Meet Krystal Fannin | Pelvic Health Physical Therapist & Yoga Instructor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Krystal Fannin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Krystal, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
One of the reasons that I work in a cash-based physical therapy setting is to achieve a sense of balance between work life and home/social life. For those who do not know, as a physical therapist working in a high volume, in-network, insurance based clinic, it can be extremely draining on the therapist mentally, physically, and emotionally. Working with 14-20 patients in a day for 1 hour each and juggling between them day in and day out is not sustainable for many. When I dreamed of being a physical therapist growing up, I envisioned getting to work with clients one on one, having intentional conversations, getting to know them, and helping them heal and feeling really good when I go home! As the number of patients I saw continued to rise, my vision for the way I want to treat and feel started to become distant. Since working in a cash-based setting that is not dictated by insurance, I finally can not only get to know my clients on a personal level, but I too am not extremely burned out by the time I go home to my family or engage in social activities. So over time I have been able to achieve the optimal work-life balance with experience and opportunities that have come my way.

I did not come up with this idea, but I heard it on a podcast and it always stuck with me. I think of my weekends in 7 parts: Friday evening, Saturday & Sunday morning/afternoon/evening. If I can take 2 of those parts for myself, or make sure that more than half of my weekend consists of fun, non-work or chores, I feel really balanced going into the work week. One Sunday a month I teach free Yoga in the Park in Brookhaven, GA. The reason I chose Sunday night is not only to set intentions for the new work week and keep Sunday-scaries at bay, but to also recognize that Sunday is the first day of the calendar week! Going into Monday knowing all of the ways I have tended to myself to set up the week with energy has helped eliminate my Sunday-scaries. Shifting my perspective on these concepts curates the balance I need.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have been a Doctor of physical therapy for 6 years but in the last few years I have specialized in pelvic health rehabilitation. I feel so honored that I get to help people overcome seemingly taboo or embarrassing issues and help them feel their best and help them live their best lives! It is overwhelming at times because for the female population in particular, a lot of their voices go unheard in terms of their symptoms and they are unaware of the help that is out there that pelvic health physical therapists can provide. I help treat incontinence (leaking urine with coughing/laughing/running/jumping, or strong urges that lead to leaking), pain with sex, pelvic pain, pregnancy and postpartum preparation and rehabilitation, weakness around the core and pelvic floor among many other things. After we overcome these issues, I truly believe that we grow (in our life and physically) with resistance – teaching people how to return to or begin a physical activity routine is my mission to lead to their longevity and vitality.

Here are some lessons applicable to my career and to the benefit of my clients:

Consistency is greater than perfection. Physical therapy is a practice, meaning every day I build upon the experience of all of the days previous, so that I can learn and continue to hone my skill set. Similarly, I encourage my clients to show up daily on their own to take care of their bodies to continue their healing and recovery.

Who you know, not what you know, matters the most. As someone who is from out of state and not a local Atlanta native, it has taken years and effort to get to know my community in Atlanta. This includes getting to know my referral partners such as the best doctors, massage therapists, coaches, chiropractors, midwives, doulas etc. to surround myself with and recommend to clients.

Patience in the waiting. Hard work does in fact pay off including the years spent in school, the years working for free, the days/weeks volunteering my time and efforts for the greater good. Because I have had to sit with slow months to build to busier days of helping clients, I am able to relate to my clients walking through their recovery. Because my work is mostly conservative management without surgery/injections/medications, I am guiding people through their plans of care that are grueling days of hard work and consistently showing up for themselves. I would be rich for every time someone asked me if there was a magic pill they could take to instantly make them better. Every session we get together, I am cheering my clients on the hard-work road they are on to achieving the pain free, leak free, strong and robust life that they are looking for!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
This would be a perfect Saturday: I would take them to one of my favorite yoga studios, Highland Yoga in Decatur for a power vinyasa class. We would swing by Poco Loco to pick up breakfast burritos – they are extraordinarily good. We would spend the day strolling through the botanical gardens and then rent rollerblades at the 10th street entrance and ride through piedmont park. For lunch, we would walk down the beltline to TWO Urban Licks. We would make our way back toward Ponce City Market and check out my favorite shops: Modern Mystic Shop, Citizen Suppy, & Archer Paper Goods. We would get reservations for dinner at 9 Mile Station on top of Ponce City Market and enjoy the sunset over food & drinks!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Athletes’ Potential in Decatur is where I practice pelvic health physical therapy and the business model they have created has allowed me to flourish as a physical therapist. They really care about the quality of life of their employees and encourage a balanced approach to work and living. One of my favorite things we do together as a team is a team workout in different studios/gyms of all kinds in the Atlanta area. Those activities not fostering a healthy relationship with physical activity but engaging in the community around us brings me a sense of connection that is fulfilling! Secondly, they provide mentoring opportunities that continue to sharpen my skill set which is an invaluable experience. It goes without saying that having happier and purposeful staff flows over into our patient care experience – check out the over 170 reviews we have on Google!

Website: www.athletespotential.com

Instagram: @krystalhealing.pt

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krystal-fannin-pt-dpt-cmtpt-b7324119/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/krystalhealing.pt

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@athletespotential512