Stop the disease and pain processes.
Learn the basics of your body.
Optimize your health!
Welcome to the Foundations for Functional Health!
Today's society is just NOT supportive of our health. Highly processed foods and sugar, alcohol, toxin exposure in our air, water, food, and body products, constant stress, multiple injuries and excessive sitting create strain and burden on our cells, organs, and joints.
Our cells and organs begin to struggle and our tissues and joints get stiff and degenerative...resulting in pain, GI issues, autoimmune disease, high blood pressure and cholesterol, weight gain, hormone imbalances, mood issues, and so many of the diseases we see today.
Unfortunately, all that most medical systems have to offer is pharmaceuticals, injections, or surgeries...which often do not solve, but only mask the problem, and often create additional problems in other areas of the body later on.
The great news is...there is SO much you can do to prevent, slow down, or even reverse chronic disease and ease your pain! We were made to live healthy, vibrant lives!
Jennifer Shepherd, Integrative Manual Physical Therapist and Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner, has identified common, KEY areas that most of her patients with pain, injuries and complex health issues struggle with. To improve patient outcomes, she has developed online coursework to support the work she and her team do in the clinic. The results have been beyond encouraging and exciting, as patients and participants are not only overcoming health issues quicker, but are also empowered with the skills and strategies to take care of their bodies for a lifetime.
Personally and clinically tested and proven to improve cellular and structural health.
"I have a strong genetic background for inflammation, weight gain, and Alzheimer's Disease and I have struggled with neck, back, knee and foot pain on and off for years. The courses I have created are based on Structural and Functional Medicine principles that I incorporate in my life daily. Not only do I feel good about preventing injury and illness, but I truly feel the healthiest I have ever been! It is a commitment, but I am more than worth it." - Jennifer Shepherd, PT
"In the clinic, patients have reported significant improvements in flexibilty, pain, calmness, sleep, weight loss, brain fog, sleep, and skin health. I notice an improvement in how their joints and fascia feel, how their nervous systems are more calm, and less inflammation in their tissues."
Structural Health
Cellular Health
Nervous System Health
Detoxtifcation Health
Through The Foundation for Functional Health's on-demand, online coursework, Jennifer Shepherd teaches you effective and efficient strategies to reduce inflammation, support your gut health, reduce stress and build resilience, support your nervous system, sleep better, mobilization, stability work, posture work, breathing...
Our at-home, course format ensures you incorporate these skills into your daily life. It takes practice, repetition, and time to truly master and incorporate new skills into habits that last a lifetime.
Our goal is to teach you all about your amazing bodies, what happens to them overtime and how YOU can best take care of your one and only amazing body!
This work is NOT quick fixes and takes time and commitment to practice and incorporate these new skills...
But you'll never want to go back to your old ways once you experience how great you can feel!
For best results, we recommend working through all the courses over a 6 month to a year period. If you still struggle with symptoms after completing the courses, please reach out to the clinic for advanced assessment and treatment.
Learn more about The Foundations for Functional Health course offerings...
The Shepherd Method for Structural Health
Build strength, mobility, and stability in this 6 - week program designed to optimize the alignment, core stability and function of your whole, entire body. This is a critical course for anyone who has struggled with injuries and pain, want to work out more efficiently, improve their performance, and prevent injuries.
The Power of Food Reset Program
Use food as medicine in this 7-week transformative program rooted in the Elimination Diet to reduce inflammation, boost energy, restore gut health and optimize the health of your cells. Gain awareness, guidance and strategies, and to nourish your body and overcome chronic health challenges every day.
The Inner Wiring Workshop
Discover how your Autonomic Nervous System is affected by trauma and chronic stress AND affects the rest of your health. Over 10 days, you will learn strategies and practices to support your nervous system and bring your body to a better state of balance.
Free Clinic Content
Free online content designed to support and extend the work we do together in the clinic.
From movement strategies and nutrition tips to stress support and foundational education, these resources are here to help you feel better, faster — at home and on your own time.
OUR MISSION
The Foundations for Functional Health educates and empowers people to take the best care of their bodies, minds, and souls to overcome and reduce the risk of significant health issues and live healthy, vibrant lives.
A Holistic Approach to Healing and Wellness
For over 25 years, Jennifer Shepherd has been at the forefront of Integrative Manual Physical Therapy, treating patients with complex health issues who have struggled despite conventional medical model intervention.
Starting with traditional physical therapy, her practice has evolved to incorporate a whole-person approach—addressing not just the physical body, but also the functional and emotional aspects that impact health through the integration of Manual Therapy and Functional Medicine
As the needs of patients increased, our work has evolved...
Jennifer Chudy Shepherd
MSPT, CFMT, FFMT, FAAOMPT, IFMCP
Jennifer unknowingly began her health journey at a young age, facing challenges such as GI issues, back pain, painful periods, knee pain, weight fluctuations, and mood swings. Driven by her own struggles and unsatisfactory experiences with medical practitioners, she pursued a career in Physical Therapy, determined to offer better care to others.
However, as her own health and patient outcomes stagnated despite exercises, stretches, and joint mobilizations, Jen’s curiosity led her to seek deeper answers. She found mentors who taught her to view the body as an interconnected system of organs and systems working in harmony. Through this holistic approach, she learned how to address the root causes of health issues by improving organ function, which in turn affected the entire body.
Jen's passion for health deepened when her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, followed by Alzheimer’s. This personal experience fueled her desire to understand how to prevent diseases commonly attributed to aging. As a Fellow with the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists and a Certified Practitioner of Functional Medicine with the Institute for Functional Medicine, Jen has mastered the art of eating for her genetics, healing her gut and old injuries, and supporting her nervous system to optimize her health as she approaches 50.
Today, Jen helps people across the country who have struggled to find answers from specialists. Through her Integrative Manual Physical Therapy approach, she empowers them with the skills and tools needed to restore their health and thrive for a lifetime.
Increase your knowledge and stay inspired on how to best care for your amazing body! We share our insights, case studies, personal experiences, tips and so much more.
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