Rising Stars: Meet Katie Ward

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Ward.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My realignment journey began in 2006 while I was working as a theatrical hairdresser and wig maker. I was only 25 at the time but I was already experiencing the postural effects of spinal kyphosis (rounded upper spine) as well as hip imbalances caused by repetitive movements, or lack thereof, from my profession. Recognizing my restrictive patterns early in my career gave me the advantage of creating positive changes for my body. I discovered the transformative benefits of Pilates and found myself pursuing certification as a comprehensive Pilates instructor.

I began to immerse myself in practicing various alignment disciplines to understand more about the benefits of efficient posture. However, once I became pregnant with my first child, I completely detached from my enthusiasm toward alignment, and exercise. Pregnancy had pushed me into a new version of myself that was strange and unfamiliar. I no longer felt like I had control over my body, so I thought. I made unhealthy choices with many excuses to justify them. In hindsight, had I known what I know now about physiological shifts during pregnancy, maybe I would have made better choices for myself and my child. Regardless, after my son was born, I chose to view my pregnancy with him as a learning experience, rather than focusing on what I could have done differently.

I was 9 months postpartum when I discovered Bowspring yoga and it was right on time. I was ready to move again. I walked into what I thought was Vinyassa Flow yoga class and walked away with an unexpected experience. This class was not a Vinyassa Flow. I was guided through a new style of movement which deeply triggered me. I found myself criticizing the whole class. It was so different and totally weird. My first Bowspring class challenged everything I had ever learned about “correct” alignment, which made me angry.

I sat in my car, fuming over false advertisement until I began to notice that my entire body was tingling. My spine felt electrified. I felt completely charged from the inside out. My judgments froze. I found reconnection to previous aspects of my body that had been lost during pregnancy. Simultaneously, I was witnessing new connections being birthed in this next version of myself. What the heck was this practice that made me so mad but felt so amazing? This is Bowspring.

Bowspring was still in its infancy when fate introduced us but I did not doubt that this practice would change my life forever. And it has. I have spent the better part of a decade practicing and studying the Bowspring Alignment System. Bowspring has become my passion flame because of its effective functionality. This potent movement medicine is so versatile and extremely practical, both on and off the mat. It’s functional yoga at its best!

Today, I continue promoting the powers of posture as a Functional Posture Coach. I incorporate the Bowspring, Pilates, as well as restorative self-care treatments of the MELT Method. My alignment journey is allowing me to help others heal and I love that! Everyone deserves to feel good in their body.

I have learned to stay open to all opportunities that offer insight toward my untapped potential. This life is filled with all kinds of curves that come from all directions. Navigating them can be tricky. I believe the more you know about your body; the physical, the emotional, and the spiritual, the more it can support you as to charter new experiences. This includes the good, the bad, the ugly, and everything in between.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
This journey has NOT been easy. Choosing to become an entrepreneur focusing on a modality that isn’t well known is extremely challenging. As a Posture Coach, I do utilize some aspects of more established practices, however, I primarily center my instruction around the Bowspring because it’s so practical and can be accessed in daily life. But, as I mentioned earlier, the Bowspring is very different, and “weird” to many newcomers.

The goal is to position the body in a way that activates underused parts of the body which can be uncomfortable. For example, we always stick our butts out in Bowspring, that can trigger for a lot of people in different ways. In general, people don’t like being uncomfortable when it comes to movement, they like to know what to expect and play it safe. I get that. Although, sometimes, moving through some discomfort can offer greater long-term achievements. This is one of the reasons why Bowspring can be so difficult. This practice requires you to check IN, not check out. It asks you to dig deep into the shadows of your default movement patterns and become accountable while challenging them so that you can move with greater ease and grace.

That can be intimidating. I often tell new clients to be patient with the process of releasing restrictive movement patterns because they are essentially learning a new body language that helps them reprogram the nervous system. There is a lot of humility needed to establish new positive change, so they need time to assimilate all the information they receive. It can be overwhelming.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a Functional Posture Coach, and I love it! I help people realign their bodies by creating opportunities to consciously engage and reconnect underused aspects of the body to bring more balance into daily movement and living. When I work with clients or students, I rarely focus on one isolated area, instead, I encourage them to use the whole body because everything is so inner connected. We have sheets of fascia, and connective tissues, that are woven like spirals throughout the entire body.

It connects our muscles and our organs, it’s wrapped around the bones, and it’s everywhere! Our fascia gives our bodies their structure and acts as our “muscle memory”. It has absorbed every movement and every trauma, both physical and emotional since the moment we were conceived. It acts as our “6th sense” with over 2/3rds of our nerve endings embedded in it, and the connective tissues are the first responders to pain, injury, or discomfort. When we learn how to work WITH our bodies and recognize the brilliant intelligence they offer us, we work smarter, not harder.

What sets me apart from others in my field is my unique approach to reshaping your posture by incorporating the Bowspring and MELT Method. Bowspring isn’t well known in the mainstream movement community yet, so I feel fortunate to offer my students and clients groundbreaking alignment techniques that are effective and functional. MELT Method is a passive self-care treatment that uses a series of compression balls, varying in density, to manually massage key acupressure points that rehydrate and restore depleted connective tissues. It’s like giving yourself a mini massage with instant gratification. It’s great.

I’m most proud of my students and clients because they are such brave movers! Challenging restrictive movement and thought patterns with new alignment concepts is truly humbling. My students and clients are so dedicated to making positive changes for themselves, even when it isn’t easy. They inspire me and reinforce my passion for posture. They help me recognize the influence I have to help make this world a better place. I am so honored to work with each of them!

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up.
This is a tough question because I have two favorite memories! My first answer would be dancing. I never took a dance class as a child, but I was ALWAYS dancing, all the time! It didn’t matter if I was in a class or not, I danced freely. I loved it, and still do. I often tell people that I must have been a professional dancer in my past life because it feels so natural whenever I dance!

My second favorite memory was playing dress up. I remember being so blissed out whenever I was lost in my theatrics. It was so much fun! I do not doubt that my joy for a costume change paved the way for my first profession as a theatrical hairdresser.

Pricing:

• 1:1 Sessions: $75 (in person and virtual)
• Drop-In Group Classes: $12-$15
• Monthly Group Class Subscription: $88
• 3 Month 1:1 Subscription: $690
• 6 Month 1:1 Subscription: $1290

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.realignedbody.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realignedbody?igsh=eTZ1YTlxYWFkdDh4&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realignedbody?mibextid=2JQ9oc
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Realignedbody
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@realignedbody?_t=8jMl3kXR49r&_r=1

Image Credits
Deborah Abramson Photography, Delon Photography, and William Deshazer Photography