Dr. Jena Blackwood

Dr. Jena Blackwood
PT, DPT

Jena developed a passion for health through movement with a sport-filled youth, leading to countless minor injuries.

In 1997, at a physical therapist’s suggestion, she began a regular yoga practice to complement her athletic pursuits. Her yoga practice fostered her belief in the power of a balanced body and mind in conjunction with corrective exercise to maintain and optimize overall function. Inspired by her healing trajectory, in 2004, she attended an immersive 500-hour hot yoga teacher training and subsequently began a successful career in teaching yoga and fitness nationwide. Her commitment to learning, passion, and dynamic teaching style made her highly sought after by clients seeking in-depth healing. However, as her career progressed and her clients’ needs became more complex, she realized she needed to deepen her knowledge significantly to serve the community. Jena is currently working toward a Ph.D. with an emphasis on body awareness in conjunction with rehabilitation in pain conditions.

Jena’s clinical interests span multiple areas focusing on connective tissue disorders such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (HEDS / EDS/hypermobility syndrome), chronic fatigue (ME/CFS), fibromyalgia, long COVID, pain conditions, pelvic health, and general complex orthopedics. She works with clients in New York City, Minnesota, and Washington State. She firmly believes in holistic healing for maximum therapeutic outcomes. She is highly sought after due to her unique treatment style, which includes yoga and body awareness training.

Licenses and Education

    • New York

    • Minnesota

    • Ph.D. Nova Southeastern University (in progress)

    • BS in Health Science, Minor in Sports Science with Honors, Long Island University in Brooklyn, New York

    • Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) with Honors, Long Island University in Brooklyn, New York

    • MBA Certificate, Focusing on Data Analytics, University of Maine (4.0) 

    • Residency: Institute of Physical Art (IPA), Specializing in Orthopedic Manual Therapy Specific to Functional Manual Therapy (FMT)

    • The Perrin Technique: chronic fatigue aka ME/CFS, long covid, and fibromyalgia

    • Herman and Wallace (pelvic floor therapy)

    • Rusk Rehabilitation at New York University, the North American Institute for Orthopedic Manual Therapy (NAIOMPT)

    • Vestibular and Concussion Rehabilitation, The American Institute of Balance 

    • Osteopathic-Based Counter Strain Techniques, The Jones Institute 

    • Craniosacral Therapy, The Upledger Institute

    • Visceral and Neural Manual Therapy, Barral 

    • Dry Needling, American Academy of Manipulative Therapy

    • DNS (Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization), Prague School

    • Yoga Works (200-hour RYT)

    • Cognitive Multisensory Rehabilitation, The Perfetti Method

    • Mat Pilates, The Kane School

    • Inpatient Hospital Work, Focusing on Patients Recovering from Neurological Insults Such as Stroke, Guillain-Barre Syndrome, Spinal Fusions and Spinal Cord Injuries

Heal Your Best

“I’m used to going to physical therapists where I see them for 10 minutes and then go off into the corner to do some exercises from a sheet they give me. That is not how it goes with Dr. Jena. She works with me the whole session, and I always leave feeling better.”

— Kristen B.