Performhappy With Rebecca Smith

There is nothing more painful than watching your athlete lose their love for the sport they once adored. The stomach aches before practice, the tears in the car, the fear that never used to be there. It breaks your heart.In this week’s episode of the PerformHappy Podcast, I’m talking about toxic training environments. These are gyms where kids feel scared, anxious, or unsafe. Places where yelling and shaming are mistaken for motivation.Every week, I talk to athletes who believe this is just the way it is. But it does not have to be. You cannot build confidence when you feel emotionally unsafe.So how do you know when a gym crossed the line? It might look like being told to perform while injured. It might look like you are being ignored because you are not the favorite. Or it might feel like being afraid to speak up because you fear retaliation. These are not tough coaching moments. They are red flags.If your athlete dreads practicing or feels small and scared, please listen. Those feelings matter. Healthy gyms