The Optimal Body

Confused about what self-love really means? Why is everyone talking about it? Join us as Sierra Nielsen – personal trainer, nutritionist, and transformation coach – gives us wisdom on what self-love is all about and her journey with it.  Tune in as she explains what it’s like to go through traumatic life events, even with a lack of support around, and how to work through loneliness along the journey. She dives into how you can take your power back by bringing awareness and acknowledgment to those feelings surrounding your trauma; why vulnerability, although scary at first, is therapeutic and healing.  Lastly, listen as she gives advice on how you can truly focus on your self-love journey, without the distractions of social media, and how much the body and mind are intertwined. Free Week of the Jen Health Membership: Looking for a movement community that gives you the plan specific to your body? Need accountability and a plan that is specific to your restrictions?! Come grab a free week of our Jen Health Membership! You'll have access to 12 plans that were all curated by Doc Jen, Dr of Physical Therapy. We make sure you get set up with the plan that will be best for your goals and the rest is laid out for you to follow! Come check it out today! You can even get a discount on your first month using code OPTIMAL at checkout! What You Will Learn in This Interview with Sierra Nielsen: @sierranielsen 02:20 – Why Sierra started her self love journey 05:30 – How Sierra addressed the pain she felt with the gaps she noticed in the medical system and her mothers fight with cancer - Why honoring your feelings is so important 12:25 – What Sierra recommends if you feel alone or feel people around you don’t understand you 15:25 – How our external world is a reflection of our internal selves - Why self love is not a destination journey but a daily practice 20:45 – How you can shut out the negative, or social media, and focus on your own self love journey - Why awareness and acknowledgement gives you your power back 25:50 – Why sharing your experiences and being vulnerable is a powerful way to connect to your own and other’s humanness 27:10 – How sharing your story gets easier the more you do it 28:42 – Sierra’s experience with physical issues due to her mental trauma 33:02 – Why understanding what stressors are going on within you body are so important About Sierra Nielsen: Sierra Nielsen is a speaker, entrepreneur and transformation coach. As a well-known entertainment executive she had produced 3 movies before she turned 28 and was executive producer of 2 notable movies with an A-roster celebrity clientele with the likes of Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Anniston and even Harry Potter himself (Daniel Radcliffe). But that’s just the beginning. Sierra holds a degree in Psychology from Vanderbilt University, is a certified personal trainer, fitness nutrition coach and meditation specialist as well as the founder of Your Soul Sexy, an online program and virtual community dedicated to helping you to own your worth and become healthy from the inside-out. Sierra has an online following of hundreds of thousands of individuals who tune into her message on emotional resilience, body positivity, inner confidence and personal empowerment. As a popular performance and transformation coach she has been featured in national media including USA Today, Variety and Self Magazine and has worked with anyone from D.C. Politicians and Hollywood Models/Actors to Award Winning Producers and NYT best selling authors. Items mentioned in this episode include: Sierra’s Website:http://www.sierranielsen.com/ To see Sierra Nielsen's full bio and links, head over to the complete show notes here: https://jen.health/podcast/33 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ever feel like your body is trying to tell you something? Listen as Doc Jen dives into her own movement journeys as a gymnast and her experiences with pain and injury.  Tune in as she explains what it was like being injured as a gymnast and how those injuries have impacted her body through today.  She also demonstrates from her own body why structure and diagnoses, although good to have at times, should not become a crutch for your everyday life; why it shouldn’t cause you to avoid certain movement patterns.  Doc Jen explains her scoliosis diagnosis and how she learned to take control of her body through her breath.  