Think Fit. Be Fit.

This conversation with Pamela Gold, Founder of https://hackdfitness.com/ (Hackd Fitness) and Jennifer is full of radical insights into an energetic approach to actualizing body potential.   Enhancing our capacity to thrive is part fascination with how the body can change itself and part exploration of making room for new beliefs about our body.  This episode showcases both of these concepts and more.   Pamela has been passionate about mind, body and spirit optimization from a very young age.  An overachiever from the start, she grew up on a farm in upstate NY, attended Yale University as a Microbiology and Biochem major, and then moved to NYC where she supported the growth of a restaurant chain from 18 locations to over 100 and was the point person on an IPO, all by the age of 24.    After becoming a mom, she became passionate about physical fitness and wellness and founded Fulfill Fitness, specializing in personal training and nutrition coaching.  She then spent two years as President of The Beacon Program

The trendiness of glute exercises and showcasing a well built behind is here to stay.  This episode is packed with insights on how women can efficiently build muscle in the legs, hips and glutes.    Jenn features her training philosophy, reflections and why working with a barbell is essential for her.  We are also featuring two experts in the field of strength training and conditioning that can support women of all sizes to build the body of their dreams.     Topics discussed: Different ways to strengthen the hamstrings, glutes and hips Hip thrusts, squats and eccentric exercises ACL reconstruction and arthritis Bone health for women Hip injuries in women Health optimization and toxic loads in the body Class format of the Lift Lab at Ascent Cycle Myths of training glutes   Links of interest: http://katzajac.com/ (http://katzajac.com/)   https://www.instagram.com/kat_zajac_ac/ (https://www.instagram.com/kat_zajac_ac/)   https://www.instagram.com/ascend.strength/   https://www.ascendcy

Physical Therapy within an energetic matrix is how Kori Reigel DPT of One2One Physical Therapy integrates healing for injuries, pain and bringing balance to the entire body. Kori and Jenn discuss how Biofield tuning can turn on your inner compass and help your body heal from injury and pain. When we are healthy and without injury we can use energetic sound healing (in the Biofield) to know how hard to push our bodies and provide equilibrium for recovery.   Kori is a graduate of University of Delaware and Neumann University (DPT).  Kori was a Division 1 Volleyball player at Delaware.  As an integrative therapist Kori uses multiple techniques to help her patients and athletes, and she tells us how she uses Biofield Tuning to facilitate healing across many types of cases.  She is also trained in Postural Restoration Institute methods and Cranio-sacral therapy.  Read more about her here. Topics discussed: the magnetic energy field around all of us how the body gives us feedback in the energetic or electrica

According to Matthew Stampe LAc of Nova Acupuncture we can cultivate a balanced life at home with the wisdom of Oriental Medicine. In this episode Think Fit. Be Fit. podcast shares the nuts and bolts of acupuncture, Tai Chi, and moving energy in the body as well as thoughts on COVID, the immune system and being our healthiest.   Jennifer and Matthew Stampe discuss several topics related to how acupuncture has improved her life, is a mainstay in how she maintains her health and about how the collective health seekers can take actions everyday to honor and find inner health power.   Topics discussed: Chinese diet therapy Pillars of Chinese Medicine Tai Chi and Qigong The second brain of the body: Microbiome Gut Biome and cravings The 5 elements and balancing energy Marijuana and Chi Hormones and sexual health Thoughts on staying healthy during COVID   Links of interest: https://novaacu.com/ (https://novaacu.com/) https://taijiclub.live/about/ (https://taijiclub.live/about/) https://taijiclub

This episode was originally inspired by the Fuse Ladder and how much we use it in the Alexandria studio, Impact Your Fitness.  Mariska Breland, the creator of the Fuse Ladder, a patented 8 in 1 fitness apparatus, sat down with Jenn and Tara to discuss all of our favorite things about the Fuse Ladder.     There are so many important topics brought up in this conversation between three women who view strength as more important than correct form and looking pretty in yoga poses.  If you’re a trainer or rehab professional, you’ll hear from a leader in fitness for neurological conditions and if you want to upgrade your studio or home gym for distanced sessions, this episode will give you an opportunity to learn more about how Jenn and Mariska have been thriving with the Fuse Ladder.   A little bit about our guest and co-host: After overcoming MS and multiple injuries, Mariska had to swap running for pilates and yoga. She had been teaching since 2003, but her signature style, Fuse Pilates, was coined in 2005.

