Kathy Doubleday's gift to the community is the timeless value of exercise as a tool for a better life, no matter how old you are. Doubleday, a physical therapist, owns Balance Health Center, 236 W. Ojai Ave., Suite 201; she founded the center with her husband, Greg Jones, nine years ago when their twin sons were 7 years old.
"I had a vision of a PT (physical therapy) clinic that was also a place for adults over 50 to feel comfortable exercising in a gym that felt like it was designed for them," said Doubleday. "Many people over 50 need more support to continue to exercise as they are having surgery, recovering from injuries or just needing more motivation with their peers around. I knew the community and wanted to live and work here, and my husband as my business partner was just the support I needed to branch off on my own." Doubleday is a born-and-raised California girl who has always been attuned to kinesiology.
She said: "I was a gymnast growing up, and with that there is a very strong component of analyzing movement and thinking about how to make the motion better. That young influence with athletics and coaching that I did made me very interested in how the human body works and moves. I really loved anatomy and chemistry, but really any science class. At UCLA, I studied physiological science with an emphasis in neuroscience, with physical therapy in my sights.
"I ended up at USC, one of the top PT schools in the country, and I finally found my people. It was an amazing collection of professors and students where I really found my love and passion for the profession. I am proud to be a PT and am always encouraging of young people to go into the medical field and PT because you get to really help people through their tough times and it is very rewarding on a daily basis."
Gail Smith praised Doubleday for the "warm and welcoming" environment at Balance Health Center, and for making herself available to clients through Zoom exercise and therapy classes during the COVID-19 lockdown. "The community owes Kathy a huge debt of gratitude, not only because she's an outstanding therapist, but equally for her caring commitment to helping us live better, pain-free lives," Smith shared.
Leslie Marcus added, "Kathy selflessly continues to care and give and encourage seniors (and rehabilitating persons) to live, love and keep moving for a joyous, enriched life."