About Our Space
This is a space built for movement, designed for connection, and equipped to help you feel at home.
At Embody Health and Performance, our clinic inside The Marsh in Minnetonka isn’t just functional—it’s intentional. We’ve created an environment that’s open, calm, and grounded in the same principles that shape our care: focus, flow, and long-term results.
From private treatment rooms and open gym space to the surrounding wellness amenities, every detail is here to support the work you’re doing—whether that’s recovery, strength training, or simply taking a moment to reconnect with your body.
We believe your healing environment matters. And when that space is clean, calming, and centered around you, the process feels different. Better. More possible.
Meet our Team
Behind every great outcome is a team that knows their craft
At Embody, our providers combine clinical expertise with lived experience to deliver care that’s both strategic and personal. We work together across physical therapy, sports performance, and functional wellness to help you move better, heal fully, and live stronger—for the long haul.
Owner • Doctor of Physical Therapy • PhysioCoach
Christopher Warden
PT, DPT, MA, CSCS
Christopher Warden is the founder of Embody Health and Performance and a practitioner with over 25 years of experience in physical therapy, sports performance, and holistic health. He holds advanced degrees in Microbiology, Applied Sports Psychology, and Physical Therapy, along with certifications in movement arts, pain science, injury rehab, gait analysis, traditional nutrition, and healing practices.
His career has taken him from New York City—where he worked with elite athletes and A-list performers—to Morocco, where he served as personal coach to a member of the Royal Family and led strength and conditioning for the national golf teams.
What sets Christopher apart is his ability to connect the dots between complex symptoms and the deeper systems behind them. His approach blends movement, touch, breathwork, and mindset to help clients access healing that goes far beyond the physical. He sees himself as a mirror—guiding people into greater awareness, integration, and lasting change.
When he's not in the clinic, Christopher enjoys long dinners with friends, traveling internationally with his wife, homesteading, celebrating his kids, walking the dogs, and training to better embody the work he lives and teaches.
Founder of Merz Physical Therapy • Physical Therapist
Doug Merz
PT
Doug Merz has been a foundational part of the Marsh community since 1994, when he established Merz Physical Therapy—now Embody Health and Performance. With decades of clinical experience, Doug specializes in acute biomechanical assessment and custom therapeutic exercise protocols that empower clients to manage their recovery with clarity and independence.
Known for his collaborative mindset, Doug draws on a strong referral network of integrative practitioners across the Twin Cities to support those navigating complex or chronic conditions. He often incorporates Iyengar-based yoga into care plans to support mobility, alignment, and long-term wellness.
Doug has a particular interest in the foot and ankle’s role in lower-body mechanics and serves as a consultant to physical therapists and clinics seeking deeper insight into this area of practice.
Before entering the field of physical therapy, Doug served in the Peace Corps in Honduras and worked with emotionally challenged youth at The Menninger Foundation. He continues to give back through volunteer work with We Can Ride, a therapeutic horseback riding program for individuals with physical and mental challenges.
Doctor of physical therapy
Andrew Cardinal
PT, DPT
Andrew Cardinal joined Embody Health and Performance after earning his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Des Moines University. With a background in athletics and a lifelong interest in movement, physical therapy offered the perfect blend of science, strategy, and human connection.
Andrew enjoys working with clients across all ages and orthopedic conditions. His approach blends hands-on manual therapy with corrective exercise, and always starts with one thing: listening. By taking time to understand each person’s goals, motivations, and values, he creates customized treatment plans that help clients return to what matters most—on their terms.
He’s committed to continuing education and professional growth, always aiming to refine his skills and expand what’s possible for the people he serves.
Outside the clinic, Andrew enjoys Minnesota’s seasons—especially when there’s a lake, a fishing pole, or good company involved. He also makes time for sports, friendships, and his own health and fitness.
Doctor of physical therapy
Alexander Bondarenko
PT, DPT
Alexander Bondarenko brings a deep respect for movement and a strong clinical foundation to his work as a physical therapist. He earned his Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Clarkson University and holds a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from California State University–Northridge.
A lifelong learner, Alexander blends cutting-edge research with hands-on experience to create thoughtful, evolving care for each client. He’s passionate about using movement as medicine—building trust, creating momentum, and helping people reach their full potential.
