This podcast is brought to you in partnership with Offering Tree. Offering Tree helps teachers and trainers get their classes, courses, and services online fast. To learn more about this awesome company  --- Laura Khoudari is a trauma practitioner, certified personal trainer, and corrective exercise specialist. Widely recognized within the trauma and fitness communities, her work has been featured in Buzzfeed, UpWorthy, Outside Online, Medium, Tonic, and Girls Gone Strong.  --- Kathryn and Laura talk about using strength training to support people who are healing from trauma. Laura shares her personal story, and why she didn't always love going to the gym. They talk about back pain, deadlifts, and progressively building your capacity to be able to lift the heavy things life throws your way.

195 Laura Khoudari: Lifting Heavy Things, Healing Trauma One Rep At a Time

In this episode Kathryn and Trina talk about shifting from lighter weights and bands to coaching clients using heavy weights and barbells. Both came from yoga/pilates and have been incorporating strength training into their classes and programs for years. They talk about why building strength and progressing to heavier weights is highly beneficial, even if it seems a bit scary at first. Trina also shares about how her training and nutrition have changed through her 50's and into peri menopause.&nbsp; Trina Altman is a movement educator who helps teachers tap into their own brilliance and understand how to break the rules, so they can create new and inventive exercises and classes to meet their students’ needs. Trina is the author of Yoga Deconstructed, a trainer, and the creator of online courses that can be found on her website. To learn more about Trina, her book, courses  *** To learn more about Mindful Strength and how to

242 Trina Altman: From bands to barbells, why building strength really matters

Today we welcome one of our favourite researchers, teachers and speakers, Dr. Stacy Sims! In this episode Kathryn and Dr. Sims talk about what makes female physiology so unique and why strength and conditioning are essential for longevity. They tackle popular topics like intermittent fasting, 10,000 steps a day, exercising on an empty stomach and the keto diet. Dr. Sims speaks about the importance of heavy loading and multi-directional impact for muscle and bone health, and why yoga and low impact are not enough. They iron out how much protein women in this stage of life need, how to absorb more water without peeing so often, and much more. It was a huge honour to interview Dr. Sims, Kathryn and the whole team are huge fans of her work. *** STACY T. SIMS, MSC, PHD, is a forward-thinking international exercise physiologist and nutrition scientist who aims to revolutionize exercise nutrition and performance for women. Dr. Sims has published over&nbsp;, several books and is a regularly featured speaker at professional and academic conferences, including those by USOC and USA Cycling.&nbsp; Stacy currently holds a Senior Research Associate position with SPRINZ- AUT University, supervises PhD students, writes academic papers, and is on the advisory board of some cutting edge companies including Tonal Strength Institute, WILD.AI, and EXOS.&nbsp; She also has her own business () where she creates and delivers online learning material focused on women training with their physiology across the lifespan.&nbsp;  ***&nbsp; To learn more about how you can work directly, with us we have an upcoming program beginning April 17th on

245 Dr. Stacy Sims: Strength, Conditioning and Nutrition for Postmenopause

In this episode Kathryn and Gina talk about perimenopause and why strength training and high intensity interval training (HIIT) are really helpful in this phase of life. Gina also shares quite a bit about pre-exercise fuelling and why starting exercise with extra energy is incredibly powerful. Perimenopause is a confusing time, there's no test to say you are in perimenopause, and it can start earlier than we think. In this podcast you will learn more about why consuming both protein and carbs pre-training is useful, how muscle and metabolism are linked, what true HIIT is, and the importance of progressing gradually to higher intensity. Gina is a strength &amp; conditioning coach&nbsp;who started lifting at 16 and hasn’t stopped. Experiencing how different training in her teens, 20s, 30s, and&nbsp;now&nbsp;mid-40s encouraged Gina to return to school for exercise science, focusing on women’s metabolism. Her mission is&nbsp;to&nbsp;help reshape what is possible as women age, empowering them as they navigate perimenopause. To learn more about Gina, her training and e-book  To follow Gina on IG  ***** To learn more about Mindful Strength and  &nbsp;

