Fitness & Fishnets

In this episode, Nikki chats with certified personal trainer and host of the Cut the S#iT Get Fit Podcast Rafal Matuszewski about how to take a results focused approach to fitness and nutrition that goes beyond the fads. They discuss: - Marketing versus application and why buzz words like muscle confusion often don't mean anything - The benefits of focusing on consistency instead of novelty - How following health and fitness trends isn't always a bad thing, but individualizing the process will often get you a better result.  About Rafal Matuszewski: Movement is medicine. I firmly believe that many people who deal with pain can improve their quality of life by simply moving. There are fundamental patterns as humans we should be able to perform. But, in today’s world, we live in, we are set up for failure. Being able to squat, crawl, climb, lunge, push, pull, and of course lifting things off the floor are all movement qualities we used to possess, but quickly lose as we age and become inactive. I coach patients

In this episode, Nikki chats with Aesha Ash, retired professional ballet dancer about representation in ballet, the power of images, and her work through the Swan Dreams Project to challenge and change the stereotype of how African American women are perceived by society. They also discuss: - Her shift in perception of self after turning 40 - Her experience being the principal dance double for Zoe Saldana in the movie Center Stage - The work she is doing to bring ballet, fitness, and culture to children who live in inner cities.  About Aesha Ash Aesha has been a professional ballet dancer for 13 years. After attending the legendary School of American Ballet, she joined the New York City Ballet at the age of 18, where she remained for eight years dancing numerous soloist and principal roles. Aesha then joined the legendary Bejart Ballet, in Lausanne Switzerland, as a soloist. After enjoying success in Europe, she returned to the United States in 2005 where joined Alonzo King's Lines Ballet. After a tremendous

In this episode, Nikki chats with Seattle based Pilates teacher Ellen Nixon about their fitness memories from growing up in the 90's and how it's shaped their perspective of movement now. They discuss: - The Presidential Fitness Test and the structure of gym class and why they found it problematic for inspiring kids to enjoy physical activity - How the term athlete can be a turn off for a lot of kids (and later adults) who don't feel like they fit into that category - The importance of listening to your clients and being mindful not to assume they have a specific goal (e.g. weight loss). 

In this episode, Nikki chats with entrepreneur, speaker and actor Jess Vann about body positivity and vulnerability in the online space. They discuss: - What it means to be vulnerable and body positive online - How the culture and trends around fitness have shifted since the 80's and 90's - Why representation matters and how it influences self image About Jess Vann Jess Vann is a body positive, fitness lovah, loving, fierce songtress, entrepreneur, speaker and actor. Let’s not forget Co-Host to the podcast Red White and Coconut Oil! A lady of many hats!  Catch her on IG at jdotjourney. Unleash your sexy and stay fly! 

In this episode, Nikki chats with Peter Baker about his thoughts on functional training and how it applies to the individual. They also discuss: - What it means to train for hypertrophy and why muscle growth can be more challenging than it sounds - The difference between fat loss strategies for the general public versus a figure or bikini competitor  - Why there is no one size fits all approach to health and fitness To connect with Peter visit peterdbaker.com.   

In this episode, Nikki chats with Courtney Townley about how to break out of the cycle of unsustainable fitness practices and self-sabotage. They discuss: - How failing leads to learning and ultimately success - Why it's important to be a generalist in movement vs. specializing in one modality  - Courtney's journey from Pilates teacher to health coach and what her movement practice looks like now - How to get out of the perfectionist trap - Strategies to build sustainable long term habits to improve health and reach your fitness goals About Courtney: Courtney began working in the fitness industry over two decades ago when she transitioned from the professional dance world. She graduated from the University of Michigan with a BFA and is fully certified as a STOTT PILATES® instructor, National Strength and Conditioning personal trainer (NSCA-CPT), ACE Health Coach, Precision Nutrition Level 2 Coach. She is also a very proud student of the Ido Portal Method. Courtney has owned 2 fitness facilities and was so blo

In this episode, Nikki chats with Dr. C. Shanté Cofield (aka The Movement Maestro) about how to apply the new model of pain science to teaching movement in a practical way. They discuss: - What research is now suggesting about how and why we experience pain and how this relates to chronic pain/pain during movement - Strategies for addressing pain when working with clients and patients and how to use graded exposure in a session - What it means when people say "pain is in your brain" and why it's biology and not just psychology  - Why education is a key component of removing fear and helping people move past their injuries - When biomechanics does matter and why strength training can be corrective and reduce the risk of injury - How to apply different breathing techniques to movement or exercise sessions - Hypermobility and how it relates to the experience of pain and injury About Dr. C. Shanté Cofield Dr. C. Shanté Cofield, aka The Movement Maestro, is a former Division I athlete with a passion for movement s

In this episode, Nikki chat with pelvic floor physical therapist Dr. Tamra Wroblesky about pelvic floor training and rehab strategies to return to exercise and strength training. They discuss:  - Common pelvic floor myths and why women can strength train with pelvic floor issues - How gut health relates to pelvic floor function - Why pelvic floor health is connected to whole body function - Signs of pelvic floor dysfunction (what's normal and what's not) - Strategies addressing pelvic floor issues About Dr. Tamra Wroblesky Tamra Wroblesky, PT, DPT is a graduate of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA. As a former collegiate athlete with an active lifestyle, Dr. Wroblesky has special interests in treating the female athlete, with an emphasis on preventative protocols to limit injury. She works closely with Crossfit boxes and USA Weightlifting to give her "Pelvic Health for Performance" lecture and her “Supercharge your Pelvis” article can be found here on USA Weightlifting’s website. She is an activ

In this episode, Nikki chats with personal trainer and PhD candidate in rehabilitation sciences Travis Pollen about what the research currently suggests about how core training and FMS screens relate to injury prevention. They discuss: - Core training myths and why the belief that engaging your TVA can prevent back pain may be outdated - If FMS screenings can actually predict injury based on what the research says - Factors that might actually play a role in reducing pain and the risk of injury About Travis Pollen Travis Pollen is a personal trainer and PhD candidate in Rehabilitation Sciences at Drexel University. He holds a master’s degree in Biomechanics and Movement Science from the University of Delaware. His research interests focus on core stability, movement screening, and injury risk assessment in athletes. In addition to his scholarly activities, he maintains a blog at www.FitnessPollenator.com.

