Meet The Team

Laura McCann is our Community Coordinator and a Fitness Instructor with Bridges for Parkinson's. She came to us as a  volunteer in 2019 and now, in addition to teaching boxing classes, Laura leads Tai Chi and 'Music and Movement' classes. She is group fitness certified through ACE, is a certified Parkinson's specialist through MedFit, and holds several Tai Chi certifications. A former professional dancer, Laura has performed with numerous regional theatres. She has done three seasons with the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, and four years with the Broadway national tour of Chicago the Musical. In addition to devoting much of her time to Bridges for Parkinson’s, Laura teaches musical theatre master classes with the National Youth Theatre Experience. When she's not at the gym, she loves EATING, being a mommy to Hank and wifey to Morgan. 

Theresa Kuhn started her Fitness career in 2007.   In that year, she followed years of personal study and practice by becoming a Kripalu-certified Yoga Teacher.  At that same time, she found her passion and interest in supporting others through Senior age fitness. She combined her interests by completing certifications and training in the well-known Silver Sneakers organization.  Silver Sneakers Yoga, Silver Sneakers Splash, Silver Sneakers Circuit, and Silver Sneakers Optimal Aging programs are all a part of her extensive work and training.

In 2018, Theresa added to her toolbox of skills by completing her training as a Functional Aging Specialist and her Parkinson’s Disease Specialist training.

Theresa was also a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT), a certified Thai stretch practitioner, and an accomplished meditation professional with almost 40 care-centered certifications.  When Theresa is not at the gym putting her capabilities to work she also provides alternative therapeutic strategies for her private clients.

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Theresa Kuhn  LMT/RYT
www.TheresaKuhn.com 

Michelle began working at Bridges for Parkinson’s in 2019 as an assistant coach but has since switched her focus solely to individual training for clients who aren't able to attend group classes or prefer a one-on-one setting. For clients who are rehabilitating after an injury or surgery, she works with their Physical Therapists to dovetail their care in order to achieve the most beneficial outcome. 

Michelle focuses on teaching clients good form to prevent future injury both as clients exercise and as they move through life’s daily activities. 

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​Michelle is an ACE certified personal trainer who specializes in working with people with Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. Her passion is helping clients shift their perspective about wellness and exercise from a “supposed to do” task that they dread to a fun activity that improves their overall health and helps them maintain a better quality of life. Michelle also leads a monthly Bridges for Parkinson’s care partner support group and co-leads the Peterson for Parkinson’s support group for people with Parkinson’s. 

When she’s not at work, Michelle enjoys spending time with her husband Mike and their three teenagers. She and her family recently completed their family goal of visiting all 50 state capitals. 

Cindy Niquist is both a certified Rock Steady Boxing (RSB) coach and a Certified Athletic Trainer. Following her passion for fitness and helping others achieve a healthy lifestyle, Cindy came to RSB Music City as a volunteer.  Cindy fell in love with the fighters and the  program, and went on to become a certified member of the coaching team in August 2022. Having more than 15 years in a clinical orthopedic spine surgery practice and previously working in physical therapy, Cindy has extensive experience with patients suffering from complex spinal, general orthopedic, musculoskeletal, and neurological problems, including Parkinson’s Disease.

Outside of the gym, Cindy enjoys spending time with her family, working out in her home gym, hiking at Radnor State Park, and is an avid reader.

Seb Zewdie is a former Olympic boxer and coach, from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Seb was a member of the 1984 Olympic Boxing team, a coach in the 2008 Olympics. and an Olympic trials coach in 2008. Seb is an AIBA and USA Boxing Certified Boxing Coach. Seb joined Rock Steady in 2019. 

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To learn more about Seb or contact him, visit www.sebboxing.com

Megan Kelley, DPT is a physical therapist in Franklin, TN. She received her undergraduate degree in Exercise Science from Carson-Newman University, and her Doctor of Physical Therapy from The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She then received her Advanced Vestibular Physical Therapist Certification from the University of Pittsburgh, allowing her to treat patients experiencing vertigo, dizziness, and various balance disorders.

Megan also holds a LSVT Big Certification, which is a Parkinson’s specific treatment approach addressing balance, gait, and movement patterns. Megan specializes in the treatment of neurologic and vestibular therapy, and is passionate about educating and empowering her patients to achieve their greatest potential. Megan is the owner and founder of Movement for Life, a neurologic and vestibular therapy and wellness clinic operating at Bridges for Parkinson’s, while also treating at Performance Therapy Institute.

In her free time Megan enjoys spending time with her husband/family/friends, hiking, outdoor activities, walking her dog, and reading. 

Megan Kelley, PT, DPT

Email: megan@movementforlifept.org

Phone: 615-961-4433

Carlene Johnson, OTD, OTR/L CAPS, LSVT BIG® is an occupational therapist (OT) with over 30 years of experience in adult rehabilitation and  serves as an adjunct instructor at the School of Occupational Therapy at Belmont University. She specializes in helping people with neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, stroke, brain injury and spinal cord injuries maintain and gain independence in the activities that are most meaningful to them. 

Dr. Johnson is the owner of My LiveABILITY, LLC. a unique private practice providing outpatient occupational and physical therapy services to client’s in their home.

Dr. Johnson and her colleague Beth Lennon, PT are certified to provide LSVT BIG® which is an intensive evidence-based therapy shown to help people with Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders retrain their brains to improve function and prevent deterioration.  Dr. Johnson is also a Certified Aging in Place Specialist through the National Association of Home Builders. She can provide customized recommendations for home modifications so clients can achieve optimal functioning in their own home. 

Call 615-944-5649 for a free 30-minute phone or zoom consultation. You can also email myliveabilityot@gmail.com or reach out through the website at:​

www.myliveability.com 

Pam Monjar is a Certified Grief Counseling Specialist in Brentwood, Tennessee. After spending over twenty-five years in the human resources field, Pam received a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Trevecca Nazarene University.  Pam’s experience includes working in residential rehabilitation for substance abuse and serving as the primary therapist on solitary confinement and death row in a state prison.  She now works full-time in her private practice, Your Soul’s Story, and specializes in grief and loss over the lifespan. 

Pam describes grief as a story of the heart, "it changes you."  She provides grief counseling and holds hope to those who are navigating:  a death-related loss, divorce, lost childhood due to dysfunction in the family system, chronic illness, retirement, taking on the role of caregiver, and for any life-changing event that impacts your life. Pam’s philosophy is that by sharing our grief and loss stories we take the first step on the journey to healing the pain of loss.  Grief and loss are universal experiences and Pam believes we were never meant to walk through the pain of our story alone. 

Pam is passionate about helping others during what might feel like one of the most difficult times in their life.  She is dedicated to this work because she has also experienced grief, loss, and a number of her own life-changing events. 

To learn more about Pam and her practice please visit yoursoulsstory.com.  She may also be reached at 615-295-1195.