My story revolves around the idea that all people regardless of age, gender, or occupation deserve to take time to focus on themselves. To set the stage, I am a 23 year old law student and I have been working with Michelle and Body Balance Physical Therapy and Wellness for just under a year. As a teenager I played lots of sports like tennis and volleyball. During my first year of college I was ev... More

My story revolves around the idea that all people regardless of age, gender, or occupation deserve to take time to focus on themselves. To set the stage, I am a 23 year old law student and I have been working with Michelle and Body Balance Physical Therapy and Wellness for just under a year. As a teenager I played lots of sports like tennis and volleyball. During my first year of college I was even on the rowing team. Unfortunately, at some point I stopped thinking of myself as something that needed to be taken care of. Leaving myself by the wayside, my sleeping habits worsened, I stopped being on sports teams and stopped working out or getting movement consistently, gained weight, and had increases in anxiousness. While law school is incredibly demanding, I realized I needed to do more than school and work if I wanted to be a whole person. So, I reached out to Michelle. That is when things started to change... At first, I was barely able to think about self-care or movement. I could only do push ups on my knees and the only day I worked out was with Michelle at our weekly check-ins. Soon, we began to talk about not only movement but also other important life "Pillars" like sleep, nutrition, and self-care. Michelle has helped to teach me how to work in not only movement but also better food choices and more positive self-talk. Despite some tears on my end from being overwhelmed by how busy my life was, Michelle found ways that work with my life, my schedule, and my needs to make me into the woman I have been wanting to be. I have gained strength and lost some weight and developed better habits. However, something I have found more important is that I have started to learn that I cannot be the law student/ future attorney/ significant other/ daughter that I want to be unless I take care of myself. For me, Michelle has truly helped teach me to care about myself as a whole person. I continue to work with Michelle session after session because while I like the improvements I have seen already I want to keep learning and growing as a whole person and to cement these lessons for the rest of my life. I would encourage ANYONE who is looking for someone to help them with eating habits, movement habits, strength building, or building a well-balanced life to reach out to Michelle and Body Balance Physical Therapy and Wellness. Right now is exactly the right time! Less

Michelle is the absolute best!!!! When I read some reviews, I was honestly skeptical of how someone could help with the pain so quickly. But she did! I’m not the best at sticking with things…but once I knew there would be pain relief, I wasn’t about to give up. She is a gem!

Having chronic pain makes simple tasks in life much harder. Michelle is a great cheerleader to keep you motivated and positive through setbacks and reminds you of all of your wins. She sets attainable goals for you to achieve and celebrates with you when they happen. She is great at explaining how mind set and the ways we think about our pain really affect be intensity and longevity of our pain. ... More

Having chronic pain makes simple tasks in life much harder. Michelle is a great cheerleader to keep you motivated and positive through setbacks and reminds you of all of your wins. She sets attainable goals for you to achieve and celebrates with you when they happen. She is great at explaining how mind set and the ways we think about our pain really affect be intensity and longevity of our pain. She helped me get to the point that I can go to the grocery store and unload groceries with minor assistance and am able to do other cleaning tasks around the house. I highly recommend using Michelle on your chronic pain journey. Less

I highly recommend Michelle's services. Her holistic mind-body approach provided me with unexpected results that are far better than any traditional physical therapy I've had in the past. After 10 sessions, my hip pain and ankle pain is almost non-existent. I am staying on a maintenance program because Michelle's insights and tools will work for a lifetime of better health. The personalized 1:1 s... More

I highly recommend Michelle's services. Her holistic mind-body approach provided me with unexpected results that are far better than any traditional physical therapy I've had in the past. After 10 sessions, my hip pain and ankle pain is almost non-existent. I am staying on a maintenance program because Michelle's insights and tools will work for a lifetime of better health. The personalized 1:1 sessions are very productive, and her in-home visits are very convenient and time-saving. Well worth the investment! Less