As you may have noticed by now; being healthy drives my motivation.  Today's episode was inspired by my own personal health journey with functional medicine What you'll learn in this episode Fout things I’ve learned about Functional Medicine on a societal level and working alongside these practitioners how my personal healthcare depends on the philosophy of functional medicine to be accurate plus the four things I’ve been contemplating about that. links of interest: https://movementpathways.com/ (Hamstring Freedom guide) Dr. Anca Sisu's practice in Virginia https://www.thinkfitbefitpodcast.com/dr-anca-sisu-md-on-a-functional-medicine-approach/ Find a Functional Medicine doctor or specialist, https://www.ifm.org/ (click here) https://www.ifm.org/ (https://www.ifm.org/) Unconventional Medicine by Chris Kresser https://oberondiagnostic.com/ (Oberon Biofeedback) Learn more about comprehensive https://www.gdx.net/product/gi-effects-comprehensive-stool-test (gut testing) Jenn's practice in Alexan

Optimal health and fitness doesn’t have to be a guessing game.  Chronic illness, aging, old injuries or stress can get in the way of whole body fitness and feeling good while moving.  Functional Medicine can reverse the negative impacts of stress and life on our body.  A guided approach to whole health and fitness starts with measurements and data that the typical doc does not offer. Functional Medicine is the future.  If you want to realize the potential of your body with blood work, stool and genetic testing and if you are motivated to advance in age without chronic illness, then you’ll learn why Functional Medicine is the best solution.     Please note that information in this episode this is NOT medical advice. Themes of this episode: Healthy expressions of genes and hormones can be stumped when a functional medicine approach is not taken.     Knowing more about the body is a tool for achieving sustainable fitness and health.   Health sovereignty and the ability to bounce back from almost anything

Gregory Gordon MA of Exercise Intelligence joins Jenn for a special recap episode! Check out the blog on our most downloaded shows of 2020 with notes on the content: https://www.thinkfitbefitpodcast.com/our-most-popular-episodes-january-june-2020/ As we start the second half of 2020, we have seen our community grow tremendously and we thank you for your support! If you are a long time listener and are looking for ways to help us grow, we’re grateful for you! Here’s a few ideas: SHARE insights, aha moments, and favorite quotes on your social media. You know what they say, if you loved your experience, tell a friend. TAG US (@thinfitbefit_podcast), tag a friend, tag your mom! LEAVE A REVIEW, on iTunes, Facebook. (You can screenshot your review and email it to schedule@impactyourfitness.net and we will send you a free Hamstring Freedom guide!   JOIN THE CONVERSATION. If you could ask Jenn and her guests anything, what would it be? What topic related to an effective fitness mindset would you love to lea

There are advantages to workouts in an outside natural environment that are difficult to account for within the confines of a gym or fitness center.  This is because the body and mind were beautifully designed to adapt to our environment.  Today’s episode is an exploration of adventure meets exercise and leadership for fitness professionals. In this day and age exercise is not just a way to improve our metabolism, it needs to be sustainable and effective enough to strengthen the immune system, negate the artificial lights, improve our brain health and many other things.  A fitness instructor that can bridge this together is rare and much needed! This is a conversation for trainers, fitness leaders and exercise enthusiasts who are interested in engaging in exercise in Mother Nature’s gym, in their business or life.  Exercise and Movement Science experts often measure and validate our exercise based on the load and the stimulus response, so this idea might be completely ignored by most fitness professionals. 