Lastly, hear how Doc Jen’s body talked to her, or gave her signs, and how you, too, can gain confidence within your own body. Free Week of the Jen Health Membership: Looking for a movement community that gives you the plan specific to your body? Need accountability and a plan that is specific to your restrictions?! Come grab a free week of our Jen Health Membership! You'll have access to 12 plans that were all curated by Doc Jen, Dr of Physical Therapy. We make sure you get set up with the plan that will be best for your goals and the rest is laid out for you to follow! Come check it out today! You can even get a discount on your first month using code OPTIMAL at checkout! What You Will Learn in this PT Pearl: 00:56 – What movement meant to Doc Jen as a child - Her experience with injury 03:44 – Why Doc Jen is grateful for the injuries she experienced - How coaches responded to injury 05:38 – Why it’s important to see a physical therapist as an athlete 06:57 – What types of injuries would pop up for Doc Jen after she retired from gymnastics 08:47 – When Doc Jen started to figure out her own limitations 10:57 – What “squinting patella” means and its role in Doc Jen’s life - Why body awareness is important 13:46 – Doc Jen’s journey with her scoliosis diagnosis - Why a diagnosis shouldn’t become an excuse 17:04 – How Doc Jen responds to her pain with breath and mobility 21:16 – What Doc Jen continues working on daily - What movement brings Doc Jen back to peace 23:08 – How important internal support is vs needing external support like with orthotics 24:31 – Doc Jen’s take home message  To Watch the PT Pearl on YouTube, click here: https://youtu.be/U8cvH4AtwtQ About Doc Jen: Jen Esquer, PT, DPT, is an internationally-renown physical therapist who specializes in helping people overcome chronic pain and maximize physical performance. As the founder of two transformative programs, “The Mobility Method” and “The Optimal Body,” she brings a unique, whole body approach to strength, mobility and pain-free living. In 2019, Jen was named one of the top 50 most influential healthcare professionals. Jen’s easily accessible approach has garnered her more than half a million followers on social media and more than more than 5+ million views of her health and fitness videos. Jen has been featured in Shape Magazine, Self Magazine, Men’s Fitness and Muscle and Fitness and recently graced the cover of Oxygen Magazine. She was recently featured on Good Morning America, and has made other appearances on CBS, the RISE podcast with Rachel Hollis and much more. She is co-host of one of the Top New Shows in Health called “The Optimal Body Podcast” with her fiancé who is also a doctor of physical therapy. When they’re not busy, they’re doing breath work and AcroYoga together in sunny Los Angeles, California. We think you’ll love: FREE Week of the Jen Health Membership FREE Low Back Pain Course! Jen’s Instagram Dom’s Instagram YouTube Channel To see this episode's full show notes and check out the rest of Doc Jen's website, click here: https://jen.health/podcast/32 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Wish you could be vulnerable with people about your traumatic past? Join us as we interview Chase Chewning – Army Veteran, podcast host, and certified coach – as he explains his own traumatic story and how he has gained the courage to speak about it; his advice on how you can too.  Listen as he dives into his life in the Army, enrolling at 17 years old, and how it affects him in his current life.  He explains how his emotional traumas took a big role in his severe physical injuries and how he’s conquered those obstacles.  Lastly, listen in as Chase talks about how the body communicates to us and why it’s so important to acknowledge those signs rather than ignore them. Free Week of the Jen Health Membership: Looking for a movement community that gives you the plan specific to your body? Need accountability and a plan that is specific to your restrictions?! Come grab a free week of our Jen Health Membership! You'll have access to 12 plans that were all curated by Doc Jen, Dr of Physical Therapy. We make sure you get set up with the plan that will be best for your goals and the rest is laid out for you to follow! Come check it out today! You can even get a discount on your first month using code OPTIMAL at checkout! What You Will Learn in This Interview with Chase Chewning: @chase_chewning 02:22 – When Chase enlisted in the Army and why 05:27 – What Chase learned from the Army as a young man 07:00 – How Chase has applied those lessons to his current life and relationships 11:35 – What types of physical and emotional traumas Chase experienced during his service - How emotional health was confronted in the Army during his time serving 19:19 – How Chase’s disassociation of emotional health brought him to his severe physical injuries - How it led to his spiritual and emotional journey 22:52 – Chase’s advice for those who are hesitant to tell their own stories - The power of journaling and mental health awareness 26:10 – How Chase feels, physically and emotionally, when he begins to repeat unhealthy