101: Ballet, Bodies, and Moving Through Grief

104: Dancing Our Way To Liberation

What is so freeing about dance? What makes us fear self expression? Can a workout still count if it’s fun? Let’s talk about it! Join Dr Marcia and her guests Kirwin, Ashantis, and Ashley as they discuss all things joyful movement through various forms of dance. Across our guests we have backgrounds in mental health, education, music, physical therapy of course, pole dances, line dances, zumba, swing dance, blues dancing, and flow arts.  Takeaways * Consent always matters, you choose how to move your body with others. * It’s okay to be a beginner, especially with different forms of dance. * Having fun does not make dance & movement any less of a workout. * Take expectations from others out of your journey and discover yourself. * Dance is both an art and a skill, which can be practiced. Sound Bites * “Why is throwing it back in a circle an act of liberation?” * “At what point do we cast aside the fear and live the life that we have? * “It blows people's minds that you accommodate yourself” * “I’m free to move however I’d like, and I’m gonna do that” * “I can do something that’s not for men” Links Ashley Williams @xtremehiphopwithashley_  https://linktr.ee/xtremehiphopwithashley_ [https://linktr.ee/xtremehiphopwithashley_]  Ashantis Jones @IamAshantis https://www.ashantisjones.com/ [https://www.ashantisjones.com/]  Kirwin @RVA.flows  https://linktr.ee/rva.flows [https://linktr.ee/rva.flows]

103: The Tea & The Truth about Pilates

Summary Dr Marcia chats Pilates with Lindsay Strobel of Fat Body Pilates, Sonja Price Herbert of Black Girl Pilates, and Rachel Reis of Rad Pilates about the history, intention, and purpose of the system Joseph Pilates initially while imprisoned in an internment camp. Our knowledgeable guests share the principles of the method (the truth), and how the pitfalls of toxic fitness culture dilute these principles (the tea). They also speak of their own experiences and share how they were introduced to Pilates and why they decided to become teachers.  Takeaways * Pilates is about breath and connection * Pilates is for every body of any shape, size, color, or ability * Parts of Joseph Pilates’ life and the history of his methods remain unknown * Every teacher isn’t for everyone, try a different one if the first doesn’t work out * Heated, Burpees, HIIT, and other TikTok variants are trends, not Pilates  * Pilates is not about sweating a lot, weight loss, or long lean muscles  Sound Bites * “Pilates isn’t just the mat, or just the reformer, there’s an entire system of equipment” * “You don’t want your students walking out of class like they got hit by a mack truck” * “Joseph Pilates created an entire system of exercises from head to toe”  * “People think if I’m not sweating, if I’m not moving quick, if I’m not in pain it’s not worth it” * “This Pilates teacher is just a person, and people can suck” * “Just cause they little don’t mean they teach well” Links Sonja Price Herbert https://www.sonjarpriceherbert.com/ [https://www.sonjarpriceherbert.com/] https://www.blackgirlpilates.com/ [https://www.blackgirlpilates.com/]  Lindsey Strobel https://www.fatbodypilates.com/ [https://www.fatbodypilates.com/] Rachel Reis https://linktr.ee/radpilates [https://linktr.ee/radpilates]

102: Strength, Embodiment, and Embracing People over Pockets

Summary In this episode, physical therapist, yoga teacher, and author Dr Marcia is joined by strength trainers Coach Rich and Dr Jen Hosler. We explore what it means to be a provider for people instead of chasing profit, and how this divestment from predatory capitalist practices and savior complexes is beneficial for everyone. Dr Marcia and Dr Jen commiserate on the pitfalls of physical therapy school and Coach Rich shares his professional journal as a strength coach who couldn’t find his place in the PT profession. They also speak of their experiences as patients and working to get more connection with their own bodies.  Takeaways * You don’t have to do any form of exercise or movement, just because. * Health & Fitness professionals should understand that learning is collaborative. * Sometimes we really need to be doing less movement, with more intention. * We don’t have to be afraid of moving our spines. * Yes, your knee does rotate. That’s a real thing. Sound Bites * “Do you want people to win or do you want your pockets to win?” * “You brush your teeth for what two minutes a day, and not that hard right?” * “I told the doctor no I don’t drink alcohol, I’m Muslim, and he asked if I was sure” * “I went through the five stages of grief going to PT school, it wasn’t what I thought it would be. I was stuck on anger for a long time” Links Coach Rich https://www.instagram.com/coach_rt3 [https://www.instagram.com/coach_rt3]  https://linktr.ee/coach_rt3 [https://linktr.ee/coach_rt3] Dr Jen Hosler https://www.instagram.com/jenhosler/ [https://www.instagram.com/jenhosler/] https://linktr.ee/jenhosler [https://linktr.ee/jenhosler]

101: Ballet, Bodies, and Moving Through Grief

Summary On this inaugural episode of The Movement for Every Body podcast, we explore themes surrounding grief, body image, and how we create identity. Physical therapist, author, and yoga teacher Dr Marcia is joined by dancer, theatre nerd, and personal trainer Laura Girard.  Dr Marcia and Laura talk about everything from the patriarchal origins of ballet dance to rage walking as a means of processing deep feelings post divorce. They also talk about the ways they were transformed by their experiences both in caring for a loved one with a cancer diagnosis and being forced to reckon with their own mortality. Takeaways It's not always easy to recognize what our body needs. We can enjoy movement for just a season, and not forever. Grief can change the way you need to move your body. Consistency is the intentional daily effort towards self care.  It's never okay to comment on a person's body changes. Sound Bites “Everything that we talked about is about fitness. This is not severance. your innie doesn't just go to the gym and nothing else exists. everything is with you” “It worked because the effort the intention was we do the thing that is caring for me, having this experience in this human body” “consistency is about consistent effort not necessarily the yield or the result” “I’ll survive. I'll survive looking a little silly” Links Laura’s Info https://planoly.store/lcgirard [https://planoly.store/lcgirard] The Energy Academy https://linktr.ee/theenergyacademy [https://linktr.ee/theenergyacademy]  Book Details https://www.northatlanticbooks.com/?s=movement+f [https://www.northatlanticbooks.com/?s=movement+for+every+body]

Movement for Everybody: A New Podcast

It’s time for something different in the podcast world, enter The Movement for Every Body podcast hosted by physical therapist, author, and yoga teacher Dr. Marcia. The podcast is inspired by their book of the same name. In this space, we center marginalized people who are often othered in health, fitness, and wellness spaces with inclusive liberation focused chats. In this space, we discuss every and all the things that impact the way we move and how we can use movement to cope with the daily dumpster fires of the world. Takeaways * This podcast is about topics explored in the book “The Movement for Every Body” * Join the monthly live stream on YouTube to take part in the conversation * There is zero tolerance for discrimination in this space * Movement should not be about making ourselves smaller. * Conversations will cover a wide range of topics Sound Bites "We're going to Yap City." "Everything is connected." "Join us for these monthly little cozy chats."