Jessica McGarvey’s Journey from Injury to Empowerment
What happens when the body you’ve always relied on breaks down? Jessica McGarvey knows this journey intimately. A former professional dancer turned Pilates instructor, Jessica opens up about her herniated disc injury, the long road to recovery, and how that season deepened her empathy for clients navigating invisible illness and postpartum healing.
Memorable Quotes:
- I want each client to have a positive body movement experience when they come in to see me.
- I had very grandiose ideas of what recovery would look like—then I had to have a reality check.
- Pilates meets you where you are. I feel like my body’s had therapy after every session.
Links:
- Jessica’s website https://movewellfitness.co
- Her FB https://www.facebook.com/jessicamcgarveypilates
- Her Insta https://www.instagram.com/jessicamcgarveypilates
- Book a Discovery Call https://movewellfitnessllc.as.me/schedule/87161cd1
Transcription:
April Aramanda: Welcome, Jessica. I am so glad to have you here on the podcast. It has been a pleasure to have you as my Pilates coach and now as a guest on my podcast.
Jessica McGarvey: Thank you so much,…
Jessica McGarvey: April. I appreciate you having me.
April Aramanda: So, I’d love to hear that your story. You were a ballet dancer.
Jessica McGarvey: Yes, I was originally introduced into Pilates,…
Jessica McGarvey: I believe, when I was on a summer intensive with American Ballet Theater in Detroit. And it was just a really great way to implement more strength training and a heavy emphasis on core to help me be a stronger ballet dancer.
April Aramanda: How did that turn into a career in Pilates?
Jessica McGarvey: And when I stopped dancing, it was just like the natural progression for me is to get my certification to teach Pilates because I’ve always loved movement.
Jessica McGarvey: It’s been an important part of my life and it was a natural progression for me.
April Aramanda: That’s awesome.
April Aramanda: So movement,…
April Aramanda: I know that you injured your back in the last few years and so that limited your movement. How did that change how you do Pilates yourself, but also how you’re running your business and dealing with your clients?
Jessica McGarvey: Yes, I heard her needed my L5 S about three years ago when I was doing a CrossFit type workout and…
Jessica McGarvey: I noticed this very sharp pain in my low back while I was working out and I was like, “Huh, that was weird.”
Jessica McGarvey: And I just kept working out. And then later that week, I noticed all the nerve pain going down my leg…
April Aramanda: Mhm.
Jessica McGarvey: if I was looking over my head, driving, flexing my spine at all. And then it just got worse to where I couldn’t even get out of the driveway, before I felt that nerve going down my leg. And I got in to see a doctor and an MRI and they saw that I hernated the disc pretty bad. They sent me for PT and my PT was amazing and…
April Aramanda: right? Mhm.
Jessica McGarvey: wonderful. I love her so much. and it was a very challenging time because most people like I look fine on the outside.
Jessica McGarvey: They couldn’t tell what was going on. And My girls were six and four at the time. I couldn’t even lift them up to put them into the grocery cart. I couldn’t do the normal things with teaching Pilates. I couldn’t demonstrate movements for clients. I had to really focus on using my words to describe things it was a challenge for me. And I worried I was like, are my clients going to stay with me through this? Because it did feel like it affected it, but all my clients were amazing and…
April Aramanda: Right. man.
Jessica McGarvey: And I think it was more stress I felt. And I don’t think it was an issue for them what I was going through.
Jessica McGarvey: I think they just felt bad that I was in pain and couldn’t do what I normally could do. I went through PP. I had an injection in my spine. They were hoping that would help with the nerves and it just made things worse. I know it was awful. I had spinal fluid leaking.
April Aramanda: Move. Mhm.
Jessica McGarvey: And so when I got the injection, the doctor said, “Whatever you did yesterday, you can do today.” So I was like, “Okay, that’s not too bad.” but then I started getting all of these weird symptoms. one side of my body got super heavy, my ear got full,…
Jessica McGarvey: I got a headache, and my PT told me what was going on, that I had spinal fluid leaking.
April Aramanda: Ow. No.
Jessica McGarvey: she said, “Lays flat on your back for 24 hours. Not even like a pillow underneath my head.” so thankfully it didn’t become more of an issue, but sadly my body wasn’t able to heal on its own and I did have to have surgery. And going into surgery, my focus was just to be as strong as I could with the limited movement I could do because I was very limited in my movement. And that was a big struggle just with being a person that loves to move so much,…
00:05:00
April Aramanda: I that. Mhm.