patterns 30:29 – How the body communicates with us - Why we shouldn't ignore those signals, despite ego 35:05 – Information on Chase’s podcast About Chase Chewning: Living a life of wellness has always been a part of him - since growing up eating fresh food from his grandparents' garden, playing baseball throughout school and enjoying time in the mountains surrounding his family's southwest VA home. After six years of active duty, Chase was medically discharged from the military due a string of injuries that ultimately required him to have bilateral reconstructive hip surgeries. After learning how to walk again, twice, exercise as medicine and healthy lifestyle modifications became his passion. He received his BS in Exercise Science, MS in Health Promotion and has been an ACE Certified Health Coach since 2015. Leaving the corporate world in late 2017 as the Wellness Director to a string of concierge medical practices along the East Coast, Chase stepped into entrepreneurship by launching podcast, Ever Forward Radio, now with over one million downloads and creating his own coaching and consulting business, Ever Forward Coach. He is also the founder of the podcast education, consulting, and production company Operation Podcast that helps others successfully launch, grow, and monetize their own podcasts. He now resides in Los Angeles, California with his wife May, RN, BSN and Family Nurse Practitioner, and their dog Nella. To see Chase Chewning's full bio and links to his podcast and website, head over to the complete show notes here: https://jen.health/podcast/31 Chase’s Podcast “Ever Forward”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ever-forward-radio-with-chase-chewning/id1195967486?mt=2 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Join us as Dr. Dom dives into his personal journey with injuries as an athlete.  Listen as he explains that, although a physical therapist, he still has functional limitations within his own body. He explains what type of injuries he has run into, what he did in the past for them, and how he treats them now. Listen as we dive into male pelvic floor control issues, knee injuries, and neck injuries with Dr. Dom and what he has learned from it all; explaining how daily practices are so important for the body. VivoBarefoot Discount: We cannot talk about back issues without talking about restrictions in feet and ankles. Improve your foot and ankle health and therefore everything up the chain by wearing ⁠VivoBareoot shoes⁠ to improve the mobility and strength in your toes, feet, and ankles. There’s one for every occasion, including weddings, hiking, a grocery walk and casual wear, or shoes for your active lifestyle. Use code "TOB" to get 15% off your ⁠VivoBarefoot Shoes⁠! **Vivo offers a 100-Day trial period. If you are not completely satisfied, you can send the shoes back and get a refund. Free Week of the Jen Health Membership: Looking for a movement community that gives you the plan specific to your body? Need accountability and a plan that is specific to your restrictions?! Come grab a free week of our Jen Health Membership! You'll have access to 12 plans that were all curated by Doc Jen, Dr of Physical Therapy. We make sure you get set up with the plan that will be best for your goals and the rest is laid out for you to follow! Come check it out today! You can even get a discount on your first month using code OPTIMAL at checkout! What You Will Learn in this PT Pearl: 03:17 – Dr. Dom’s athletic background 05:45 – Dr. Dom’s first injury and physical issues he ran into early on - How it was handled 07:55 – Dr. Dom’s recovery, post surgery - Why fixing the symptoms don’t always fix the cause 10:01 – Why pelvic floor control issues are not just limited to pregnant women - What it entails 13:23 – Misconceptions of gaining pelvic floor control - What helps Dr. Dom gain pelvic floor control 14:59 – Why this limitation within Dr. Dom may have caused other functional limitations 15:52 – Dr. Dom’s knee injuries explained - How they affected Dr. Dom’s athletic performances 17:43 – What Dr. Dom is doing to gain his athletic abilities back 19:03 – Dr. Dom’s mobility journey - How one tight joint led to compensation of others 21:25 – When Dr. Dom started to find his neck to be problematic - Why he decided to get an MRI 24:48 – Where Dr. Dom has mentally landed with his neck injury - His daily breathwork routines 28:42 – What Dr. Dom does to help guide him foundationally, from the feet up - How long he’s been doing it and what to be aware of To Watch the PT Pearl on YouTube, click here: https://youtu.be/jOppkJFRKV8 We think you’ll love: FREE Week of the Jen Health Membership FREE Low Back Pain Course! Jen’s Instagram Dom’s Instagram YouTube Channel To see this episode's full shownotes and check out the rest of Doc Jen's website, click here: https://jen.health/podcast/30 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Feel like you’ve tried everything, from working out to eating healthy, and still have little to no results? Listen to the interview with Julia Glanz – registered dietician, strength and conditioning coach, speed and agility coach, and former D1 athlete for soccer – as she enlightens us on what might be the true cause.  