Finding the sweet spot for running and enjoying your movement is worth an inside look at how the feet contribute to strength, force absorption and running with natural confidence. Rick Merriam has spent years educating runners on how to compete and have fun without pain.  He is a seasoned massage therapist, professor of anatomy and kinesiology and has his own podcast, Engaging Muscles podcast.  In his 25 year career, he has experience working as a biomechanics based massage therapist including work at ESPN, overcoming his own back pain and shares some stories from working with a high performance running shoe store. What you’ll learn in this episode: Running economy starts from the bottom up The mechanics and how our joints move when running How shoes and cleats can ruin foot strength The mechanics of natural gait and shoes Links of interest: Previous Running episodes on TFBF: https://thinkfitbefit.libsyn.com/avoiding-injury-and-strength-training-advice-for-runners https://thinkfitbefit.libsyn.c

If you're adamant about health and fitness for the long-term, not just the short-term benefit, then you will want to use Jenn and Ben's conversation for guidance on the inside view of fitness education's broken system.   "Making it" in your fitness journey requires adaptability, openness and a willingness to be held accountable.  This is true of both fitness professionals and exercise lovers. You'll learn about the 5 arch types in fitness education that have left a stain on the industry.  We are bringing this to our audience's attention because it's important to have useful information while we are attempting to access empowered exercise and healthy lifestyles.  You'll even hear an anecdote from training as a Major League Soccer Player and exploitative marketing practices.  Here's the reference for the FMS and soccer player study https://www.painscience.com/bibliography.php?bakken17 (https://www.painscience.com/bibliography.php?bakken17) To learn more about our guest, Ben Dragavon, check him on on instag

Self transformation is beyond self awareness.  It is a reshaping of perception while being in ownership and abundant energy.  Do you want to know how a professional approaches this process?  This episode is a transparent view of helping oneself through a course of trusting the process.  Dr. Stephanie Johnson DC is not only a chiropractor, ART Practitioner and business owner.  She is also an avid yoga teacher and student.   Jenn and Stephanie discuss her experience with yoga with a yoga article that has made a big impact on her practice as well as their experience in COVID quarantine.  "At any instant, the quality of your life is directly related to how interested you are in it."

Ben Dragavon knows more than a few things about client defined progress and high performance athletics.  Join Jenn and Ben for this conversation about the nuances in taking it to the next level from being a defeated athlete to micro-assessing and training Olympic athletes like Hope Solo.    Here's a little more about Ben: He is a Muscle & Joint Specialist for the professional athlete to the everyday human.  He has over 12 years of experience as a professional athlete and coaching in professional athletics.  He served as an assistant coach, strength coach, and medical staff member for https://www.reignfc.com/ (Seattle Reign FC) for five years. Dragavon is a former assistant coach for Seattle Sounders 2, Sounders FC U-23s, Sounders FC Academy, Seattle University Men’s Soccer, Western Washington University men’s and women’s soccer. Dragavon served as a goalkeeper coach for the U.S. Soccer Youth National Team U-18s and U-19s. Dragavon is educated in Muscle Activation Techniques and in the Resistance Training

Being decisive and creative was a necessity during the recent global events that have changed the world.  This episode is all about building an effective home exercise experience by sharing exercise mechanics knowledge. This is an ongoing project for Think Fit. Be Fit. as we believe our community's exercise is about personal growth and getting stronger despite complicated circumstances. Jenn and Ed have over 35 years of experience as exercise professionals and now rely mostly on bands and bodyweight exercises because they had to be physically distanced from their well equipped studios. This episode is here for you to learn their tricks!  The funny thing about body weight exercises and bands is that most of us used them out of convenience but without access to gyms we are now using bands and body weight exercises with unfortunate urgency and necessity.   Broadening your understanding of the technical parts of the bands is easy to do!  Just listen to our podcast, take notes, experiment with Strategic Variat

The most optimistic way  to signal the next era of wellness is say “it’s time - to wake - the f*ck -up” with guest Keith Norris on Think Fit Be Fit podcast.    Keith is the co-founder of Paleo f(x)™ and a true visionary in the ancestral health movement and exercise.   Paleo f(x)™ is the world’s premier holistic wellness event, covering health, nutrition, fitness, sustainability, self-development, spirituality, relationships, entrepreneurship, & everything in between.  They are planning to host it July 14-16 2020 in Austin Texas.  In this episode, Jenn and Keith dive into navigating your health during this weird and complicated time. Also this is a rare conversation between two people who are spiritual and also very interested in lifting weights. 7 pillars of health and immersive education at Paleo f(x)™ The importance of self-leadership in health Critical thinking and learning for the process of attaining wellness and staying healthy The wisdom and innate intelligence of the human body Jenn and Keit

