Moving Well Podcast

In this episode, Nikki and Janet chat with strength coach and host of the Revolutionary You! Podcast Jason Leenaarts about the relationship between mindset and reaching your fitness goals.  They discuss: Why the basics are often what you need to reach fitness goals, but why these goals are still challenging to achieve (e.g. emotional factors, family life, ect) The different stages of change and how it relates to fat loss and strength training A primer on getting started strength training and the important of recovery What to do when you or your clients have conflicting goals (e.g. wanting muscular arms while also battling shoulder pain) About Jason Leenaarts Jason Leenaarts is the owner of Revolution Fitness and Therapy (RevFit) in Stow, Ohio. RevFit began in 2009 and continues to thrive as a semi-private personal training facility. Jason caters to both face-to-face and online clientele. He is the host of the Revolutionary You podcast and author of The Revolution Is You. To learn more about Jason's work, yo

In this episode, Janet and Nikki chat with Trent McEntire about how to apply brain science to Pilates and fitness for better results and creative problem solving.  They discuss: The hierarchy that our brain takes information from (proprioception, vestibular system, visual system) and how you can use this hierarchy to problem solve issues for yourself or your clients The role of eyes in movement patterning and accessing movement How games based on visual tracking and reaction time can improve functional movement patterns, mental focus, and athletic performance Why Trent developed the BrainSpeed Ball and how he incorporates it into client sessions and classes and uses it for creative problem solving for clients of all ages and abilities, including active aging adults, "overachiever" clients, and ADHD/sensory overload issues Creative ways to adjust the intensity of an exercise without adding or decreasing resistance How to read your client for non verbal cues/signs of startle to know if they are working at the

In this episode, Janet and Nikki chat with Theo St Francis & Stephanie Behrendt Comella about the process of recovering from a spinal cord injury (SCI) and their project Zebra Fish Neuro. They discuss: The difference between the traditional medical model for working with a SCI and a movement based approach Why Pilates inherently lends itself to being so beneficial to this group The benefits of getting on the ground and using rolling patterns after an SCI Why the diagnostic tests may not always accurately measure SCI recovery Zebra Fish Neuro and how it will help movement teachers, Pilates instructors, and fitness professionals work with people who have an SCI About Stephanie Behrendt Comella Stephanie has engaged in over 15,000 hours working directly with individuals with spinal cord injury and other neurological disorders. She was first introduced to Pilates in 2014, which forever changed her thinking about spinal cord injury rehabilitation.  Stephanie graduated from University of California, Davis in

In this episode, Janet and Nikki chat with Jill Harris, Pilates teacher and master instructor about the product development for inventing Fitsprings. They discuss: Why Jill created Fitsprings and how she is using it to fill a gap in the Pilates and fitness industry What it takes to create a physical product and how to scale it to mass market production Jill's inspiration for creating unique, engaging content on Instagram #Pilatesandpets and how Jill is using her Instagram following to help animal shelters and save bunnies About Jill Harris: Master Pilates instructor Jill Harris is a fitness innovator with  over 20 years of teaching experience. In her San Francisco studio, Jill offers Private and Semi Private Pilates and FitSprings training.  Jill's creative exercise ideas make your workouts both fun and challenging.  These ideas were the foundation for her Reformer Box Workout workshop which is available to studios and trainers now.  To connect with Jill, visit her website informedbody.com or say hello on I

In this episode, Janet and Nikki chat with Tom McCook, Pilates teacher and movement specialist about what it means to create an embodied movement practice. They cover: Why so many people struggle with proprioception and slowing down How to bridge the gap between embodiment and fitness Why taking a kinder approach to movement can transfer to a kinder approach in life How Tom integrates meditation, the Franklin Method, Pilates and Feldenkrais into his teaching Tom McCook, founder and director of Center of Balance in Mountain View, CA, is an internationally recognized Pilates teacher and movement specialist. Beginning his full-time career in personal training in 1984, Tom designs programs for health and life performance for working professionals, people rehabilitating from injuries, and world-class athletes, including Olympic Gold Medal swimmers Natalie Coughlin, Jenny Thompson and Misty Hyman. Through years of continuous study and his strong commitment to a daily meditation and physical practice, Tom has dev

