Maggie and Pradeep: Deep Physiotherapy

An online interview

As of January 2021, the collaboration between Deep Physiotherapy and ESP has led to one exercise video per day, posted on Instagram and YouTube to inspire the current and next generation of ESP students and many other people across the globe. As the views are growing exponentially, we thought it would be good to interview the main characters behind this successful project, Maggie and Pradeep!

When did you graduate from ESP and what are you up to now?

Maggie

I graduated from ESP in July 2020. Graduating during the pandemic was tough, so I’ve been taking some time for myself and exploring other interests while I wait to get BIG-registered. I recently passed all my Dutch tests so fingers crossed it happens soon. After completing my thesis product, I discovered that I have a large interest in content creation and social media management. I’ve established casual working relationships with a few small companies to see where this interest could potentially lead. In summer 2020 I also joined forces with Pradeep and ESP to create Deep Physiotherapy, and am mainly involved in the planning and production side of things.

Pradeep

I graduated ESP in the summer of 2019. After the first year, I thought I would be able to cruise and graduate with ease in the next two years. I was wrong. It took some long days and nights, but luckily was able to graduate in July of 2019. Since then I have managed to work on my Dutch and secure a position at USC (University Sport Centrum). I like this work because it allows me to work with students and other young professionals like myself. I also work part-time as a Personal Trainer in Amsterdam West. I like this mix because it allows me to keep balance between the two similar yet different positions and carry over my skills from one to the other. And last but not least, of course Deep Physiotherapy making its real debut in 2021 also keeps both Maggie and myself busy.

How did you come up with the idea for the Deep Physiotherapy videos?

Maggie

For my final thesis product I created a video-hosting website discussing the concept of pre-rehabilitation. I really enjoyed creating a tangible product, and my video-editing and website building skills developed a lot. I was eager to advance these skills even further, so when I heard that ESP was looking for students/alumni to help establish online learning tools for future students, I took my chance. Bas pitched the idea of Deep Physiotherapy to me, and I thought the concept was great and saw a lot of potential. Pradeep and I got in touch, and we just ran with the idea from there.

Pradeep

I feel the connection I had with ESP since the beginning was genuine. If you were willing to put in the work on progressing something that interested you, they would support you. I liked that. Myself and two other fellow students attempted to start a rehab/training video channel during my second year at ESP. We quickly came to the realization that 2nd year ESP and doing almost anything on the side was going to be a very difficult task. Especially for three people to be on the same page. We dropped it. Fast forward to when Corona hit in 2020. I had less work, physios were shut down. The weather was amazing and this got me reflecting on the fact that, maybe I should use my knowledge and skills to start an Instagram page. Eventually ESP saw this page and hooked me up with Maggie who had been a friend of mine throughout ESP and I couldn’t have asked for anyone better. In fact, if it wasn’t her, we probably wouldn’t be here right now doing this interview. The rest is history.
Subscribe on YouTube

What are your plans for the future? Regarding Deep Physiotherapy or otherwise?

Maggie

Short-term plans are to get registered and find a job I really love. I’m not completely sure that a traditional job in physiotherapy is the right path for me, so I’m excited to keep learning and hopefully find a job that really engages both my clinical knowledge as well as my creative side. As for Deep Physiotherapy, season 2 is currently in the works so stay tuned ;).

Pradeep

I am interested to see how far we can take Deep Physiotherapy. I don’t think my calling is to be an Instagram influencer or something, rather put out quality content and potentially allow this to create connections between other like-minded professionals and learn things from each other. Just keep getting better. As for work, I love USC. Great colleagues and a great company to work for. We’ll see what the future holds but I am still very happy and feel blessed to be in Amsterdam.

What was your highest and lowest point during your ESP career?

Maggie

One of my lowest points was failing biomechanics 3 for the third time (yes, it really can happen). Although I have several high points, one was definitely being able to complete an amazing internship at a private practice in NYC.

Pradeep

My highest point at ESP was having the chance to complete an internship in Kerala, India. This is where my ancestral roots come from. It was the first time I had visited my grandmother in 15 years. Exploring roots as a young adult gave me a lot of appreciation and perspective as well. My lowest point during my ESP career was passing the Neurology 2 retake with a 5.5 grade. I guess we all have our own strengths!

Did you know?

The videos of season 1 have been shot at FylaSports, owned by ESP alumnus and lecturer Lip San Chong. Behind the scenes, another ESP alumnus had an important role with the marketing and social media strategy: Aviv Hidrian  

 

Program Coordinator

How did you start working together and what tasks are each of you responsible for?

Maggie

We both have very different roles within Deep Physiotherapy. Pradeep pitches the bigger concepts and ideas and I help him with fine-tuning these. He’s definitely the star of the show, but you’ll find me behind the camera, setting up shots, and editing all our footage to produce these videos.

Pradeep

Don’t listen to what she says. She’s the real star of the show. All I have to do is try and look pretty, come up with exercises that I think are relevant to a wide range of people, and perform. She makes my job easy from the minute I step in to the minute I leave.

One video per day!? How is that possible?

To answer this question, we first have to ask our program coordinator, Bas Moed as he brought the different talents together, although it took him more than 4 years…

 

Bas

As he already mentioned, Pradeep and I actually discussed this concept already back in 2016 when he was a first year student. Together with his friend Niels, he already had plans back then to create a Youtube channel focussed on exercise videos, inspired by the assessment videos of the Physiotutors and the wish of many students and lecturers to create high quality exercise videos with an ESP signature. For different reasons (read: ESP kept Niels and Pradeep too busy) we never achieved our goal then…

Soon after the first Corona lockdown, I saw exercise videos from Pradeep on his Instagram channel. I saw his great acting skills, his charisma and nice and creative exercises that he was posting, but I also noticed that he used his phone, no tripod and no dedicated microphone… I immediately saw the potential and asked him if he would be interested in combining forces: his acting skills and performance on camera, coupled with our expertise in video production, equipment and international audience. On an Amsterdam terrace, I pitched my ultimate goal of posting 365 videos in one year, so one per day! A little later he agreed to that challenge and we agreed that we would hire Maggie as camera woman, editor and (above all) general manager of the project. After season 1, with 150+ videos, I think we can agree that this has been a very nice and successful project and season 2 will only get better!

Pradeep & Maggie

We are very excited to complete the project and deliver one video every working day. It’s hard work but with good planning and some positive energy, it’s a great project to work on and we hope to inspire more ESP alumni and students to step up and help to deliver great quality videos! Season 2 is coming soon!

Season 2

The videos of season 1 have been scheduled on Instagram and Youtube until July 2021, while we are preparing for the recordings of season 2 so we can complete the schedule of one video per working day until the end of 2021

 

Follow on Insta

CREW

Program Coordinator
Program Coordinator
Program Coordinator
Program Coordinator
Program Coordinator