Meet Our Team
Jennifer Kanyuch, PTA
Physical Therapy Assistant
Jen earned her Bachelors degree in Biology Pre-Physical Therapy from Ohio University in 1998 and her Physical Therapist Assistant degree from Ohio State University in 2000. She has advanced training in manual therapy, orthopedic and sports injuries, post-surgical rehab, balance training, as well as lymphedema and oncology rehabilitation. She enjoys working with patients in all stages of life, from adolescent to geriatric, to help them achieve their rehabilitation goals in a fun and supportive environment. In her free time, Jen loves to hike with her husband and their chocolate lab, as well as ski, rock and ice climb, and travel internationally to explore other cultures.
Sara
Front Office Lead
Sara was born and raised in Grass Valley, doing all the things that Grass Valley-ers do. Dance, theater, music, until finally discovering her true passion of reading. After many years of living here she moved to New York. After 8 years, she decided to move back to her home town and realized that, on top of reading, she loved helping people. She found herself working fo Fit for Life doing just that.
On the weekends she retreats into her true nature of book-nerd-hermit reading all the books in a literal cabin in the woods.
When she grows up she hopes to find a career that combines helping others and reading all the books. Preferably in PJs 24/7 with a dog and a giant cup of tea.
Paige Simpson
Office Assistant/ Aide
Paige was born and raised in Placer County but is no stranger to Nevada County. In her free time she enjoys exploring local rivers with her dog, 4x4ing with her friends, and photographing all of nature's beauty. When she's not out exploring, her love of the outdoors keeps her digging in the garden all spring and summer. Cooking, reading, and crocheting are a few hobbies that keep her busy when the outdoors aren’t calling. She has explored a few different career paths but has found her true calling with medical administration. Always having a passion for helping others but not interested in a full medical professional position she has found a happy medium helping others from behind the desk.
Corey Vanderwouw, MPT
Physical Therapist
Corey has been a practicing physical therapist since 1998. She earned her Master of Physical Therapy degree from Chapman University in Orange, CA. She has advanced training in orthopedic manual therapy, myofascial release, neuromuscular retraining, worksite ergonomics, and osteoporosis care. She has spent much of her career treating patients with chronic pain. Her passion as a therapist is to help people to improve the quality of their lives by caringly working through their physical therapy program. She loves to work with a spectrum of people from those who have a single injury to those who have multiple injuries or painful areas, as well as people who have multiple comorbidities.
Ingo Zirpins, MSPT
Physical Therapist
Ingo studied and practiced therapeutic bodywork for a decade, before earning a Master’s of Science Degree in Physical Therapy at University of California, San Francisco in 2003. Through his career, Ingo has continued post graduate studies towards his specialization in orthopedic manual therapy and sports medicine. He has also been the director of rehabilitation for two local skilled nursing homes serving the needs and improvement of quality of life of our elders. Ingo has a lifelong passion and fascination of the human body and believes that healing comes from within each individual. His therapeutic approach emphasizes the integration of body, mind and soul, to reclaim optimum health.
Margaret Matthews, MPT
Physical Therapist
“Mags” specializes in orthopedics, pelvic rehabilitation, and cranial dysfunction such as TMJ disorders. She has had extensive training in Functional Manual Therapy, visceral therapeutic techniques, OB/GYN rehab, and is in process of Board Certification in Women’s Health. Mags moved to Nevada City in 2012 after completing clinical internship in pelvic physical therapy at UC Irvine Medical Center, working at UC San Francisco Medical Center in the Faculty Practice, and running her own pelvic rehab, wellness, and pilates clinic. Mags brings 15 years of experience teaching movement including dance, pilates, and injury prevention to empower and align clients in their bodies (read more).
Allison Maffei, DPT
Physical Therapist
Allison specializes in neurological physical therapy. She graduated with her Doctor of Physical Therapy from Arcadia University in Pennsylvania in 2016. She went on to complete a neurological residency with Bellarmine University in Kentucky. In 2018, she was board certified as a Neurological Clinical Specialist. Allison has extensive experience with a wide variety of neuro diagnoses including, but not limited to, Spinal Cord Injury, stroke, Multiple Sclerosis , Parkinson’s Disease and other movement disorders. Allison believes that physical therapy isn’t something that happens in 6 weeks, but a life-long relationship focused on helping eachpatient meet long term goals to maximize independence and to live their best lives.
Katie Garcia, MPT
Physical Therapist
Katie specializes in neurological rehabilitation. She received her Master of Physical Therapy degree in 1995 from The College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific in Pomona, Ca. Since beginning her career as a physical therapist, Katie has been passionate about serving individuals with neurological conditions through improving their overall function and independence in the home and community. Her post-graduate training emphasis has been on treating neurological conditions, with emphasis on CVA (stroke) management, and Parkinson’s Disease. In 2010, she became certified in LSVT Big, a program used with Parkinson’s Disease and Parkinson’s-like syndromes, and since that time has continued advanced training in that area. Katie enjoys the interpersonal aspect of physical therapy and meeting people from all walks of life.
Makenzi Magiera, DPT
Physical Therapist
Makenzi received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in Utah. Makenzi grew up in Alaska, where she first pursued her interests in the medical field. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Biology with a minor in Psychology at the University of Alaska in Anchorage. Makenzi enjoys working with people from all walks of life along with varying diagnoses. She feels passionate about her profession and thrives to educate her patients on how to help them become their best independent version of themselves.
In her free time, Makenzi loves exploring the world traveling, hiking, camping, and snowboarding.
Chase Yantis
Physical Therapy Aide
Chase was born in the Bay Area and moved to Nevada City in 2005. He has a great appreciation for the area he lives in as he is an active outdoorsman. In his freetime he is usually mountain biking, backpacking or at the river with friends or family. Currently he is in school to become a Physical Therapy Assistant at Sierra College. Once his prerequisites are completed there he plans to transfer to Sacramento City College’s PTA program.