Upward Physical Therapy Seattle opens on Leary Way

There’s a new physical therapy clinic in Ballard, located on Leary Way above Maria Luisa Empanadas (928 Leary Way NW).

Owner Anna Friedman grew up in Ballard, and says she got her business chops early on.

“I had an entrepreneurial spirit from the beginning, as anyone who would pass by my weekly lemonade stands at Sunset Hill Park would know!” Friedman told My Ballard in an email. “My goal was always to make enough for my cousin and I to be able to rent a movie from Rain City Video (plus snacks of course!).”

After completing her physical therapy degree in Colorado, Friedman returned to Seattle and worked at PT clinics around the city before launching Upward PT.

“When it came time to open up my own clinic, Upward PT, I envisioned a setting that felt more like a community gathering space than a medical clinic,” she said. “A place where you could seek care for an injury, but also meet other like-minded outdoor enthusiasts. A place for classes, events, and where people could come together and have a little fun prepping for their next outdoor adventure. I knew Ballard had to be our home base, just like it has always been for me.”

Upward PT, Friedman says, is unique because it has a focus on injury prevention, offering classes, workshops, and a sauna for clients. She says they serve outdoor enthusiasts of all levels as their primary clientele (runners, hikers, cyclists, rock climbers, etc) as well as pelvic health for the perinatal population.

Friedman is also a prominent figure in the local running community: She founded the Frelard Run Club in 2017, which now has over 100 runners every week meeting at breweries in Ballard.

Upward PT is hosting an open house next Wednesday, May 8, from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. They’ll have beer from Fremont Brewing, local wine and empanadas from Maria Luisa Empanadas along with raffles for a Running Analysis, Bike Fit, and merchandise.

Photos: Upward PT