Meet Stephanie
Hello!
My name is Stephanie Harrod. I am a physical therapist and certified women’s health coach. I graduated with my doctorate from Regis University in 2019 and began post-doctoral training and mentorship in women’s health right away. Prior to this I received my Bachelors degree in Human Physiology from Gonzaga University. Most recently, I completed my Women’s Health Coach certification through the Integrative Women’s Health Institute.
My journey towards health and wellness has not always been easy. I had my first period in 6th grade. It started heavy and over time only got heavier and more painful. It was humiliating at first when I bled through my pad and jeans and had to be picked up from elementary school by my friend’s mom (shout out to Lisa Gimmestad for coming in clutch for your girl). Little did I know though, that it would go from humiliating to debilitating. Throughout high school the first few days of my period were horrendous. I missed school at least 1-2 days a month and spent those days either writhing in pain in the fetal position or with my head draped over the toilet vomiting. It was not uncommon for me to have to leave school in the middle of the day because of pain… often making a pit stop to vomit out the door of the car on the way home. One time I even pulled over on the side of the highway because I couldn’t focus on the road. I woke up 2 hours later not realizing I had passed out from pain.
When I was staring down one D and one F, failing 2 of my 6 classes as a college freshman, I realized it was time to do something different. I couldn’t waste any more of my precious life curled up, naked and sweating on my dorm room floor, trying to get my uterus to stop feeling like it was being ripped out of me. At the time the only option I knew was the pill. It took time but it did help decrease the pain and make my periods more manageable. I fortunately didn’t experience any of the negative side effects that many women do on it. During this time, I also made a lot of lifestyle changes. I began exercising regularly and became a vegetarian with a very diverse intake of whole, plant based foods. I came off the pill two years ago and am now able to manage my period pain independently through diet, supplements, cycle tracking and lifestyle modifications.
Knowing what I know now about the pill I don’t know if I would choose that path again. But, like I say to a lot of my patients when discussing medication options, it bought me a window. I didn’t have to skip any more classes and it gave me time to implement life style changes that addressed the underlying causes of my pain - inflammation and estrogen dominance. I truly don’t know if I would have my doctorate right now without it and for that I am thankful.
So that’s my story! It’s what has inspired me to start this business. I don’t want any other woman to find themselves frustrated and angry because of things happening in their body that they don’t understand.
Supporting women in living lives that are full, active and vibrant is my freaking jam! It’s what gets me out of bed in the mornings and keeps me up scheming and researching at night.
So girl, go off! Invest in yourself! Spend the time, take the risks, do the work. You are worth it and deserve to know and understand your body so intimately and so intuitively. You deserve to have to tools and knowledge to be your own health advocate, to feel good and to thrive in all aspects of your life. We’re so happy you found our page and website and to see where this project takes all of us!
