Physical Therapy

Raquel is a compassionate and energetic orthopedic Physical Therapist with over 23 years of clinical experience specializing in general orthopedic & neurological disorders, sports medicine, women’s health, and chronic pain.  She graduated from the Army-Baylor Graduate Program in Physical Therapy and worked as an active duty Physical Therapist at Brooke Army Medical Center until 2000.  Raquel moved back to Arizona to start a family and continue working in an outpatient sports medicine clinic. Her professional development and course study over the years has included Complex Regional Pain Syndromes, Temporal Mandibular Disorders, Functional Orthopedics, Movement System Impairment Syndromes, Advanced Spinal & Joint Mobilization with emphasis on muscle balance and stabilization for optimal postural alignment. 

AZ Medical Yoga Professionals

Raquel’s treatment approach considers each client as a unique individual that deserves a tailored program to address their specific needs. Her clinical focus is utilizing therapeutic yoga in healthcare and wellness with a goal of "bridging the gap" between holistic and traditional interventions. She combines Medical Therapeutic Yoga and functional mobility in her physical therapy approach to injury prevention, rehabilitation, sports enhancement, and overall wellness.  She incorporates Ayurvedic principles and yoga postures with manual therapy, corrective exercise, and neuromuscular re-education to assist her patients through their journey of healing. With the exponentially growing chronic pain population, she sees medical yoga as a more long term method of pain management with the ultimate goals of improved wellness and lessening dependence on prescription medication. Raquel’s goal is to provide patients with the highest quality evidence based yoga practice delivered with compassion and extensive education to enhance compliance resulting in optimal recovery and independence.

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Professional Yoga Therapist (PYT)

Post-professional Medical Therapeutic Yoga training with Ginger Garner-Jablonski began in 2014 at the Living Well Institute (LWI). The program is internationally recognized and renowned for interdisciplinary medical yoga therapy certification for healthcare professionals and was established in 2000.  PYTI’s mentorship and motivation along with continuing education provides clinicians with much deeper therapeutic skills addressing patients’ emotional, spiritual, energetic, social, mental and nutritional health.

INTEGRATED LIFESTYLE MEDICINE CERTIFIED (ILM)

The Integrative Lifestyle Medicine Certificate from the Living Well Institute is a specialized program designed for healthcare and wellness professionals who want to incorporate holistic, evidence-based practices into their care approach. The program emphasizes the integration of lifestyle factors such as nutrition, physical activity, stress management, sleep, and mind-body practices to prevent and manage chronic diseases, improve overall health, and promote well-being.

Through this certification, participants learn how to apply lifestyle medicine principles to enhance patient outcomes, using a comprehensive approach that addresses the root causes of health issues rather than just symptoms. The curriculum covers various topics, including functional nutrition, behavioral change strategies, and the role of lifestyle factors in disease prevention and management. (Founded by Ginger Garner, PT, DPT, ILM, PYT, ATC (retired))

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Functional Range Conditioning Movement Specialist (FRCms)

Functional Range Conditioning (FRC) leverages foundational principles of anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics to refine movement, enhance joint stability, and boost athletic performance. Techniques like Controlled Articular Rotations (CARs), PAILs (Progressive Angular Isometric Loading), and RAILs (Regressive Angular Isometric Loading) are employed to develop joint strength and control throughout their full range of motion. This method improves motor control, engages more mechanoreceptors, and recruits additional muscle fibers, promoting muscle growth when paired with appropriate training loads. Integrating FRC into your movement practice not only fortifies joint health and mobility but also safeguards against injury and joint wear, supporting a resilient, agile body capable of sustaining an active, healthy lifestyle well into the future. (Founded by Dr. Andreo Spina)

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Low Pressure Fitness Certified (aka. Hypopressives)

Low Pressure Fitness is a core training method aimed at enhancing fitness and preventing injuries by reducing intra-abdominal pressure. Through the International Hypopressive & Physical Therapy Institute, this system blends the principles of the hypopressive technique with myofascial stretching and neurodynamics, using advanced exercise science methodologies. By training the body’s muscle and fascial chains without increasing internal pressure, it offers an innovative solution for addressing postural dysfunctions and improving core stabilization, particularly benefiting women's health and pelvic floor function. This technique involves a series of postures and specific breathing patterns that create a vacuum effect in the abdominal cavity. This effect activates deep core muscles, including the transversus abdominis and pelvic floor, without adding pressure to the abdomen. Unlike traditional abdominal exercises that can strain the pelvic floor and lower back, hypopressive exercises lift and tone these areas while enhancing overall core function. Hypopressive training is especially valuable for those with pelvic floor dysfunction, postpartum recovery needs, or anyone seeking to improve core stability and posture without excessive strain. It’s also effective in rehabilitation and as a preventive approach for maintaining pelvic health. Founded by Dr. Rial and Piti Pinsach

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