Welcome! I'm so happy you landed here.
About Dana Podell, DPT, E-RYT

My Story & Approach to Care​

I've been curious about the body from a very early age. Passionate about dance, I remember as a little kid spending time every night practicing new dance skills, amazed at how my body could transform over time. My love of dance lead me to pursue a Bachelor of Fine arts in Dance in college. I learned through my dance studies that taking care of my body was equally as important as how it looked on a stage. 

 

After struggling with many injuries, I decided to explore other movement options including yoga. Almost instantly, I fell in-love with how yoga made me feel. I didn't leave class with blisters and pain, but instead felt revitalized, strong, and calm. Yoga taught me how to look in the mirror and be kind to my body. Yoga helped me heal, which inspired me to share it with others and complete my first yoga teacher training in traditional Hatha and Vinyasa yoga. 

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From my yoga practice, I knew I wanted to become a healthcare provider in order to better my skills as a caregiver. I decided to go back to school for my clinical doctorate in physical therapy. It was in my final clinical rotation that I was introduced to Pelvic Health PT and Complex Pain Care. I was amazed, shocked at how little I knew about the pelvic floor, bladder/bowel/sexual health, and pain science. I saw people every day come into the clinic with pelvic health issues or chronic pain, looking hopeless and dim but always leaving with a smile on their face. From then I decided to specialize in pelvic health and pain care PT.

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Since becoming a physical therapist, I've cared for people in the US and around the world. Always eager to continue my studies, I have also completed additional trainings in Yoga Therapy to deepen my understanding of how to apply yoga practices therapeutically. I integrate PT with yoga therapy into every session, because I understand that addressing the body holistically results in long-term sustainable health. I believe you can embody health and move pain-free with compassionate care, gentle guidance, and support along the way. I'm here to support you. 

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Education

Academic Degrees:

• Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance, The Ohio State University, 2016​​

• Doctorate in Physical Therapy, Northwestern University, 2021

  • Pelvic health clinical internship as a part of doctoral studies, 2021

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Continuing education:

• ​Herman & Wallace Pelvic Floor Level 1 (didactic portion), 2020​

• Herman & Wallace Manual Therapy for the Abdominal Wall, 2021

• Herman & Wallace Pregnancy Rehabilitation, 2021

• Happy Back Yoga Therapy Professional Training 25 hours, 2022

• Yoga Therapy 500 hour training, 2023

• Herman & Wallace Menopause Transitions and Pelvic Rehab, 2024

• Yoga Therapy 800 hour training, 2025

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Certifications

• Yoga Alliance, Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher Specializing in Yoga Therapy 500-hr, 2024

• American Red Cross, CPR Certification, 2024