He also holds certifications through Functional Movement Systems, The Gray Institute, Rock Tape, and LSVT Big for clients managing Parkinson’s and neurological conditions.
Outside the clinic, Alexander has spent over 20 years studying martial arts and more than a decade teaching traditional karate, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and Filipino Martial Arts. His movement practice continues to shape the way he teaches, treats, and connects with clients every day.
Physical Therapist • Integrative Wellness Educator
Anna McConnville
DPT, Cert. Cannabis Consultant
Anna McConnville is a trauma-informed physical therapist and holistic wellness guide who blends science, somatics, and spirit to help people navigate complex health conditions with clarity, compassion, and practical tools for lasting change.
Her approach is shaped by both personal and professional experience—including her own journey with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, MCAS, and autoimmune conditions. Anna integrates neuroplasticity principles, fascia and nervous system-based therapies, cannabis education, and movement strategies tailored to each client’s unique pace and physiology.
She holds advanced training in pain neuroscience, craniosacral therapy, visceral manipulation, HeartMath®, and energy healing—and she’s certified through the EDS Society’s ECHO program to support hypermobility and chronic illness rehabilitation with precision and care.
Before her career in physical therapy, Anna trained as a mime and clown—creativity that still infuses her practice today. Whether in person or virtually, she partners with clients to co-create sustainable healing through presence, intuition, and deep respect for the body’s innate wisdom.
Certified Functional Wellness Coach • Operations Manager
Sara Warden
Functional Wellness Coach
Sara Warden is a certified functional wellness coach who helps individuals reconnect with their health through whole-person strategies that integrate nutrition, lifestyle, mindset, and environment. Her approach is rooted in lived experience—from navigating burnout and chronic symptoms to reclaiming her own vitality as a dancer, mother, and lifelong learner.
Sara’s journey into functional wellness began during pregnancy, when her curiosity around traditional food practices became a passion for using nutrition as medicine. After rebuilding her own health from the inside out, she began guiding others through their own transformation—offering education and sustainable strategies for balanced living.
Now certified through Curovie and working alongside her husband, Christopher, Sara offers personalized coaching that helps clients cut through the noise, uncover root causes, and create lasting change. She uses food, habit tracking, and the power of circadian rhythms to help realign physiology, restore energy, and regulate the body’s natural healing systems. Sara is known for meeting each client with honesty, empathy, and depth. Her mission is simple: help people reclaim ownership of their health and feel more grounded in their own lives.
Functional Nutritionist • Front Desk Administration
Caroline Feeley
Functional wellness coach
Caroline Feeley is a functional nutritionist with a deep passion for helping people heal from the inside out. She holds a Master’s degree in Functional Nutrition and Integrative Health, and brings a root-cause, whole-person lens to everything she does.
Her path into this work was personal—after years of navigating chronic illness, Caroline experienced firsthand the power of food as medicine. That transformation inspired her to pursue nutrition professionally, blending scientific insight with lived wisdom. With a background in fitness instruction, she also sees movement as an essential part of wellness and loves helping clients reconnect with their bodies in strong, empowering ways.
At the core of her work is relationship. Caroline believes healing happens through trust, intention, and being deeply heard—and she brings that presence into every client conversation.
Outside the clinic, you'll find her enjoying the outdoors, traveling when she can, and spending time with her dog Leia, her boyfriend, and the people she loves most.
Health Coach • Pelvic-Floor Expert
Lesley Koehnen
Pelvic floor expert, Pilates Instructor
Lesley Koehnen brings over two decades of experience teaching Pilates to adults over 50 and fostering wellness through movement, education, and community connection. As the founder of Village Health, she’s known for creating safe, welcoming spaces that support healing, strength, and lifelong mobility.
Her work is rooted in trust—built over years of walking alongside clients through seasons of growth, recovery, and resilience. Lesley’s approach is collaborative and heart-centered, empowering clients to feel at home in their bodies and confident in their capacity.
Beyond the studio, Lesley volunteers with Pathways Minneapolis, where she facilitates virtual small-group health coaching. She also advocates for food and wellness policy improvements in the Wayzata School District through the Healthy Food and Healthy Habits parent group.
A lifelong learner, Lesley is passionate about exploring holistic practices, cooking with local foods, supporting small businesses, and modeling well-being in her family and community. She lives in Minnetonka with her husband and two children, who continually inspire her with their curiosity and creativity.
