Today we’d like to introduce you to Margi Heie.
Hi Margi, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been a physical therapist for about 25 years, all in outpatient orthopedics. I’ve worked in many large healthcare systems over the years, small private practices, and a large orthopedic private practice, all in the Twin Cities. I have always had an interest in treating runners as I was a perpetually injured runner (which later really is about a connective tissue disorder (hypermobility) which led me to helping those folks–more later). I have always striven to get to the bottom or root cause of the issue for a patient. I really liked figuring out a complicated puzzle, and learned how to keep digging until I could help a patient. My goal was to become a top-notch PT. I often joke that I think I became a physical therapist so I could figure out how to live in this hypermobile/dysfunctional body of my own–ha! As I practiced, Dr. Chris Larson started sending me patients with hip issues. I mean a lot of patients! So through that era, I became known as the hip therapist. I learned a lot and discovered how to treat and manage hip issues. In that time, I mentored about 30 physical therapists on hip treatment, which included the whole lower extremity, walking and running gait analysis. In that time I discovered that I really enjoyed the actual mentorship of physical therapists, which included more than just treatment. I really enjoyed coaching new graduate physical therapists to grow as therapists, as professionals in our field, and to become leaders in healthcare. I also did some adjunct teaching at the DPT program at Concordia University–St. Paul, which I also found very rewarding.
I eventually hit a really big wall. I was burnt out, in major physical pain myself, was dealing with the COVID pandemic (as everyone else was too), and both of my parents passed away. I was ready for a change. So I walked away from my bustling, successful career as a PT, ready for a change. My plan was to pivot. As we know, sometimes our plans don’t work out exactly how we think they are going to play out. In that process, I learned a lot about myself. One, I really like being a physical therapist, and I really missed my patients and helping them. Two, I really enjoyed the connection between people, mentoring and empowering people. I enjoyed watching people grow and change, and helping assist this change. In this time, I completed my transitional Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) because I had a Masters of Physical Therapy (MPT) (because I’m old–ha!). This was really a technicality as I had already taken all of those classes in my MPT program, but it also helped me see how much I still loved the profession. It brought back some new energy.
Another venture that added energy back in my life and passion for physical therapy was my podcast “Range of (E)Motion” that I co-hosted with my friend Ari King. It’s a play on words; the term range of motion (ROM) is used in orthopedics for measuring joint angles, like how many degrees your knee can straighten and bend, etc. And, of course, adding the emotion along with the ROM term to address the rollercoaster of emotions going along with healing and recovery. We interviewed people who had injuries, surgeries, rehab/PT, and discussed the emotional rollercoaster of going through this process of healing and recovery. It was so much fun! Both Ari and I have been through these kind of experiences. I personally have gone through those experiences as a patient and as a PT. As a PT, I was able to walk along side with my patients and support them emotionally as we worked on the physical piece. It was a reunion of sorts for me as some of the interviewees were past patients of mine. We wanted the podcast to be a resource for people going through this process to not feel so alone, and get some tips on how to survive (or thrive!). We officially released one season of 12 episodes in 2023 on Apple Podcasts. We still have more episodes that we have not released yet. I would love to get this going again.
