Dr. Deanna Marinucci, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS

Deanna Marinucci, Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) and Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS), began her career at a Physical Therapy clinic in Manhattan, NY, where she specialized in Sports & Orthopedics. Here, Deanna developed expertise in posture, movement, and working with high-stress and anxiety-prone individuals, which ignited her passion for body awareness, postural rehabilitation, and stress reduction.

In 2018, Deanna moved to the Bay Area as a traveling physical therapist. This experience fueled her interest in working with a diverse clientele with various ailments. Eventually, she settled in San Francisco, joining an orthopedic outpatient clinic dedicated to Postural Restoration Institute (PRI) methodologies. This position solidified her passion for the art of breathing and led her to further education through PRI, focusing on the connection between breathing mechanics and the pelvic floor.

During this period, she also began taking courses with Herman & Wallace for pelvic floor training and started working onsite at Meta Headquarters with Crossover Health in Menlo Park. At Meta, she co-founded the Pelvic Health Physical Therapy Program and integrated her knowledge of breathing mechanics into her work with athletes, tech professionals, and the perinatal population.

Over the past few years, Deanna has furthered her education in orofacial myofunctional therapy through AOMT to enhance her understanding of airway function. This therapy centers around improving the function of the facial, jaw, and tongue muscles to optimize breathing, sleep, chewing, swallowing, and speech.

Deanna has been focusing on athletic recovery for a variety of clients, from Olympic athletes to pediatrics, enhancing sports performance by improving airway function and addressing conditions like sleep-disordered breathing and exercise-induced asthma.

Deanna's international travels have reignited her love for freediving and open water swimming. These experiences, which require intense breathwork and meditation, have deeply influenced her approach to patient care. Deanna is an assistant freediving instructor, having trained at schools in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Her experience includes refining techniques to improve lung capacity, breath holds, and relaxation techniques. This has led her to a deeper understanding of different styles of meditation and mindfulness, training in trauma-informed practices.

Currently, Deanna resides in Santa Cruz, California, where she practices at Apiros Gym and provides concierge-style home visits. She is passionate about integrating multiple body systems, from movement and breathing to recovery and performance. With the goal of helping people return to the activities, relationships, and experiences that make them feel most alive, capable, and inspired.