Align celebrates one year in Camana bay

Sometimes, the stars align and things go as planned.

Just over a year ago, Align opened on the Paseo in Camana Bay with a new, multidisciplinary approach to musculoskeletal health and wellness. Eamon Wilson, one of the co-founders of Align, noted at the time that it is commonplace for medical treatments to be focused on the symptom rather than the root cause of a condition, a practice that often leads to recurring injuries.
“Our focus is on identifying and resolving the root cause of the condition, be it lifestyle, workplace, insufficient core strength or other factors,” he said.

In addition to treating specific aliments at its 2,500-square-foot studio, Align offers preventative core strengthening, conditioning and stretching exercises through its yoga and Move Well programmes.

Not wishing to rest on its laurels, Align expanded its services last month, adding Pilates instructor/physiotherapist Carol O’Brien from Dublin.

“I have experience treating a wide range of musculoskeletal dysfunctions and believe in tackling the root cause of injury rather than just treating the symptoms,” she says. “I am also a Pilates instructor, teaching beginner to advanced level classes. My classes have a physiotherapist focus with lots of individual attention and correction provided to facilitate a safe environment, where clients can feel confident in challenging themselves to achieve a great workout.”

Pilates sessions in groups are offered in blocks. In addition, one-on-one Pilates sessions are offered with a view to getting people in a position to join a class.

“Pilates is a great way to prevent injury through the conditioning and loading of our muscles and joints, which can otherwise become deconditioned over time, leading to aches and pains,”she says.

In addition to O’Brien, a new chiropractor, Matt Krefetz, has joined the Align team, says operations manager Kristina Maxwell.

“Matt is very charismatic and fun,” she says, adding that his approach  is not to simply get you in, crack your back and send you on your way.”He practises the functional medicine aspect, which fits into our model,” Maxwell says.

Corporate wellness
In addition to its individual patient treatments, Align offers three levels of corporate wellness weeks. The programme includes workstation evaluations, lunch and learns, and discounts on services like massages or its popular Move Well classes.

Maxwell says that one of the unique aspects of Align is its ability to provide Safeco ergonomic workstations and office furniture.

“Our connection with Safeco means we can not only recommend ergonomic workplace solutions, but we can also source them,” she says.

Adding that ability to the wide range of multidisciplinary services offered by Align makes it a one-stop shop for musculoskeletal health.

“Ultimately, when the new providers join us, we are going to be the only facility offering the disciplines we offer on Grand Cayman under one roof,” Maxwell says.