Today we’d like to introduce you to Ellese Nickles.
Hi Ellese, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve spent my entire career helping people reconnect with their bodies. I’m a Doctor of Physical Therapy with experience in outpatient orthopedics, sports medicine, early intervention, and women’s pelvic health. I’ve also been a fitness trainer and yoga instructor for over 15 years. Supporting movement, strength, and healing has always been my calling.
But nothing shaped my professional path more than becoming a mother myself.
Even with all of my training, I felt completely underprepared and under-supported during my own pregnancy and postpartum recovery. I did go to pelvic floor physical therapy, but with a colicky newborn and a full-time job, getting to appointments was incredibly difficult. I only made it to a few sessions before being told everything “looked pretty good,” and that I could “listen to my body” and “gradually return to exercise.”
No one explained what that actually meant.
My body felt unfamiliar. My nervous system was overwhelmed. And like so many new moms trying to feel like themselves again, I pushed too hard, too soon and developed complications. It was frustrating and honestly pretty heartbreaking. And I wondered how if I, as a pelvic floor PT, struggled this much, what did that mean for everyone else?
That experience was a turning point. I realized just how enormous the gap in postpartum care really is — and how many women are navigating it completely alone. So I dove deep into continuing education focused specifically on pregnancy and postpartum recovery. And the more I learned, the more I understood that so much of what I went through could have been prevented with the right guidance and support.
That’s really what inspired me to start my practice.
I wanted to remove the barriers that keep moms from getting the care they deserve — things like transportation, childcare, rigid schedules, and the assumption that a handful of in-person appointments is enough. I also wanted to provide the kind of continuity and accountability that actually leads to long-term recovery.
I created a hybrid model that combines in person evaluations and virtual care to customize programming with ongoing support, education, and real-time feedback. And I’ve been really surprised — and honestly encouraged — by how many women choose this model even when they do have access to in-person care. Some simply can’t make the logistics work. Others have been to pelvic floor PT but didn’t get the guidance they needed to return to higher-level activity.
And I’ve seen just how well this approach works. I get to help moms resolve bladder leaks, pain with intercourse, prolapse symptoms, and core weakness. And we make it happen without the stress of commuting or trying to coordinate childcare. It’s been incredibly rewarding to watch women rebuild trust in their bodies and reconnect with themselves during such a vulnerable and important season of life.
So that’s how I got here. It really grew out of my own lived experience and a desire to raise the standard of care for postpartum women in a way that truly honors the realities of motherhood.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Starting this business took a lot of work. I began while I was still working full time in a clinic, teaching yoga in two different local studios and figuring out how to be a parent! Thinking back on it, it sounds crazy. But the reality is that I am so passionate about this work and truly believe in how helpful this model of care can be for mothers. Once I made the decision start this business I needed help figuring out how to market and do all the business stuff. I am an expert in pelvic health, exercise science and rehab, but had no idea how to make instagram posts, ensure HIPPA compliance or set up a billing platform. Getting all of those pieces together took a lot of trial and error, reaching out to other experts for help and frustration when I felt like I’d wasted time doing something that didn’t work. But, again, I wouldn’t change any of it. The biggest challenge has been figuring out how to set clear boundaries around my work hours. I try to be intentional about being fully present with my kids but it is often tempting to check in with clients or make notes of treatment ideas that pop up.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Bloom Physical Therapy and Wellness and @Postpartum.PelvicPT on instagram?
I’m a Doctor of Physical Therapy specializing in pregnancy and postpartum care, and I help women prevent or resolve prolapse, urinary leakage, pain, and core weakness. What sets me apart is my creative model of care that is very different from traditional pelvic floor physical therapy that aims to increase accessibility to care and raise the standard of care. I provide in home evaluations and followup sessions as needed combined with virtual care and programming an easy to use app. This way mothers don’t need to worry about childcare, travel time, or perfect schedules to get the care they deserve. My virtual model removes those barriers while offering a level of continuity and accountability that truly changes outcomes.
What I’m known for is providing compassionate, evidence-based support that fits real mom life. Instead of quick clinic visits or generic advice, my clients receive customized programs, ongoing messaging support, and clear guidance that helps them rebuild trust in their bodies and return to movement safely. My background as a fitness trainer and work in sports medicine and orthopedics also sets me apart because I am very equipped to help women who want to get back to higher levels of physical activities and exercise or who are dealing with secondary issues like back or shoulder pain.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud of creating a supportive, judgment-free space where women feel seen, validated, and empowered. My goal is simple: to raise the standard of postpartum care and help mothers feel strong, confident, and at home in their bodies again.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I grew up in chapel hill, so I am a born and bread north carolinian. I love the triangle for the food scene, venues, basketball rivalries, and access to fun and enriching activities for kids. The diversity of people who come here and the interesting work being done in this area make this a little gem in the south. We are so lucky to live in a place with all of these amenities and also have access to beautiful natural areas.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bloomwellnessyoga.com/
- Instagram: @Postpartum.PelvicPT
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Postpartum.PelvicPT
