Need Therapeutic Exercise?
The trainers and physiotherapists at CORE are mindful, accomplished and educated in the fields of bio-mechanics and physiotherapy. If you are currently a physical therapy patient or would like a consultation with a Pro Elite Trainer, we are happy to meet with you and determine how CORE practitioners can help you achieve lasting health.
Many aspects set Santa Cruz CORE apart with their personal training, one of which is the ability to bill insurance. Having a Sports Chiropractor on site allows for the recommendation for Therapeutic Exercise to be covered under most health insurance plans.
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Therapeutic Exercise, Chiropractic Care, Acupuncture, Training and Massage can all work in synergy
CORE Elite and CORE Pro-Elite trainers have seen great success with the following:
Scoliosis and Scoliotic Spine.
Myofascial pain and referred pain from trigger points caused by chronic muscle tension, old injuries, scars.
Postural Pattern reprogramming using Core’s patent-pending : 5 Minutes to Good Posture
Disc Herniations and Back Injuries
Orthopedic Limitations
Personal Injury and Car Accident Cases
“I-Work-at-a-Desk Syndrome” is a multi-systemic set of symptoms due to excessive computer and or desk work. Some of these manifestations may include, forward head posture, hunched shoulders, back pain, lumbar rounding and other pain. Over time, this repetitive hunching motion coupled with inactivity causes a muscular cycle of weakness and tightness. Weak, tight muscles coupled with knots of tension can start an inflammation-pain-dysfunction cycle in your body. Core practitioners can help stop this cycle and give you the support and tools you need to get out of pain and back into a healthy neuro-muscular balance. We encourage you to give us a call, so we can personally address your particular concerns.
Please Remember
We are committed to our patient’s health and we understand the importance of determining the cause of their condition. Many sports-related injuries and chronic conditions are complex in nature and require a comprehensive approach. Your initial appointment consists of a 60-minute evaluation to gather information about your current and past medical history, perform a physical exam, and refer for any necessary imaging or diagnostic tests.
Your physical exam may include:
- A Functional Movement Screening (FMS)
- A postural assessment
- Gait analysis
- Bio-mechanical assessment
- Neuro-muscular evaluation
- Muscle strength and length testing
- Joint mobility testing
Based on the comprehensive data gathered, your practitioner recommends treatment only if we can provide you with the best possible outcome; otherwise we make a referral to another health care professional. We work closely with many of the Santa Cruz top specialists and often co-manage patients. Your appointment includes: soft tissue mobilization, muscle stretching, physical rehabilitation, and therapeutic modalities, in addition to joint mobilization and manipulation. To allow for a natural transition toward independence, you will assume an active role in your treatment by participating in an individualized home exercise program.
Meet our Therapeutic Exercise Specialists
Pro-Elite Therapists
Clark Carabelas is a Certified Personal Trainer with the National Academy of Sports Medicine. He has a B.A. in Psychology and completed two years of graduate studies in Physical Therapy. Clark’s extensive background includes more than 12 years in orthopedics and geriatrics, and the past 15 years as a Personal Trainer and Nutrition/Lifestyle Consultant. He has completed advanced studies in scientific back, core, and specialized sports conditioning subjects, including golf, motocross, tennis and horseback riding. Clark has presented as a guest speaker at numerous business meetings and healthcare seminars.His experience extends to all ages and lifestyles, from the sedentary to the elite athlete, with or without complex medical histories. Clark also specializes in post injury rehab and re- injury prevention. With his vast knowledge and experience, Clark is able to individualize programs for each person he works with, and feels there is nothing more gratifying than making a positive difference in someone’s life.
Jaimi Jansen has been working as a trainer for over 10 years. Her passion for health and wellness come from her life as an athlete as well as her personal experience gained through her struggle with serious injuries sustained from an accident she had at age 18. In order to understand the body so as to help herself and others, Jaimi earned a degree in Biochemistry through UC Santa Cruz, and went on to become a Certified Nutritionist and Personal Trainer. Certified through the National Academy of Sports Medicine, Hanson Muscle Technique and as a massage therapist, she uses a combination of hands on techniques and specific exercises to get her clients amazing results. She specializes in preventative medicine and has worked with not only community members, but college and professional athletes including NFL, NBA, & MLB. Jaimi’s goal is to improve the quality of life and help people achieve the optimal path to health by creating a community of wellness. In 2009 her dream of providing all-inclusive care was realized when she founded Santa Cruz Core Fitness + Rehab. In 2013 she was awarded the United States Associate of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Female Entrepreneur of the year. She continues to share her passion through the growth of her business and formation of the nonprofit Santa Cruz CORE Foundation. Passionate about her community and health for all, Jaimi and Santa Cruz Core offer many sponsorships and donations and strive to be active and involved with local events and non-profit organizations.