In this episode, Janet and Nikki chat with Hunter Cook, FRC and Kinstretch instructor about mobility training for injury mitigation. They discuss: Why injury prevention is a myth + why you should train for injury mitigation instead Common mobility training myths How training for strength can improve your mobility Flexibility versus mobility What it means to have "good" range of motion Why your mobility goals should match the demands of your sport The theory and science behind Functional Range Conditioning® (FRC) About Hunter Cook Hunter has been personal training for the last 11 years, and has also worked as a physical therapy aide for 6 years in both New York and California. Hunter is well qualified as a fitness professional to work with any demographic of clientele, however, excels in nutritional guidance, mobility and flexibility, and post-rehabilitation clients due to his background working in physical therapy offices. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with the option in Exercise Science f

In this episode, Nikki and Janet chat with Dr. Ellie Somers, physical therapist and owner of Sisu Sports Performance & PT about how using body positive language in medical and fitness settings can create better outcomes for patients and clients both in improving performance and reducing pain. They cover: What it means to use body positive language and why it's important not to scare people when educating them about their form or their diagnosis How to offer constructive feedback to create a positive movement experience and help someone feel better, while still keeping safety as a consideration The power of motivational interviewing and how to use it in a session Cultural reasons behind why women statistically have more pain Myths around the biomechanical model and why moving outside of neutral isn't always a dangerous or bad thing, if you are prepared to load there Why helping someone make an informed choice is more empowering and creates a better outcome than just telling them what to do About Ellie So

In this episode, Janet and Nikki chat with Amanda Holt LeNaire, Balanced Body Master Instructor about her experience working with the Oklahoma City Ballet and training professional dancers to become Pilates teachers. They cover: The similarities and differences between teaching the general public and professional dancers What it's like to work with the ballet as a Pilates studio owner and educator Strategies to help dancers reduce the risk of injury and improve career longevity Amanda and her business partner Lucky Jabara's experience watching the Pilates industry evolve over the past few decades About Amanda Holt LeNaire Amanda is the co-owner of The Pilates Body in Oklahoma, City. She is a PMA® Certified Pilates Instructor, a Balanced Body® Master Instructor in Comprehensive Pilates and MOTR® She is a graduate of the Balanced Body Pilates Comprehensive Training and the Polestar Pilates Comprehensive Training. To connect with Amanda, visit her website or say hello on Facebook. 

In this episode, Nikki and Janet chat with Jules Mitchell, yoga teacher and movement educator, and Charlie Reid, strength and conditioning coach, about transitioning clients from post rehab back to regular activity and performance. They cover:  Why clients often get trapped in the revolving door between physical therapy and fitness The role of the physical therapist and the fitness professional or movement teacher in helping clients resume regular activity after an injury The limitations of the current model that is used to assess, treat injuries, and transition the client out of rehab How the mindset of the client and their activities prior to the injury should determine how you progress them A case study about Marla (Jule's sister) and her experience working with a physical therapist and Charlie to return to running after a foot injury Examples of exercise and program progressions when helping a client improve their conditioning during and after injury recovery The importance of progressive external load,

In this episode, Janet and Nikki chat with self-care expert and yoga teacher Alexandra Ellis about how to integrate self-massage, mobility, and strength work into a movement practice to improve function and decrease the risk of injury. They discuss: The current scientific theories on what's happening when we perform release work with balls or foam rollers The best applications for self-massage tools and how to know if you need a soft or hard tool The importance of strength work in reducing pain and tension + improving function The difference between flexibility and mobility When stretching can be beneficial (and when it might not be) Areas of the body that are often skipped over in release and strength work that would be helpful to target About Alexandra Ellis: Creator of AE Wellness, Body Nerd, and Self-Care expert, Alexandra Ellis has made it her life’s mission to better understand how the body works to help her clients DIY their self-care, strength, and injury recovery. Her teaching and studies focus on