I've been meaning to write this review for just over a month since I've been discharged from Michelle's care. I kept putting it off because I wanted to write the PERFECT review since she completely changed my life, and it's really important to me that other people understand how important she has been in my healing. First and foremost, if you are a woman who has experienced chronic pain for many... More

I've been meaning to write this review for just over a month since I've been discharged from Michelle's care. I kept putting it off because I wanted to write the PERFECT review since she completely changed my life, and it's really important to me that other people understand how important she has been in my healing. First and foremost, if you are a woman who has experienced chronic pain for many years, this is the place for you. I've been to almost 20 chiropractors, at least 3 physical therapists (before coming to Michelle), and spine surgeons, and I truly believe that Michelle has helped me more than anyone else. I'm only 26 years old, and before coming to Body Balance, I had been in chronic, debilitating pain, for one reason or another, since I was 15. When I was younger, it was endless migraines for months on end. Around that time, I also started dating for the first time in my life, and that relationship became very controlling, harmful, and abusive. I experienced a lot of trauma, so I got stuck in my fight or flight response, from the age of 16-23. I developed autoimmune issues like PCOS, which also caused debilitating pain. During those years, I was also in 3 major car accidents in less than two years, all of which caused extensive damage to my cervical spine in C5 and C6. My C5 disc was bulging, torn, and degenerative, which caused Stenosis in my spine, Cervical Radiculopathy, and unbearable nerve pain going down both my arms. By the time I started seeing Michelle, I had been through so many doctors, so many PTs, so many OBGYNs, and was recovering from Anterior Disc Replacement surgery. I trusted her almost right away because when she asked me questions about my medical health, she really listened, and explained how everything I had experienced was the result of a terrible healthcare system in America, paired with a lot of trauma in a short amount of time. She started this business to truly, genuinely help people, not just push them through the medical system, passing them from one doctor or specialist to the next. Not only that, but she worked with me financially, and we had a payment plan that worked for me... because she really cares about her patients more than anything else. That meant so much to me. Even after having surgery to correct my spine, I had a flare-up two weeks post-surgery, which is when I reached out to Michelle. I was desperate for relief and felt so defeated. How could surgery not even fix my pain? Early on in our sessions, she began to explain concepts to me like neuroplasticity, and how the brain works. She provided apps, educational videos, and a surplus of knowledge that helped me understand how the brain can get stuck in loops of pain, and the science behind it. Once I understood that my brain was sending pain signals to my neck, and the majority of my symptoms were psychosomatic, I knew that what I was experiencing was treatable. We progressed slowly, considering that I wasn't just recovering from chronic pain, but also from surgical, acute, pain. But after 10 weeks with her, I went from not being able to lift more than 10 pounds for many years, to doing 30lb chest presses, and 30lb overhead presses, working out consistently, eating healthier, and having a passion for living a healthy lifestyle. Now, when I get small flare-ups of pain, I have the tools, the knowledge, and the experiences to get myself out of pain, and not stay stuck in it anymore. I'm kinder to myself, I take care of myself more, and I'm just so eternally grateful to Michelle. I truly think that without her, I would have had the surgery, and stayed stuck in chronic pain. She has changed my life for the better, and I would recommend her to anyone who can relate, even just a little bit, to my story. You don't have to stay stuck in chronic pain, whether that's from autoimmune illness, surgeries that went wrong, or injuries. You can feel better again, it IS possible. Less

Grateful to meet Michelle and learn about mind body connection. She taught me the importance of listening to my body, and gave me tools to get stronger and move beyond pain.

After my initial assessment I knew right away that I wanted to see Michelle for a shoulder sprain and I'm so happy I found her! Michelle will come to you or you can go to her location. I'm most impressed with her positive energy and passion for what she does. You receive very personal 1-1 attention the entire time you are there and she is 100% accessible via text/phone whenever you need her (som... More

