Think Fit. Be Fit.

The trouble with movement screens and the skill-based solution of the Athletic Movement Assessment If you exercise, you’ve probably done some type of assessment, whether it’s blood pressure, a functional movement screen, or a bootcamp instructor screaming in your ear while you attempt to hang on to a treadmill going 12 mph at a 10% incline. What made that screen meaningful?  How was that information used to help you achieve your goals?  Did it predict injuries?  Did it predict skill?  Did it result in practical and effective solutions?  Do screens employ a one-size-fits-all approach, or do they give practitioners and individuals specialized tools to solve specific problems?  Do they reveal issues that don’t actually exist?  More importantly, if we assess only ONCE, and not repeatedly, does that assessment have any meaningful impact on our long-term prospects? In this episode, entitled One And Done, we join Dr. Patrick Welsh, Co-Founder and Director of Athletic Movement Assessment, in a discussion on the bac

Kaleen Canevari is the Founder & CEO of Flexia, a personalized Pilates experience and smart reformer. Nikki Naab Levy has experience in Fitness Marketing and is a Pilates instructor with a passion for helping people learn how to move better. Nikki and Kaleen talk about how Flexia is making Pilates more accessible and the importance of integrating strength training with Pilates.  Kaleen, Nikki and Jennifer discuss how we can highlight diverse instructors, diverse bodies and  create better representation and accessibility in the fitness industry.  Topics discussed: Pilates- What makes it confusing? How Spring tension works differently than a barbell or dumbbell What can we measure in Pilates? Accessible Pilates Date driven Pilates Various types of feedback Kaleen’s background in mechanical engineering    SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER: Dive deeper with us. Sign up here. We offer a unique view on muscles, portals to new ways to respect the body and health.  Learning and ‘enjoy the process’ is a buz

Melanie Webb is an author, wildlife biologist, performance coach, and the founder and creator of WebbWell, a fitness and wellness app focused on bringing the beauty of nature into virtual workouts. Webb is pioneering a  customized approach to health with adventure fitness and performance coaching, amid mother nature.    Jennifer invited Melanie to talk about the creation of her fitness app, WebbWell, and her passion for using technology to create an even playing field for all when it comes to health and wellness.    Topics discussed: How and why Melanie launched her fitness app The healing process: nature and high performance Fitness apps becoming serene spaces The mental component of training Using the virtual space as a tool for wellness   SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER: Dive deeper with us. Sign up here. We offer a unique view on muscles, portals to new ways to respect the body and health.  Learning and ‘enjoy the process’ is a buzzy term.  We take learning seriously and want to take our listener

Ben Dragavon has over a decade of experience training with a variety of clients from professional athletes to everyday people. In this episode, Ben unpacks what it means for him to talk about mental and physical health, as well as the importance of being vulnerable. This episode also talks about how data collection is important, but it's only a part of the larger picture. "There is always another layer that can you use, to get further and deeper, into knowing the information."    Topics discussed: The importance of mental wellness and physical wellness. Does fitness need to be trauma-informed going forward? Using technology and collecting like data points, in order to think critically. Our entire being as a system of systems    SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER: Dive deeper with us. Sign up here. We offer a unique view on muscles, portals to new ways to respect the body and health.  Learning and ‘enjoy the process’ is a buzzy term.  We take learning seriously and want to take our listeners on that journe

If you’ve been attuned to conventional fitness wisdom, at some point you’ve been advised to avoid certain exercises, like leg extensions, at all costs.  Why?  Because of the noxious shear stress that may damage your knees.  Do you too have the Fear of Shear? Shear is a type of force that arises when adjacent structures move in opposing directions, and frankly, it occurs in most joint motion. So, if that’s the case, why does its presence ring so many alarm bells in the heads and hearts of physical therapists, trainers, doctors and fitness enthusiasts? Well, it might have something to do with a paper published in the early 1990’s by members of the esteemed Mayo Clinic that found significantly higher levels of shear at the ACL in an open chain vs closed chain condition.  Their unambiguous conclusion?  Avoid open chain exercises, like leg extensions, if you are rehabbing an injured or newly reconstructed ACL.  Of course, that translates into “avoid leg extensions at all costs, period.” So, is this settled wisd

