Carissa Pietra

Chronic Illness Support

Low on spoons?Let's use them to tip some dominos.

1:1 virtual coaching and movement support for people with chronic illness: sorting out what matters most, untangling appointments and records, and moving in ways that feel safe on whatever kind of day you're having.

  • hEDS and hypermobility
  • POTS
  • MCAS
  • Endometriosis
  • Chronic pain and fatigue
  • Invisible illness
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Start with a free 15-minute call, by Zoom or phone.

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for bendy, dizzy, low-on-energy bodies

Maybe you're here

  • "I should suffer a certain amount before support is warranted."
  • "I normally leave a workout class in more pain."
  • "I end up being the person sitting on a mat."
  • "Maybe if I just found the right protocol…"

You already spend your precious energy being so intentional with your choices, trying to lower the risk of another flare.

And most wellness advice was written for well people.

You deserve to live a full life, even if your body's definition of "full" shifts.

Your body's needs may shift day to day.

You can find meaningful ways to incorporate what you value, even on hard days.

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Hi, I'm Carissa.

I live in a body with its own story too.

I live with multiple chronic illnesses, and I know the hours it takes to manage them: the research, the referrals, the waiting, and the days that don't go to plan.

For 13 years I've helped people move through change, first in Pilates, now in coaching too. We start with safety, find the essence of what you want to work on, and build from there, a little differently for each body.

Martha Beck Certified Wayfinder Life Coach ICF-accredited coaching program B.S. Psychology Full STOTT PILATES certification 13 years with clients

What chronic illness movement clients say

"I didn't feel like I needed to apologize for needing help or support."

Chronic illness movement course client

"I felt safe. I felt seen. I was supported in ways to move my body that felt right for me."

Chronic illness movement course client

"Her class environment encourages open dialogue and allows for her students to troubleshoot & have feedback in real time."

Chronic illness movement course client

Carissa

How it works

Slowly, intentionally, courageously.

Each time you move without hurting yourself, the fear can get a little smaller. You feel a little stronger, so you move a little more. I call this the upward cycle.

Flares still happen. Over time, you may find your body is there for you when you get back up, and that all is not lost from a few days off.

one

Connect

Come back to who you are now.

two

Notice

See what's working and what isn't, without judgment.

three

Align

Choose what fits this season and your real capacity.

four

Adjust

Make small, intentional shifts, and realign again as life changes.

Ways to work together

One session, shaped by your day.

talk, move, or both, depending on the day

Mind + Body sessions

1:1 coaching, movement optional

A space to work things out in your mind, with the option to move them through your body too.

Bring whatever is taking up the most room. We might spend our time on:

Your care

preparing for appointments, triaging next steps, ideas for care options

Your days

pacing, and 1% lighter shifts to your schedule, support and habits

Your inner world

naming what feels off, what support could look like, and the beliefs that surface along the way

no, you didn't cause your illness, and no, stress reduction won't cure it

Find a time to talk

When we move

Chronic illness friendly, Pilates inspired

Custom 1:1 movement over Zoom for bendy, dizzy, low-on-energy bodies. We start with safety, then look for movement that feels good in your body.

Interactive, with time to ask questions, go over form and take notes on tools to use in your week.

Some days, moving isn't possible. For some people, that's most days. Movement is there for bodies whose abilities shift and that can move, even a little. On the days movement isn't there, coaching still is.

The behind-the-scenes work

Help untangling the lonely, complex part.

Navigating hEDS and chronic illness can feel like a second job: the research, the records, the referrals, the waiting. You don't have to untangle it alone.

20+ hours to get one specialist appointment. I get it.

Ways we might sort through it together

  • Organizing what you know: symptoms, history, records and care
  • Finding the dominos, the pieces that seem to affect the others most, so you know where to focus
  • Tracking what's working and what isn't
  • Using AI to organize your data and scan for trends worth asking your doctor about
  • Preparing for appointments: what to bring, what to ask, and what to ask about next
  • Organizing your care team and records
  • The questions I'd want answered if I were in the room with you

I don't diagnose or give medical advice. This is support alongside your medical care, and the medical decisions stay with you and your doctors.

Find a time to talk

On flare days

Flares are part of it.

Our work can flex with your life and your body. I get that some days you really need to do nothing.

Ways we can shift the work on a flare day

  • Define what support would feel best today
  • Shift the session time to coaching
  • Change the movement focus to places that feel safe
  • Gentle movement with minimal transitions
  • Find connection and safety in your body, and set the movement goal aside for the day

"There is always something I can do no matter how bad I feel."

Chronic illness movement course client

These sessions meet the spoons you have that day. On a flare day, the goal is connection, support and care, when you might need them most.

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What becomes possible

Support that moves with you.

What could feel different

  • Clear words for what feels off, and what to bring to your next appointment.
  • Movement that feels good in your body, on the days you have spoons for it.
  • Trust that your body can be there for you, even after a flare.
  • Asking for support without apologizing for it.
  • A life and work that feel even 1% lighter.

Questions

A few things people ask.

What if I'm in a flare on the day of our session?

We can shift the work: talk instead of move, focus on gentle movement with minimal transitions, or simply find some connection and safety in your body. You can also reschedule. Two reschedules per calendar year are fee free.

What if I can't do much right now?

Sessions start where you are. Some days moving isn't possible, and for some people that's true most days. Movement is there for bodies that can move, even a little, with abilities that shift. On the days you can't, we can use the time for coaching. Some sessions are mostly conversation, some are gentle movement, and both count as the work.

Do I need Pilates experience?

No. Plenty of clients arrive saying "I'm not a Pilates person." We build from what feels safe in your body.

Why over Zoom?

You get to move in your own space, on your own terms, without the drive or the studio. One client put it this way: "I knew I was in a mold safe space (my home) which I can't find at a studio. I didn't have to worry if my symptoms would get in the way of making it to a class."

Is this medical care?

No. Mind + Body sessions aren't medical care or therapy, and I don't diagnose or give medical advice. I can help you organize what you know and prepare questions for your doctors, alongside the care you get from your medical team. I believe in full toolboxes: medication and meditation, supportive practices and medical treatment.

How much does it cost?

You'll see current prices when you choose a time on my booking page. Start with a free 15-minute call and we'll talk about which way of working fits.

When you're ready

You don't have to suffer a certain amount before support is warranted.

Start with a free 15-minute call. We'll talk about what's going on and see together which way of working fits, if any.

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