SHE/HER
Gina Vitale
Therapeutic Exercise Specialist
Helping clients move better, feel better, and rebuild strength through functional exercise and mindful movement.
Services available in English. Services available globally.
My Approach
Hi, I’m Gina! I’m a mat Pilates instructor and licensed physical therapist assistant with 30 years of experience in hands-on patient care. In my role with Balance & Birch, I combine my PTA experience, movement knowledge, and medical background to teach you specific exercises that improve your daily life or support recovery after illness or injury.
My journey began at 13 after a severe back injury from gymnastics, which sparked my passion for physical therapy and rehabilitation. I began my career in outpatient sports medicine, treating injuries and post-op conditions before transitioning into home health, where I gained a deeper understanding of functional mobility in real-world settings.
Along the way, I fell in love with Pilates and became certified in mat instruction, blending it with therapeutic exercise to help clients move more efficiently and feel stronger. After relocating to Seattle in 2017, I expanded my expertise in work injury rehab, Myofascial Release, yoga-based movement, and nutrition — always with a holistic, patient-centered approach.
In 2023, I stepped away from clinical care to prepare for a long-planned move to Italy and shifted into health-based content writing. While writing allows me to educate and inspire, I missed the personal connection of helping people directly — which is why I’m here, doing what I love most: supporting people in feeling better, moving better, and reclaiming their confidence.
Specialties:
- Therapeutic + functional exercise
- Pilates-based strengthening
- Mobility and flexibility training
- Injury prevention & post-injury recovery
- Chronic pain & stiffness
- Movement for chronic illness
- Holistic, patient-centered rehabilitation
- Mind–body movement awareness
Who I Work With:
- Adults recovering from injury or illness
- Clients with chronic pain or mobility limitations
- People who feel stiff, weak, or “out of sync” with their bodies
- Individuals wanting safe, structured exercise
- Those new to movement or returning after time away
- People who prefer gentle, supportive progress over intensity culture
FAQs
What exactly is a Therapeutic Exercise Specialist, and how is it different from a personal trainer?
While personal trainers focus on general fitness, weight loss, and physical aesthetics, a Therapeutic Exercise Specialist focuses on functional restoration and medical safety. Because I am also a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA), I have a deep understanding of anatomy, pathology, and injury recovery. I don’t just “give you a workout”; I design movement protocols that respect your clinical history, helping you bridge the gap between finishing physical therapy and returning to your favorite activities.
I’ve been discharged from Physical Therapy, but I don’t feel ready to exercise on my own. Can you help?
Absolutel- this is exactly where I step in. Many people feel “lost” once their insurance-covered PT sessions end. I act as the next step in your recovery journey. I take the foundation your physical therapist built and progress it using Pilates-based core stability and specialized strength & movement training. We work together to ensure you don’t lose the progress you made in the clinic while building the confidence to move more dynamically.
How can you safely check my form or “fix” my movement through a screen?
Virtual training is surprisingly effective for therapeutic work because it forces us to focus on proprioception (your internal sense of how your body moves). During our sessions:
I use precise verbal cues and visual demonstrations.
I may ask you to adjust your camera angle so I can observe your alignment from
multiple planes.
I focus on “quality over quantity,” ensuring every repetition is performed with the correct muscle activation to avoid injuries.
Is this approach safe for people with chronic health conditions (like POTS, Ehlers-Danlos, or Fibromyalgia)?
Yes. My background is specifically tailored to “complex” bodies. Whether you deal with joint hypermobility, autonomic nervous system issues, or chronic pain, I use a “meet you where you are today” approach. This means, together we monitor your energy levels and symptoms in real-time, adjusting the intensity so that exercise feels like a “deposits”
into your health bank rather than a “withdrawal” that leaves you exhausted for days.
Do I need a Pilates reformer or expensive gym equipment at home?
Not at all! One of the benefits of specialized training is learning how to use your own environment as a gym. We can do an incredible amount of therapeutic work using:
Your own body weight and gravity.
Resistance bands or light hand weights.
Household items like a sturdy chair, a wall, or even a towel for stability and/or sliding exercises. I will help you arrange your space during our sessions to make sure you have everything you need to succeed.
Ready to work with Gina?
Book a session or schedule a free consultation to explore your options.
gina@balanceandbirch.com