247 Gina Wright: Strength Training, Fuelling & HIIT for Perimenopause

Today we welcome award winning journalist and life long athlete Christine Yu to talk about the menstrual cycle tracking craze that we have seen in recent years. Christine will walk you through the different phases of the menstrual cycle, some of the physiological changes that happen week to week and why these fluctuations can effect our exercise. She also dives into some myths about cycle tracking and why it's not as simple as giving general guidelines like, high intensity around ovulation and stretching during luteal. At the heart of this episode is the importance of cycle tracking as a way to get to your own own body, your unique rhythms, symptoms, strengths and challenges so you can better support yourself through your ever changing menstrual cycle.  *** To learn more about  Make sure to join our email list to get all our updates! To follow Mindful Strength on

250 Christine Yu: Menstrual cycle tracking and training, what we know and where we need more research

In this episode we welcome exercise physiologist Raphael Bender for a conversation about a few popular topics where we often see mixed messages and sometimes even misinformation. If you are a person who loves to learn about how muscles fire, how strength is built, and what current research is saying about certain topics, this is for you! Kathryn and Raphael talk about how muscles fire and whether or not we need activations in our warm-ups. They also discus the idea of feeling a muscle working and how many people who can't feel muscles working get told they are doing things wrong. They talk about the difference between building muscle and building strength, and why building the strength to lift heavy things is a coordinative skill. They finish the conversation with the topic of pelvic instability, if a pelvis can really be unstable, how this research is conducted and the problems with manual assessment of an area like the S.I. joint. To listen to Raphael's  To follow Raphael on  *** To learn more about Mindful Strength and our  For inquiries email &nbsp;

251 Raphael Bender: Exercise Science Fact Check

Today we welcome Chantal Lalonde for a conversation about exercise in general. So many people fall into the trap of hyper specialized exercise, correcting movement patterns or setting lofty unattainable goals. In this episode we unpack the physical activity guidelines and how to focus on more consistency and less on doing things perfectly all the time.&nbsp; Learn about the balance of cardiovascular exercise and strength training that are recommended for all adults. Chantal and Kathryn also talk about fitness trackers, mindset around training, and what it's like to be very average, but highly passionate athletes.  *** To follow Chantal on Instagram  To follow Kathryn and Mindful Strength on Instagram

252 Chantal Lalonde: How much exercise do adults need? Unpacking physical activity guidelines

Today we welcome dietician and body image coach Deb Benfield for a conversation about finding strength and joy in midlife. Deb talks about the main times in many women's lives that their bodies change quickly, puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. She speaks about how these are moments when we are at higher risk for developing disordered eating behaviours as a means to control our naturally changing bodies. Kathryn and Deb also touch on internalized agism, the longevity movement, the importance of strength and nutrition for muscle and bone strength, and our culture's strong emphasis on macro and calorie tracking. Deb mentions the following resources in this podcast...   To learn more about  and  *** To check out our library of  To follow Kathryn on Instagram,

253 Deb Benfield: Enjoying food and nourishing yourself in midlife and beyond

In this episode Kathryn and Laurel talk about how they both got into running and what they have learned about cardiovascular exercise. We want to emphasize that you do not need to begin running, there are many ways to build up your cardio including the bike, rower, elliptical machine. In this episode you will learn why strength training and cardio are the perfect match and why it's essential to have both in your weekly routine. They talk about how adding cardio has changed their lifting routine, their relationship to carbohydrates, and the practical elements of doing varied training consistently. Both Kathryn and Laurel do running and lifting, but they each excel in different areas which makes this conversation even more interesting.&nbsp; To learn more about Laurel  To follow Laurel on Instagram  *** To learn more about the  To follow  &nbsp;

254 Laurel Beversdorf: Combining lifting with cardiovascular training, and why we recommend you do both!

Welcome to Kathryn's first solo episode of 2025! In this segment Kathryn talks about the big mistake a lot of people make when it comes to strength training, which is rotating the exercises too frequently. Building strength means repeating the same exercises over long periods of time. There is a lot patience involved with strength training. Kathryn talks about certain exercises she plans to train forever, and how to make those decisions based on your goals. She also talks about how most people underestimate how much they are capable of lifting, what to do when you can lift your goal weight, and why you won't be able to add more weight to your lifts forever. To learn about Kathryn's upcoming  To learn about the Mindful Strength Membership and how you can take a range of our different strength, mobility, and relaxation classes  Thanks for listening everyone, if you are loving this podcast and listening on Apple, please scroll down and leave a review!!

