Meet Sara Headley, FNP — pro cyclist turned family nurse practitioner, now founder of Mint Health in Waterbury, Vermont. Her journey is anything but typical. What began as a pursuit of work-life balance and movement evolved into a powerful mission to transform the way women are seen, heard, and cared for in healthcare.
Sara’s story isn’t just about resilience or ambition; it’s about reclaiming time, comfort, and agency. And it’s one that inspires others to do the same.
Sara didn’t grow up dreaming of becoming a pro athlete. In fact, she chose nursing because, as she puts it, “you could work three days a week and ski four.” But life had other plans.
During nursing school, her mother was diagnosed with cancer. That experience shaped Sara’s calling: to be present in care, not just deliver it. After her mom’s passing, Sara turned to cycling—not for competition at first, but for healing. “Sitting felt bad and moving felt great,” she recalls.
What started as therapy became a passion. She raced professionally for four years, not because she set out to, but because she loved the process. “I just kept training and forgetting about all the other things that had happened in my life.”
Eventually, Sara stepped away from the peloton and returned to healthcare. But the traditional primary care model made it difficult to have a work-life balance.
“I was seeing 16 to 18 patients a day, then coming home to two small kids who needed me,” she said. “It wasn’t sustainable. I needed a model where I could live the values I was trying to teach.”
So she created Mint Health—a practice designed around time, attention, prevention, and connection (for all adults, not just women), where patients feel seen, heard, and supported.
“I don’t want to rush people through a 10-minute appointment. I want to sit down, ask good questions, and truly listen.”
Sara has a unique passion for active women—not just elite athletes, but anyone who loves to move.
She often sees patients who, on paper, are perfectly healthy but feel like something’s missing. One woman in her fifties came in saying, “I don’t think anything’s wrong, but I don’t feel like myself.” At her previous clinic, she was told, “You’re fine. Why are you here?” With Sara, that appointment turned into an hour-long conversation.
That’s the kind of care she believes in. Meeting women where they are—whether that’s training for a marathon or simply trying to feel better on a walk.
Sara understands how hormones, stress, and performance all intersect in women’s lives. “Women are traditionally caregivers. We’re not used to saying, ‘Take care of me.’ But we have to.”
What you wear—especially under your workout gear—can completely shift your mindset. Sara’s seen it firsthand.
“Putting on nice gear that makes you feel good just makes you want to go do something,” she says. “If it fits well, if it doesn’t chafe, if it doesn’t move—that matters. It lets you be present in the moment.”
She even jokes that Paradis’ thong passed the ultimate test: “I’m not a thong person, and I wore it. No wedgie. No veggie. It works.”
When asked what she wishes more women knew about their health, Sara had a clear answer: your voice matters.
“I can be an expert in research, but I’m not an expert in someone’s body. That’s them. I ask, ‘What do you think is going on?’ And patients always have an idea. They just need someone to listen.”
Her approach—rooted in motivational interviewing and empathy—helps women set goals that feel personal and sustainable. Whether it’s healing pain, chasing a PR, or carving out a moment of joy, it starts by asking better questions.
If she could redesign one item in the athletic wardrobe, it would be the sports bra—for a very specific reason.
“A poorly fitting bra keeps girls out of sport. Period.” Research backs it up. And it’s not just bras. Sara believes underwear should fit the full spectrum of real bodies, not just one prototype.
Her advice to brands: talk to real women—including the ones who aren’t yet active. “Sometimes it’s the gear that gives them permission to start.”
Mint Health is about more than medicine. It’s about giving women the space to feel like themselves again. Whether you're training for a race or just trying to reclaim energy after years of putting others first, Sara’s message is simple: you are allowed to make time for yourself.
“Women say yes for so many years—then finally say no. And that’s when they say, ‘This is my time.’ I want to inspire younger women to say it sooner.”
At Paradis Sport, we believe movement is a right, not a reward. The clothes closest to your skin should support the life you want to lead—whatever that looks like.
Sara Headley embodies this belief. She’s a clinician, an athlete, a mom, a realist, and a fierce advocate for doing what feels right in your body. She doesn’t just talk about wellness; she lives it.
We’re honored to feature Sara—and thrilled she chooses Paradis for the journey.
Follow Sara’s work at Mint Health and stay tuned for our upcoming video collaboration featuring her voice and story.
Want to feel good in your own skin while doing what you love? Explore our most-loved styles.
