Life & Work with Christopher Warden of Minnetonka

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christopher Warden.

Hi Christopher , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Growing up in the Midwest (Wisconsin, then Minnesota), I never imagined the path my career would take. In 2001, I left for New York City, where I built a successful coaching business training everyone from top financiers to A-list celebrities, Broadway dancers, and active adults looking to live and perform at their best. That chapter led to an opportunity of a lifetime: becoming the coach to a member of the Moroccan Royal Family. With Sara, my wife, and our two little ones in tow—a 2.5-year-old and a 6-month-old—we moved to Morocco for what we thought might be a short adventure. It turned into 7.5 years of international travel, world-class coaching, and eventually an additional role as head strength coach to Morocco’s national amateur and professional golf teams.

As our children grew, Sara and I knew it was time to return to Minnesota—time for them to know their grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, and to have space to foster their own dreams. I deepened my education in healing, earning a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at the University of Minnesota, while Sara pursued advanced training in nutrition and functional wellness. Together, we began building something bigger than either of us could do alone: a vision of care that blended physical therapy, functional wellness coaching, sports performance, and innovative tools like red light therapy.

In true “ready-or-not” fashion, I bought the practice during a global pandemic—because nothing says “great timing” like launching a business when the world is in lockdown. But I knew that if I wanted to offer care the way I believed it should be done—rooted in movement, connection, and long-term results—I had to do it on my own terms. Then came the rest of it. Two ownership changes at The Marsh. A full building shutdown that forced us to operate with zero foot traffic for four straight months. Shoveling my own parking lot to keep the doors open—when we did have doors. And a rebrand that meant saying goodbye to a name the community had known for 30+ years (Merz Physical Therapy) and introducing a new one that felt true to our evolving mission. All while changing our business model from a traditional outpatient PT clinic into a principle-based, integrative health practice that now includes sports performance coaching and functional wellness services like nutrition and lifestyle support.

It wasn’t graceful—but it was real. There were weeks I wasn’t sure if we’d make it. There were moments I wondered if I was nuts for doing it this way. But even in the hardest stretches, the work we were doing was too important to walk away from. Clients kept showing up. The care was landing. And the outcomes were proof that this model—hands-on therapy, smart coaching, whole-person support—wasn’t just working. It was needed. People weren’t just getting better. They were getting more capable. More resilient. More equipped for life outside the clinic.

Why Embody Still Matters
Today, Embody Health and Performance is more than a clinic. It’s a place where people come to take their health seriously—without having to chase specialists, waitlists, or symptom scripts. We help people move well, recover fully, and perform at their best through principle-based care that’s thoughtful, clear, and built for the long haul. It’s also a place committed to cultivating strong families, supporting and building local community, and making a profound impact on the health and well-being of this and future generations.

Every day, I still ask myself the same question that started it all: Am I living what I teach? Am I walking it, or just talking it? Because embodying this work is what makes it real—not just for me, but for every person who walks through our (occasionally improvised) front door.

We’ve come a long way from the snow days and secret entrances—but the heart of this place hasn’t changed. If you’re looking for a shortcut, we’re probably not for you. But if you’re ready to get to work, we’re all in.

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?
Of course, the story hasn’t been without struggle. I’ve already alluded to some of the obstacles—pandemic shutdowns, rebranding a 30-year-old practice, even keeping the doors open through snow and uncertainty. But one of the hardest challenges for me was navigating a system that often works against true healing. I came from years of experience in a cash-based model, where the relationship between practitioner and client could thrive without interference. I saw firsthand how that structure often led to quicker, better results—because care was built on trust, commitment, and clear goals rather than dictated by a third party.

Stepping back into the insurance-driven model after that experience was jarring. It felt like everything I knew to be true about healing—time, presence, relationship—was undercut by red tape, restrictions, and outside approvals. The disconnect was exhausting, but it also confirmed why Embody needed to exist. My struggles weren’t just about weathering tough seasons as a business; they were about refusing to compromise the kind of care I know people deserve.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I help people heal through movement, breath, and awareness. My career has taken me from coaching elite performers in New York and abroad to working with people right here in Minnesota who are navigating everything from pain to performance goals. What ties it all together is a principle I’ve seen proven again and again: the body already knows how to heal. My role is to help people listen, guide them toward practices that work best for them, foster connection, and create the space for that healing to happen.

I’m especially known for working with people who have complex or long-standing symptoms—situations where a “quick fix” hasn’t worked and the root cause is often deeper than it looks on the surface. That’s where breath and movement become powerful catalysts. They’re not just exercises; they’re tools that can help develop self-awareness – waking the body up to what’s possible and helping people reclaim their resilience. I don’t see myself as the one who “fixes” anyone. Instead, I act as a guide, helping people see what’s needed to become their own best healer.

What I’m most proud of is when someone not only feels better in the moment, but also walks away with the tools, confidence, and understanding to keep improving long after they leave the clinic. What sets me apart is that I don’t separate physical therapy from performance or wellness—they’re all connected. Whether I’m working with someone recovering from pain, an athlete trying to perform at their best, or a parent who just wants more energy for their family, the approach is the same: clear principles, practical tools, and care that honors the whole person.

Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Some of my favorite childhood memories center around simple family moments. Summers meant fishing on the lake with my dad, launching off his shoulders (‘the high-dive’) into the water, and taking family vacations to our lake property. One year we road-tripped from the Midwest to the East Coast, where I saw the ocean for the first time—a moment I’ll never forget.

At home, I loved riding my bike for the first time and feeling that rush of freedom, sledding down big snowy hills in the winter, and playing soccer or baseball with neighborhood friends in the yard. As the oldest of four, I also found joy in caring for my younger sister and brothers.

A pivotal moment came during a conversation with my mom, when I first thought I’d like to become a doctor—or at least someone who could help people heal and make a difference in the world. Those small but powerful experiences—family time, play, sports, and the spark of a bigger purpose—are the memories I carry with me most vividly.

Pricing:

• We are an out-of-network service that enables us to focus fully on patient care without restrictions commonly associated with insurance. It’s best to call our clinic as each client’s needs are unique.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.liveembody.com or  embody-hp.com