Jessica McGarvey: having to adjust and adapt for what my current season of life was.
Jessica McGarvey: It was a challenge emotionally, mentally. I struggled with more anxiety during that season than I typically did. and I even had to adjust my expectations. Like I had once they said you just have to have surgery because you’re not getting any better. I was almost looking forward to that day cuz okay, I’m finally, going to start getting better. And I had all these grandiose ideas of what recovery was going to look like. And I had to adjust my expectations again.
April Aramanda: Mhm. Yeah.
Jessica McGarvey: I thought I’d be able to go on walks however many times a day in my neighborhood. And there was days I had to keep pressure on to where the incision was just taking a step hurt.
Jessica McGarvey: And so I just try and take a small little walk in my neighborhood and neighbors could see they’re like, “What’s going on? Are you okay?” cuz I was walking so slow, but I was just trying to do what I could do. listen to my body and not overdo it. so it was a struggle to adjust and…
April Aramanda: Mhm. Right.
Jessica McGarvey: Even the healing and recovery my surgeon said would take however long I’d be back to normal. And that was not the case for my body. It took me much longer to recover than I had anticipated. And still to this day, I think my spine’s a little bit more what’s the word? unstable.
Jessica McGarvey: My PT described it as my spine like a rope and a piece had been cut out and so it’s just more unstable. So yes, I did have to have that surgery because I had nucleus form around…
Jessica McGarvey: which nucleus is like I’m sorry I had calcification form around the nucleus. So it’s like a hard scratchy bone like material bumping up against my nerve.
April Aramanda: Yeah.
Jessica McGarvey: So, it was definitely a rough year to say the least, but my clients stuck with me through it.
April Aramanda:
April Aramanda: You’re amazing. But I’m a little biased.
Jessica McGarvey: Thank you.
April Aramanda: So I can imagine basically you’ve gotten this little glimpse into and…
Jessica McGarvey: Mhm.
April Aramanda: you still are dealing with some of it now into what a lot of us are dealing with chronic illness. And I know that when I came in and started working with you that I think that that has informed how you deal with me as a chronic illness patient, especially one that has back issues and has some arthritis issues and currently going through some of the nerve stuff you were talking about. And so I’ve seen how that can and has informed your practice now, which is just amazing because you make your clients feel seen and understood where they’re at and you work with their bodies and if one day is a good day, then I can do more and if another day is a bad day, then you’re willing to work with that and make the movement easy.
April Aramanda: A lot of the listeners might feel intimidated by the idea of movement,…
April Aramanda: especially because their body already hurts so much. So, I’ve seen the result of that, but how do you approach that in your mind and in your setting up of, that particular client?
Jessica McGarvey: I take it client by client and…
Jessica McGarvey: I’m looking at their facial cues to and…
Jessica McGarvey: nonverbals to see how they’re feeling. I try not to give any kind of exercise that is just not going to be outside their wheelhouse. Sometimes we might try something and if it’s not working, I’ll adjust and adapt to a different way to get the same muscles that my goal is.
April Aramanda: Mhm. Right.
Jessica McGarvey: So it’s just I want each client to have a positive body movement experience when they come in to see me.
Jessica McGarvey: And I regularly pray for God to give me wisdom on what to do with a person walking in and to be a blessing to them. And I appreciate your words of encouragement and that you feel seen by me and heard. I appreciate working with you and…
April Aramanda: Mhm.
00:10:00
Jessica McGarvey: you’re doing amazing with everything you’re going through and you’re getting stronger.
April Aramanda: Thank you.
April Aramanda: It’s taken some time, but I’m getting there. and it’s been really good because there are days that I’ve come in, and this is something for anyone thinking about Pilates in the future. There are days that I’ve come in that are not great days physically or mentally. And to be able to work with someone one-on-one versus a class kind of setting has been a huge thing for me and…
Jessica McGarvey: Inhale. You hear
April Aramanda: for my body and the way it works. especially someone like you who is encouraging and is able to see some of the growth that I can’t necessarily see. because I think sometimes you’ve mentioned you did more reps or you’re on a higher weight and that’s not something that you would get if you’re in a class setting. And it’s not something you get necessarily from working out in a normal workout way. a lot of you said you did CrossFit when you injured your back.
Jessica McGarvey: Mhm. Yes.