Season 3, Episode 7: Center of Attention The Center of Mass and Movement Efficiency Don't miss this VISUAL podcast: Watch the YouTube Raise your hand if you’ve heard this before; the center of mass of a body, and its current relationship to a line of force, will have a significant impact on how efficiently that body moves.  If you’ve heard it, it very well may have been from us, about two episodes ago in The Forest Through The Trees (Season 3, Episode 5).  It’s not that we’ve run out of ideas already, it’s that we feel this information is so important to helping you make quality movement decisions, whether in sport or exercise, that we wanted to double down, elucidate further and provide some clear imagery so you can visualize what we’re explaining.   Things like plates on a bench press or the speed on a treadmill are things we can see and make sense of with our naked eye.  As with joint torques, the center of mass (COM), center of gravity (COG) and ground reaction forces (GRF) are not visually detectabl

Dr. Lauren Fisher prepped for eight months to hike the Grand Canyon from rim to rim. The transformative and spiritual journey made her fall in love with movement again.   Jennifer invited Lauren to talk about this journey and how she learned that having a goal gives her structure and helps her discover her why. Lauren also talks about the importance of being psychology informed and how it plays out in your exercise.    Topics discussed: How Lauren trained to conquer the Grand Canyon How that experience showed her that having a set goal gives her structure The importance to be psychology informed Why the joy of movement is the ultimate goal What it means to be trauma informed and where to start to take that next step into health   SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER: Dive deeper with us. Sign up here. We offer a unique view on muscles, portals to new ways to respect the body and health.  Learning and ‘enjoy the process’ is a buzzy term.  We take learning seriously and want to take our listeners on that j

The maintenance of your muscle system is paramount. Sleep, energy, movement and quality of movement can be improved by working with muscle. Jennifer invited her friend Lauren Eirk to discuss what strength and muscle has to do with her philosophy, her program called Fitness Integrated Science and how she teaches yoga teachers to work with muscle and improve muscle to be more functional on a holistic viewpoint. Lauren also talks about the importance of being a part of accessible wellness care.    Topics discussed: Lauren’s yoga background and methodology The importance of maintaining muscle Why your form matters Lauren’s app, Fitness Integrated Science TV   SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER: Dive deeper with us. Sign up here. We offer a unique view on muscles, portals to new ways to respect the body and health.  Learning and ‘enjoy the process’ is a buzzy term.  We take learning seriously and want to take our listeners on that journey with us and through us SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make s

Today, Jennifer and Meredith discuss The Smith Machine, shedding light on this versatile piece of equipment.  Topics discussed: The history of the machine and why it was invented Who this could be beneficial for and when and what circumstances could it be beneficial for them How it’s been modify and how we can modify it for our benefit The main structural points and maintenance of The Smith Machine The place where the Smith machine shines Jennifer’s and Meredith’s favorite exercise to do on the Smith Machine   Episode page: https://www.thinkfitbefitpodcast.com/smith-machine-part-1   Jennifer Schwartz: https://www.impactyourfitness.net (Website) Instagram https://twitter.com/JennImpact (Twitter)   Meredith Mack https://meredithmack.app (Website and app) https://www.instagram.com/meredith_mack/ (Instagram)   ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach dedicated exercise professionals, future trainers, and exercise enthusiasts all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started, hello@thinkf

Trauma infused work is a promising new holistic approach that is popping up in yoga, therapy and wellness. This conversation isn’t fully about the trauma-informed trend, it’s a delightful mix on being open to different tools for holistic living and an upcoming community event at Jennifer’s studio in Virginia.  Jennifer invited her friend and colleague Christina Kauffmann to discuss yoga informed trauma, the Sacred Spaces book, CBD, and building community through movement.   You’ll even hear Christina discuss her most painful tattoos and her experience with Jennifer’s unique training services. Topics of discussion: Christina’s yoga approach Trauma informed yoga explained Pain and awareness Mindfulness vs Interoception  CBD products and popularity episode page: www.thinkfitbefitpodcast.com/christina-kauffmann-discusses-harmony905-cbd-and-trauma-informed-yoga Jennifer Schwartz Instagram https://twitter.com/JennImpact (Twitter) Christina Kaufman https://www.instagram.com/christina__kauffmann/ (In