In this episode, Janet and Nikki chat with Mariska Breland and Meghann Koppele Duffy about Pilates and movement training for neurological conditions. They discuss: Common neurological conditions such as MS and what to expect when working with these clients The importance of cross training and a taking an interdisciplinary movement approach when training clients with neurological conditions Different types of neuropathy and how to address the symptoms with a movement approach  Vibration and gait training Mariska and Meghann's new project The NeuroRehab Movement About Mariska Breland Mariska is the founder of Washington, D.C.-based Fuse Pilates®, an award-winning creative director and writer, and a self-proclaimed “casual student” of medical neuroscience.  Mariska has been teaching Pilates since 2003, and developed her signature style, Fuse Pilates, as a mat class at a yoga studio in 2005. Over the years, the Fuse Pilates method has evolved to offer unique hybrid mat, tower, reformer, and chair classes, as w

In this episode, Janet and Nikki chat with licensed physical therapist and certified Pilates instructor Jessica Valant about working with pre and postnatal clients in a Pilates and fitness setting. They cover: What it means when a client has a diagnosis of endometriosis and how to work with them in a Pilates or fitness setting Signs of pelvic floor dysfunction and how to know if you should refer a client out to a medical professional How to stay in your scope of practice when working with pre and postnatal clients and the difference between assessment and diagnosis Exercise recommendations + suggestions for your postnatal clients Precautions to reduce your risk of causing a diastasis recti during pregnancy What you should know when working with someone who's had abdominal surgery What to know about working with a client who is undergoing IVF Signs of prolapse and what to do if you suspect you or your client has one Why Jessica started Momentum Fest and how to be a part of it About Jessica Valant Jessica has

In this episode, movement educator and professional classical musician Kayleigh Miller interviews Janet and Nikki about their experience creating the podcast. They cover: How their perspective of movement and fitness + their own workouts have been influenced by their guest interviews How they reconcile conflicting perspectives when they and their guests don't agree The mission + future of the podcast About Kayleigh Miller Kayleigh Miller is a movement educator and professional classical musician who helps people move better so they can be the best version of themselves in all aspects of their lives. Drawing from the Pilates method, yoga asana, current research, and more, she helps people to strengthen, challenge, and integrate mind, breath, and body.  Although music and movement may seem like disparate modalities, she's found them to be extremely complementary, and is constantly learning to become a better, more embodied musician. She's passionate about creating connection, using music and movement as means

In this episode, Janet and Nikki chat with Pilates teacher and educator Nico Gonzalez about his experiences of being a minority in the Pilates industry and his strategies for combining Pilates and traditional fitness in his studio fitness physiques by Nico G.  They cover: How being male and minority opens certain professional doors and closes others How different people can get away with using different words and styles of cuing Strategies for making Pilates feel more accessible to male clients Ways to introduce mind body work to clients who are more interested in exercises that feel "hard"  How teaching Pilates in an instructor education setting is different than creating a tailored session for clients About Nico Gonzalez Nico Gonzalez is the studio owner of Fitness Physiques by Nico G, an international fitness educator, trainer, and motivational speaker. Certified through the American Council on Exercise (ACE) for group fitness and personal training and the Pilates Method Alliance (PMA) for Pilates traini

In this episode, Nikki and Janet talk with Katie Santos, co-owner of the Absolute Center, Pilates educator and consultant for MindBodyOnline about how to master the business side of being a Pilates teacher or studio owner. They cover: Katie's experience transitioning into the Pilates industry as a teacher and business owner Why it's important to have a business model when you start a business Strategies for having uncomfortable conversations around money Tips for creating a sustainable business How the division of roles can help your business be more successful if you have business partners Applying primal movement to sessions with active aging adults About Katie Santos ✔ Master Pilates Teacher ✔ Mindbody Certified Consultant ✔ International presenter ✔ Evernote Certified Consultant ✔ Serial Entrepreneur    Through her partnership in Absolute Center Katie has leveraged valuable insights in business management and found a love for coaching other business owners. She believes in a non-competitive and innovati