After my initial assessment I knew right away that I wanted to see Michelle for a shoulder sprain and I'm so happy I found her! Michelle will come to you or you can go to her location. I'm most impressed with her positive energy and passion for what she does. You receive very personal 1-1 attention the entire time you are there and she is 100% accessible via text/phone whenever you need her (something you don't get at other PT locations). She makes you feel comfortable reaching out to her with any questions you may have. My shoulder sprain is much improved and now I'm learning exercises for my whole body. I hope to start developing a regular gym routine with the program Michelle created for me. Michelle is not just about helping your immediate injury, but also how to live a stronger, healthier life overall. She does have a special focus on women and knows what we need at various times of our lives. I don't wish to get injured again, but if I do I'm glad I already know who to see for my PT!!! Less

Before going to Body Balance, I’d never had physical therapy. When I was faced with significant hip pain, I contacted Michelle and scheduled an assessment. After the first visit, I could feel a major improvement. Each week, Michelle continued to work on the pain, but she also gave me exercises to strengthen my hip so as not to deal with the same pain again. Michelle is thorough and explains the “... More

Before going to Body Balance, I’d never had physical therapy. When I was faced with significant hip pain, I contacted Michelle and scheduled an assessment. After the first visit, I could feel a major improvement. Each week, Michelle continued to work on the pain, but she also gave me exercises to strengthen my hip so as not to deal with the same pain again. Michelle is thorough and explains the “why” behind everything she has me do. I highly recommend Body Balance Physical Therapy and Wellness! Less

Three years ago I had a total knee replacement that did not succeed. I lost 20 degrees of bend in my knee and suffered extreme nerve damage and chronic pain. My journey has taken me to several different orthopedic surgeons to see if I could remedy the situation. Everyone told me that this was as good as it would get and even that I was permanently disabled. Coming up on my 60th birthday I re... More

Three years ago I had a total knee replacement that did not succeed. I lost 20 degrees of bend in my knee and suffered extreme nerve damage and chronic pain. My journey has taken me to several different orthopedic surgeons to see if I could remedy the situation. Everyone told me that this was as good as it would get and even that I was permanently disabled. Coming up on my 60th birthday I realized I didn't want to accept that answer. I did some research and found a new pain management doctor who helped with new medicine for the nerve damage and I found Michelle at Body Balance. She has been amazing and has completely changed my life. I could barely walk a block and now I am up to 2 miles a day. I got 15 degrees of bend back in my knee and can use stairs again. She incorporated physical therapy and exercises tailored specifically for me and makes them doable at home at my pace. But her practice also integrates the holistic part of the mind and through coaching and bio feedback she explores how chronic pain can get stuck in the mind and taught me how to recognize that and overcome it. That has made a huge difference for me. She helped me set goals and was my champion in reaching those goals. I am now really looking forward to my next decade where I am able to move and live life again. Less

The ability to work one-on-one with an experienced physical therapist was a game changer for me. Michelle is the secret weapon in my goal to move as well as I can, for as long as I can. Utilizing years of training, experience, and a ton of passion for helping others, Michelle develops individual plans for clients - always prioritizing the interconnectedness of the whole body. I started working wi... More

The ability to work one-on-one with an experienced physical therapist was a game changer for me. Michelle is the secret weapon in my goal to move as well as I can, for as long as I can. Utilizing years of training, experience, and a ton of passion for helping others, Michelle develops individual plans for clients - always prioritizing the interconnectedness of the whole body. I started working with her for an injury, but now I rely on her to help me maintain mobility, strength, and range of motion in my daily life and adventures. Less

Over a short period of time, I became unable to raise my left shoulder and had limited mobility in my right shoulder. I really liked Michelle's approach to addressing these mobility issues. First, she shared that medical studies historically do not include women over 50 in their studies. And, women lose muscle mass very differently than men. Her approach is to teach her patients how to addres... More

Over a short period of time, I became unable to raise my left shoulder and had limited mobility in my right shoulder. I really liked Michelle's approach to addressing these mobility issues. First, she shared that medical studies historically do not include women over 50 in their studies. And, women lose muscle mass very differently than men. Her approach is to teach her patients how to address the issue and commit to a lifetime of good habits. She taught me over 4 weeks how to address my shoulder issues. It was amazing that at our 5th session, I was able to raise my shoulders above my head again. I had not been able to do the most simple of tasks just one month prior. I expect in a few more weeks, I'll be able to play golf again. Thank you Michelle. I enjoyed our sessions on not just my mobility issues but general health and wellness. Less

Michelle is amazing! She is knowledgeable, compassionate and dedicated to helping her clients feel their very best. She makes the process easy and fun!

