Name: Christina Maher

Family: I’m the daughter of Terry and Hulaine Powell of Thomasville, Georgia. My two older brothers, Kent and Cal Powell, are both UGA grads. I happily followed in their footsteps when heading off to UGA in the fall of 1998.  In 2013, I married Savannah native, Patrick Maher, and we have two precious daughters, Audrey and Juliette.

Hometown: Thomasville, Georgia

Current Town: Thomasville, Georgia

What Years at UGA: 1998-2002

School/Degree: Grady College of Journalism with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, Minor in Dance; Master of Dance Education from UNC-Greensboro; Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Armstrong State University

Profession: After graduating from UGA, I began working for an international public relations firm. I quickly realized this career wasn’t a good fit for me.  It was the first time in my life that I wasn’t a part of the dance scene. Dance was a significant part of my life from a very young age.  So after a few months in public relations, I quickly decided to make my way back to dance.  I started teaching dance at local studios in Atlanta and returned to UGA to get a teacher certification in dance. This path led me to Savannah where I directed a pre-professional dance program at Savannah Arts Academy, a visual and performing arts high school in downtown Savannah, Georgia. It was during my tenure at Savannah Arts that my interest in injury prevention, therapeutic yoga and Pilates, and movement behavior and patterns prompted a career change into physical therapy. Off to physical therapy school I went and I haven’t looked back since. I attribute my unique approach to therapy and my rehab success rate to my personal experience as a dancer and dance teacher.

Georgia Foundation for Physical Therapy Scholarship recipient, author of a children’s book “Ladybug and the Music from Above the Sky”, American Ballet Theatre certified instructor, founding member of the Savannah Dance Festival, founder and CEO of The Method, an outpatient physical therapy and wellness studio that specializes in the continuum of care.

Book: I’m currently reading Breath by James Nestor (1) and Principles of Movement by Brent Anderson. For light reading, I’ve recently been loving all the books by Abby Jimenez.

Magazine: Dance Magazine, Southern Living, Garden & Gun.

Podcast: Cultivate What Matters, Celebrate Muliebrity, Raising Boys & Girls, Made of Stronger Stuff, Made For This.

Blog: I’m not really a blog reader. I spend my leisure time listening to podcasts or reading books mostly related to anatomy, physical therapy, or female entrepreneurship.

Instagram: @‌themethodthomasville of course, along with @‌ballerinafarm (2), @sarablakely, @‌lulug.strong, @cleerelystated, @‌gaithappens

Brand: Hunter Bell, Oliphant, Natalie Martin, Olivia James, Julie Amory, Varley, Alo.

Fashion designer: Anything designed by Monique Lhuillier. (3) I’m having flashbacks to my beautiful lace wedding dress designed by her. Her designs are timeless and classic.

Interior designer: I don’t have a specific designer, but I Iove a mix of traditional design with a little coastal flare. I’m all in with calming colors and natural light. Give me all the Society Social and Serena and Lilly!

Chef: My Granny Smith. No one did southern cooking like her. Mmm-mmm-good–  those hot-out-of-the-oven buttermilk biscuits!

Historical figure: Jesus.

Quote: 

“But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31

Describe Athens in five words or less: My college besties and I call Athens The Golden City, mainly due to our golden college memories.

Restaurants and bars: Last Resort (4) (give me all the cheesecake), East West, The Grill and DePalma’s.

Shops: Heery’s has had me since 1998!

Athens/campus landmark: The Arch, The Chapel Bell, and Sanford Stadium.

Memory while in school: There are too many good ones– everything at 250 S Milledge (go Phi Mu), the UGA Dance Department, gamedays in Athens, and even studying on north campus.

Professor/class: The professor who made the biggest impression on me was one of my public relations professors, Dr. Carolyn Acosta-Alzuru, or Dr. A as we lovingly referred to her. She had a way of connecting with each of her students that was so impactful and encouraging. It was my experience in her classroom that made me realize the significant power of community and camaraderie.

Gameday ritual/plan: Gameday in college wasn’t complete without a visit to Bob and Penny McGuinn’s tailgate. No one celebrates gameday better than the McGuinn’s. There was a rotating curated meal by Penny, a dancing DJ, a beautifully decorated space donning all the red and black, all my college besties, and the air of excitement that only Saturdays in Athens can evoke.

Tailgate Recipe: Keep it simple– pigs in a blanket.