Beau Jansen has been working as a personal trainer since 2003. As a US Air Force Veteran he has gained valuable experience training Airmen to be physically fit and to overcome injuries. He has worked with professional athletes, recreational athletes, patients needing rehab from surgeries, individuals seeking weight loss, and those with aesthetic goals. He pays close attention to form and detail. Beau challenges his clients to do their very best and his belief in his clients is demonstrated by the incredible results they are able to achieve. He walks his talk. Not only does Beau work to reach his body’s full potential by working hard in the gym but enjoys working to stay healthy and strong in the kitchen as well. He is all too familiar with the old adage “You are what you eat!” Holding his clients accountable and takes the extra time it takes to ensure they are working to reach their full potential, Beau loves his job!
Danny Stevens has been a personal trainer since 2006. He has worked with a variety of people including competitive athletes, people wanting to improve movement function and balance, and people looking to lose weight and increase strength. With a degree in kinesiology and a certification from the American College of Sports Medicine, he is equipped with the education and experience to help people achieve their fitness goals.
Carlos Salas has been a personal trainer for over 20 years. He has worked on and off at CORE for 8 years. As a CORE Pro Elite Trainer, Carlos has advanced knowledge of body mechanics as well as experience with nutrition counseling. He is certified in S.A.C CAN/USA Level 1, Crossfit Level 1, Active Isolation Stretch Therapy, Trigger Point, Pilates Reformer, Spin Cycle, and Functional Fitness Training. With many years of experience as a physical therapist aid, Carlos specializes in pre and post rehabilitation. His goal is to add life to people’s years, and years to their lives. When Carlos is not working, he is spending time with his wife, exploring some of the best restaurants the Bay Area has to offer and working on his house.
Samantha Matthews is an Integrative Physiotherapist with a lifetime of 
training and experience in optimal mind body fitness. Her mission in life is to give her clients the tools they need to heal themselves. She is dedicated to continually being a student and leader of the mind body arts. Samantha has 26 years of teaching experience and 31 years of practice in yoga, meditation, dance, functional fitness, osteopathic massage and energy work. Through combining these skills she is a highly regarded physiotherapist addressing individuals postural needs to be confident and pain free. She also has specialized training in treating neuro-degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and women’s reproductive health practices that help women enliven the relationship they have with their body and both prepare for and heal from child birth. Samantha is passionate about giving people the tools they need to heal themselves.
Testimonials
My personal trainer is highly skilled and has really been making a difference in my life, how I feel, my pain level and adapts the therapy to what my body needs. I am very thankful for the opportunity to go to Core and have already recommended it to others. — Kathy H.
Clark is the best rehab trainer I have ever had. — Catharine O.
Beau and Ryan are magicians. Without their help I would be in a world of pain. — Erik E.
The knowledgeable and skilled staff has relieved my back and shoulder pain, and has helped me regained full range of motion to my injured body parts. — Micahel I.
Competent, knowledgeable and friendly. — Kimberly E.
Great customer service and very qualified professionals. — Wendy I.
Professional staff. I felt comfortable. — Theresa C.
You make it so easy to get excellent care. You hire amazing practitioners, who have made such a difference in my pain level. — Rita R.
Santa Cruz CORE is definitely worth checking out if you haven't yet. The entire staff is very friendly and well educated. I am a 35 year old man who was in a motorcycle accident back in the summer of 2012 which left me disabled with osteoarthritis in my left knee and permanent nerve damage in my left leg, knee and foot. I have been to CORE for both massages and use of their VASPER machine which has done wonders! — Jack S.
Professional and personalized sessions with a knowledgeable staff. — Ken S.
Flexible hours and very talented staff. — Kevin N.
Professionalism and detailed responses. — Debby A.
Everyone I've met on the staff is encouraging and is very on top of details. They confirm via e- mail and text which is very convenient for me. It is a place where people truly care for you! — Kathy H.
Professional and clean.
— Al A.
I love how much better I feel after each Core experience!
— Rita R.
Extremely friendly, attentive, and comfortable. Communication of the staff and therapist are amazing
— Jennifer C.
Everybody is so friendly and very attentive... I really felt welcomed.
— Silvia S.
Extremely friendly, attentive, and comfortable. Communication of the staff and therapist are amazing
— Jennifer C.
I absolutely love that all the services I'm interested in are all in one place on top of great customer service, couldn't ask for much more.
— Primavera R.
Extremely professional and of the highest quality.
— Shauna R.
