Why Avoiding Pain Keeps You Stuck (And What to Do Instead) | Elena Brower

Jan 13, 2026

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Stress, anxiety, and mental burnout affect your performance, focus, and physical health. In this episode of Stronger we are going to dive into what builds real resilience and mental strength, not just physical strength.

Don Saladino sits down with author, meditation teacher, and hospice volunteer Elena Brower to break down how strength training, meditation, and breath work work together to regulate stress, calm the nervous system, and build real mental resilience.

Elena shares profound insights on presence, compassion, grief, and emotional resilience, offering a refreshing perspective on how meditation and movement work together to calm anxiety, regulate stress, and build what she calls cellular resilience. From reframing grief as love to learning how stillness can heal the nervous system, this episode challenges listeners to rethink what true strength really looks like.

You’ll also experience a short guided meditation led by Elena, along with practical takeaways on breathwork, emotional regulation, and why listening itself can become a form of prayer.

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