Why Root & Ember?

Choosing a name for a practice is a deeply personal process—one that reflects not just what we do, but what we believe in. When I founded Root & Ember Physical Therapy, I wanted a name that captured the essence of the transformation I’ve witnessed in my clients, especially through the lens of Somatic Experiencing®, physical therapy, and nervous system regulation.

Root represents grounding.
When we begin to create more capacity in the nervous system—through increased awareness, safety, and the ability to settle—clients often describe feeling more rooted. There’s a new sense of stability and ease in their system. This groundedness allows the body and mind to rest. We see physical shifts: muscles soften, breath deepens, posture changes. Tension patterns often begin to release, pain may decrease, and the body feels more supported from the inside out. It's the experience of inhabiting your body more fully—with comfort, steadiness, and connection.

But nervous system regulation isn’t just about calm. In fact, that’s only half the picture.

Ember symbolizes activation—our vitality.
When someone is truly regulated, they gain not only the ability to rest, but also the ability to rise. With improved capacity, the system can tolerate more energy, more movement, more intensity. This is where physical therapy and somatic work meet. Clients begin to reclaim strength, coordination, and confidence in their body’s responses. We work with movement patterns, joint alignment, breath mechanics, and core engagement—not just for function, but for expression.

That ember is the spark that returns when a person no longer needs to hold themselves back or brace against life. For many, pain or dysfunction has been closely tied to inhibition—whether that’s clenching, guarding, shallow breathing, or collapsed posture. When we clear space in the system for more authentic responses, people begin to move with greater freedom, power, and ease. They rediscover the capacity to act, speak, protect, play, and participate.

At Root & Ember Physical Therapy, my mission is to help people restore their full range—from ease of resting in their bodies to full embodied movement. To feel safe and stable in their structure, to move with clarity and purpose, and to experience both rest and momentum in a body that feels like home.

And as a sweet surprise—after choosing the name—I realized that Root & Ember shares the initials of my maiden name, Rachael Eckert. That little detail felt like a gift, as I’ve dreamed of opening a clinic like this since long before it was real—back when those dreams were first taking shape under my original name. It’s a full-circle moment I carry with gratitude.