In this episode, Nikki chats with Kassi Hanson, stylist and owner of athleisure wear store Ka'lectic about fitness fashion and how to break the "rules" to create your own style. They discuss: - How to care for athletic wear to make it last longer - What pieces are worth splurging for and which ones you can buy the inexpensive versions of - How to combine prints and patterns and balance oversize and form fitting pieces - Dressing for your body type  - Current fitness fashion trends To connect with Kassi or schedule a style session DM her on instagram at instagram.com/kaletic. To shop the store, visit kalectic.com or check out the physical location in downtown Tacoma, Wa. 

In this interview, Nikki chats with strength coach Kat Libby about training for sport and empowering women through strength training. They discuss: - The differences (and similarities) between training for a sport and training for general fitness - Kat's personal experience transitioning from training as an elite level athlete to general fitness (aka life after sports and the identity challenges that can come with it) - How women can be empowered and inspired to get strong and take up space in and out of the gym - Strategies and smart progressions for strength training and preparing for power or plyometric work - How to shift the narrative from a fear of getting bulky to a desire to be strong About Kat Libby: Kat is a personal trainer based out of Athletic Outcomes in Austin Texas. As a former collegiate soccer player and coach, Kat lives for the team atmosphere and feels that when people are pushed together, they achieve great things together. Kat believes that everyone has the ability, power and heart to ac

In this episode, Nikki chats with yoga teacher and educator Trina Altman about the benefits of ball rolling, strength training, and taking an interdisciplinary approach to teaching and experiencing movement.  They discuss: - What ball rolling, foam rolling, and self myofascial release is beneficial for (and what it's less helpful for) - Trina's journey into strength training and how it helped her get out of pain - How to get past the fear of injury when getting started weight lifting - How strength and mobility aren't mutually exclusive About Trina Altman:  Trina Altman, BS, PMA-CPT, received her training through STOTT PILATES® and is an E-RYT 500. Trina has presented at Kripalu, the Yoga Alliance Leadership Conference and Yogaworks, among others. Her work has been published in Yoga Journal, Yoga International and Pilates Style magazine. Her book, Yoga Deconstructed®: Transitioning From Rehabilitation Back Into The Yoga Studio is slated to be published by Handspring Publishing in December 2019. Learn more abo

In this episode, Nikki chats with strength coach Melody Schoenfeld about vegan nutrition for strength training and athletes. They discuss: What vegans should be aware of to create nutritional balance Supplementation that vegans should consider and sources of vegan protein Myths about veganism and strength training How to tell if something is a credible source of information and how to take a science based approach to vegan nutrition Nutritional requirements for strength athletes who are vegan Thoughts on food dogma and being vegan in a non vegan household About Melody Schoenfeld At 5’0” and 100lbs of vegan fury, Melody Schoenfeld is a certified, highly educated personal trainer with almost 20 years of training experience in many different disciplines. Melody is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with the NSCA, a level 2 RKC, a CK-FMS, a Certified Nutrition Specialist, a Certified Indian Clubs Specialist, and is Z-Health R, I, S, and T Phase certified. She is also a CAMTC Certified Massage Ther

In this episode, Nikki chats with strength coach and creator of the Ultimate Pull-Up Program Meghan Callaway about how to master pull-ups and intelligent strategies for integrating strength training into your fitness routine. They discuss: How to scale pull-ups, so anyone can start training for them Pull-up and strength training myths Why women often struggle with grip strength and exercises to address it How to keep training when you have an injury without aggravating the issue Why the pull-up is a full body exercise How cleaning up your pull-up technique can reduce elbow pain and callouses About Meghan Callaway Meghan is incredibly passionate about educating, and helping the people she works with, including her followers, discover that working out and moving is a gift. Meghan is on a mission to help you achieve your performance, health, and aesthetic-related goals. No matter where you are in your fitness journey, Meghan believes that taking care of your body, and achieving your goals, should be a joyful a

In this episode, Nikki chats with Leigh Peele about sustainable strategies for achieving fat loss and weight maintenance. They discuss: - The science behind fat loss and body recomposition - What you need to know for fat loss and common fat loss myths and misconceptions - Why the scale can be a poor tool of measurement and how you can lose fat without the scale changing - Why training will sometimes make the scale go up, even if you haven't gained fat - A primer on the keto diet - The effects of creating a caloric deficit on metabolism and hormones and why it's not all bad - Strategies for weight maintenance About Leigh Peele Leigh Peele, a nationally published author who’s been featured in publications such as Men’s Health, The Guardian, and The Washington Times. Leigh was a co-host of the popular fitness podcast, Fitcast, and she’s a self-described “layman researcher”. As a personal trainer with a certification through the National Academy of Sports Medicine, Leigh’s worked with actors, models, fighters,