This all led to the Fall of 2023, when I started my business Heie Health. Heie is my last name and pronounced “hi” and the pun is intended. Heie Health is to elevate your whole health. I knew I wanted to get into life coaching of some sort as well (which I informally had been doing all along with my mentoring and my style of treatment exhibited from my patients in the podcast). This way Heie Health can include physical therapy and coaching. Last April 2025 I completed a certification in Life Coaching and went on to become certified in teaching a class called “CIJ Clarity Catalyst” which is based on a Stanford University business course on emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and discovering clarity within. Soon I will be offering the next adult session starting in April 2026. There are three versions to this course: adults, youth (middle school and high school), and corporate. My plans are to continue to grow the coaching one on one programs, and to teach these classes intermittently throughout the year. In addition, I’m launching a new program called “Stable & Supported™,” an integrated 12-week program consisting of physical therapy and life/clarity coaching. This program is for people with chronic pain, hypermobility, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Marfan’s Syndrome, or fibromyalgia who are tired of being treated in pieces and want support for both their body and their life. I am really excited for this program as it really incorporates everything I’ve been working on in my whole career–the culmination of it all!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), which is a connective tissue disorder causing hypermobility. Hypermobility means that your joints and ligaments are loose. This causes chronic pain, early wear and tear (think early arthritis), joint pain, and nerve pain. This has allowed me to really understand what people are going through but also makes it challenging for me to treat people. Being a physical therapist is very physically demanding work. I have had many surgeries and a lot of PT myself. Everyday I deal with chronic pain and I think I use myself as a guinea pig to see what works. This has led me into more of the life/mindset coaching. I think the mental piece is very important along with the physical piece for whole health. As I mentioned earlier, I think this is why I became a PT, to learn how to live in this dysfunctional body and stay active. I have used this internal wisdom for my patients as well. Over the years, I would say this has been the most challenging piece but also an important gift. The coaching element of my practice really connects the dots in my ability to help my patients fully.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My business is a solopreneurship. I work with a group of like-minded individual businesses at Guided Health in Edina. We all have our own businesses/LLC’s and share a space. I rent a room, run my own business, and get to have colleagues. It’s a win-win-win. We share our amazing office/clinic director Katie Scafaro, a common waiting room, gym, etc. My business is specialized physical therapy for any part of the body in orthopedics. I’m really good with figuring out a puzzle or for an injury or pain that has not gotten better with other PTs. I’m an expert in biomechanics of the body, along with walking and running gait analyses. I also am an expert with hypermobility syndromes and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). In addition to a PT, I am a life coach. I work with people who are in any kind of transition in their life or body; for body (injuries/surgeries/perimenopause), for life (retirement, going to college, transitioning to adulthood, job change), and dealing with chronic pain. It really is all about both. I have a program that incorporates both PT and coaching called “Stable & Supported™.” This program is targeted to those dealing with EDS, hypermobility, chronic pain, or fibromyalgia, and it offers PT sessions and coaching sessions. This program allows us to work with the individual as a whole person, dealing with the physical and the emotional aspects of pain. I’m very excited about this program! Also, I’m offering the “CIJ Clarity Catalyst” online classes based on a Stanford University Business class on emotional intelligence, mindfulness and gaining clarity.
I think what sets me apart from other PT practices, is that you receive a lot of time and undivided attention for your physical and emotional ailments to actually heal and get better. Because I am my own boss, I am able to really take the time to listen, be present, and walk along with my patients as they heal. Also, because I don’t take insurance, the only people I have to concern myself with is 100 percent my patient. It’s a very individualized approach for exactly what the patient needs. Also, I think deeply listening to my patients while creating a safe space for them is what truly sets me apart.
What I think is amazing, is that I never knew how much I loved being a physical therapist until I started my own practice! I thoroughly enjoy watching people get back to the things they love, connecting with people, and walking along side with them in their ups and downs.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I’m not sure if I’m a risk-taker or not! But over the years I have taken risks that others would not in my professional career. I took jobs with two companies that were brand-new and not busy yet. I remember one of my colleagues (and mentor) said she thought it was risky that I was joining new practices. At the time I didn’t even really think that because I knew I could always find a PT job if they didn’t work out. Fortunately, both took off to be great successes. I think the biggest risk I ever took was quitting my job at TCO. It was a great place to work, and it was a job created for me. Unfortunately, the timing of the COVID pandemic, my parents’ deaths, my own physical pain, made me hit a wall. When I think back, I can’t even believe I stepped away from my job and physical therapy. That was a big risk! Now I look at where I am and I can see how it all falls into place (and that’s usually how it works!). It got me to take an even bigger risk of starting Heie Health. At that point, I thought, what do I have to lose? Either it’s going to work or it’s not. So I might as well try! I had a lot of worry about what people were going to think of me after leaving physical therapy and then coming back. With the work I’ve been doing with my life coaching has really helped all of that. The beauty about doing that kind of training is that it helps with your own confidence and self-doubt. If I try and I fail, I’m still going to learn something. That something will lead to the next thing…
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.heiehealth.com/
- Instagram: Heie_Health
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marguerite-margi-heie-63910b4/
Image Credits
Margi Heie and Ari King