255: Which exercises should always be in your program, for your goals

Welcome to our second solo episode of 2025! If you have not already listened to episode 255 we suggest you start there. In todays segment Kathryn is talking about the value of writing down your lifts and keeping track of your numbers over the long term.&nbsp; When you write down your lifts you collect valuable data about yourself, your patterns, and you gain a lot of context. If training isn't going well or feeling great, you have a log to look back through which will help you make strategic changes.&nbsp; Tracking your lifts over time also shows gaps in the training, shows where you might need more consistency, more or less volume etc... Listen to this episode to learn more about writing down your lifts and why it's so useful. To join our next strength program in January,  If you are newer to strength training and want to browse our many classes and equipment tutorials,  Thanks for listening!! If you are loving this podcast and listening on Apple, scroll down and leave us a review. We appreciate you being here.

256: Why writing down your lifts and training is a game changer

Welcome to our third solo episode of 2025. Today Kathryn is talking about rest intervals, and why we need them between heavy compound exercises.&nbsp; She also talks about super sets and which exercises you can link together with less rest. We hope these episodes help you understand strength training in more detail and help you become more successful with your training. Episode addition: in this episode Kathryn talks about CNS activation being a main reason why we need rest intervals, but there's more. The energy systems that fuel lifting also need time to recover, and recovery is aided by the cardiovascular system. More on this in an upcoming episode! If you have not yet listened to the previous two episodes, definitely catch up on them soon. *** To start strength training with us from wherever you are, join the  Each month we release a new strength program for you to follow, to build up with consistency. In addition to a monthly program you can browse our other classes i.e. mobility, plyometrics, cardio, stretching and choose a few to round out your training week. Members also get access to our mobile app.

257: Rest intervals and super sets

Today we are talking about our 10km race last weekend. Kathryn and Kyle talk a little bit about the lead up, balancing training and recovery, and a break down of the run itself. They talk about pacing, why they kept their start pace even when everyone was blowing past them, pre-race carb loading, the taper week and how to challenge what's possible in a really sustainable way. We hope you enjoy listening! To sign up for our upcoming

258: 10km Race Recap with Kathryn and Kyle

We welcome back Dr. Stephanie Carter Kelley for a third time! In this episode Kathryn asks all about pain, and why it can be so complex and about more than just mechanics. Stephanie sheds light on how the brain creates pain as a protection response and how the immune system get's involved as well. They talk about stepping back to look at the whole ecosystem of the body, not just the joints or muscles affected. Kathryn asks about menopause and why pain can become so intense at this time in life. Stephanie shares about her own personal journey through menopause and how stress management is often sidelined. Click the links below to listen to Stephanie's previous interviews on our website...   To learn more about Dr. Stephanie Carter Kelley and  *** To learn more about Mindful Strength and our online platform where you can follow programs and  &nbsp; &nbsp;

259 Dr. Stephanie Carter Kelley: Pain is more than mechanics

In this episode Kathryn interviews long-time colleague and studio owner Katie McClelland. Katie shares the riveting story of how yoga helped her hear from a crystal meth addiction, and how far she has come over the last fifteen years. Kathryn and Katie have been friends for years, her studio De La Sol Yoga (Hamilton) was one of the first studios to host Kathryn's workshops. De La Sol now has multiple locations, and Katie is following her path as a yoga mentor and public speaker. For more information about Katie you can see her website at https://katiemcclelland.com Enjoy!