Competent, inspiring, and compassionate people make Body Balance a wonderful resource to our community.

Hiring Michelle Bergamini Bjornberg at Body Balance: Physical Therapy and Wellness, has been the best thing I’ve done for myself in a long time. I turned 47 earlier this year and shortly thereafter was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s (which explained a lot of symptoms I had) and I’m determined now more than ever to be the healthiest version of myself. I’ve also spent years living with chronic pain (he... More

Hiring Michelle Bergamini Bjornberg at Body Balance: Physical Therapy and Wellness, has been the best thing I’ve done for myself in a long time. I turned 47 earlier this year and shortly thereafter was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s (which explained a lot of symptoms I had) and I’m determined now more than ever to be the healthiest version of myself. I’ve also spent years living with chronic pain (hello 20 years of cheer!) and making excuses for why I can’t “move.” I’m thankful I found Michelle. I spent years trying other methods, including medication, to manage the pain only to have it persist. Michelle’s guidance and expertise in helping me retrain my brain have not only been life changing for my pain and anxiety, but also life giving. The mind/body connection is fascinating! Less

I met Michelle at a conference on pain management. We were both attendees at the conference. Michelle was learning how to apply Mind-Body science to her physical therapy, and I was there to learn how to apply it to my psychotherapy practice. During the conference Michelle and I were paired to practice a technique we learned there. During our practice session I told Michelle about the pain and... More

I met Michelle at a conference on pain management. We were both attendees at the conference. Michelle was learning how to apply Mind-Body science to her physical therapy, and I was there to learn how to apply it to my psychotherapy practice. During the conference Michelle and I were paired to practice a technique we learned there. During our practice session I told Michelle about the pain and limited movement in my right shoulder. She said she could help. Shortly thereafter, I began physical therapy on my right shoulder with Michelle. We've been working on my right shoulder for about six months. I hurt my shoulder in a sporting event about fifteen years ago. I couldn't throw a baseball without extreme pain, so I started throwing with my left hand. I basically ignored my right shoulder and accepted the fact that there wasn't anything I could do except surgery. And I was not considering surgery as an option. I've noticed significant progress in my right shoulder. I have increased movement in my right shoulder, and I have come to realize the connection between my right shoulder and other parts of my body. Michelle taught me how the various muscle groups relate to one another, and how the restrictions in my right shoulder were causing restrictions elsewhere. I thought I'd have to live with my malfunctioning right shoulder for the rest of my life--until I met and worked with Michelle. In addition to her vast knowledge of the human body, she has this contagious positive energy. Gary Z Less

I contacted Michelle after I went thru a year of chemo/radiation for breast cancer. Along with being out of shape, I had some limited mobility in one arm that I wanted to get resolved. I had kept myself pretty active most of my life and wanted to get back to some consistent weight training. I had been pretty idle for over a year and reached out to Michelle for guidance. After going thru some exer... More

I contacted Michelle after I went thru a year of chemo/radiation for breast cancer. Along with being out of shape, I had some limited mobility in one arm that I wanted to get resolved. I had kept myself pretty active most of my life and wanted to get back to some consistent weight training. I had been pretty idle for over a year and reached out to Michelle for guidance. After going thru some exercises with me, the mobility in my arm actually improved 100% within a week. In addition, I had neck pain for months and wasn't sure what even caused it. For this, Michelle has me doing a stretching exercise every day a couple of times and it only takes 6 minutes. When I do it (ha ha we all slack every once in awhile), the pain and mobility of motion in my neck goes away. I also am back in the gym doing a weight training program put together by Michelle. I feel great and would recommend using Michelle for any type of pain you may be having. It has worked for me! Less