Wijs, Amsterdam-West

I was born and raised in Italy. I have been passionate about sport since my teenage years. I started with swimming and gymnastics, followed by kickboxing.

I have now worked as a physiotherapist for four years. After graduating, I went straight into practice. I am currently studying for a master's degree in Orthopaedic Manual Therapy at the Hogeschool Utrecht.

You should be free to do the things you want to do. That matters to me in my own life and as a physiotherapist. I see a client not simply as someone with a complaint, but as a person who should be able to live freely and without physical limitations. No two complaints are therefore the same.

I grew up in Ireland and decided, perhaps ironically, to move to another equally rainy country to study physiotherapy. But let us rewind for a moment.

For me, sport and physical activity are inseparable from mental health. They are among the few ways I can get out of my head. After a good workout, I feel calm and my mind is quiet.

Het idee van Wijs is eigenlijk heel eenvoudig: mensen een plek bieden waar je echt aan je gezondheid kunt werken vanuit een klinische setting. Kennisoverdracht is hierin volgens mij cruciaal.

My father was a GP and understood very well that I needed an outlet for my energy. We lived on Schellingwouderdijk in Amsterdam-Noord, where I was always playing outside. I also played football and went ice skating.

I am half French and half Dutch. I grew up in France before moving to Amsterdam, where I have now happily lived for 27 years.

I was born in Amsterdam-Oost, at Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis Oost (OLVG-Oost). Throughout my childhood, I took part in various sports, including football, judo, basketball and sailing. At the age of 13, I moved to Hilversum with my parents, and that is where my passion for Capoeira began.