Staff

Dr. Jen Ballentine Evans, PT, DPT, WCS, CPI

Dr. Jen Ballentine Evans is a Los Angeles native who graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a BA in Kinesiology in 2002. After a year working in clinical research, she entered Mount St. Mary’s College where she received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) in 2006.

Dr. Ballentine Evans is proud to be the only board-certified Women’s Health Clinical Specialist (WCS) in Ventura.

Dr. Ballentine Evans has completed the Comprehensive Pilates Teacher Training program (CPI) with Body Arts and Science International.

Dr. Ballentine Evans specializes in manual therapy for the orthopedic population, pelvic pain, incontinence management, pregnancy, and post-partum dysfunction, and Pilates for rehabilitation. In the last 14 years, she has attended multiple pregnancy, postpartum, Pilates, and pelvic physical therapy continuing education courses.

Dr. Jen Ballentine Evans has been trained in the mobilization of the visceral fascia of the urinary system, gastrointestinal system, and reproductive system of both men and women. She has also been trained in hypopressive (low pressure) exercise.

Dr. Ballentine Evans enjoys Pilates, hiking, snowboarding, wakeboarding, spinning, and helping patients improve their health and well-being.

Dr. Matthew Evans, PT, DPT

Dr. Matt Evans is a Ventura County native that graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology/ Exercise Science from Cal State University Northridge in 2005. During his studies at CSUN he worked in both land and aquatic based rehabilitation settings.

After graduation, Dr. Evans entered Mount St Mary’s College Physical Therapy program. During his doctoral education, he found time to accomplish a certification in massage therapy. Matt graduated with a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree in 2008.

Matt then continued his post-doctoral education by completing an extensive, hands on, year long manual therapy course with Michael Miller PT, OCS out of Long Beach, California.

In 2019 Dr. Evans began a residency program with the American Academy of Clinical Electrodiagnosis. He has found a passion for electromyography and has enjoyed the addition of nerve conduction studies into his current practice.

Dr. Evans’ clinical interests include electromyography, manual therapy, and therapeutic exercise for orthopedic disorders and sports-related injuries.

Matt’s recreational interests include surfing, snowboarding, wakeboarding, and physical fitness.

Dr. Lauren Hartnett PT, DPT, MPT, ATC

Dr. Lauren Hartnett was born and raised in Ventura County where she grew up playing volleyball. Her love for the sport took her to play collegiately at Graceland University in Iowa. While rehabilitating a sport’s injury of her own, she decided to pursue a degree in athletic training and received her B.A and credential as an athletic trainer (ATC). Returning to California, she attended California State University Northridge where she received her Master of Physical Therapy degree (MPT) and then went on to get her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree (DPT) from Arcadia University.

Dr. Hartnett shares POW Physical Therapy’s passion for a hands-on treatment approach with an emphasis on restoring functional movements and helping patients return to the activities they love. Her training includes manual therapy techniques, therapeutic exercise (including Pilates), and neuromuscular re-education for orthopedic disorders, surgical rehabilitation, chronic pain, and the management and rehabilitation of sports or athletic injuries. Additionally, Lauren continues to pursue further education and specialized training in women’s health/pelvic floor dysfunction including pregnancy, post-partum recovery, pelvic pain, and incontinence.

Lauren enjoys volleyball, travelling, reading, and spending time with her family, friends, and Australian Shepherd named Kobe.

Dr. Christian Leonakis, DPT

Dr. Christian Leonakis was born and raised in Northwest Indiana. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology & Exercise Science from Purdue University. Christian then went on to Seton Hall University where he received his Doctorate of Physical Therapy.

Prior to pursuing his degree in Physical Therapy, Christian was a certified personal trainer and clinical assistant. Dr. Christian Leonakis also has experience working with collegiate athletes at Purdue University Northwest.

Dr. Christian Leonakis has completed extensive training in manual therapy and Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization.

Dr. Christian Leonakis specializes in manual therapy and movement therapy for the orthopedic population. He has a passion to improve the physical abilities and well-being of his patients.

Dr. Leonakis interests are watching Chicago sports, exercising, hiking in national parks, live music, and dog sitting on the weekends.

Dr. Michelle Peters, PT, DPT, Doctor of Physical Therapy

Dr. Michelle Peters, Physical Therapist, was born and raised in Ventura County. She grew up dancing both competitively and with a local non-profit ballet. After sustaining a wrist injury while dancing, Michelle went to physical therapy as a patient which first sparked her interest to become a physical therapist herself.

Michelle continued dancing through college, earning a BS in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Dance Science from Chapman University. It was during college that Michelle was first introduced to Pilates as a form of cross-training for dance. After graduating, she became an aide in a physical therapy clinic, volunteered in the rehab department of a skilled nursing facility, and spent time teaching dance to students of all ages. Michelle went on to receive her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from California State University, Northridge. She is also now a certified Pilates Mat Instructor through the Balanced Body methodology.