April Aramanda: A lot of us can’t do things like that. So, I love that you have shifted your life to Pilates and maybe walking around or something. because it really does prove the point and since I’m a chronic illness person who’s doing Pilates that it actually does help and I can tell you I had a follow-up with my doctor this morning and I’m very very proud of this and I have to tell you that this is partly related to you as my Pilates instructor and helping me do this. I don’t know how long we’ve been seeing each other, probably over six weeks now.
April Aramanda: But I have lost 5 lbs since we started doing this. And that is been only doing Pilates once a week for 45 minutes or whatever it is and then some stretching.
April Aramanda: And so this is a very big thing. So, I would love to hear you talk a little bit about how important movement is for the body, even if they can’t go just to Pilates, how important movement is for the body because you know what it’s like being injured, but you also are slightly hyper mobile. We’ve talked about that,…
Jessica McGarvey: Yeah. Yeah.
April Aramanda: which comes with a ballet dancer. and so I would love for you to kind of talk about how important that is for our bodies and why. Mhm.
Jessica McGarvey: Especially as we age, I think movement and focusing on strength is so important.
Jessica McGarvey: Because not only we want to thrive and…
April Aramanda: Yeah. Mhm.
Jessica McGarvey: we want to be able to get down on the ground with your grandkid and play with them if that’s possible. And I think it’s important to adjust your expectations because I had this high level with being a dancer of thinking my body was invincible and I could do whatever form of exercise I felt like to realizing for me for my body certain kinds of highintensity workout was not good and
Jessica McGarvey: not worth the risk of injury. I love Pilates. I feel like it can really meet you, whoever it is, where they are.
Jessica McGarvey: I feel almost like my body has had therapy after I do Pilates. I feel better mentally, physically, and I think it’s just really important to have grace for yourself. even if all you can do is just a short little walk, like celebrate that and…
April Aramanda: Mhm.
Jessica McGarvey: don’t beat yourself up because it wasn’t longer than you wanted to do. just get outside if you can get outside and take a walk to the mailbox.
April Aramanda: Mhm.
Jessica McGarvey: Whatever it might be in your season of life.
Jessica McGarvey: And I think that’s okay to not be able to do whatever you are hoping and…
Jessica McGarvey: just adjust to what you can do and be grateful for the little bit you can do and not beat yourself up over a higher goal you might have. because…
April Aramanda: Right. We all do every day.
00:15:00
Jessica McGarvey: because I had very grandiose ideas that I had to have reality check. Yes. Mhm.
April Aramanda: And if you’re a chronic illness person out there listening and you can do other kinds of exercise, great. Have at it, please. But there are a lot of us that can’t. And one of my main autoimmune conditions is an inflammatory condition that can exacerbate or…
April Aramanda: create more arthritis. And so movement is harder for me. and…
Jessica McGarvey: Mhm.
April Aramanda: so for those of you that movement might not be as hard, please go out there and do whatever you feel comfortable doing. For those of you I would recommend Pilates, but I would recommend it with a one-on-one instructor for sure. I know you also work with postpartum clients. Could you talk a little bit about that?
Jessica McGarvey: So another time I had to adjust my expectations after I had my first baby and then They were two years apart. My body just could not do what it normally could do.
Jessica McGarvey: I struggled more with just my abs and just different aches and pains that come along with everything your body goes through, carrying a baby, having a baby. And so trying to figure out my own body led me to a continuing education course I took for postpartum corrective exercise. And it was an amazing course. I learned so much about the body.
Jessica McGarvey: And so what I do for my clients that are local,…
April Aramanda: Mhm.
Jessica McGarvey: they come into my studio and I do a 55minute movement assessment where I’m seeing how their body moves in different positions and what their imbalances are and I’m making very detailed notes and then I come up with a home exercise plan
Jessica McGarvey: for them where they can do these exercises to regain strength, mobility at home.
Jessica McGarvey: And then we meet over a course of four additional sessions for me to teach them those home exercises and I give them a home written plan.
April Aramanda: Mhm. Right.
Jessica McGarvey: So it’s really tailored to their body, what they’re experiencing. It’s not like a cookie cutter postpartum plan. It’s really tailored and designed for their unique needs.
April Aramanda:
April Aramanda: And I like that you’re very conscious of each individual person and what they need because even in postpartum or chronic illness, I could have the same thing as the next person that comes in your door, but we’re not going to respond the same and our bodies aren’t going to move the same.
Jessica McGarvey: Thank you.