Tune in as Julia explains how stress levels can affect your weight loss progress and what tests and clinicians she recommends; going into detail on where to start.  She also lets us in on her own lab results (something she’s never shared publicly) and the current steps she is taking toward healing her body through adaptation of her environment and behaviors; explaining the power of dialing it back.  Lastly, Julia goes over what time-restricted eating, or intermittent fasting, is and how it differs from men to women. She gives us a glimpse into how women can schedule their exercise and nutritional habits around their menstrual cycle for an optimal balance. This podcast is full of juicy education. Get your pens and paper out because you will WANT to take notes! Julia's Ultimate Guide to Intermittent Fasting: Click here to start your journey with intermittent fasting and get your copy of Ultimate Guide to Intermittent Fasting Guide for Women by Julia Glanz. Free Week of the Jen Health Membership: Looking for a movement community that gives you the plan specific to your body? Need accountability and a plan that is specific to your restrictions?! Come grab a free week of our Jen Health Membership! You'll have access to 12 plans that were all curated by Doc Jen, Dr of Physical Therapy. We make sure you get set up with the plan that will be best for your goals and the rest is laid out for you to follow! Come check it out today! You can even get a discount on your first month using code OPTIMAL at checkout! What You Will Learn in This Interview with Julia Glanz: @juliaglanz 02:35 – Why you, even if doing all the “right” things, may have no results - How stress comes in 08:27 – Understanding what you can and can’t control - Where supplementation comes in 10:40 – How long it takes to feel results - Why it varies 12:09 – What types of testing and clinicians Julia recommends - Where to start 15:46 – How Julia found more from her thyroid results - What Hashimotos Disease is 19:40 – How Julia has changed her environment and behaviors to combat her results 25:51 – Why it's important to listen to your body and dial it back - Why more isn’t always better 29:35 – What time restricted eating means and the benefits of it - Problems that arise with women 31:43 – What it means to work with your menstrual cycle About Julia Glanz: Julia Glanz is a Registered Dietitian with her Master’s Degree in Nutritional Science, a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and former Division 1 soccer player. Julia specializes in women’s health, hormones and metabolism. She combines her knowledge and passion for exercise science and nutritional biochemistry to help women balance their hormones to reach their wellness goals in a way that’s healthy, sustainable and fits into their lifestyle. Julia helps you navigate your unique journey to optimal health in your body by unraveling the layers of what’s truly in the way. She customizes nutrition care plans with each individual’s biochemistry and lifestyle factors in mind. With the tools, knowledge and guidance she provides, you’ll go from feeling stuck, overwhelmed and frustrated to feeling free, clear and confident knowing what works for your body. It’s Julia’s mission to empower you to become your own health expert. Items mentioned: Julia’s Website Julia’s E-Book “The Ultimate Guide To Intermittent Fasting For Women” Julia’s Instagram We think you’ll love: FREE Week of the Jen Health Membership FREE Low Back Pain Course! Jen’s Instagram Dom’s Instagram YouTube Channel To see the episode’s full shownotes and check out the rest of Doc Jen’s website, click here: https://jen.health/podcast/29 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What does it really mean to have a leg length discrepancy? Why do we feel better after getting our pelvis adjusted? Does it stay in place after it is adjusted? When did it fall out of place in the first place? How do I know this initiated my pain? How do I know if it will last? Adjusting the pelvis is one of the most commonalities we see amongst clinicians from PT to Chiropractor to Osteopath. Why is it so common? Listen in as we explain what these diagnoses mean and how common they really are.  Join us as we dive into why these diagnoses or manual techniques may not be the most beneficial for you long term.  