Patient Spotlight – Michela Dimond
Patient Spotlight: Michela – Lifting with Pride
We’re thrilled to spotlight our patient Michela, who is competing this weekend in the Seattle Pride Deadlift Party — a community lifting event and fundraiser supporting local queer and trans organizations in Seattle. ️⚧️️
Michela’s story is a powerful reflection of how healing, strength, and self-trust can grow through movement — and we’re honored to be part of her journey.
From Pain to Power: Michela’s Story
I was first referred to Laurie by my lifting coach several years ago. When I first connected with Laurie, I came in with chronic issues in my back and ankles, and I really struggled with the prompt to ‘engage your core.’
I assumed the problem was isolated to those areas — my back, core, and ankles — because that’s how I had always been treated by physical therapists and medical professionals in the past. But after Laurie’s initial assessment, she shared something different: that my body was responding to not being able to breathe and swallow reliably by shifting my posture. That compensation made it impossible to engage my core and was creating a cascade of issues with proprioception, which affected my joints, my movement, and so much more.
Ultimately, Laurie helped me understand that many of my aches, pains, and injuries were being driven by a nervous system that was on high alert all the time. What started with breathing and simple stretching has now moved into using powerlifting to calm and regulate that system.
I love lifting because it grounds me in my body and gives me a way to still my always-chattering mind. Laurie helped me see my body as powerful and wise — even if I wasn’t using that wisdom effectively at first. Since working with her, my life has truly been transformed. I went from worrying I’d lose the ability to walk reliably… to planning to lift over 220 lbs this weekend in front of a cheering crowd.
When I told my current trainer I was amazed that some folks at the meet might lift 500 lbs, she said, ‘So could you one day.’ For the first time in years, I feel at home in my body — and capable of proactively supporting my full self to stay active and mobile into the future. I can’t express enough gratitude to Laurie and the whole Stride team for helping me build a practice that will keep me moving for the rest of my life.
Join Michela in Lifting for a Cause
Michela will be competing at the Seattle Pride Deadlift Party on Saturday, June 21, in front of Rain City Fit (1516 11th Ave) in Capitol Hill. The event includes three lifting sessions, food, drinks, raffles, music, and big queer energy — all in support of LGBTQ+ organizations in Seattle.
- Donate here: givebutter.com/pridedeadliftparty
- Attend the event: Saturday, June 21 · Rain City Fit · Capitol Hill
- ℹ️ Event details: pridedeadliftparty.com
✨ Interested in Lifting, but Dealing with Pain or Injury?
Our Weightlift Well program is designed for people like Michela — those who want to reconnect with strength, movement, and confidence after injury, chronic pain, or nervous system dysregulation.
Whether you’re just getting started or returning to training after a setback, we’ll help you lift well, move strong, and feel grounded in your body again.
Contact us to learn more or book a consultation.
Let’s build strength — the smart, sustainable way.
