With the rise of social media, general awareness about the importance of healthy habits and exercise has skyrocketed in recent years. As a result, gyms are inviting people to actively improve their well-being. However, it is worth asking if these businesses are truly capable of serving people who need special attention. Although that is certainly the intent, most gyms and health facilities don’t have the awareness necessary to accommodate those with higher needs, including trauma survivors and people with disabilities.
People with special requirements rarely feel welcome in gyms and health facilities because of marketing that doesn’t recognize their needs. For those with serious physical limitations, they are simply looking to reduce pain and gain function. The common aesthetic and athletic inspirations marketed by gyms do not speak to the needs of trauma survivors. However, with an elevated awareness, these facilities could serve this demographic more adequately.
Mark St. Peter's mission to make exercise focused on regaining physical functioning accessible to all has been the driving force behind the creation of Dynamic Balance and the concept of Therapeutic Physical Care (TPC).
For over 35 years, Mark has provided high-needs individuals with the strategies and services they need to achieve improved quality of life and comfort. He is a pioneer in connecting the physical and empathetic aspects of recovery, offering gym-like services for those needing a unique and personal approach. Mark completed a dual Psychology and Health Science major in college with the dream of becoming one of the world’s best sports psychologists. His aspirations radically changed when tragedy struck. At the age of 22, Mark was hit by a high-speed car on his way home. This traumatic injury forever transformed his life and the goals he once had. When asked about how his mindset shifted post-injury, Mark shared, “As someone with an athletic life, I was completely blindsided by my new life after the incident. When I came out of the fog of denial and shock, I still had three semesters of college left before graduation. Once I graduated, it was very difficult to re-establish the direction of my life. My prior goals of being an elite sports psychologist now seemed highly insignificant. Who cares about the greatest athletes in the world? I'm in a wheelchair.”
As a result of his injuries, Mark had over 70 surgeries under general anesthesia and spent considerable time in health institutions recuperating. During his recovery, he noticed that few hospitals are skilled at reigniting hope in trauma survivors. Additionally, the majority of training centers lack the resources needed to adequately support those with higher needs. Mark was uniquely qualified to fill these gaps as he lives with life-long injuries that still cause pain and discomfort.
Using his intimate knowledge of the industry and traditional recovery methods, Mark founded Dynamic Balance to offer emotional understanding to people with traumas while pushing them to improve their physical health. The company was born a few years after Mark graduated and moved to California. His job at a local gym highlighted how individuals with disabilities struggle in typical health facilities. The lack of support for this group inspired him to make it his mission to improve the lives of others, as he felt a deep understanding of their struggle.
Mark has been helping people manage treatment-resistant pains and other physical challenges for over 30 years. He accredits his success to the inspiration of key mentors and a wide suite of tools cultivated throughout his multi-decade career. These include emotional awareness, in-depth knowledge, and an empathetic approach that recognizes the importance of subtle details.
Although health institutions help many people, they are not without blindspots. People with chronic conditions are often overlooked and their only option is to “just live with it”. When no care is provided, it will only lead to further degeneration that creates larger health concerns. Many of you reading this may have seen this happen to friends and family.
With over 30 years of experience in the field, Mark has always believed that everyone has the potential for recovery, but they may need more time, understanding, and personalized training. This is what is missing for trauma survivors and high-needs people, and exactly what Mark advocates for. Through his work, Mark hopes to educate high-needs people and their care providers about alternative possibilities for treatment outside of standard procedures.
It can be difficult to communicate therapeutic possibilities because they are often the last resort for individuals suffering from pain. However, Mark is committed to highlighting how this approach can be used to prevent future pain and also manage current kinetic dysfunction. While therapeutic pain management isn’t a quick fix, it has the potential to provide higher benefits than high-tech methods.
Media Contact
Name: Mark St. Peter
Email: [email protected]
