The Health Movement

092 - Exercise Is NOT the Answer (Movement Is)

Coach Kels joins me for one of the most thought-provoking conversations we’ve had on The Health Movement Podcast — exploring mobility, longevity, movement, curiosity, play, mindset, and why so many adults slowly lose the joy of movement as they get older. Instead of treating fitness like punishment or chasing aesthetics alone, Coach Kels explains how reconnecting with movement, intuition, and even childlike curiosity can completely change the way we approach health. We talk about primal movement patterns, why adults stop moving naturally, how modern life disconnects us from our bodies, the importance of staying “weird,” and how fitness should support a richer and more meaningful life — not consume it. If you’ve ever felt stiff, burned out, disconnected from your body, or stuck in an all-or-nothing approach to health and exercise, this episode is for you. ⸻ In this episode, we discuss: ✅ Why mobility matters more as we age ✅ The primal movement patterns all humans share ✅ Why adults lose their natural movement instincts ✅ How modern life limits movement ✅ The connection between movement and happiness ✅ Why fitness should feel playful and intuitive ✅ The problem with rigid exercise culture ✅ How to reconnect with your body after years of inactivity ✅ Curiosity, gratitude, and staying mentally young ✅ Why “weird” people are often the most authentic people ⸻ ⏱ CHAPTERS 00:00 – Intro 01:00 – Why Coach Kels shifted toward mobility & longevity 02:54 – What primal movement actually means 05:27 – Individualizing fitness & movement 06:55 – Bringing play back into fitness 09:52 – Helping adults reconnect with movement 13:59 – Nutrition, intuition, and modern health confusion 17:27 – Listening to your body during training 23:11 – Why adults struggle with play 25:21 – Building movement communities 27:46 – Why “weird” is a positive thing 31:24 – Process vs achievement mindset 34:42 – Curiosity, gratitude, and slowing life down 41:36 – Where to find Coach Kels ⸻ Follow Coach Kels Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strengthflowfitness/ [https://www.instagram.com/strengthflowfitness/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StrengthFlowFitness [https://www.youtube.com/@StrengthFlowFitness] ⸻ Listen to The Health Movement Podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HealthMovementPodcast [https://www.buzzsprout.com/] Website & Newsletter: https://healthmovement.us [https://healthmovement.us/] ⸻ Work With Derek / Ascend Fitness Interested in coaching, corporate wellness, speaking engagements, or health presentations for your organization? Visit: https://www.instagram.com/derek.josephs/ [https://healthmovement.us/] ⸻ Want to be a guest or submit a question for the show? https://healthmovement.us [https://healthmovement.us/] ⸻ If you enjoyed this episode, check out these conversations next: ▶️ Mindset & Recovery Episodes ▶️ Longevity & Mobility Conversations ▶️ Health Movement Podcast Guest Series ⸻ #Mobility #Longevity #FitnessAfter40 #HealthMovementPodcast #Mindset #Movement #PrimalMovement #MobilityTraining #HealthyAging #Wellness #StrengthTraining #Recovery #FunctionalFitness #StrengthFlowFitness #CoachKels

091 - From Oxygen Tank to 5K

COVID nearly won. After severe complications left April Khan dependent on an oxygen tank and struggling with brain fog, fatigue, and lung damage, the idea of running again felt impossible. But step by step, she fought her way back—eventually completing a 5K and reclaiming her health. In this powerful episode of The Health Movement Podcast, Derek sits down with April to talk about what it’s really like to rebuild your body after COVID. April shares the brutal reality of long recovery, losing the ability to think and write clearly, the emotional toll of feeling like your body has betrayed you, and the slow, disciplined process of getting stronger again. This is a story about resilience, patience, and the human ability to adapt when life knocks you down harder than you ever expected. If you've ever struggled with illness, injury, or a setback that made you question whether you'd ever feel like yourself again, this conversation will resonate deeply. Topics include: • Recovering from severe COVID complications • Life on an oxygen tank and rebuilding lung capacity • Brain fog and cognitive recovery • The mental battle during long-term illness • Relearning how to train your body • Going from survival mode to running a 5K This episode is a reminder that recovery isn't instant—and sometimes the biggest victories start with simply taking the next step. Connect with April: • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aprilkhanceo/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilkhanmedicalwriter/ Connect with Derek: • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/derek.josephs/ Watch the full episode on YouTube: /@healthmovementpodcast Join the newsletter: https://healthmovement.us

090 - How I Reclaimed Discipline from Collapse

Paul Amato is an Army and Navy veteran, strength coach, and founder of FVBLA, a nonprofit supporting veterans as they transition into business ownership and explore alternative approaches to healing from PTSD and traumatic brain injuries. His story includes multiple neck fractures, neurological complications, and the humbling reality of having to rebuild his strength — and identity — from the ground up. In this episode of The Health Movement Podcast, Derek sits down with Paul for a grounded conversation about what happens when you fall off track physically and mentally. After years of disciplined training, Paul found himself sitting eight hours a day, drinking soda, and completely out of rhythm. Instead of chasing intensity, he rebuilt through fundamentals: walking daily, stretching, strength basics, and incorporating sauna and cold exposure to support recovery and mental clarity. Rather than framing progress as all-or-nothing, Paul explains why most people fail by trying to change everything at once. He shares how “failure” became a first attempt in learning, why annual resets without ego are powerful, and how rebuilding slowly can be more transformative than pushing harder. This episode is for anyone navigating injury, burnout, inconsistency, or the frustration of starting over. It’s a reminder that discipline isn’t about perfection — it’s about returning to the basics and building again. Paul shares: - Why doing too much too fast sabotages progress - How trauma and injury reshape your relationship with training - The role of sauna and cold exposure in recovery - Why walking and simple habits matter more than we think - How to use failure as feedback instead of defeat Timestamps: 00:00 Cold open 01:00 FVBLA and veteran support 03:30 Falling off track 08:00 Why most people fail lifestyle changes 11:30 Neck injuries and neurological setbacks 18:30 Rebuilding through fundamentals 22:00 Ego-free annual resets 24:00 Failure as learning The Health Movement Podcast explores fitness, mindset, recovery, and long-term resilience through real conversations designed to help you build strength that lasts. Connect with Paul: • FVBLA.org • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p.s.amato/ Connect with Derek: • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/derek.josephs/ Watch the full episode on YouTube: /@healthmovementpodcast Join the newsletter: https://healthmovement.us

