Move Better. Feel Better. Live Better.
About Jenn: The Heart Behind The Movement Mechanic
Meet Jenn, the passionate therapist and healer dedicated to helping you move better, feel better, and live better. As the founder of The Movement Mechanic, Jenn has built her practice around a simple yet powerful philosophy: true healing comes from addressing the whole person—body, mind, and spirit.
Jenn’s journey into the world of movement and wellness began at a young age. As a dedicated dancer and gymnast, she spent 22 years studying ballet and various dance styles, developing a deep appreciation for how the body moves and heals. This early foundation inspired her to pursue degrees in Dance and Biology at UC San Diego, blending her artistic passion with scientific curiosity.
Her professional journey continued with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of St. Augustine in 2011. Driven by her desire to bring holistic healing to her clients, she immersed herself in the therapeutic world of yoga, earning certifications as an E-RYT-200 yoga instructor and a Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT). These disciplines enabled her to combine the modern science of physical therapy with the restorative and transformative power of yoga.
Jenn’s Unique Approach: Where Therapy Meets Movement
Jenn is not just a physical therapist; she’s a movement expert, educator, and guide. Her lifelong study of movement equips her to diagnose and treat injuries with unparalleled precision. Whether you're recovering from an injury, managing chronic pain, or striving for peak wellness, Jenn’s integrative approach meets you where you are and helps you get where you want to be.
Her sessions go beyond traditional rehabilitation. Jenn’s therapy incorporates yoga, functional manual therapy, and personalized care, creating a roadmap for recovery that is as dynamic as it is compassionate. With her, you’re not just a patient—you’re a collaborative partner in your healing journey.
When you choose to work with Jenn, this is who you get to see:
A Doctor of Physical Therapy: a musculoskeletal movement specialist with over a 12 years of experience
A Teacher: Jenn has taught as an associate professor at the University of St. Augustine, teaches weekly innovative yoga and mobility classes and leads yoga teacher trainings
A Performer: Jenn has a lifelong love of performing dance which helps her understand and address the needs of high level athletes, determined to help those clients with perform at their best
Certifications & Expertise
Jenn’s credentials reflect her commitment to excellence and lifelong learning:
PT, DPT – Doctorate of Physical Therapy, University of St. Augustine
E-RYT-200 – 200-hour yoga teacher training program, Prana Yoga Center
C-IAYT – Certified Yoga Therapist, International Association of Yoga Therapy
She has also trains extensively in functional manual therapy with The Institute of Physical Art and studies under renowned educators like Judith Lasater, Rachel Krentzman, Gerhard Gessner, Dr. Ingrid Yang, and Roger Cole. Jenn’s teaching certifications include Yoga Wall, Restorative Yoga, Yin Yoga, Yoga for a Happy Back, and yoga therapeutics.
In The Community
In addition to working one-on-one with clients, Jenn is an educator and leader in the San Diego wellness community. She teaches therapy-based yoga classes, functional yoga anatomy lectures, and yoga therapy workshops. Her students appreciate her ability to honor individual needs while using her deep understanding of anatomy to help them find their best expression of each pose.
Beyond The Studio
When she’s not working with clients, you can find Jenn running the trails of Torrey Pines, dancing with Culture Shock San Diego, or spending time with her two children. She believes in practicing what she teaches: a balanced life full of movement, mindfulness, and joy
We help you understand your body better through the lens of therapeutic yoga and modern manual physical therapy.
What is yoga therapy?
Yoga therapy is the process of empowering individuals to progress toward improved health and well-being through the application of the teachings and practices of yoga.
The goals of yoga therapy include eliminating, reducing or managing symptoms that cause suffering; improving function; helping to prevent the occurrence or re-occurrence of underlying causes of illness; and moving toward improved health and wellbeing. Yoga therapy also helps clients/students change their relationship to and identification with their condition.
What are the benefits of yoga?
Current research shows that practicing yoga benefits a wide range of conditions and illnesses including, but not limited to, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes mellitus, cancer, low-back pain, anxiety and depression. Research has shown that yoga reduces stress, lowers heart rate and blood pressure, improves sleep, elevates mood, alleviates pain, improves strength and flexibility, and improves overall quality of life.
Is yoga therapy right for me?
An injury does not have to be the driving force to seek a yoga therapist! Yoga and movement are not “one size fits all” and I am here to help you understand your body better so you can pursue your life’s passions with ease.
In the Press
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Yoga Cues Deconstructed: Align Your Body as if You’re Between Two Panes of Glass
What exactly does this cue mean? And is it safe? Physical therapist and yoga therapist Jennifer Chang explains.
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Yoga Cues Deconstructed: Align Your Knee Over Your Ankle
Were you taught that bending your knee past your ankle is like running with scissors? It's not quite so simple.
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Yoga Cues Deconstructed: Tuck Your Tailbone - Are You Sure?
Physical Therapist and Yoga Therapist Jennifer Chang explains how this common, seemingly simple cue is overused…and can even cause harm.
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Alignment Cues Decoded: “Lift Through The Arch Of Your Foot”
How you engage your feet during asana practice is important for the health of your tootsies—and for establishing more balanced postures.