One back injury turns into a stark reckoning with pain, recovery, and the life you stop postponing when your body forces you to pay attention.

Alex Kaminsky joins Dr. Andrew Fix for a conversation about what happens when a sudden setback makes everything feel immediate. Her story begins with a serious back injury and emergency surgery, but the heart of this episode is the comeback that followed. What do you notice when pain finally lifts? What becomes clear when your body will no longer let you push past the warning signs? Alex reflects on how quickly ordinary things can take on new meaning when movement, comfort, and independence no longer feel guaranteed.

They also get honest about recovery in a way that feels useful and real. Surgery brought relief, but it did not remove the work. Healing asks for patience, discipline, and a willingness to face the weak spots you may have ignored before. This conversation lands on something bigger than rehab alone: gratitude that feels grounded, a sharper respect for quality of life, and a reminder that every setback holds the possibility of a more intentional comeback. What would change if you treated today like something worth fully being in?

Quotes

• “Just understanding that where you’re at today is truly a miracle is the biggest mindset shift.” (38:50 | Alex Kaminsky)
• “Getting through something really hard proves to myself that I can get through really hard things.” (50:14 | Alex Kaminsky)
• “Do all the things. Because all those things, whether they succeed or fail, are what is going to morph you into the person that you are becoming. And becoming is a constant thing.” (50:51 | Alex Kaminsky)
• “I am who I am today because of those things. And this can be said for anything. If your level of hard that you’ve had to go through is maybe like a level one on the level of hard, still a hard thing, right? And it still is making you a better person.” (52:39 | Alex Kaminsky)
• “You have to understand why you’re becoming a better person or why you got through something hard. Otherwise you can’t replicate it or you can’t take that into the next phase of your life.” (54:05 | Alex Kaminsky)

Connect with Alex Kaminsky:

Convergence: The Art of Being Everything (Apple) 

Convergence: The Art of Being Everything (Spotify)

Links

SideKick Tool

Movemate: Award-Winning Active Standing Board

15% off Promo Code: DRA15

RAD Roller

Revogreen

HYDRAGUN 

Athletic Brewing

20% off: ANDREWF20

Connect with Physio Room:

Visit the Physio Room Website

Follow Physio Room on Instagram

Follow Physio Room on Facebook

Andrew’s Personal Instagram

Andrew’s Personal Facebook

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

The post 218. From Setbacks to Comebacks | Alex Kaminsky appeared first on Physio Room.

Adversity challenges us in ways we don’t always expect, but it also offers the chance to uncover resilience, strengthen our mindset, and rethink what truly matters. In this episode, Alex Kaminsky returns to share her story of navigating a bone tumor diagnosis and the physical, mental, and emotional hurdles that came with it. From setbacks in recovery to reevaluating ambitious goals, Alex illustrates how consistency and reflection helped her realign with her passions and rediscover her love for tennis.

Alex’s journey reminds us how slowing down, embracing gratitude, and aligning our goals with our values can turn adversity into growth. What can we learn from facing uncertainty and reframing challenges as opportunities for growth? Join Alex and Dr. Andrew Fix’s discussion as they explore resilience, and offer insights that reveal how even the toughest moments can lead to clarity, strength, and a renewed purpose.

Quotes

• “I was making it even harder on myself by taking on something completely new, like distance running, while also trying to balance it with recovering from an injury. A lot of the frustration that came with different parts of this process forced me to reflect and dig deep. I let myself sit with the discomfort, listen to my thoughts, and ask myself: Why is this so frustrating? What’s holding me back? And what do I need to do to move forward?” (28:18 | Alex Kaminsky)
• “My other rule is that nothing is too big or too small to be grateful for. It can be something simple, like saying, ‘I’m grateful for sunshine,’ and that’s enough. Other days, it’s like, ‘I’m grateful for my loving and supportive parents who have gone through hell and back to make sure that I had the best life possible.’ It can be extravagant, but it can literally be so silly. Both are equally important for shifting your mindset and rewiring your brain to focus on positivity and see the good in everything. We’ve all been around those people who, no matter what they’re going through, always bring that positive energy into a conversation.” (41:05 | Alex Kaminsky)
• “I think it’s really important to understand that it’s similar to the law of attraction—what you think about expands, and what you focus on grows. So, you need to focus on visualizing the things you want, not the things you don’t want.” (50:52 | Alex Kaminsky)
• “One of the biggest things and one of the things that’s the hardest for me is just giving yourself grace. And I think it’s so easy to see other people doing a great job, pushing through, and persevering. And we just tend to be so hard on ourselves.” (59:47 | Alex Kaminsky)