Lastly, we go into detail on how you can create real, long-lasting change within your own body, without relying on a clinician for an adjustment! Free Week of the Jen Health Membership: Looking for a movement community that gives you the plan specific to your body? Need accountability and a plan that is specific to your restrictions?! Come grab a free week of our Jen Health Membership! You'll have access to 12 plans that were all curated by Doc Jen, Dr of Physical Therapy. We make sure you get set up with the plan that will be best for your goals and the rest is laid out for you to follow! Come check it out today! You can even get a discount on your first month using code OPTIMAL at checkout! What You Will Learn in this PT Pearl: 00:58 – Hip related diagnoses that you might have heard - Why these discrepancies are common 03:07 – How practitioners diagnose leg or hip discrepancies - Why they may not always be accurate 06:21 – Why these methods and manipulations from someone else may not be useful long term 09:05 – Why radiographs are the most reliable tests BUT still not the best option 11:14 – Why those manual methods feel better right after - How they work 13:06 – Why activation of the muscles are needed - What the “shotgun technique” is 17:02 – How to create real, long term change To Watch the PT Pearl on YouTube, click here: https://youtu.be/YTBQWPUQixg We think you’ll love: FREE Week of the Jen Health Membership FREE Low Back Pain Course! FREE Tight Hip Flexor Course! Jen’s Instagram Dom’s Instagram YouTube Channel Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Optimal Body Podcast. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute to subscribe and leave a quick rating and review of the show! To see this episode's full shownotes and check out the rest of Doc Jen's website, click here: https://jen.health/podcast/28 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Join us as Dr. Scott Lynn, Jen’s very own Biomechanics Ph.D. professor from California State University, Fullerton breaks down the research of biomechanics and brings us back to the individual in movement.  With his background working in professional sports like baseball and golf, over 20 years of publishing and reviewing research articles and journals, Dr. Lynn has uncovered the best ways to avoid injury and optimize our movement patterns.  Listen as he unleashes all of his biomechanical wisdom on how you can achieve optimal movement.  Lastly, tune in as we break down what the Coba Board is, why Dr. Lynn is involved, and how his own research on this tool reveals how it can help you achieve optimal glute activation in both a squat and hinge pattern. Free Week of the Jen Health Membership: Looking for a movement community that gives you the plan specific to your body? Need accountability and a plan that is specific to your restrictions?! Come grab a free week of our Jen Health Membership! You'll have access to 12 plans that were all curated by Doc Jen, Dr of Physical Therapy. We make sure you get set up with the plan that will be best for your goals and the rest is laid out for you to follow! Come check it out today! You can even get a discount on your first month using code OPTIMAL at checkout! Coba Board Discount: Get your own Coba Board to start building that booty! Use code “OPTIMAL” at checkout!  What You Will Learn in this interview with Dr. Scott Lynn: @drsklynn 04:35 – Dr. Lynn’s approach in the classroom - Why it is effective for both students and teachers 06:51 – How human movement is still unknown and a mystery to us 09:29 – How Dr. Lynn became interested in biomechanics and human movement - Why your job should be more than the paycheck 15:30 – How long Dr. Lynn has been researching and the differences he's noticed over time 20:31 – How to decipher research and its reliability - How “messy” human beings are 24:02 – Why the “best” exercise or movement pattern doesn't exist - Why movement is individual 25:51 – Dr. Lynn explaining FMS theory (functional magnetic stimulation) and why he studied it 31:37 – What Dr. Lyn found researching FMS - Why variability in exercise is necessary 40:26 – What the Coba Board is and how Dr. Lynn got involved with it About Dr. Scott Lynn: Dr. Scott K. Lynn received his Bio- PhD, MSc in Orthopedic Biomechanics at Queen's University, Canada. He received his Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Spine Biomechanics at the University of Waterloo, Canada. Currently, he is a professor in Kinesiology (Biomechanics) at California State University, Fullerton. Dr. Lynn is also the Director of Research & Education for the Center for Sport Performance at California State University Fullerton. He is the creator of the video analysis software Swing Catalyst (Sport Technology company focusing on Golf and Baseball biomechanics). Dr. Lynn