Spinal fusion:
Allie's story
Hi there, friend! I'm Allie, the founder and owner of Havenwell Pilates.
When I was 13, I was diagnosed with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Six months later, just after my 14th birthday, my spine was fused from T4 to L3. Between the experimental back brace I wore prior to surgery and missing out on a huge portion of my freshman year of high school, I definitely didn’t feel confident in my own skin.
For several years after my spinal fusion, I went about my life with no real changes, besides amazing posture and occasional aches and pains. But as a college student, spending long hours at a desk studying and working internships led to serious pain flare-ups. After a physician told me I had “probably irritated the discs” below my fusion and should “keep an eye on it” (thanks for the vague guidance! *insert eye roll here*), I did a few physical therapy sessions, then decided to start a workout routine with one of my roommates.
I’d always been given unclear guidelines about exercising after my spinal fusion, like, “Do whatever you want, but keep things low impact, or my personal favorite, “Just be careful.”
To my surprise, running and strength training made my chronic pain flare-ups far less frequent. Once I was in a consistent routine, I had almost no pain at all.
That's when everything clicked: movement wasn't something to fear...it was medicine.
As I explored different exercise modalities in my twenties, I loved discovering new ways I could move while honoring my spine and my body’s needs.
I found Pilates during a time when I was frustrated with my body and tired of being told what I “couldn’t” do. That’s when I realized something powerful: generic workouts weren’t designed for fused spines, but that didn’t mean I had to give up on fitness.
I just needed to find the right approach for my body-- hardware and all.
Through Pilates training and years of study, I’ve learned that anyone—yes, anyone—can benefit from movement, as long as their program is thoughtfully designed for THEIR unique body. No matter what body struggles, conditions, or chronic pain you might be facing, my goal is to empower you to move and live better.
A consistent, mindful movement practice has undoubtedly changed my life for the better, and I wholeheartedly believe you deserve to experience that kind of transformation too.
I know how it feels to live in a body that doesn't feel like home.
That’s exactly why I want to be your guide toward freedom through movement. I’m here to help you discover the best approach to movement for your body, so you can care for yourself in intentional, sustainable ways—ways that honor where you are right now and support where you want to go.