April Aramanda:
April Aramanda: So things are very different with that. And I think that’s what sets your approach to all of this apart from everyone else in the space…
April Aramanda: because you are very careful to make sure not what do I have planned. And I know there are days that when you might have something planned for any one of your clients and they walk in and you’ve got to change that plan on the fly, you’re willing to do that. So that’s a really really good thing. so you are only local,…
Jessica McGarvey: Thank you.
April Aramanda: correct? Okay.
Jessica McGarvey: I am mainly local. I have done some Zoom Pilates work before, so I can teach if they have ideally a reformer at home.
April Aramanda: Right. Okay.
Jessica McGarvey: The person I taught online, she had her own reformer, but if they wanted Matt Pilates, too, that’s also something that we can do online as well.
April Aramanda: And what I do know, and the other thing that I think sets you apart is that you actually do a video call with each person that you’re going to take as a client. Partly because you do it in your home, but partly…
April Aramanda: because I think you want to see whether or not you can work with this person. Am I correct?
Jessica McGarvey: Yes. Yes.
April Aramanda: Okay. Right.
Jessica McGarvey: I want to have an idea of what you have going on with your body, what your personal goals are before our first session so I can have it set up the best possible for your body.
Jessica McGarvey: And it also gives us a time to get to know each other, see if we’re going to be a good fit.
April Aramanda: So that’s great.
Jessica McGarvey: So yes, I offer a free Zoom discovery call for everybody that’s interested.
00:20:00
April Aramanda: So if someone wanted to do something on Zoom with you, that would be a good way for you to figure out if that’s even going to be possible for that for you and that client.
Jessica McGarvey: Yes. Yes.
April Aramanda:
April Aramanda: Yeah, that’s awesome. So, if someone wants to start doing Pilates with you or anybody else, depending on where they are in the world, but they’re not sure if they’re ready, what would you say to them?
Jessica McGarvey: I would say just schedule a discovery call. Let’s chat and talk about what you have going on and what your thoughts and ideas are and you can get to know me a little bit better.
Jessica McGarvey: But the discovery call is really a good place to start.
April Aramanda: That’s Okay, so we’re going to do a few quick fire questions for fun…
Jessica McGarvey: Okay. …
April Aramanda: because I always love doing these kind of things. So, oops, my screen moved on me there. All right. What is your to comfort food?
Jessica McGarvey: go to comfort food.
Jessica McGarvey: I would have to say if it’s a Chinese restaurant like a really good wonton soup. When we lived in California, there was a place that had this wonton soup with all these fresh vegetables. And whenever I was sick, that’s what I wanted.
April Aramanda: I haven’t had a good one on soup in years.
Jessica McGarvey: I don’t think I have either.
April Aramanda:
April Aramanda: I know. Okay, second question.
April Aramanda: What is your favorite scripture or quote that you come back to again and again in your life?
Jessica McGarvey: Awesome.
Jessica McGarvey: I’m so glad you’re asking me this. I actually have my Bible right here…
April Aramanda: Yeah.
Jessica McGarvey: because this is a scripture I remind myself frequently. I did a study called Get Out of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts by Jenny Allen and absolutely love that study. And she did a really great job breaking down Philippians 4 6-8, which says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
Jessica McGarvey: And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. So when I’m struggling with anxiety or having negative thoughts in my head I think about that verse and usually I stop at finally brothers whatever is true because a lot of times I don’t even know if this thought or fear I’m having is true but I talk myself through this and remind myself and I think it’s just my favorite scripture.
April Aramanda: That is a great scripture and…
April Aramanda: a great way to do that to talk yourself through each step of what you’re dealing with especially when it’s lies playing in our heads.
Jessica McGarvey: Yes. So many lives.
April Aramanda: That is perfect. I know. All right. So, finally, what is one thing that is bringing you joy this week?
Jessica McGarvey: One thing bringing me joy this week. let’s see. I just love spending time with my girls and…
Jessica McGarvey: we got to play pickle ball for the first time and it was so much fun and it was my husband and my girls and they had so much fun. They did not want to leave and it’s just simple joy is just being outside enjoying time with my family.
April Aramanda: That’s fun.
April Aramanda: That’s awesome. Jessica, it has been so great getting to know you today and hearing about movement and everything else. before we go, where can people find you if they want to follow you, contact you, any of that? Awesome.
Jessica McGarvey: Thank you so much for having me,…
Jessica McGarvey: April. my website is movewellfitness.co and Instagram is jessica MC cg a r v y. It gets misspelled a lot. Pilates. So, Jessica McGarvey Pilates.
April Aramanda: Thank you so much for being here.
Jessica McGarvey: Thank you, April. This was awesome.