“We’re both athletes,” said Becka Lyons, motioning to her husband and business partner Reuben, “And we talk all the time about how being an athlete is more of a mindset than anything else.” 

Becka has a doctorate degree in physical therapy and Reuben is a physical therapist assistant and athletic trainer. The couple is starting a new business, Elevation PT and Sports Rehab, and they are in the process of finishing up their location in the 1 Jaffrey Road plaza in Peterborough. Lifelong Athlete, the gym currently on Voss Road, is going to relocate to share the space with them.

Becka knew she wanted to be a physical therapist since she was 16. “I grew six inches in six months and was an avid runner,” she said. She started experiencing injuries and, “I went to Monadnock for PT with Hunter Burgess – I was going to be a large-animal vet – then I went to PT and thought, ‘That’s pretty cool.’”

Reuben didn’t choose his path quite as young or as definitively. He had a biology teacher recommend the PT program and gave it a try. “Since I got into the field my interest in the job has only grown,” Reuben said. 

Becka and Reuben were both working at Monadnock Community Hospital before starting their business. They were struck by how many people needed physical therapy and how long most of them had to wait to see a therapist. Sometimes it was eight weeks. 

“Things could get progressively worse during [that time],” Becka said.

And many patients have to travel out of the area for treatment. “We’re hoping with our knowledge and expertise, combined with the thought we put into renovating our space, that those individuals now have an option closer to home that will serve their needs,” she said.

John Blair and his business partner Chris Lundsted run Lifelong Athlete. They opened in September of 2021 within the Monadnock Gymnastics Center. 

“It’s been a great starting point for us,” Blair said, “And we’ve been able to grow a little bit. We’re excited to have a bigger space.”

Blair and Lundsted were athletes at ConVal and felt like there was a lack of fitness guidance outside of their sports. They wanted to provide that to the community. They work with middle- and high-school athletes, offer personal training sessions and small-group classes for all ages. Their senior class is really popular.

While the two businesses are separate, “We have very similar philosophies,” Blair said, and “We’re looking forward to being that next step after people transition out of physical therapy.”

Reuben explained that they approach physical therapy using a biopsychosocial model. “The word ‘holistic’ gets thrown around a lot,” he said, “That’s really what it is.” Reben and Becka look at the whole person, their biological, psychological and social elements and how these elements may influence each other. Outside stressors can have a big impact on a person’s body and their perception of how their body is feeling.

Elevation PT and Sports Rehab will not require referrals unless insurance requires it, and they offer out-of-pocket pricing for those without insurance. For Becka and Reuben it’s really important to make PT accessible for everyone. “We treat people of all abilities,” Becka said. 

Becka coaches cross-country and track at Mascenic High School, her alma mater, and Reuben coaches a local mountain bike team, the Contoocook Valley Chain Gang. 

In their work and their spare time Becka said it’s important to be “giving back and supporting a community that has supported us our whole lives.” She explained that when she was getting her degree she knew “we would be the first line of health care for people.” She said more than ever that is the reality with long waits to see primary care doctors. 

“It’s about being able to get people to the right person,” Reuben said. “It’s all teamwork” within the health care system.

The business already has had clients reach out. “It lowers that feeling of risk,” Becka said, “You know there’s such a need.”

The gym will include a turf sprint track along one wall and rubber flooring. In the back there are patient exam rooms. Becka and Reuben thank Nels Traffie and the Hutter Construction team for making the construction process smooth and timely.

Elevation PT and Sports Rehab is at 1 Jaffrey Road, Unit 9 in Peterborough. They are active on Instagram and Facebook, and their website will be launching soon. They expect to open mid-August.

Lifelong Athlete is planning to open Aug. 8. They can also be found on Instagram and Facebook. For class schedules and information,  send email to lifelongathlete3@ gmail.com or visit the contact section on their website, lifelongathletegym.com.

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