My next guest is Dr. Beth Terranova of Strength & Spine. She’s a fellow Schroth therapist, and like Teresa, she’s another scoliosis warrior in NYC. I participated in her 3 month one on one strength training program and it was totally amazing! I had lost my enthusiasm in going to the gym since COVID, and I feel totally reinvigorated.

She was diagnosed at the end of middle school. No one took the time to explain what scoliosis was or what it would mean for her life. She told me she doesn’t remember seeing the x-ray of her back (same, girl).

She remembers getting some of the unhelpful messages many kids managing scoliosis get, like not carrying heavy books. She went to get an extra set to keep at home (doctor’s orders, of course) and the librarian scoffed at her for carrying her heavy soccer bag, while requesting more books.

Here’s what she had to say about her journey to Schroth:

“In high school, I started competing in weightlifting. I didn’t think about my scoliosis at all. I went on to be a National competitor in Olympic weightlifting with no understanding why my ribs stuck out or my body felt off balance. No coach, trainer, or physical therapist could explain to me what was going on. One of my coaches even called me ‘the hunch back’ every time he saw my rib prominence.”

“When I went to school to become a physical therapist, I learned about the Schroth method for scoliosis. It made all my experiences make sense. Knowing more about my scoliosis empowered me to take my exercise routine to the next level, lifting more than I ever had before... After training in the Schroth method, I realized I could help people in a way no one else had. I combined my knowledge of Schroth and strength training to help people with scoliosis and spinal fusion from all over the world get started with working out in the gym. My clients were getting stronger than I ever imagined. They were feeling as empowered as I did when I learned about my own scoliosis. I became the coach I needed when I was growing up.” 

She describes her scoliosis as a gift. A gift to help and inspire people to feel empowered, strong, and take their life into their own hands.

Her parting words? “I hope my story inspires you that YOU CAN. You can lift weights with scoliosis. You can be strong with scoliosis. You can do whatever you dream of with scoliosis.”

To learn more about Dr. Beth and her virtual training program, check out her website or follow her on Instagram.