Is Owning a Pilates Cash Business Right for Me with Kateryna Bakay PT, OCS 029

“Physical therapy can be whatever you can build it to be. I think it’s one of those fields that’s not limited to only working in orthopedics or neuro and what not… It’s actually a very interesting field.”

Kateryna Bakay is originally from Ukraine and moved to the US 23 years ago. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a master’s degree in Physical Therapy. Today, she owns her own orthopedic practice in Seattle, Washington.

In this episode, Kateryna shares her journey of transitioning from being a PT assistant to pursuing a career in Physical Therapy. After that, she got a job at Boeing as a Physical Therapist, where she was responsible for overseeing work hardening and work conditioning programs for injured employees. She started out as a staff physical therapist and then became a supervisor, where she was more involved with functional capacity evaluations, work conditioning, and work hardening programs.

Transitioning to an Orthopedic Practice, Kateryna shares her decision to move on from the industrial setting due to the frustration of seeing employees getting injured and unable to work. She decided to pursue a job opportunity at a small orthopedic practice, where she worked closely with upper extremity surgeons and occupational therapists. After a while, she got an amazing opportunity to transfer to an orthopedic clinic that had Pilates equipment and was looking for a Pilates certified physical therapist, which Kateryna had already been exploring.

Kateryna tells us how she fell in love with the method because it was holistic and made sense to her. She started working at this clinic as a PT, practicing with the equipment and gaining experience while they paid for her certification.

After a while, she started looking into having her own practice as a way to manage care and provide the kind of service she wanted, rather than working for someone else and following the existing model. That was where her journey started.

Kateryna’s journey also had its challenges. She faced struggles with marketing, accounting, and dealing with insurance companies. But she managed to adapt and transition from accepting insurance to operating a cash-based practice, which allowed her to provide faster and more efficient care.

Running your own business requires dedication and hard work. Kateryna emphasized the importance of being willing to put in long hours and continuously learn. She also acknowledged the value of asking for help when needed. While she hasn’t hired a coach yet, she recognizes that it could be a game-changer for scaling her practice. She tells us that it’s okay to lean on others for support and guidance.

Kateryna’s Instagram