From drug addict to successful yoga entrepreneur, life's great journey with Katie McClelland

Jennifer is a Buteyko educator, as well as a yoga teacher. A couple of months ago she published a controversial Facebook post telling the story of a woman who developed asthma after learning to breathe in a yoga class. This topic immediately spiked Kathryn's interest, as someone with long term breathing issues. Jennifer sheds light on how yoga teachers and movement professionals can approach the practice of breathing in a helpful and healing way. To learn more about Jennifer visit jennifersnowdon.ca Please consider rating and reviewing the Mindful Strength Podcast, we would really appreciate it! To learn more about Kathryn, her online courses, teacher training program, blog, and worldwide workshops visit kathrynbruniyoung.com

Injured By Breathing? with Jennifer Snowdon and Kathryn Bruni-Young

Dr. Perry is not your average Chiropractic doctor. With a host of knowledge, certifications, recovery and movement modalities at his finger tips, he is the founder and director of&nbsp;Stop Chasing Pain, a program and community with an MO to get people moving more of themselves, more often.&nbsp; Inspired by his own healing journey, Perry believes that movement is key to feeling better in our bodies, as well as our minds - and that how we think about or perceive life, ourselves, movement, and pain have a profound impact on our ability to be well. Kathryn and Perry connect on movement, mindfulness and the individual-ness of every human. They cover a range of topics from adrenals and our relationship to stress, to the power of choice innate to humans, why a state of play is so essential to making shifts and improvements in our mood and state of pain, as well as science, discovery, intuition, instinct, "good" medicine and why variety is the spice of life. Dr. Perry doesn't take life or medicine too seriously, and doesn't think you should either. This episode is absolutely loaded with information, tips, clips, fun, and creative ideas that will most definitely stay with you long after the podcast ends. He even&nbsp;has an assignment for you…. tune in to find out! We are beyond excited to have had Dr. Perry on the podcast and to be able to share this conversation with you.

Dr. Perry Nickelston: Stop Chasing Pain

Carl Paoli is&nbsp; a movement professional, coach and author, whose passion lies in sharing the language and beauty of basic human movement with others. After years of competitive gymnastics, Carl's studies took him across the globe introducing him to new sports, communities and career callings in the fitness industry, becoming a household name in Cross-Fit circles. Carl found a gap in the way movement was being taught and what he had experienced via his own practices, and seized the opportunity to create unique programming, methodologies and philosophies that are now sought out by coaches and professionals around the world. This is a really honest and inspiring conversation between Kathryn and Carl, two young movement creatives&nbsp; with well rounded practices, open minds, rootings in scientific teachings and philosophical ideals, who are not afraid to ask questions, chat about controversial issues and call upon others in the industry to explore and expand the conversations and language being used to communicate progression, adaptation, intent, interoception, and more. They talk about cultural holds and ideas, what problems need to be solved and cultivating awareness around the common thread that what people really need in life and in fitness, most of all, is themselves. Carl and Kathryn manage all of this, while still holding great respect for all styles and disciplines in an effort to spark growth and change&nbsp; in individuals and the industry. Carl's book Freestyle, is a best seller, and his subsequent work has spawned an online community of thinkers and doers with resources and training programs dedicated&nbsp; to inform, encourage and connect.

Carl Paoli: Freestyle Connection

In this interview Glenn and Kathryn talk about yoga and injuries in detail. Glenn has a unique perspective, after 50 years of practice and teaching he has seen a lot of ups and downs in the yoga community. He comments on how many people are surprised when they become injured practicing yoga, as if the mystical side would protect against repetitive strain or a lack of preparation. He speaks about how he consulted with William Broad for the book The Science of Yoga, The Risks and Rewards and how many people were unhappy when he began to speak his truth. Glenn also speaks very humble about how he doesn't really know how to teach teachers, and the complexities of brining up yoga teachers in this new age. Over the course of the interview he came back to the idea that yoga is not just asana, and how our materialistic culture has glorified the physical practice. To check out Kathryn's international workshop schedule visit&nbsp;https://kathrynbruniyoung.com/workshops/