In this episode, Janet and Nikki chat with movement educator and co-founder of the Absolute center, Louise Johns about how to use cues to get better results for your clients and how primal movement can be integrated into your practice. They cover: Cuing for embodiment versus cuing for biomechanics (and why these cues aren't mutually exclusive) Why sometimes saying less is more effective How to sequence and incorporate primal movement into a Pilates class or private session Why primal movement and less structured movement experiences are an ideal complement to more structured fitness modalities like Pilates Why it's beneficial to have a foundation for teaching before branching out into other modalities like primal movement About Louise Johns Louise’s dedication to helping people feel better shows through her clientele, some of whom have been working with her for over 17 years. Louise finds herself drawn towards a broad section of clients from all different walks of life and abilities. At Absolute Center, the

In this episode, Janet and Nikki chat with Claudia Moose, founder of Primal Movement Works about how to apply primal movements to post rehab, Pilates and fitness. They cover: The theory behind primal movement and why it's beneficial Different styles of and applications for crawling How crawling and other primal movements can help us recover from injury and improve gait patterns and performance. How to integrate primal movement explorations into a Pilates or fitness setting The difference between increasing tolerance to novel movement and physical pain that could lead to injury Claudia's  journey in using primal movement to come back from a traumatic ankle injury About Claudia Moose Claudia Moose, ATC, CSCS, NASM-PES, PMA-CPT, Movement and Manual Therapist: B.A. Movement and Exercise Science emphasis Sports Medicine (Exercise Science and Athletic Training) Chapman University.  Balance Body Master Instructor (Anatomy & Movement, Pilates, MOTR, Bodhi), Partner of Absolute Center and Founder of Primal Movem

In this episode, Janet and Nikki chat with Pilates teacher and movement educator Jennifer Gianni about how to work with pre and postnatal women in a Pilates and fitness setting: They cover: - Basic recommendations for working with pre and postnatal clients - How to assess for common issues related to pregnancy, such as pelvic floor dysfunction and diastasis rect - Stretching considerations and contraindications  - Strategies and exercises to train the pelvic floor and the abdominals during and after pregnancy - How women can tell if an exercise is right for their body during or after pregnancy - Exercise myths related to pregnancy - What the recovery period might look like after having a baby and how to progress back to regular exercise About Jennifer Gianni Jennifer has over 20 years of experience in the mind/body field. She began her formal Pilates training in Los Angeles at Performing Arts Physical Therapy under the direction of Melinda Bryan (certified and ordained by 1st generation Pilates Master Romana

Trina Altman about why people get hurt doing yoga and her new online course Yoga Deconstructed™ They cover:  Common causes of pain and injury in yoga The movements that are missing in yoga that can contribute to muscle imbalances and pain Why stretching isn't always the answer How people who are both too stiff or too mobile can benefit from adding strength and stability training to their routine How breaking down a pose into smaller movements can reduce the risk of injury and increase the longevity in your yoga practice Why Trina created Yoga Deconstructed ™ and how the exercises she teaches can be used to balance out a regular yoga practice Links Mentioned: Hips Don't Lie Online Course Yoga Deconstructed® About Trina Altman, E-RYT 500, PMA®-CPT Trina leads teacher trainings in Yoga Tune Up®, the Roll Model® Method and Rx Series for Equinox locally and internationally. She is the creator of Yoga Deconstructed™ an innovative interdisciplinary approach that fosters an embodied understanding of Yoga and its re

In this episode, Janet and Nikki talk with Rebekah Rotstein, movement + Pilates educator and creator of Buff Bones about applications for Pilates and movement to osteoporosis. They discuss: The process of being diagnosed for osteoporosis and what it means How to acknowledge the fear that can come with diagnosis and how to create a safe space to move through it The importance of looking at multiple movement systems when creating a holistic movement or fitness practice Rebekah's personal experience with osteoporosis and how it inspired her to create buff bones and contribute to research on how to use movement to help osteoporosis What the current research is finding in regards to movement and osteoporosis Exercise and movement recommendations and contraindications for osteoporosis (e.g. how to add load, beneficial types of exercises, ect) Spinal flexion and posture in relationship to osteoporosis General tips for bone health and longevity About Rebekah Rotstein   Rebekah is an industry leader in exercise, Pil