Throughout the month of May Think Fit. Be Fit. went on a deep dive of the core.  This is the 6th episode in that series.    Here’s the summary of May’s core-centric episodes: An episode all about Pilates;  why it’s a full body exercise modality and not purely abdominal focused. Link Learning motion intrinsically with the creator of the Core Restore training system. Link An expert guest, academically rooted with 35 years of experience at the highest level of kinesiology and professional sports, weighs in on the core craze. Link A Physical Therapist explains the diaphragm from her perspective and why she calls it the ‘core of the core.’ Link   All of these episodes are my attempt to think independently about exercise so that I can make the best decisions for myself, athletes and clients. There is a sad movement in fitness in which education is barely emphasized and the industry is full of time-wasting (and possibly dangerous)  fluff.  The final episode of May’s core focused episodes is a conversation

Title: Independent Thinking and the core with Dr. Paul Juris Ed.D. Exercise Science Insider ep #12   This is a conversation on independent thinking about the core with Dr Paul Juris Ed.D.   Paul is a noted kinesiologist specializing in education, motor skill development, sports performance enhancement, rehabilitation, and intuitive program development. He has also provided extensive sports development, rehabilitation and education consulting for organizations including the NBA, NHL, USTA, US Cycling Federation, the PGA and US Equestrian Team.  Paul was previously Vice President of Science and Education at PGA Kinematics Lab.  He served as Director of the Equinox Fitness Training Institute.  He was also the Chief Science Officer at Cybex International for 9.5 years.   A strong core has long been THE main goal of many people enthusiastic about fitness . It seems that we’ve been conditioned to believe that the “six pack” is the embodiment of health and athletic performance. This belief has covered up the

“Cueing is the substance of our message” Nick Winkleman PhD   Trainers, athletes, therapists and coaches- has this EVER been more true?   Cueing may be one of the most underrated skillsets that get developed by fitness professionals.  There is an art attached to cueing and choosing the substance of our words that is aligned to improving every aspect of performance- speed, autonomic nervous system, efficiency and strength.     Virtual fitness might be a part of the new norm.  Interacting online when it comes to movement might be the necessary inconvenience that will make you a better trainer and mover.  Join Jenn on this episode for a perspective on learning the art of cueing for fitness, athletic coaching and therapeutic exercise.    This episode highlights a special guest, Dr. Paul Juris Ed.D.  He is a noted kinesiologist specializing in education, motor skill development, sports performance enhancement, rehabilitation, and intuitive program development. He has also provided extensive sports development, reh

Have you ever thought that the learning of a motion is one of the biggest components of an exercise experience?  Chris Verdi of Core Restore New Jersey and Jenn have spent time on his patented training system, The Core Restore.  This truly unique apparatus has a lot to offer anyone willing to try a new way to activate movements or muscles.  This includes  body building competitors, an athlete recovering from an injury, dedicated clients with pain and many more. They discuss learning movement and feeling connected in an exercise like never before (you'll have to see it, to believe it on instagram) and case studies that are underway.  Check out Chris and The Core Restore on instagram, YouTube and in gorgeous Asbury Park, New Jersey.  www.core-restore.com  You can receive a personal demo by contacting Core Restore at dan@core-restore.com  You can reach Jenn at www.impactyourfitness.net, on instagram at https://www.instagram.com/impact_your_fitness/ Links of interest: https://painchats.com/low-back-pain-su

The automatic motions of our body are rarely thought of in terms of chronic pain and performance.  We are discussing a topic today that bridges all of those factors together; the diaphragm, breathing and the pelvic floor.   Please welcome the 2nd Physical Therapist guest on Think Fit. Be Fit., Noelle. Noelle Ekonomou has Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Saint Louis University and has received extensive training in both orthopedic, neurologic and acute rehabilitation. Noelle is passionate about helping others pursue their overall health and wellness goals and believes in providing the highest quality of care. With an integrated, whole-body rehabilitation model, Noelle uses extensive evaluation, examination and treatment procedures. She deeply explores the root cause of her patients’ injuries — considering musculoskeletal, vestibular, vision, neurologic, lymphatic, and cardiopulmonary systems. Noelle has advanced her skills through continued post-graduate coursework for osteopathic manual therapies includi