Glenn Black: The Risks and Rewards of Yoga

This conversation covers topics like sexual abuse that might be sensitive to some listeners. Karen Rain was an advanced Ashtanga student who experienced almost daily sexual abuse while working with K. Pattabhi Jois. In this interview she shares her opinions on cults, yoga, gurus and trauma informed practice in a way that will stark critical thinking. She speaks about her experiences in India, why she decided not to return and the painful reasons as to why she quit the practice all together. She also comments on the people who have supported her and the devoted students who participated in the covering up and silencing of stories like her own. Karen also speaks about her relationship with Matthew Remski and how his work is changing the yoga landscape for the better. This conversation ends with a really practical discussion of trauma, consent, and ways in which teachers can make their classes more accessible and effective. This is a powerful conversation and a really important topic, we are grateful to Karen for sharing her experiences with us and we believe there is a lot to be learned from her. Please visit kathrynbruniyoung.com to see the show notes which include a handful of Karen's articles, and other links that will help you to further understand this topic. Loving this podcast? Scroll down to the bottom on this page in Apple Podcasts and leave us a review! Did you know that the Mindful Strength Podcast made the Top 20 Biomechanics Blogs for 2019 list? Support from people like you makes this happen :)&nbsp;

Karen Rain: Abuse in Ashtanga Yoga

Amy Matthews has been teaching movement since 1994.&nbsp; She is a Body-Mind Centering® Teacher, a Certified Laban Movement Analyst, an Infant Developmental Movement Educator, and a movement therapist and yoga teacher based in NYC.&nbsp; Her vast experience and interest in studying movement and anatomy has lead her to develop a variety of programs and projects such as The Breathing Project, Babies Project and co-authoring the best-selling Yoga Anatomy.&nbsp; Currently, Amy teaches embodied anatomy, developmental movement and yoga workshops in New York, across the US and internationally. One of the best interviews thus far! So much is covered in this interview within the context of how we analyze, experience and teach movement.&nbsp; Amy and Kathryn talk about the challenges of how to teach movement that may not subscribe to a particular style or modality and that there is not necessarily one right way to move nor is there an inherently safe or dangerous way to move.&nbsp; Amy talks about “unhooking” from the attachment of getting a particular pose or movement rightbecause this doesn’t necessarily equate to healthy alignment.&nbsp; She comments on how there are no flat surfaces in the body; that every joint is comprised of curved surfaces coming together which means there are an infinite number of ways to do a movement well or unwell. Amy talks about how yoga teachers don’t necessarily need to know anatomy to be a “good” teacher, but if they chose to speak about anatomy, they better know what they are talking about!&nbsp; Rather, a teacher should facilitate opportunities for people to feel their movement experience and use language as a tool to understand how a student is feeling the movement in their body.&nbsp; The conversation is finished with a discussion on developmental movement and how to communicate with infants through body language and sound as opposed to language.

Amy Matthews: Movement Analysis, Anatomy and Attachment

In this conversation, Bernie and Kathryn get into some hot topics that are being discussed in the yoga community: stretching vs. stressing the body, how to teach yoga when considering human variability, hypermobility and thoughts on the spine.&nbsp; The conversation begins with Bernie talking about yin yoga and the difference between stretching and stressing the body’s tissues.&nbsp; He talks about how this practice can stress the deeper layers of the body, which is beneficial to the health of our tissues.&nbsp;&nbsp; Kathryn and Bernie discuss how to effectively teach yoga knowing that there is so much human variability and that ‘looking good does not necessarily mean you are being healthy’ in your movements.&nbsp; Bernie also talks about whether or not people that are hypermobile should do yin yoga.&nbsp;Finally, they chat about the spine and how certain yoga cues such as “neutral spine” or “lengthen your spine” may be unhelpful and confusing.&nbsp; To learn more about Mindful Strength or to sign up for the Incredible SI Joint online course visit kathrynbruniyoung.com

Bernie Clark: Yin Yoga, Human Variation and The Spine

This is a great conversation for all teachers to hear.&nbsp; In this candid conversation, Kathryn and Carly share thoughts on body positivity and critical thinking as a yoga teacher.&nbsp; Carly talks about how she incorporates body positivity, which is really “body neutrality”, in her teachings and how yoga teachers can determine if they are teaching in this way.&nbsp;She also talks about how critical thinking has taken a place first and foremost in her teaching, which has helped her create an inclusive and thoughtful practice for her students.&nbsp; They discuss the subject of language and how to use it to empower students to take ownership of their practice as well as cautionary thoughts for teachers using certain alignment cues and how they can be misinterpreted.&nbsp; Lots of thought-provoking ideas for yoga teachers shared in this episode!&nbsp;

