Nurturing Water Therapies’ mission is to nurture the human body and spirit of those who are health challenged. Our services complement your existing therapies and treatment.
We help people of all ages with sensory, developmental, neurological, physical or other health challenges.
We know what it’s like to have loved ones who require life-long care and we are impassioned to help you.
Sandy Karlek, owner of Nurturing Water Therapies, has a BA in Communication/Recreation and is certified in both Aquatic Therapy and Exercise Therapy. She has over 25 years of experience in aquatics working with a diverse group of clients, across all ages, with various congenital or acquired health challenges. With a child of her own with special needs, she also has firsthand experience in behavioral, sensory and developmental challenges. Sandy’s innovative water-based therapy, water safety techniques, and exercise programs are individually created to best fit the needs of each individual. For more about how Sandy got started and more, please read her blog.
Daniela (Dani) Garmendia is passionate, self-motivated, disciplined, enthusiastic, resilient, and goal oriented. Originally from Venezuela, Daniela swam for many years with the Venezuelan synchronized swimming National team, and currently is the assistant coach to the US National team. She graduated from Lindenwood University in 2017 with a Bachelors in Athletic Training. She has been a swim instructor and lifeguard for over 8 years and has worked with people of all ages and abilities. Her patience, experience and creative nature is demonstrated as she works with the wide range of clients in the pool.
Pennie moved here with her family 6 years ago from Michigan where she practiced massage for many years. The opportunity to begin a new career lead Pennie to rediscover her passion for swimming. Pennie has been a life long water lover swimming since she was a child and during high school. While coordinating swim lessons and staff at an aquatic facility it provided her with various teaching opportunities and exposure to different cultures of all ages and abilities, with which truly spoke to her heart. One of her favorite things about teaching is seeing the self confidence that is gained through being more comfortable in the water. Pennie enjoys being able to help, support, grow each person she serves with patience and care meeting individuals exactly where they are. Pennie has come to Nurturing Water Therapy to merge her past and her present through Aqua therapy and the love of swimming in Adaptive lessons. She is currently working on her certification in behavioral therapy to help and support families with ASD and continuing courses at ATRI.
“It’s such a rewarding feeling to be able to help others feel better and help build confidence in the water”
Bekah June began swimming competitively in her childhood and continued throughout high school. She has several years of experience both as a lifeguard and a coach. Though she enjoys the sport, her true passion is education. She has experience instructing swimmers of all ages and abilities. Most recently, Bekah worked as an early childhood educator. She is passionate about aquatics and rehabilitation and is looking forward to sharing these passions with adults and children in a therapeutic setting.
Lindsey Petz obtained her bachelors degree in Exercise Science from Montana State University in 2017, and she took several courses on pediatric development and psychology throughout the course of her studies. Currently she is enrolled in the Physical Therapy Assistant program at Lake Washington Institute of Technology. She has worked in a variety of physical therapy settings for the past four years as a physical therapy aide, including a pediatric physical therapy clinic. She’s had hands on interaction with each patient, which included aquatic therapy sessions. Some of the conditions she has worked with include: cerebral palsy, autism, down syndrome, gross motor delay, and brachial plexus injuries. She has always loved working in the water with clients, and is looking forward to incorporating all of her passions and sharing her expertise with the Nurturing Water Therapies team.
Ryan Rebosa is compassionate, committed and competent. Originally from the Philippines, which is surrounded by water and beaches, Ryan learned to swim at an early age and enjoys swimming laps during his day offs. From 2011 to October 2018, Ryan practiced Physical Therapy in the Philippines handling cases such as strokes, traumatic brain injury, autism and many more. Currently Ryan is studying for his license in the State of Washington. He is is incredible with his clients of all ages and bring a lot of experience and new skills to the NWT Team.
Carlie grew up loving water and swam competitively until high school. Now she swims for fun and coaches high school swimming. Within that, she has produced a few state titles and has had swimmers break state records. She is also a kinesiology student at Lake Washington Technical College and enjoys practicing her kines skills in and out of the water. She is excited to combine her two passions and work with clients both with adaptive swim lessons and aquatic therapy at Nurturing Water Therapies.
Leslie Lewis’ education and initial career path was in public relations and marketing, but life and her beautiful autistic daughter took her in 2005 into special education. Since then, she has worked as a para-educator with children and young people with special needs. Leslie enjoys spending her free time with her family, in her garden, and out on the golf course.