has been published by many peer reviewed research articles and book chapters related to golf biomechanics, exercise biomechanics & rehabilitation. Journals published in include: Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, Strength and Conditioning Journal, International Journal of Golf Science Journal of Sports Rehabilitation, Clinical Biomechanics, Journal of Science and Medicine in Sports Human Movement Science, Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, Medicine and Science of Sports and Exercise Journal of Electromyography, and Kinesiologist. Items mentioned: Coba Board Dr. Scott Lynn’s golf and baseball video analysis software We think you’ll love: FREE Week of the Jen Health Membership FREE Low Back Pain Course! Jen’s Instagram Dom’s Instagram YouTube Channel To see Dr. Scott Lynn's full bio and links to his book and website, head over to the complete show notes here: https://jen.health/podcast/27 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Want to learn how to activate your glutes and grow that booty? Been told you’re more “quad dominant”? Feel more quads, low back, or hamstrings when you workout? Tune in as we explain how to truly activate your glutes and break down what those terms mean.  Listen as we explain the biggest mechanical leaks when deadlifting and how to improve your form.  Feel like you still can’t get that correct form? Tune in to learn how the Coba Board gives you the exact external cues you may be missing in order to get that perfect deadlift within your own body. Then, don’t forget to catch the YouTube as well as we review other common exercises to perfect your form and maximize those glute gains. Free Week of the Jen Health Membership: Looking for a movement community that gives you the plan specific to your body? Need accountability and a plan that is specific to your restrictions?! Come grab a free week of our Jen Health Membership! You'll have access to 12 plans that were all curated by Doc Jen, Dr of Physical Therapy. We make sure you get set up with the plan that will be best for your goals and the rest is laid out for you to follow! Come check it out today! You can even get a discount on your first month using code OPTIMAL at checkout! Coba Board Discount: Get your own Coba Board to start building that booty! Use code “OPTIMAL” at checkout for 10% off! What You Will Learn in this episode: 01:56 – What “quad dominant” and “glute dominate” mean 04:14 – Why hinge patterns are so important 05:11 – What the Coba Board is and how it promotes “external cues” 07:08 – Most common problems that occur during a hip hinge - How it creates injury 14:18 – Dr. Dom narrates as Dr. Jen demonstrates the wrong way to deadlift 18:18 – How the Coba Board helps correct these problems 20:56 – Verbal external cues on correct deadlift form To Watch the PT Pearl on YouTube, click here: https://youtu.be/j8NsgrOk0Lk We think you’ll love: FREE Week of the Jen Health Membership FREE Low Back Pain Course! FREE Tight Hip Flexor Course! Jen’s Instagram Dom’s Instagram YouTube Channel Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Optimal Body Podcast. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute to subscribe and leave a quick rating and review of the show! For full show notes and resources, go to: https://jen.health/podcast/26 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Listen in as Lara Heimann, doctor of physical therapy and yoga educator, explains how brain mapping changed her yoga practice.  She outlines her LYT methods when teaching yoga instructors, and how bringing it back to the basics can strengthen your practice.  Tune in as she explains why functional movement, mobility, and core integration are more important than getting that next yoga pose. She also explains what her program entails and how you can become a more efficient yoga practitioner and/or teacher. Free Week of the Jen Health Membership: Looking for a movement community that gives you the plan specific to your body? Need accountability and a plan that is specific to your restrictions?! Come grab a free week of our Jen Health Membership! You'll have access to 12 plans that were all curated by Doc Jen, Dr of Physical Therapy. We make sure you get set up with the plan that will be best for your goals and the rest is laid out for you to follow! Come check it out today! You can even get a discount on your first month using code OPTIMAL at checkout! Strong Coffee Discount: We also mention Strong Coffee throughout the episode. To get your next quality latte for a discount using code “OPTIMAL15” at checkout!  