Inspiring Conversations with Nikki Dority of Nurture and Balance PT

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Nikki Dority.

Hi Nikki, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up in MA, graduating HS in 1992. I moved to FL to attend the University of Miami and get a BS in Biology/Chemistry.

During college, I did AROTC, so upon graduation, I was commissioned as a US Army Medical Service Corp Officer. I spent five and a half years in the Army, finishing as a Captain. My last role was serving as the Chief Operations Officer (Medical) for Fort Huachuca and as a Company Commander. These experiences shaped who I am as a person and leader today.

I moved to CO then to attend graduate school at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, receiving a Master’s and Doctorate in Physical Therapy. I also received an MBA in the following years. During graduate school, I met my husband, Mark, and we began to build a life together. We were married in 2003, and then I began my career as a physical therapist. We also spent much time traveling during this time, enjoying the country and different places in the world.

As a PT, I became board-certified in Orthopedics and concentrated a lot of continuing education on women’s health, movement systems analysis, and biomechanics. I became massage therapy and Pilates certified and completed my 200-hour yoga teacher training. I have been treating for over 20 years at this time.

My husband and I started our beautiful family. Our son was born in 2008, and our daughter in 2009z. They are the most important things in my life, and I could not love anyone more than my sweet children.

My career has been unique in many ways. I have been a PT in various clinics and managed and co-owned clinics. I have had the privilege to enter the entrepreneurial world, beginning with a small tech company focused on movement analysis, a women’s retreat company, and a private physical therapy business. I have also had the distinct privilege to co-found Nurture, a wellness collective here in Denver; Nurture houses providers in all wellness disciplines, a beautiful cafe, Nest, fitness, recovery, membership, and more.

I have had a robust life with beautiful experiences, blessed relationships, and terribly challenging times. But every facet of my life has brought me here, about to celebrate my 50th birthday. I am beyond lucky for the journey and the love of my life.

We all face challenges, but would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The struggles do not define a person, but they help to shape us as a vehicle to develop tenacity, growth, appreciation, and greater love.

I have lost both of my parents, dealt with very serious trauma, and live with a significant mental illness. I take excellent care of myself to disallow these challenges to define me and to create boundaries so that I can. I am sad about the ways some of these issues have impacted my life and ways I could have done certain things better, but I am grateful for all of the experiences that make me who I am.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Nurture is a WellCare marketplace, a place where people can go to take care of themselves in every way – wellness, enjoying whole food, fitness, recovery, community, and more. It is a beautiful place for people to co-work, dine, and commune. Nurture is a beacon of light in Denver, a home for all humans.

Balance PT is my private physical therapy practice, which I also own. At the clinic, the focus is also whole human-holistic care. I work with people from the standpoint of postural retraining and biomechanics, manual therapy to support the evolution of the body, and somatic care to help shed the layers of trauma that come with chronic pain. Any goal is to help people learn to trust their bodies and develop agency over their pain.

I do public speaking and writing in the realm of mental and behavioral health. I am currently in the process of writing my personal story and have also done a TED talk that I would love for you to watch: https://youtu.be/Ybl7-fR0p1U.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
In many ways. Come visit Nurture and enjoy the magic. Eat, enjoy the amazing provider offerings and talents, move, commune, and live in this beautiful place.

Come see me at Balance PT. I will work together with you (as a team) to address any musculoskeletal challenges you may be having, using a multitude of PT modalities. Let’s work together to help get to the root of things, develop a holistic plan to support your whole musculoskeletal system, and return to full function.

Pricing:

• Physical therapy Evaluation $125
• Physical Therapy Treatment $100
• PT package of 5 $450

Contact Info:

• Website: www.visitnurture.com and https://www.balanceptdenver.com/
• Instagram: @visitnurture