089 - Why Most Women Are Training Their Core Wrong With Marianne Tafani

Marianne Tefani is a clinical Pilates educator, women’s health specialist, and founder of Core Connect based in Dubai. Her work centers on core restoration, pelvic health, chronic pain, and helping women rebuild strength from the inside out. In this episode of The Health Movement Podcast, Derek sits down with Marianne for a powerful and deeply thoughtful conversation about injury, identity, trauma stored in the body, and what it truly means to be strong for life. From being a gymnast who couldn’t walk at 16 due to severe injuries, to leaving a career in politics, to becoming known as the “core queen” after rebuilding herself postpartum — Marianne shares how pain became the foundation for purpose. Rather than framing strength as aesthetics or performance, Marianne explains why the core is not your six-pack, why pain and structural damage are not the same thing, and how breathing, nervous system regulation, and pelvic floor health are foundational to long-term resilience. She also offers a unique perspective on how bodies carry trauma — culturally, politically, and personally — and why creating safe spaces for movement is more powerful than we realize. This episode is for anyone navigating injury, chronic pain, postpartum recovery, or the frustration of “doing everything right” but still hurting. It’s also for those who want to train for longevity — not just appearance. Marianne shares: ◼️ Why pain and structural damage are not always the same ◼️ The truth about core strength (it’s not your abs) ◼️ How pelvic floor tension can contribute to back pain ◼️ Why strength training postpartum requires precision ◼️ The role of breath in regulating intra-abdominal pressure ◼️ How trauma can be stored and expressed through the body ◼️ Why self-worth is foundational to physical healing Timestamps: 00:00 Cold open 01:10 Marianne’s injury at 16 and losing mobility 04:30 Leaving politics and finding Pilates 07:50 “Training bodies is political” 18:20 What the core actually is 21:40 Pain vs structural damage 27:50 Training for life, not for photos 36:00 Pelvic floor myths and weakness 39:20 Self-worth and prioritization 42:50 Therapy, movement, and daily practices The Health Movement Podcast explores fitness, mindset, recovery, and purpose through long-form conversations focused on clarity, depth, and long-term growth. Subscribe for weekly episodes designed to help you build a stronger body, sharper mind, and more intentional life. Connect with Marianne: • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariannetafani/ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marianne.coreconnect/ Connect with me: • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/derek.josephs/ Listen to the full episode and others on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HealthMovementPodcast Join the Health Movement Newsletter: https://healthmovement.us

088 - The Real Reason Diets Don’t Work Long Term

Burnout, confusion, dieting culture, and conflicting nutrition advice collide long before most people realize something isn’t working. In this episode of The Health Movement Podcast, we break down why so many diets fail — and what sustainable health actually looks like. In this conversation, Derek sits down with Marissa Dankosky, registered dietitian and nutrition consultant at Foodsmart, to talk about metabolism, fasting, food insecurity, heart health, and the emotional side of weight loss. Marissa shares how growing up in a health-focused household shaped her career, why carbohydrates are often misunderstood, and why extreme dieting strategies rarely create long-term success. This episode explores the science behind intermittent fasting, the truth about metabolism “damage,” why consistency beats restriction, and how small, realistic goals create lasting change. Marissa also discusses the real-world challenges many families face — including rising grocery costs — and how to build balanced meals without overcomplicating nutrition. If you’ve ever felt frustrated by dieting, confused by food trends, or unsure what actually works long term, this conversation offers clarity without extremes. VIDEO CHAPTERS 00:00 – Introduction & Marissa’s Background  From athlete to registered dietitian 01:04 – Fueling Performance with Food  How early sports shaped her nutrition philosophy 05:15 – What Is Foodsmart?  Virtual nutrition counseling and Medicaid access 06:45 – Intermittent Fasting & Weight Loss  What the research actually shows 08:10 – Can Fasting Slow Your Metabolism?  Survival biology and sustainability 09:00 – Men vs. Women & Fasting  What the research says 10:05 – The Old Food Pyramid vs. MyPlate  Why carbohydrates still matter 13:30 – The New Food Guidelines  Whole foods, butter, dairy, and heart health 19:30 – Food Insecurity & Rising Grocery Costs  How to eat healthy on a budget 22:30 – Meal Prepping & Planning  Reducing food waste and improving consistency 23:30 – Weight Loss Frustration  Why most diets fail long term 29:25 – Small Goals & Sustainable Change  Building habits that actually stick To Connect with Marissa Dankosky: • Foodsmart email: marissa.dankosky@foodsmart.com  • LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/marissa-dankosky-ms-rdn-88708b160/ Watch the full episode — youtube.com/@HealthMovementPodcast Join the newsletter — https://healthmovement.us [https://healthmovement.us] Follow Derek on IG: https://www.instagram.com/derek.josephs/ [https://www.instagram.com/derek.josephs/]