Throughout life we may encounter experiences that generate significant physical limitations, especially as we age or due to injury. These limitations may require us to redefine who we are and adapt appropriately for what we can do and who we can become. This often becomes more than a process—it becomes a journey.

Barbara Jones knows this journey very well. Diagnosed with degenerative disc disease in her 40s, Barbara knew surgery was inevitable. In preparation, Barbara trained to be in the best shape of her life—running, cycling, lifting and doing hot yoga every day. And in August of 2017 at the age of 56, her life changed.

Enduring four surgeries over only six weeks, Barbara first had several vertebrae in her neck replaced to relieve pressure on her spinal column. Then her doctor opened her up six weeks later for surgeries two through four, which reset the vertebrae of her spinal column with titanium plates. Barbara spent eight days in the hospital and weeks on a cocktail of different drugs. Starting with walking in a pool and a walker, Barbara slowly and painfully rebuilt her cardiovascular fitness—eventually ditching both the drugs and the walker for a stationary bike and steps on an elliptical.

After 12 weeks, she started with light weights—four-pound dumbbells. She advanced to light weight on machines. While this seemed better than nothing, she “became very frustrated with the progress.” Her workouts improved her cardiovascular fitness, but she wasn’t able to rebuild her muscles because of the weight and movement restrictions.

Frustration finally led Barbara to start using electro muscle stimulation (EMS) with P20 in 2019 around two years post-surgeries. Having been a member at Worldgate Gym, she’d walked past the front desk for years, certain she could never try it because of the titanium in her body. Finally, she took a flyer and, much to her surprise, her surgeon cleared her to use EMS due to titanium’s unique biocompatibility.

Working out while wearing an EMS training suit changed Barbara both physically and emotionally. For Barbara, EMS is “a testimony to how much you can mimic heavy duty exercise.” Even without being able to twist, bend or do traditional abdominal crunches, Barbara says: “P20 just made me feel so much better because it can stimulate those muscles whereas before they weren’t being accessed.” Unable to lift enough to build her back muscles traditionally, the stimulation pads on her back accessed those muscles for her through the stimulation. And even without getting on the floor to do crunches, Barbara couldn’t believe the improvement in her core strength. She recalls: “I can’t do crunches but enter P20 now I have abs of steel. I couldn’t add that resistance on my own.”

And, after going to P20 twice a week for about five months, Barbara had her “a-ha” moment. She kept up with her husband over five days of killer hikes in Zion National Park. She remembers: “I was full of stamina and had so much elation on that trip. It just made me feel empowered.”

Many years later, Barbara not only continues to work out with P20 but also joined as a personal trainer in 2024. Barbara loves sharing her story and helping clients who have similar limitations.

Along with becoming a P20 teammate, Barbara says that exercising and working with P20 has helped her psychologically. While she worked hard physically to rebuild her body, her mind healed more slowly. Post-operation depression was very real for Barbara—she could no longer work as a spin or yoga instructor, no longer run or cycle as she had before. In fact, because her spine is fused flat, she can never really twist or bend, which means no yoga at all.

In addition to grieving for the body you had, you’re also grieving for the community you lost. Barbara says: “When I lost my yoga, I lost my community. You become so close to your workout buddies. You become friends.” P20 helped Barbara “rebuild that community of like-minded fitness buffs.” This new P20 community helped Barbara not just physically but also emotionally.