Melissa Jarzynski
Clinical Director at Melissa Jean PT
Health, Wellness and Fitness
Education: Villa Maria College - College of Staten Island
Fairfield, CT, USA
Biography
Melissa Jean Jarzynski, MSPT, HPCS, ESMLH, is the owner of Melissa Jean, PT and Director of Physical Therapy at Stable Friendships Foundation in Bedford, New York. Since 2005, Melissa has been implementing equine movement into her physical therapy sessions while also learning how to partner with horses in a variety of ways. In addition to being a board certified hippotherapy clinical specialist, she also holds certifications with PATH Int. and EAGALA. Melissa is also a reiki master and trauma informed stretch practitioner.
With a strong belief in interprofessional collaboration, Melissa has presented to schools, hospitals, teachers, PTs, SLPs, OTs, EI specialists, and therapeutic riding instructors. She has created the course Posture Perfect, which assists therapists & instructors in helping clients set their neurological stage prior to mounted work. Melissa is also the creator of Finding Peace in the Paddock™. This program utilizes cardiac coherency to improve the neurological base for those suffering from chronic stress and trauma.
Melissa consults with therapist's and riding centers around the world. Her passion is empowering others who partner with horses.
Passion
Empowering others is my main purpose. It may be helping them realign with their bodies, it may be reconnecting with their breath, or just allowing them to hold space for themselves. Everyone will take away what they need from the discussions, which is exactly the intent. And my passion.
I am willing to travel
More than 100 miles
When it comes to payments
Everything is negotiable
Topics
Best Story
It's all about taking that first step. For myself, it was a HUGE step. I bought a horse!
Now I had been partnering with them for over 10 years at this point. One may think I was properly prepared for what would happen, but it's like having a child. No one can really prepare you for what comes next.
I am not what many would consider a "rider" I am not balanced or seated well. And honestly, I do not like riding that much! I prefer to keep my feet on the ground.
However, in the horse world, especially in the horse area I live, you do not have a horse unless you ride.
So the horse arrived at this nice barn I decided to board him at. I HAD A HORSE! Wow!!
But then I didn't know what to do. People kept asking me "when are you going to ride him??" And every-time I deflected. I took out my brushes and brushed him, I mean brushed him for hours. And then I sat in his paddock and watched him. This is what I wanted to do with my horse! I would train him to work with special needs children, who would ride him. But I would not. For the 4 months he was in training before working, I was on him a total of 3 times! And that was bareback so I could see how his movement was progressing.
Now if you have never been in a show barn, its a treat. Lots of judgment and critical comments, really unhealthy place. But I knew my mission and let THEIR drama truly roll off my back.
It wasn't until they saw us in action, helping children, that the snarky comments stopped. And slowly people started asking me questions....finally.
That barn could go been the end of my career had I let OTHERS dictate how I should be living my life. But instead it set me free.
Origin Story
I always knew I wanted to help people. As a child, I did not know why however as an adult I now know it was due to the trauma that filled my childhood. I never want anyone to feel the discomfort that I had felt. I never wanted anyone to feel less than the true awesomeness that we all are.
As soon as I heard of people partnering with horses to help others, it was such a lightbulb moment for me. Now this was in 2005, horses were not being partnered with as readily as they are now. But I was determined. I found a center about 2 hours away from me and made the journey several times a week to learn and work.