MIND is more than just an Exercise Physiology studio; we are a lifestyle and wellness brand that is popping the exercise bubble. We are here to change the conversation and exercise blueprint to encompass all dimensions of health through mind, movement and connection training.
Our purpose is to inspire change, empower minds, and help people conquer life’s adversities. We spoke to the founder, Deanna Niceski (MCEP, AES, AEP) to find out a little more about her and the studio.
Tell us a little about your experience to date as an AEP?
Initially I graduated university and went straight into a private practice. There was an empty office with blank walls, no clients and I pretty much had to build a clinic from scratch. Being thrown in the deep end helped me learn more about the business side of this industry and the value and work it takes to get one person coming through your door.
I started developing my skillset and finding where I fit in the Exercise Physiology world. In doing so, I was fortunate enough to work with a variety of different clients and conditions, but all people needing help with lifestyle changes and musculoskeletal injuries. Ironically, I felt like whatever I was experiencing personally in my life and what I was interested in, was coming through the door.
Comparing the day I first walked into an empty room to now, where I am running my own practice, I can definitely see differences. I’ve had time to refine my skills and develop a unique and exclusive experience for anyone who comes into this space. I have the support of really good technology, and through my own traumas I feel I have more empathy and can understand different perspectives, almost like stepping into a client’s shoes. To view a person as a whole yet made up of many parts and being able to link these elements together, including mindfulness, education and movement, with a focus on prevention and
function, is where I fit in as an AEP.
To see this industry develop and to support people in their health and wellness is very exciting.
How did you come to founding My Inspiration Never Dies?
The concept of My Inspiration Never Dies (MIND) started from a time in my life when I was vulnerable. The idea started 10 years ago while I was laying on my couch recovering from my first ACL injury. Soccer was my life and I had the ground ripped out from underneath me from the injury, so I had plenty of time on my hands.
I reflected a lot and started to connect some of my thinking. Surely there were people in the same position as me that needed help? No one really talked about how significant injuries can affect your mental health, how pain impacts your mind and body, and the importance of a holistic rehabilitation program. Ultimately the concept of MIND came about because there were missing parts to what
services were on offer and I wanted to bridge some of these.
What MIND incorporates and provides now, didn’t exist 10 years ago. The vision and mission have grown
immensely and continues to develop so we stay ahead of the times, and I believe we haven’t even scratched the surface yet of what we can achieve.
What is the main purpose of My Inspiration Never Dies?
Our main purpose is simple, to help people realise they aren’t defined by their trauma, injury or chronic
conditions. We have created a safe haven to help people realise their potential and be comfortable in the
‘uncomfortableness’ of making progress. For clients to know there is help out there to get them to a place where they feel good, move well and are not limited by anything.
In our progression with clients, we not only look at the physical, but their whole life, to find missing links and provide solutions. We have a journal that follows three phases in deconstructing our client’s lives journeys; You | World | Reflection. A journal that combines our physical world with virtual reinforcement, allowing people to express themselves and explore their reality on different levels. We also have a bar and café within our studios, so that we can engage with people socially and create a community feel. In summary, we look at health and wellbeing from a different point of view to get the best out of our clients.
How do you find technology helps with client program progression?
Using technology has been extremely beneficial for client progression and has advanced MIND quite a lot. We are able to use raw, clean data to objectively tell people they are hydrated or their posture isn’t effective for an exercise. The technology we use can even show healthy knee trajectory during a squat – to the degree! When people understand the figures, there is a light bulb moment and they begin to link the data to their training and realise what’s happening in their body. In that instant, their goals become very real and the data becomes valuable, even though having the information in plain sight can be confronting.
Using equipment has shown me that if we don’t help a client correct weaknesses, instability and dysfunction now, future injuries are inevitable. It has given me more confidence in my work of completely individualising programs.
Technology is great but its not human, it can’t feel, so we utilise technology to provide accurate data to aid our practice, but not as a centre point of our programs.
What has been a client success story that has stuck with you from MIND?
A young woman suffering from primary-progressive multiple sclerosis came to MIND as she wanted to take a different approach to her rehabilitation and was eager to explore her options. Initially, she needed daily assistance with a four-wheel frame to walk, she had poor movement ability, limited mobility, stability and strength, and was suffering from daily neuropathic pain and fatigue. She was struggling with frequent relapses and flare-ups that were taking a toll physically and mentally on her. Fast forward and seven months later she is now walking unassisted, her movement has improved significantly, she has returned to work and is managing her condition herself. Through our unique approach and structure of monthly ‘check ins’, scans and then assessments every three months, we have been able to anticipate the onset of relapses, allowing us to adjust our program accordingly when needed. This has had a huge impact on the client’s progression and self-management. It has been inspiring to watch the client’s fear reduce and through the use of our all-encompassing systems, she can now feel a decline before it happens and
adjust as needed.
Throughout her voyage this client has shown such determination and grit, and has had an amazing attitude towards her rehabilitation. The success she has also comes from her commitment and enthusiasm. She puts in the work, is willing to learn, has accepted her condition and is taking responsibility and control of her life. I am humbled and grateful to work with such an inspirational woman and the work I do with her is extremely rewarding. Client success, development and positive change is why MIND continues to grow.
What makes MIND stand out compared to your peers?
The philosophy, the brand, the meaning behind the logo, everything is unique and we stand by it. It’s not only about what we deliver, but also about empathy and that people’s ‘My Inspiration Never Dies’.
We do have innovative methods and ways in which we deliver our services that are the first of their kind, such as our targeted “Chief Venture” program for executives and CEOs. We understand it’s okay not to be okay sometimes, but that feeling cannot remain permanent. By combining different elements of movement, wellness, technology, sociology and education, MIND provides opportunities with different perspectives and establishes a balance between future pathways and the nature of our past. We have created an environment where people feel safe to open up and explore their limits. By removing the lab coats and clinical feel, clients have brought down their walls, taken a breath and have the courage to move forward.
All our clients absorb this culture as My Inspiration Never Dies.
