Maria Banks, OTD, OTR/L: OT in Maternal Health & Fitness
In this post, we will be learning about an occupational therapy practitioner working in maternal health and fitness. You will hear from the personal and professional experiences of Maria Banks, OTD, OTR/L. Maria is the owner of The Health Mamas; a company she started to help pregnant and postnatal women safely meet their health and fitness goals. Maria is a Doctor of Occupational Therapy with over 10 year’s experience helping adults achieve their functional goals and a Certified Pre and Post Natal Fitness Specialist certified by AFPA. Maria is also a mom of one, recently giving birth to her healthy baby boy. Maria combines her background as an Occupational Therapist and a Pre and Post Natal Fitness Specialist to provide a holistic approach to help new and expectant moms meet their health and fitness goals. She provides a variety of services, including health coaching, nutrition support, personal training, and group fitness classes to help women physically, mentally, and emotionally along their maternal health journey. Maria has always been interested in fitness and maintained a strong fitness regimen. During her pregnancy, she took the necessary steps to maintain a strong health regimen and felt inspired to help other women through their journey. She became the resource that she wish she had during her pregnancy and postpartum journey. She strives to empower women and build a community of women who want to take charge of their maternal health.
Q & A with Maria:
Please tell us a little about yourself.
I have been an occupational therapist for over 10 years working mostly in adult rehab, specializing in neuro. My favorite occupation right now is being a mom! I am a new mom of a 6-month-old baby boy. A few of my other favorite occupations include cooking, bowling, traveling, and exercise.
What motivated you to contribute to this podcast series?
I wanted to contribute to this series to show that there is more to occupational therapy than just the clinical setting. Our education provides us with numerous transferrable skills that can be used for many different careers. I was able to use my new occupation as a mom along with my background as an OT to launch my new business in maternal health. I want to show others that being an entrepreneur as an OT is possible!
Please describe the UncommonOT work that you do and the setting in which you work, the population you serve, and the needs that you address.
I am the owner of The Health Mamas: Functional Fitness for Motherhood. I combine my experience as an OT with my certification as a Pre/Post Natal Fitness Specialist to provide health and fitness services to new and expectant mothers. I provide health coaching, fitness training, and lifestyle tip/strategies in person and virtually to help women take charge of their maternal health.
What inspired you or drew you to this type of OT work?
Once I became pregnant, I wanted to continue exercising with my trainer, however, they were unable to provide appropriate modifications to help me safely engage in fitness. I saw the need for a trainer to specifically help pregnant and postpartum women in my area, so I became the resource that I wish I had as I was going through the process.
How did you get there? Can you describe your path?
I obtained my certification as a Pre/Post Natal Fitness Specialist while I was pregnant. I then joined a program that specifically coached mothers on starting a business where I learned strategies to start and market my business. After that, I took the leap of faith and launched my business!
Please describe a typical day or OT session in your uncommon setting? What OT skills do you utilize?
A typical day includes planning and writing fitness plans, training either virtually or in person, and providing coaching services to help women address their goals. The OT skills that I utilize include obtaining a client history (aka occupational profile) and helping clients develop appropriate goals. I also incorporate home modifications and ergonomics to help women address issues such as pain management during pregnancy and motherhood.
Can you talk about some recent highs (successes) and lows (challenges) of your current role?
A recent high includes collaborating with a moms group to explain the importance of exercise for maternal health. A recent low, more of a challenge, is getting the word out to more people to market my business.
How do you continue to learn in order to stay on top of things within your role?
I am CONSTANTLY researching the benefits of exercise on maternal health and how I can assist women safely exercise during the pregnancy and postpartum period.
Can you share a little bit about salary and compensation in this setting? How do OT or the services you provide get funded?
I operate on a private pay system. I set the rate and clients pay per session or for each fitness plan.
Any career advice for our followers and listeners on how to get started on this path?
If you have a vision or dream please go for it! OTs have a ton of skills and knowledge to pursue a variety of non-traditional roles. Please do your research on the need and connect with others who can help you.
What’s a common myth or misconception about your job/role you’d like to call out or demystify?
Pregnant women who have a healthy pregnancy can and should exercise as it is healthy for both the mom and baby. I want to spread the word on the many benefits of exercising while pregnant as some women are told to just sit back and relax during pregnancy as they can cause harm to themselves and the baby. I also want to help women understand that safety should be the main priority when exercising during the postpartum period.
How do we find you, follow you, be in touch with you, and promote your unique work?
My website: www.thehealthmamas.com
IG: @thehealthmamas
E-mail: maria@thehealthmamas.com
RESOURCES:
Benefits of Fitness on Maternal Health:
Clapp, J.F., 2000, "Exercise during pregnancy: A clinical update" Clinical Sports Medicine
Domenjoz, I., B. Kayser, and M. Boulvain. 2014. "Effect of physical activity during pregnancy on mode of delivery." American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Perales, M.L., Calabria, C. Lopez, E. Franco, J. Coteron, and R. Barakat. 2015. "Regular Exercise Throughout Pregnancy is Associated With Short First Stage of Labor." American Journal of Health Promotion
As always, I welcome any feedback & ideas from all of you or if you are interested in being a guest on future episodes, please do not hesitate to contact Patricia Motus at transitionsot@gmail.com or DM via Instagram @transitionsot
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