What You Will Learn in this interview with Lara Heimann: @lara.heimann 02:26 – Lara’s initial introduction to yoga and what brought on her passion for it 04:00 – How Lara’s family background impacted her mind body relationship 06:51 – Lara’s principle with neurology and brain mapping - How it relates to your yoga practice 11:25 – How yoga creates mindfulness that, in turn, creates a healthier lifestyle 13:00 – How neural development, while practicing PT, changed Lara’s yoga practice - LYT Method 19:36 – Common injuries due to different practices - Understanding movement patterns and strength 24:49 – How Lara approaches poses in her classes - Why functional movement, mobility, and core integration are emphasized 33:31 – What Lara’s online yoga teacher training program entails About Laura Heimann: Lara is the founder of Movement by Lara. An international yoga leader, she has combined her background in physical therapy with her love of yoga to create the LYT Method. Many know her as “Yoga Mama” for the endless love, gratitude, and guidance that she has for all of her students and teachers. She developed the LYT Method to address the deficiencies and imbalances of our modern lives and limited movement patterns. Lara honed her LYT Method through 25 years of practice and more than a decade teaching tens of thousands of students internationally during workshops, training, and retreats. Her mission is to help everyone find freedom through smarter, safer, and more conscious movement patterns so they can then uplift others. She leads teacher training certifications online and in person at her studio, YogaStream, in Princeton, NJ. Movement has always been Lara’s favorite form of medicine, beginning with her early years as an athlete and dancer. She graduated from Duke University with a BS in Biological Anthropology and Anatomy and a MA in Physical Therapy. When she is not on her mat, she is out hiking with her dogs, traveling with her family, and mixing it up in the kitchen as a natural foods vegan chef. Lara’s personal mission is to help her students find their source of inner strength. She frequents top-tier media as an anatomy and yoga expert and presents at yoga festivals, spreading the philosophy of smart, strong, sustainable yoga and compassionate living. Items mentioned in this episode include: Lara’s Website: https://lytyoga.com/ Lara’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lara.heimann/?hl=en We think you’ll love: FREE Week of the Jen Health Membership FREE Low Back Pain Course! Jen’s Instagram Dom’s Instagram YouTube Channel For full episode show notes, visit https://jen.health/podcast/25 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Have a history with shin splints? Like to run, hike, or just have a real passion for walking the dog but can’t go on because of that pain in the shin? Listen as we explain what shin splints, or medial tibial stress syndrome, are and how you can combat it.  We explain the differences between shin splints and other injuries and how they may feel similar. Then we dive into tools you can utilize to discover what is happening within your body. Then listen as we walk you through different exercises that will help you avoid shin splint pain when paired with consistency. Free Week of the Jen Health Membership: Looking for a movement community that gives you the plan specific to your body? Need accountability and a plan that is specific to your restrictions?! Come grab a free week of our Jen Health Membership! You'll have access to 12 plans that were all curated by Doc Jen, Dr of Physical Therapy. We make sure you get set up with the plan that will be best for your goals and the rest is laid out for you to follow! Come check it out today! You can even get a discount on your first month using code OPTIMAL at checkout! What You Will Learn in this episode: 00:51 – What shin splints or medial tibial stress syndrome is 03:31 – What the difference is between shin splints and anterior compartment syndrome 05:08 – What the difference is between shin splints and posterior tibial tendon dysfunction 08:01 – How you modify your workouts so you can avoid shin splints - What you should NEVER do 10:04 – Why assessing yourself, or getting assessed, is so important - Where to assess 14:31 – Exercises to help avoid shin splints 19:44 – How to strengthen your muscles eccentrically - Why its important 22:26 – Why ankle mobility helps avoid shin splints To Watch the PT Pearl on YouTube, click here: https://youtu.be/6IGeHX_5OSI We think you’ll love: FREE Week of the Jen Health Membership FREE Plantar Fasciitis Guide! Jen’s Instagram Dom’s Instagram YouTube Channel Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Optimal Body Podcast. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute to subscribe and leave a quick rating and review of the show! For full show notes and the resources we use for this episode, head over to: https://jen.health/podcast/24 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.