Karine’s Professional Journey:
Karine Gulyamova started her journey as a physiotherapist in 2005, treating patients in a wide variety of settings at the National University Hospital in Reykjavik, Iceland, as well as at skilled rehab facilities in Boston MA, and local hospitals in Longmont and Boulder, CO. In 2016, a course in Pelvic Health ignited her passion to specialize in this field. Since then Karine has attended numerous advanced courses on Pelvic Health and Obstetric Physical Therapy through the APTA (American Physical Therapy Association) and the Academy of Pelvic Health.
In 2019 she developed a Pelvic Health program for early postpartum mothers at Boulder Community Health (BCH). This program ensures that each postpartum woman at the hospital is seen by a PT within 24 hours of giving birth. These moms receive education on early mobility, body mechanics, early Pelvic Floor muscle activation, scar massage (perineal or C-scar), diastasis recti assessment, and a stretching program, to name a few. Over 600+ women benefited from this program yearly.
In addition, she developed a workshop “Pregnancy Fitness Essentials and Pelvic Floor Health.” The class is offered once a month at BCH.
Karine is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and the Academy of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy. She is actively involved and is a volunteer with the Academy.
Karine has received the Certificate of Achievement in Pelvic Health Physical Therapy (CAPP-Pelvic) and is working towards her Certificate of Achievement in Obstetric PT (CAPP-OB) through the APTA and the Academy of Pelvic Health. She is also certified as a Pregnancy and Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist (PCES).
Who Is Karine:
Karine is a citizen of the world. She was born and raised in Tajikistan, a breathtakingly beautiful mountainous country in Central Asia. In 1995, following the collapse of the USSR, her family was forced to flee their homeland. She spent several years as a refugee in Sochi, Russia, before beginning a new chapter in Finland in 2000, driven by hope, resilience, and a desire for new opportunities.
In Finland, Karine pursued a degree in Physiotherapy, completing her clinical training both there and in England. Her journey then led her to Reykjavik, Iceland, where she built a life and career as a physiotherapist at the National University Hospital of Iceland. She met her American husband, and together they began a new adventure, first in Boston in 2009, and then to the scenic mountain town of Boulder, Colorado, where they have been happily rooted since 2013.
Reflecting on her life, Karine shares:
Being a refugee has given me unique life experiences. Through travels and while learning and adapting to a new culture in a new country I learned a few important lessons: appreciation of little things, humility, patience, and most importantly the fact that all humans strive to be happy, heard and validated. Everyone has their story to share. We all should practice kindness as our “religion” and be fully present with one another. I do my best to incorporate these principles with my patients daily.
Today, Karine enjoys the simple pleasures of life such as knitting, reading, camping, and spending quality time with her husband, their two daughters, and a vibrant circle of friends who make up her beloved community.