Personable hospitality, reasonably priced, follow up check in, and knowledgeable staff.
— Nick J.
Excellent, professional, personalized and helpful!
— Anna Z.
[I like the] customer service, ease of booking, communication, professionalism, knowledge and range of offerings.
— Gemma S.
Always professional and love the staff, customer service attitude and all the various cool services they offer!
— Barbara B.
Dr. Rhodes is a miracle worker.
— Nick N.
Friendly, warm & caring.
— Ira E.
Everyone is there for me to help me feel better and stronger. My pain levels have improved so much and I have lots of strategies for continuing to improve.
— Rita R.
Great staff they really are well informed
— Cristal R.
I love the comprehensive team approach for such an individualized plan. So far I have had chiropractic, personal training and massage, and each [practitioner] was exceptional in their expertise. I have only been coming here two weeks and have already sent three people to you so far and I saw one of them filling out forms in the lobby today! I'm about to send you guys tons of people.
— Aine B.
Professional and knowledgeable staff! Great experience
— Joel M.
Friendly and inviting staff.
— Lila S.
Rhodes is exceptional in providing relief from pain. Front staff are pleasant and competent at juggling a busy practice. Just a well run place!
— Michelle L.
Core continues to provide for me professional quality care that is personalized to my needs. The staff and practitioners truly care about you as a client and it feels like I have made a new friends over the last few months. I have recommended your services to those around me knowing they will be treated with the same care I have received.
Core continues to provide for me professional quality care that is personalized to my needs. The staff and practitioners truly care about you as a client and it feels like I have made a new friends over the last few months. I have recommended your services to those around me knowing they will be treated with the same care I have received.
— Kathy H.
Everyone is supportive and encouraging, including the administrative staff.
— Danea S.
CORE offers a variety of services that provide pain relief through chiropractic, HMT, and massage, rehabilitation with physical therapy and strengthening and wellness products. All personnel seem to be very knowledgeable and caring and their goal is to help their clients/patients. They are friendly and personable. Accepting my insurance is big plus. I have received excellent care and relief from massage and HMT accupressure therapy. Maria and Rhodes have helped me and I feel both have been very intuitive about what my needs are to get relief.
— Tonette G.
[I liked the] individualized attention!
— Liz W.
Very friendly!
— Joan L.
Complete and total subject matter experts in their field.
— Steve D.
Pleasant staff no big sales pitch. Knowledgeable and helpful.
— John C.
Great service!
— Marilyn K.
Facility is great, staff is attentive will continue coming back!
— Irma S.
Friendly staff. Ease of scheduling. Skilled practitioners
— Dianna H.
Dr. Rhodes is great and Maria is amazing! I'm looking forward to trying out personal training!
— Michelle Y.
CORE continues to be a very important part of my life. I go weekly for acupressure appointments and it has made such a difference in my life. I have much less pain, more mobility and I am learning how to help myself release my stress and trigger points at home. Thanks for the quality of care that you provide for your clients.
— Kathy H.
Everything in one place.. chiropractor can assess and note to personal trainer areas to strengthen etc. Massage available.
Staff very courteous and knowledgeable. Small personalized studio.— Shelley H.
Maria and Alex have both taken great care of me. I am feeling really good for the first time in a long time. I needed more than just a workout routine and I got some fantastic support from both of them. I have already told several friends and I will continue to recommend you to people when the opportunity arises.
— Kristen D.
I've been going to Core for over 5 years. I love both of the chiropractors that work at Core. Core personal trainers are highly skilled and the massage therapists that work there are excellent. I've recommended Core to many of my friends.
— Beth D.
I love the way everyone one clearly wants to help me heal my problem areas. They're willing to 'fix" me over and over, but also show me how to help myself.
— Rita R.
Consistently effective services, both with customer service and therapy! — Marieke B.
The employees are well informed in how to really help someone. — Cristal R.
A large variety of equipment and classes. Options. Katie Gott, class instructor is our main reason for joining. Excellent, experienced, respected, and motivating. — Deby A.
A large variety of equipment and classes. Options. Katie Gott, class instructor is our main reason for joining. Excellent, experienced, respected, and motivating. — Deby A.
I've very much enjoyed and benefited from the personal training!! Alex is very professional, helpful and my body is greatly improving! I can't wait to do more. I've already told many family members and friends about SC core and fitness!! — Laura B.
I like that you offer so many different types of services. Everyone is very friendly and engaged. Your providers clearly care about your clients. — Lauren M.
Great care! — Matt E.
Great staff all around. — Deb S.
I love how personal all the staff is and of course of love working with Beau. He is kind, encouraging and so knowledgeable. — Susan M.
