continues to work closely with physicians throughout the Philadelphia health care systems and surrounding suburbs, lecturing attendings and residents on various topics including spinal dysfunction and pelvic pain. She is an exam writer for the APTA women’s specialist exam and also participates in NIH funded studies.
Outside of her passion for her work, Hina is most proud of the family and friends. She believes that what makes people most successful in life is surrounding yourself with amazing people. She loves spending time with her friends, entertaining with gourmet dinners or finding a great restaurant. She also loves photography and spending time with her 3 children, her husband and her best friend… Rooney (her cockapoo). After a long hard day she loves watching HDTV and reading any fun self-help book.