Links

Connect with Alex Kaminsky:
https://www.realkaminsky.com/

https://www.instagram.com/alexkaminsky222/

https://open.spotify.com/show/1VEwGlGsstM4B0EefzohAX?si=b2822ab5c7644036

SideKick Tool:

https://bit.ly/4a6CqJS

Movemate:
Award-Winning Active Standing Board

https://shorturl.at/egkA1

Promo Code: DRA15

15% off

RAD Roller:

http://radroller.refr.cc/drandrewfix

Revogreen

https://revogreen.co/drandrewfix

HYDRAGUN


https://bit.ly/43rAtnX

Athletic Brewing:

20% off: https://athleticbrewing.rfrl.co/vrmx8

20% off: ANDREWF20

Connect with Physio Room:

Website | https://physioroomco.com/

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/physioroomco/

Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/physioroomco

Andrew’s Personal Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/drandrewfix/

Andrew’s Personal Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/andrew.fix.9/

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

The post 153. Overcoming Adversity | Alex Kaminsky appeared first on Physio Room.

“Starting to do little things for ourselves and realizing how much happier we were outside of the office snowballed into us wanting to do more for ourselves,” explains Reana Kaminsky, Co-owner of the getREAL Shop. Reana and her sister Alex first came to Physio Room for recovery help after a bike run event and now are close friends of the group. Reflecting on their weight loss journeys, the Kaminsky sisters share their passion for fitness and what led them to start their business.

Life-long athletes, Reana and Alex, gained considerable weight once they started desk jobs. During covid, they decided to get back into shape and regain healthy habits. After committing to their fitness and nutrition, they shared their journeys via Youtube, inspiring others with their vulnerability. By accepting themselves and starting their own online store, the Kaminsky sisters allowed their positive changes to make everything else fall into place.

No matter what your profession is, you must take care of yourself. Learn more about the Kaminsky sisters’ relatable experience with weight gain, the benefits of group fitness, and why you should always be real.

Quotes

• “Starting to do little things for ourselves and realizing how much happier we were outside of the office snowballed into us wanting to do more for ourselves.” (15:02-15:18) |Reana)

• “If you eat better, you’re going to be able to put better effort into your job, you’re going to be able to put better effort into your family or friends, or you’re going to have all this energy. And it’s going to be amazing.” (21:56-22:08) |Alex)

• “Put in the honest work. Don’t kid yourself. And don’t sell yourself short. That’s how you can make any kind of change.” (47:08-47:15) |Alex)

• “I’m grateful that we are competent enough to share our story. Because then these amazing people we meet are comfortable sharing their stories with us.”  (49:29-49:40) |Reana)

• “When you’re in a rut or transition mode, get back to the things that make you feel your best. And that’s what’s going to help you get back into a good groove.” (58:21-58:34) |Alex)

Links

Connect with Reana & Alex Kaminsky:

Website | www.getrealshop.com

Instagram Reana | https://www.instagram.com/reanakaminsky/

Instagram Alex | https://www.instagram.com/alexkaminsky22/

Connect with Physio Room: 

Website | ​​https://physioroomco.com/

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/physioroomco/

Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/physioroomco

Andrew’s Personal Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dr.andrewfix/

Andrew’s Personal Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/andrew.fix.9/

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

The post 43. GetREAL | Reana & Alex Kaminsky appeared first on Physio Room.