We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ariel Gallop a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Ariel, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I was in a jet skiing accident when I was 14 years old. I had been the spotter as my cousins were inner tubing. At the end of the day, they swam to shore and I rode the jet ski back to the beach with my uncle. While I was sitting there riding the ket ski, the rope had wrapped around my calf and ankle. I fell into the water and was pulled by the rope around my leg. When my uncle stopped, I was alive but bleeding pretty badly in the water. They rushed me to the hospital.
I spent a little over a month in the hospital, having numerous surgeries to reconstruct my leg. The surgeons wanted to amputate my leg but my parents let me choose to try to save it. I spent over 6 months in a wheelchair and had to relearn to walk and run. I was in physical therapy 3 hours a day, 5 days a week, for a year. While there, I got to see so many types of physical therapy.
My main surgeon brought me into the hospital for years after, to talk with other patients with similar injuries. I got to talk about the recovery process and healing, both physically and emotionally. I loved getting to walk with people along their journey. Talking to those people as they healed, I learned the value of helping someone recover but also sitting with them in the phase they’re in. That process gave me the passion to be a physical therapist. I have since taken specialized training in treating the pelvic floor which is such an honor. I have the privilege of getting to help women and men along their physical and emotional journey to living their best life. That is my life purpose and what brings me joy.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I grew up in Texas and moved to LA (the big city) to try something new (hello avocado toast, yoga, and meditation), see the ocean, and go to grad school (womp womp). It was so good for me and pushed me way out of my comfort zone.
I am a pelvic floor physical therapist and own “Restore Pelvic Therapy” in San Diego. What that means is I treat urinary issues, bowel problems, pelvic pain, and work with people to prepare for birth and postpartum, as well as anything in between. Basically if you think it’s TMI- I work with it. I absolutely love what I do. I am so excited to get to work with people to restore their pelvic floor but really it’s so much more than that. When people improve their urinary leakage they get their dignity back. When they improve their pain with intimacy they’re able to connect with their partner more. When someone does “birth prep” they can go into the labor process feeling educated and empowered. I get so excited when a patient walks in the door and announces they has pain free sex.
I feel lucky to be in the role that I am. As the boss/CEO I get to choose everything and it is fun and scary all at once. I started my own clinic so that I could treat exactly how I wanted while keeping the patients my priority and being a place people want to work. Starting a business has forced me (sometimes uncomfortably) to grow in many ways. I have become more decisive, less of a perfectionist, more organized (which I didn’t know was even possible), and learned to prioritize better.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Fun questions! The three things that have been the most impactful part of my journey, or really just help me be successful in working toward my dreams are my persistence, positivity, and organization.
I am a very persistent person. I feel like I hit a wall and just pivot. When I was rehabbing from my boating accident I found out my surgeon had given my parents handouts for prosthetics because they didn’t believe I’d be able to get my leg functioning. I just kept working and pushing (thanks to some great PTs). In college I thought I’d do a fun major and then just make sure I got the pre-reqs I needed, but when that was not a fun major and I had to transfer schools I adjusted and kept trucking. Starting a business has been such an example of pivoting. Every day, week, month has been full of pivots. I’m trying to enjoy and trust the process while continuing to push on.
I may be the definition of toxic positivity. It’s just so much easier to accept how things are, look for what is good around me, and move on. I make a gratitude list every single day and when I’m having an extra rough day I’ll do a few. It helps me sleep at night.
I am the queen of to-do lists and am very organized. In college I used to plan out every hour of my day and wouldn’t sleep until I achieved it. I still try to live by that motto, though it’s a little harder because as a business owner the work is never done. But I try. It helps me prioritize. When stuff is extra annoying I make sure to do it and reward myself. For instance, when I have to go to the bank, do bookkeeping things, and run errands I make sure I have a fun drink in hand and am listening to a true crime podcast.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When I feel overwhelmed I make to-do lists. Shocker, I know. When I can’t sleep or don’t know where to start I make a list of all the things I need to do or the things that are distracting, and that helps get everything out of my brain. I have a notebook by my bed for nights when my brain just runs. I also highly suggest yoga and meditation. When I start to panic I will spend at least two minutes doing calming breathing and focusing on only my breath or what I can hear.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.restoretherapysd.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/restore_pelvic_therapy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/restore.pelvic.therapy
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/restore-pelvic-therapy-san-diego
Image Credits
they’re all just iphone photos by me or family.