As a physical therapist, Michelle loves helping her patients to find better ways to move and make it easier for them to do the things they love. Her professional interests include orthopedics, pain science, Movement System Impairment (MSI), and rehabilitation for dancers and other performing artists.

Michelle continues to enjoy dancing, Pilates, traveling, trying new recipes, reading, and crafting with yarn in her free time.

Heather Gilliam MPH, RDN, CSOWM

www.nutritiontransformation.com

• CSOWM, Certified Specialist in Obesity and Weight Management, The Commission on Dietetic Registration, 2019
• Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, The Commission on Dietetic Registration, 1994
• Master’s Degree in Public Health, UCLA, 1994
• Bachelor’s Degree in Nutritional Science, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, 1991

For the first decade of Heather’s career, she worked as part of the medical team in hospitals taking care of patients, as well as counseling in several specialty outpatient clinics. As she defined her interests, the bulk of her career has been spent specifically doing outpatient nutrition counseling & workshops, research, community outreach, developing educational materials, and precepting interns. She loves sports and fitness, organic gardening and cooking, learning and trying new things.

Lisa Turner L.Ac

Lisa C Turner is a Ventura County Native, growing up in Ojai. She is Ca State Board and National State Board Licensed Acupuncturist and Chinese Medical Herbalist. She completed her Masters Degree in Chinese Medicine from Santa Barbara College of Oriental Medicine, graduating in 2008. She has been practicing Acupuncture in Ventura since 2009, and has been with POW Physical Therapy since 2014.

Before completing her education in Chinese Medicine, Lisa was a Licensed Massage Therapist in Ventura, Santa Monica, and Santa Barbara County. She still practices massage therapy today, specializing in myofascial release and musculoskeletal disorders, sports therapy and injuries, combined with Acupuncture. She has extensive training in Kinesiology and Physiology from Adams State University in Alamosa, Co and Cal State Northridge. She is also a certified Steam Therapist from Steamy Chick Inc., helping women with various gynecological disorders and pain.

In her free time, she loves spending time with her family and friends. She has two wonderful dogs, and an outdoor aviary with finches. She is an avid sports fan, enjoys taking walks, going to the beach, hiking, camping, reading, building rustic furniture, and painting.

Nancey Rabiner

Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher (NCPT)

• Certifications include:
  • Qualified Fletcher Pilates Teacher
  • Center Studio Pilates & Physical Therapy
  • Balanced Body
  • Pilates Sports Center
• Training in Special Injuries & Conditions including osteoporosis
• 18 years experience teaching both classical and contemporary Pilates,
  comprehensively trained on all apparatus

Pilates is for everybody and Nancey believes workouts should be fun and energizing while focusing on alignment and form. She teaches clients of all ages, levels and abilities. Whether you’re new to exercise, recovering from an injury or seeking a competitive edge in your favorite sport, Pilates can help you reach your goals.

Nancey loves seeing the positive effects Pilates has, not just on her client’s bodies, but on their lives too. Many are exercising pain-free for the first time, others are amazed by the changes they see and feel. She finds it very rewarding to help people get back to doing the activities they love.

Her special interests include dance, music, yoga, active-aging and all the natural beauty that Ventura has to offer.

Elyse Sparkes

Core + Pelvic Floor Rehab Specialist, CPT, RYT

Certified Restore Your Core® Movement Teacher

Elyse Sparkes is a Core and Pelvic Floor Movement Rehabilitation Specialist. She’s a Certified Restore Your Core® Movement teacher, Certified Personal Trainer, and Registered Yoga Teacher. Elyse is passionate about educating people about their own pelvic anatomy, uncovering movement compensation patterns, and building overall strength and mobility to relieve symptoms and help people feel better in their bodies. Elyse has studied The Franklin Method® Pelvic Fascia with Eric Franklin; Moving Into, Through, and Beyond Trauma with Tom Myers; multiple courses at The Breathing Project with Leslie Kaminoff and Amy Matthews; Yoga4Cancer with Tari Prinster; and holds advanced certifications in Thai Yoga Massage. She works with people in-person and virtually through workshops, group programs, and private sessions. Find out more at www.elysesparkes.com

Services

Restore Your Core® group program: In this 8 week program, you’ll retrain your core and pelvic floor muscles to be functional, reflexive, responsive and supportive to your body. RYC® helps you learn to move and exercise better, uncover movement compensation patterns and create new patterns of strength, mobility, length and support.

Private Movement Rehab Sessions: Private sessions are designed for you around your specific goals. You’ll start with an assessment and Elyse will cater each session to your unique body and movement needs. Sessions can draw from a broad scope of movement practices to help you reduce symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction (such as incontinence, chronic constipation, organ prolapse, or pain with penetration), help you increase your core and hip strength, mobility and postural alignment, and feel confident in your body again.