MY PASSION GREW:
In high school, I ran on the cross country and track teams, and lifted weights in the off seasons to keep me in shape. I continued to pursue my passion for fitness at Furman University where I majored in Health & Exercise Science. I also ran my first half marathon, started road biking, competed on the powerlifting club team, and even met my future husband while participating in an obstacle course race together. Running on trails or being in the weight room quickly became my happy place.
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I was on the pre-med track for most of my time in college, but I didn’t like the emphasis placed on treating symptoms instead of the root cause of the problem. It wasn't until my senior year that I realized I wanted to be prescribing exercise and lifestyle changes, not medication and surgeries.
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Following graduation, I became a personal trainer and completed one year of masters level course work in Exercise Physiology at the University of North Carolina. Most of my personal training clients had some type of old injury or ache/pain, and it frustrated me that I didn't know how to help them overcome their injury. This lack of knowledge and the desire to better help my clients led me to physical therapy school.
About Me
Hi, I'm Jaimie. Let me tell you a bit about myself.
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At 12 years old, I loved to ride horses but hated not having the strength to saddle my horse by myself. Being feisty and independent, I hated asking other people for help. Instead, I asked my dad how I could get stronger, and he introduced me to the biceps curl and shoulder press. A couple months of diligent weight work later, I'm proud to say that I could saddle my horse all by myself.
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My fitness journey really started with me needing my body to keep up with the things I wanted to do.
HOW IT STARTED:
MAKING IT A CAREER:
After getting my Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from Elon University, I worked in traditional physical therapy (PT) clinics for a few years. I quickly realized that I wasn't able to treat my patients in the ways that I knew would benefit them the most. So I opened my own business, Cunningham Strength & Rehab, in 2017. Working for myself has allowed me to blend coaching, training, and PT together in a way that I feel really offers the most benefit to my clients.
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My husband is in the Army which means frequent moves. I've set up my business in four states in the four years since I started it, and I've partnered with 10 different CrossFit or independently owned gyms during that time! It's a ton of work to start my business over so many times, but being able to offer my clients the care they truly need and deserve makes it worth it every time. I am grateful to say that we are due to be stationed in Albuquerque, NM for the next few years.
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When I'm not at the gym or on the trails, you'll find me trying out new restaurants in the area, playing with my three rescue pups, or traveling with my husband.