This conversation is about where healthy habits originate and it’s deep. It goes beyond the biological stuff that is weight loss, food management and health psychology. With the development of neuroscience, psychology and how our gut chemicals and health play into how we construct our reality, Holly and Jennifer have a very good question for all of us to ask- how does the mind impact our fitness?   This conversation is deep, philosophical and can be of help to anyone struggling with consistency or habit building. You’ll even hear Holly discuss the complexity of nutrition.   Topics discussed: How Holly’s career has evolved from celebrity training to nutrition  Following strategy in a sustainable way The complexity of nutrition Exploring the undertones and motivations of losing weight How the brain, gut and feelings impact our healthy choices Meet our guest, Holly Perkins: Holly Perkins is a women’s strength expert, a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and the author of Lift to Get Le

Season 3, Episode 7: The Whole Truth Practice makes perfect, right?  Well that depends on the nature of the skill and the type of practice.  So when it comes to acquiring a motor skill, it’s possible you haven’t heard the whole truth. Conventional wisdom usually doesn’t distinguish between types of practice, other than more is better. In the Motor Learning world there are many different ways we define & design practice routines based on the desired outcome. Broadly, practice can be conducted as a whole or in parts.  Should we deconstruct the movement and practice one phase at a time?  Or, perform the entire complex skill as one continuous movement?   Join PJ and GG as they dive into this topic and cover the research, the different layers of whole vs part practice, including concepts such as sequencing, sub-routines, discrete movements and more.  Then, they’ll extrapolate the findings to practical applications and discuss their perspectives on how we can use this extraordinary information to help yourself o

There’s a spectrum of emotions that come with exercise.  Some of the times those emotions happen in small spaces where cycling and expensive candles intersect. Today Jennifer and Meredith are sharing optics and wisdom on this huge element in the fitness industry, Group Exercise.   Topics discussed: History of group exercise The community element of group fitness How Bootcamp falls short “Joy of Movement” and Health Psychology Building emotional substrates of exercise Spiritual intentions intersected with exercise classes You’ll even learn about Jenn’s history of teaching group exercise! episode page: https://www.thinkfitbefitpodcast.com/exploring-the-power-and-pitfalls-of-group-exercise/  Say hello to your PPFP Hostesses: Jennifer Schwartz Instagram https://twitter.com/JennImpact (Twitter) Meredith Mack Instagram https://meredithmack.app/ (Website) All Peach Pit episodes can be found here: https://www.thinkfitbefitpodcast.com/tag/peach-pit-fitness/  ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach dedicated e

We began this season with a declaration; we would be covering fitness through the very particular lens of motor skill acquisition.  As it’s been a couple months since episode one dropped, let’s define skill again; the consistent achievement of a goal, under a variety of conditions, with an economy of effort.  Thus far we’ve spent a good amount of time talking about approaching our workouts with a strategic intent on varying conditions and using them to achieve different gym goals. Now let’s focus on the last part; economy of effort.  What do we mean by economy of effort?  We’re talking about efficiency.  What comes to mind when you think of movement efficiency? Squeezing all of our muscles as hard as we can for the entire workout?  What if doing that actually inhibited movement and minimized the application of force?  Would that be efficient? Efficiency in the way we move, efficiency in reducing excessive levels of joint stresses and even efficiency in achieving our goals, are all factors that we should con

What happens when an Athletic Trainer realizes concussion protocols and muscle system care is extremely outdated in fighting sports?  They innovate from their experience, knowledge base, ask questions to find a new path forward.   This episode might be short but it deserves to be on it’s own because Jenn and Arash Ranjibaran (AJ) of The Athletic Training Institute discuss the very important topic of concussions and fighter specific implications.   Topics: Mechanics and power for Hitting, pushing and throwing  Commentary on designing programs for fighters Concussive effects, monitoring and fighting Examples of cognitive loading Efficiency factors when training for speed    ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach dedicated exercise professionals, future trainers, and exercise enthusiasts all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started, hello@thinkfitbefitpodcast.com SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER: Dive deeper with us. Sign up here. We offer a unique view on muscles, portals to new ways to respect t