Carly Stong: Critical Thinking in Yoga

Erin Godfrey is a movement and body wellness educator.&nbsp; She began her career as a ballet dancer, studying with the National Ballet School of Canada, followed by studies in Anatomy and Kinesiology at George Brown College. Additional studies include Meditation, Feldenkrais, Alexander Technique, Developmental Movement, Pilates, Personal Training, Wellness coaching, Anatomy Trains, Contact Improvisation and Axis Syllabus.&nbsp;Erin has owned several studios in Toronto and has been teaching movement and healthful living practices for over 20 years. An international teacher, she has been faculty on a number of teacher training programs. She coaches a wide range of clients from those working with chronic injuries to athletic performance. Erin continues her research and investigation as a movement practitioner, dancer, educator and new mother.  To learn more about Mindful Strength and sign up for the 6-week challenge that begins April 13 .

153 Erin Godfrey: The Art and Science of Movement

Lorimer is Professor of Clinical Neurosciences and Foundation Chair in Physiotherapy at the University of South Australia. He has over 25 years clinical experience working with people in persistent pain, has authored hundreds of articles, multiple books and chapters and continues to present keynote lectures globally. His community outreach and whole of community education initiatives are internationally renowned. His work is cited in clinical guidelines internationally. He is an honoured member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association, an Honorary Fellow of the ANZCA Faculty of Pain Medicine and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences. To learn about the Pain Revolution  To sign up for Kathryn's webinar

160 Lorimer Moseley: Explaining Pain

jamilah malika is a Mentorship Lead at New Leaf Foundation which does work to bring mindfulness and yoga-based tools into spaces that are least-served and often most stigmatized; increasing access to positive resources for youth who face violence, neglect, poverty and marginalization.&nbsp; As well as an artist and writer passionate about anti-oppression, jamilah has completed an MFA in Writing at the School of the Arts Institute of Chicago. All of the links that jamilah shares are included in our show notes .

161 jamilah malika: Anti Oppression (REPOST)

V. Ophelia Rigault whole-heartedly believes that grief is our greatest teacher and there comes a time, that the griever has to choose to get through their grief or become mired in it. Ophelia knows that grief is not meant to be fixed - it is meant to be witnessed and healed. After the death of her mother, Ophelia tried to "fix" her grief, and was waiting to "get over her it". Her grief became an unwanted dinner guest that wouldn't go away. She learned how to turn her wounds into wisdom and reconnect to joy. Ophelia is the radio host of Thank The Grief it's Friday and TV host of Conversations with Ophelia. She has is an inspirational speaker, yoga teacher and has logged over 2000 hours as a speaker. She is a lover of peppermint tea, restorative yoga, and is a self-proclaimed scarf-aholic. To learn more about Ophelia . To learn more about the Mindful Strength Membership  &nbsp;

169 V. Ophelia Rigault: The Grieving Process and Yoga

Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, Ph.D. is a historian of contemporary American politics and culture and is currently writing a book on American fitness culture, FIT NATION: How America Embraced Exercise As The Government Abandoned It (under contract with University of Chicago Press). She is the author of Classroom Wars: Language, Sex, and the Making of Modern Political Culture (Oxford 2015), co-host of Past Present Podcast, a frequent media guest expert, speaker at universities and conferences, and contributor to international and domestic news outlets from the BBC to the New York Times to the Atlantic. Natalia is Associate Professor of History at The New School, a co-founder of wellness education program Healthclass 2.0 and a Premiere Leader of intenSati. She is a co-producer and the host of WELCOME TO YOUR FANTASY, a forthcoming podcast from Pineapple Street Studios. She holds a B.A. from Columbia and a master’s and Ph.D. from Stanford and is based in New York City.

179 Natalia Petrzela: Race, Feminism and Origins of Fitness in America

With over a decade of teaching experience I am passionate about helping people of all ages feel more capable and confident in their bodies. My method of practice blends together mindfulness with strength training, yoga, movement and mobility for a well rounded embodied experience. I teach workshops and teacher training all over the world and own a small studio in Ontario, Canada. For information on my teacher training program, international workshops, blog and more visit kathrynbruniyoung.com

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