The time you take to evaluate my needs. — Gordon H.
Very attentive to client's needs and friendly. — Hana H.
Clark is the best trainer/rehab specialist I have ever worked with. What a find!
— Catharine O'Neal.
Targeted, personalized, adaptive.
— Anna Z.
Quality services in a simple facility. — Gavin H.
Friendly staff people and top-notch, custom-fit programming to fit my somewhat difficult need set. Beau is GREAT at what he does. Feel like I'm in the best hands. — Adrian C.
Everything! Wonderful place. Great people. Great connection to insurance coverage. — Joan K.
Very professional. — Ali B.
The facilities clean and inviting ,the receptionists always polite and eager to help and the therapists are very skillful. — Adrianna I.
You have several health care provider options to help me avoid surgery and continue to be active. Every service provider I've tried has been kind, careful and helpful. — Rita R.
Your dedication to great customer service and desire to help people. — Linnea E.
I feel so much better after only 3 weeks of services with Santa Cruz CORE! I am so grateful!!! — Lisa F.
The ENTIRE staff is knowledgeable and clued in to what’s happening. — Elliot S.
The variety of services and the quality of the personnel. — Larry W.
For me, I have been educated and professionally cared for. Am hoping to gain strength and be more healthy. — Jackie C.
Beau is very knowledgeable, as well as kind, patient, and inspiring confidence. I have high hopes for my therapy with him. — Nancy C.
The scientific explanations behind the basic movements. The trainers are detail oriented and present information in a consice and professional manner. — Evan M.
Maria has been able to make a progressive difference in loosening me up and helping with balance. Dr. Rhodes has seen me once a month, and he is the best chiropractor I have seen. So I continue - thankful for both. — Janet P.
The caring people, who work at CORE, make sure that I'm getting the help I need, to encourage my body to heal itself naturally. — Janet P.
Everyone is so caring and knowledgeable. — Darlene B.
The attention to detail both to my exercises and to me as a patient has been outstanding from every therapist, doctor, and other pain specialists I have seen. — Thomas K.
Santa CORE Fitness is the best! Best chiro, best PT, best massage, best myofascial release, best customer service, best all around!! — Erik E.
Friendly, helpful staff and knowledgeable practitioners! — Mariann N.
I am very happy to report that Dr. Ryan Slaughter has helped a lot with therapy for my shoulder, neck and back. I have only had 2 treatments so far, but have noticed a difference already. He has given me several exercises to do at home for strengthening. I am looking forward to next week's appointments with a personal trainer, and a massage therapist. — Joan C.
I have had extraordinary results working with Santa Cruz Core Fitness on rehabilitation following major back surgery. This has involved occasional sessions with their sports chiropractor, Dr. Rhodes Walton, and an intensive rehab program with their senior personal trainer, Clark Carabelas. Both of these professionals have provided first class services which have had tangible impacts on my fitness, posture, and recovery across the board. I have spent most time with Clark, who is a true superstar in his field of expertise. He has an uncanny ability to diagnose how an injury (or surgery) can affect not just the body part in question, but can require corrective measures in other places as a result of compensation over time. Clark then tailors a program (which evolves over time as I improve) to create innovative and balanced sessions. His good sense of humor is another key ingredient to the pleasure and benefits from my experience at Core. — Rhys P.
The quality of providers and the Integrated services under one roof. — Sandra L.
Great service and excellent practitioners! — Jessica W.
One stop shop! — Sam R.
Their customer service is excellent and their employees really know what they're doing. They have helped me so much and I've heard the same from all my friends and co workers who go here too. Highly recommend!
Jaimi, do you have a canned reply, or should we simply say "Thank you and proud to support you and our community!"—Marisa J.
Great staff, massages that cure my aching/painful back. Great talented therapists. I not only would recommend to friends--I have.
—Michelle L.
I am noticing less tightness in my shoulders [after seeing Alex]. Sometimes I have a hard time sleeping because I'm a side sleeper and my shoulders will ache in the night. Hasn't been an issue since I started doing the exercises! No headaches either which has been a relief.
—Amanda P.
I came to CORE with chronic knee and neck pain. I no longer have that pain. If you want the best of the best, then CORE is your place. The best services, the best practitioners, the best staff (in front and behind the scenes). Why are they the best? Because they care about improving your life and your wellness. They treat each client's needs individually and don't follow a one-model method of treating injuries. Thank you CORE. You make Santa Cruz a better place.
—Kimberlee M.
I love Samantha! She is so knowledgable about the body and function. She is also so easy to work out with, an hour goes by and I feel it's been half that time.
—Natalie H.