If you’ve been following along this season, here’s a recap; we introduced the notion of skill, defined what it is to be skillful, identified types of skills, based on their constituent parts, discussed the merits of whole, part or sequential practice, and finally, explored emotional affect and its impact on skill.  Ok, now what?   Now that we know what to do and how to practice it, what type of cueing and feedback are necessary in order to master it?  Wait a sec, do we actually need any cueing or feedback?  If so, why, how much and when? How does it change from beginner to expert?  What does it look like when you need to get individuals of different strengths, sizes and capabilities to work together to accomplish a uniform outcome?  This episode examines cueing and feedback from fresh perspectives. This week we’re joined by Dr. Nich Lee Parker, Head Coach of Columbia University’s Men’s Lightweight Rowing team, and Gregory Youdan MA, MS, Visiting Researcher at Brown University and Latsky Dance board member. 

Exercise has an important role in our future health, but can modern medicine integrate exercise and lifestyle factors?  One of the answers to that question is in this episode. This conversation moves from how we think about exercise to elevating healthcare and challenging the patterns of conventional medicine.   Two talented educators and physical therapists join Jennifer in discussing professional healthcare education that has the potential to change medicine for the better, worldwide. Jennifer talks with Dr. Adriaan Louw and Jen Uschold of Evidence in Motion about one of their newest course offerings, Certification in Lifestyle Medicine. This certification brings exercise, wellness and behavior change to the forefront of patient and client care in various types of practices: physical therapy, occupational therapy, behavioral therapy, and other types of licensed health care providers. Jenn is starstruck in this episode.  It features a leader in Pain Education and research. Topics of discussion include:

Ready to be aroused?  We’re not sure what you’re thinking, but we’re talking about skill here!  Simply put, our ability to perform gross or fine motor skills is determined, in part, by how well we manage our state of arousal.  Are we “locked in” and ready to go, or hyperstimulated, anxious and stressed?  Whether you’re an athlete competing in the world championships or playing Chopin in a piano recital, you’ve probably had firsthand experience with how unmanaged arousal can hijack your intentions. The antithesis of being stressed is achieving a state of flow.  Ahhh, just saying it sounds relaxing.  What does it mean to be in flow?  Things seem to organize with less effort, we’re accomplishing tasks with precision, time seems irrelevant.  In a nutshell, there’s an enjoyable ease to our activity. Arousal and flow states are mentioned like other nebulous fitness terms, including “holistic” and “functional,” but what do they really mean?  To answer our questions, we’re joined this week by Sport Psychologist and

Box Jumps seem quite simple, face the box and smoothly launch yourself on top of it.  Since these jumps are deemed 'full body exercises',, Fitness Influencers and experienced trainers alike use them in various ways.  The claims for using them range from ‘functional strength’ to explosive strength to blasting fat.  Jenn and Meredith Mack take a step into the textbooks and mechanics to look at the origin of this exercise and examine its use across the wide span of industry recommendations.    Are the jumps worth the potential cuts and bumps? Of course in most fitness circles, you’ll hear- ! Box Jumps ! have so! many benefits!  Before you jump in, on or down, check out this episode because Peach Pit takes a critical look at this popular exercise. Be sure to tell us what you think about our new term #AppropriatelyPumpy and if it applies to your box jumps. Topics:  Are box jumps as sensational as their hype? Box jumps, Jump training and plyometrics: what are they? Is one better than the other? Classical vi

If scientists can measure 9800 plus molecular interactions during a single bout of exercise, don’t we want to know how to retain and enhance that capability? Muscle health is not often sought after, but Jenn and her guest Arash Ranjbaran of the http://athletictraininginstitute.com/ (Athletic Training Institute in Bellevue Washington) explore why this is and some of the healing and performance factors in the neuromuscular system.   Arash (AJ) even discusses the neuromuscular system as a programming language, truly fascinating!  Topics: Concepts on various functions of the neuromuscular system http://muscleactivation.com/ (Muscle Activation Techniques Rx ) Injury physiology AJ's perspective on muscles and injury as a professional MMA coach and conditioning expert.  What biohackers get wrong about muscles and shoulders ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach dedicated exercise professionals, future trainers, and exercise enthusiasts all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started, hello@thinkfi