I was always an active child growing up, eager to join as many sports teams as I could throughout elementary and high school, partly because it meant I could skip class on competition days. When I started my undergrad at Western University, I was introduced to the weight room and quickly fell in love with both the community and the feeling of lifting weights. At first, I set my sights on competing in both bodybuilding and powerlifting. However, while training for my first competitions, I began to realize how important listening to your body is. During my preparation for a powerlifting meet, I was also trying to stay lean year-round. This often meant pushing through my body's limits completing intense training sessions even when I was fatigued. Eventually, my body couldn’t keep up, and I suffered a shoulder injury that kept me out of the gym for nearly two months. Being unable to lift was incredibly difficult, I missed the weight room and the numbers I used to put up. I turned to physiotherapy and rehab videos on YouTube, following them diligently until I was able to return to the gym and lift the way I wanted again. That injury, though frustrating at the time, became a turning point. It not only inspired me to pursue physiotherapy as a career but also reshaped my mindset about training. Now, I focus on finding the balance between lifting heavy and lifting for longevity.

During my undergrad at Western University, I began working as a personal trainer at the campus gym. Two years later, after earning my NSCA CSCS certification, I was promoted to a Varsity Strength and Conditioning coach for Western. When COVID hit, I decided to step away from my role at Western and instead train clients in my own home gym to reduce the risk of exposure. Most of the individuals I worked with were Mandarin-speaking clients, and I helped them pursue their strength training goals in a safe and supportive environment, making sure they are able to achieve their lifting goals injury free. Even after beginning my Master’s in Physical Therapy at Western, I remained committed to my client's long-term progress and continued training them alongside my studies. Throughout my journey working with athletes and lifters, I noticed that many people don’t consider physiotherapy until after an injury has occurred. While treatment is important at that stage, I encourage taking a preventative approach, listening to your body and addressing small issues early can make a big difference in long-term health and performance.

Being a lifter myself and working with many other lifters and athletes during my seven years of education at Western, I learned the importance of training not only for muscle hypertrophy, strength, and sports performance but also with a focus on longevity. I believe that by educating my patients about their condition, I empower them to actively participate in a patient-centered approach and choose the treatment options best suited for them. I use a variety of techniques, including manual therapy, acupuncture, and dry needling, combined with patient-specific exercises to help individuals return to their activities. I also believe in taking a preventative approach so that patients don’t have to deal with the same pain twice. My goal as a physiotherapist is to empower patients with the evidence based knowledge and tailored treatments they need, not only to recover from pain, but also to build resilient, healthy bodies for a lifetime of movement.