Linda Owen Cantrill
Founder, Spirited Balance, llc
My experience began in the early 1980s when I joined the Commission on Aging and Visitation under the esteemed guidance of Sister Pat Murphy, Ph.D in Los Angeles, CA. It was a transformative experience that deepened my understanding of the social and emotional needs of older adults. This experience motivated me to pursue Degrees in Therapeutic Recreation, Aging/Geriatrics and additional certifications to enhance her knowledge.
With extensive training and education I have developed programs for communities, institutions, groups and instructed individuals groups in Fall Prevention, Senior Fitness, Therapeutic Pilates, and Recreation programs across various platforms such as pilates studios, healthcare systems, educational institutions, and community centers.
Meet Linda
What you will experience
Clients benefit from Linda’s extensive training in a variety of therapeutic modalities. The process begins with a thorough assessment that evaluates each client’s current fitness level, fall risk, and personal goals. Based on this individualized evaluation, Linda crafts a comprehensive and sustainable program tailored to meet the unique needs of each client.
This program not only focuses on the fundamentals of balance and movement but also emphasizes the importance of enhancing the mind-body connection. In addition, Linda engages students in the learning process, equipping them with essential strategies to increase core strength and stability to reduce the risk of injury. With Linda’s guidance, integrity and support clients gain the skills and confidence they need to achieve greater independence and well-being.
MY APPROACH
Thrive at Every Age
A comprehensive approach to older adult well-being — building strength, flexibility, and balance while fostering social connection and reducing fall risk, one of the leading causes of injury and loss of independence among older adults.
I believe every older adult deserves to move through their own life with confidence, strength, and dignity. My work is grounded in evidence-based practice and current best practices in fall prevention, and in genuine relationship with the people I serve — a conviction that fall prevention is ultimately about protecting independence, not just improving a test score. I bring nearly 40 years of movement and fitness education to that belief, and I show up for the long term, both for clients and for the communities I work in.
WISCONSIN / CURRENT COMMUNITY WORK
● Stepping-On Facilitator, Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging network — facilitate this evidence-based fall prevention program several times a year, including sessions coordinated at the Oregon and McFarland Senior Centers
● Certified Strong Bodies Instructor — University of Wisconsin
● Instructor, Online Therapeutic Pilates & Fall Prevention
● Mentoring professionals in Mat Pilates for the older adult
● Created and taught Balance, Strength & Core Stability —Goodman Rotary +50
● Member, Falls Free Coalition (Wisconsin) — Statewide fall prevention network
● Active relationships Madison-senior communities, healthcare, allied professionals networks
CAREER HISTORY
Spirited Balance, LLC — Founder & Owner 2003 – Present
● Built and led an active-aging fitness and fall-prevention practice serving clients, senior centers, and healthcare partners across California and Oregon.
● Delivered FallProof™, Better Bones and Balance™, Balance Challenge™, Therapeutic Pilates, and Big and Loud™ (Parkinson's/LSVT) programming — in person and online
● Specialist Instructor / Mentor roles: UCLA M.S. Achievement Center, YMCA, Central Oregon Council on Aging, Tetherow Residential Resort, multiple senior centers and private clients
● Partnered with the Los Angeles Balance Disorders Institute to co-create the trademarked Balance Challenge™ community program
● Developed and delivered fall prevention continuing education for healthcare providers, caregivers, and community centers
● Mentored individuals entering the older-adult health and fitness field
● Co-produced "The Best of Health for You," a UnitedHealthcare education video reaching 6,000 Medicare members
● Created the first Senior Nursing Home Olympics program (Los Angeles, CA -St. Paul, MN)
CERTIFICATIONS & TRAINING
● StrongBodies™— Strength-training-for-life — University of Wisconsin Health & Well-Being Institute
● FallProof™ Balance and Mobility Specialist Instructor — California State University, Fullerton, Center for Successful Aging
● Better Bones and Balance™ Instructor — Oregon State University
● Pilates Movement Specialist (500+ hrs.) — Long Beach Dance Academy Pilates Inspiration
● Balanced Disorders™ Institute: VestibularFunction/Dysfunction,
● Balanced Body Institute: Fascial Research & Movement, Postural Changes in Aging, Vestibular Function/Dysfunction, Reformer Work for High Fall-Risk Clients
● BIG and LOUD LSVT™ Trainer — Evidence-based Parkinson's therapy, LSVT Global
● Certified Lay Volunteer Leader, Matter of Balance™ — National Council on Aging
● Certified Yoga Instructor — Loyola Marymount University
Additional certifications, training, and full career history available upon request.
EDUCATION
● Graduate Program, Recreation/Leisure Studies — California State University, Long Beach, CA
● B.S., Gerontology, Program Planning & Development — The Union Institute, Los Angeles, CA
● A.A., Recreational Therapy — Santa Monica City College, CA
MEMBERSHIPS
● Falls Free Coalition (Wisconsin)
● International Council on Active Aging (ICAA)
● Pilates Method Alliance
Linda
Driven by curiosity and built on purpose, this is where bold thinking meets thoughtful execution. Let’s create something meaningful together.
