Meet Nicole Gallen of The Muscle Project in Lower Highlands

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Gallen.

Nicole, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My story starts in the mountains. I grew up in Telluride, Colorado. In a place where Ski P.E. was part of the school curriculum, I was raised to love the outdoors and value an active lifestyle. I became passionate about skiing and hiking; following my dad up trails and down slopes. But I also was wild about team sports. I played soccer and volleyball and helped to start a women’s hockey program. Needless to say, so much of my identity lies in my physical abilities.

In 2012, I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Colorado College, following their sports science track and then followed a boy to Denver! He is now my husband of one year. My search for a career kept bringing me back to movement.

It started with yoga teacher training and continued through to my current practice of bodywork and exercise techniques. Anatomy and human mechanics are fascinating and I continue to learn as much as I can about how the body moves and how to keep people moving as best they can.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Honestly, yes! it has been a smooth road. So much so, that it makes me feel like it was meant to be. Everything on my path to this career has fallen into place almost too perfectly. I became excited about a muscle testing program and it just so happened there was a course starting in Denver that fall. Following my certification, my teacher asked if I wanted to rent a space with him just down the street from my house. He has helped me develop my own business and clientele and continues to mentor me. I have found amazing programs that have allowed me to think rationally and mechanically about the body. And finally, my dad has been diagnosed with a motor neuron disease, and the work I do truly helps him.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
The Muscle Project is a bodywork, exercise and education based facility. We specialize in the muscular system and its ability to contract efficiently. As muscular specialists, we use a super specific joint-by-joint assessment of your positional motor control to identify areas where your muscles are not contracting well. By applying precise forces to your musculoskeletal system over time we work with you to restore proper muscular function.

Where many modalities are focused on the muscles that are “too tight”, we are focused on the muscles that are not generating enough tension or are not “cross-bridging” (fancy word for contracting) appropriately. But it is much more than creating strength; we educate our clients on how the system works and how to maintain its function so they can make appropriate choices and continue to participate in the activities that they love!

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Consistency. I believe that everything worthwhile takes time. Making change is a process that takes steady effort; especially when it comes to our bodies. The most meaningful things in our life require this type of constant attention. Relationships, our health, our skills and comprehension; these things don’t thrive without continual hard work.

Pricing:

• Free Study Group! 1st Thursday of each month from 7:30-9pm.. Everyone welcome. Please RSVP on The Muscle Project Facebook page.
• $105 / One hour session
• Sliding scale available to those in need.

Contact Info:

• Address: The Muscle Project 2150 West 29th Avenue Suite 120 Denver‎ CO‎ 80211
• Website: the-muscle-project.com
• Phone: 9707089442
• Email: nicolegallen@gmail.com
• Instagram: @nicolegallen
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMuscleProjectMJB/

Suggest a story: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.