Bio

Dr. Leah Humphries is a Physical Health and Performance Coach passionate about empowering individuals to navigate their health journey through movement. Growing up on the bayou of Louisiana, Leah developed a deep-rooted connection to physical activity, exploring various sports, and immersing herself in the natural world. Her journey led her to a prep school in Lake Placid, NY, where she honed her athletic skills and gained a broader perspective on health and fitness.

With a background in Exercise Science and Chiropractic, Leah brings a unique blend of knowledge and experience to her coaching practice. She specializes in helping clients navigate pain, injury, and performance goals, guiding them towards sustainable and effective movement strategies. Leah’s commitment to personalized care and her ability to connect with individuals on a personal level make her a valuable resource for those seeking to improve their overall health and quality of life

If you'd like to learn more about Leahs work and movement philosophies, follow her on instagram @dr.leahhumphries. You can also reach her via email at lhumphries27@gmail.com

Episode Summary

In this episode of the Practice Human podcast, host Caitlin Casella interviews Leah Humphries, a physical health and performance coach with a rich background in exercise science and chiropractic care. Leah shares her journey from chiropractic care to fitness coaching, emphasizing the importance of sustainable fitness and movement-based therapy. They discuss Leah's approach to tailoring fitness programs to individual needs, managing exercise intensity, and ensuring long-term health and fitness. Leah also talks about her personal interests, including long-distance running and gardening, and the importance of integrating fitness into everyday life.

Topics covered in this episode:

• What is sustainable fitness and how can we, as coaches, help our clients shift their mindset in this direction?
• How does mindset and behavior change come into play when building a fitness program for overall health and longevity?
• What lifestyle factors influence ideal exercise intensity and frequency?
• How can people more appropriately train for the phase or "season" of life they're in?
• How being flexible in our approach to various exercise modalities can benefit one's ability to make movement a way of life.
• How can we challenge our biases towards specific movement philosophies?
• How utilizing your immediate environment for movement can provide a more accessible, well rounded, and embodied approach to exercise.

Bio

Macklen Mayse is a strong believer that every woman should lift heavy things. That's why she specializes in weight lifting and mobility for women.

Macklen was born and raised in a woodland area of Kansas City. She fell in love with fitness during graduate school while making durational performance art, video art and kinetic sculpture. She compressed her body into metal sculptures, held awkward body shapes while scaling walls, and flung herself at pillars for cold hugs. It was all quite weird and fun.

Her focus then morphed into learning and teaching about the body. Macklen started as a Yoga Teacher and eventually became a Personal Trainer. She offers both in-person personal training sessions, and customized training programs you can do in your own time.

If you want to fit into last year's jeans, start running again, join a sports league, or simply keep up with your kids but you just don't know how to stay consistent, email Macklen at Info@macklenmayse.com, message her on Instagram @macklenmayse, or visit her website www.macklenmayse.com.

Join Macklen for "The Strong Class" on Monday October 28, 2024. For details and registration CLICK HERE.

Episode Summary

The podcast episode features Macklen Mayse, a personal trainer and advocate for women lifting heavy weights. Macklen's fitness journey began in graduate school through performance art, where she engaged her body in unique, kinetic ways. She transitioned from yoga to weightlifting after experiencing overuse injuries and wanting to build strength. Now, she specializes in strength training and mobility, primarily for women aged 30-70, many of whom are new to weightlifting or facing challenges like osteoporosis and menopause.

Caitlin and Macklen discuss the importance of making fitness accessible and how they help clients overcome the intimidation of gym environments. Macklen emphasizes teaching independence in the gym and guiding clients through virtual coaching, allowing them to troubleshoot and grow in confidence. They highlight the role of lifting for women's overall health and address the societal pressure to look or act a certain way in fitness spaces, encouraging listeners to embrace the awkwardness and imperfections of learning.

What's covered in this episode?

• How does your lived experience influence your relationship to fitness?
• How can other movement practices such as yoga, performing arts, and puppetry influence your strength training?
• What are some useful tools to overcome discomfort in an exercise setting?
• What are some strategies you can use to help navigate the progression toward higher intensity?
• Does making funny faces while strength training actually help?
• What are the benefits of weightlifting for women’s health, especially as they age?

Bio

Juniper is dedicated to helping plus-size individuals discover the joy and benefits of exercise beyond weight loss. After struggling with his weight for most of his life and experiencing the frustration of restrictive diets and ineffective workout routines, he found a transformative experience in a welcoming HIIT class. This shift in focus from weight loss to strength-building led to increased energy, motivation, and overall well-being. Now, Juniper is on a mission to share this approach with others through his program, Movement Munchies, where he teaches the basics of strength-building for long-term, enjoyable fitness

Join Juniper for "Movement Munchies" on Fridays September 20-October 25, 2024. For details and registration CLICK HERE.

Find out more about me at juniperjaye.com. And be sure to follow me on instagram @godisaqueerboy

Episode Summary

In this episode, Juniper shares with Caitlin how a focus shift to strength training transformed his approach to fitness and significantly improved is relationships in life and with dieting. He highlights the importance of finding supportive, community-based gym environments, which helped him shift his focus from weight loss to building strength and confidence. Juniper emphasizes the value of representation in gyms and the need for inclusive spaces where everyone feels welcome. He also discusses his upcoming class, "Movement Munchies," aimed at making fitness accessible to plus-size individuals and others who may feel excluded from traditional gym settings. Caitlin expresses her enthusiasm for Juniper's journey and the positive impact he's set to make through his work.

What's covered in this episode?

• How can switching your focus from weight loss to strength training benefit your fitness journey?
• What is the significance of community in the gym environment?
• How can finding your go to exercise change your attitude towards working out?
• How to overcome common misconceptions about gym spaces as a plus size person?
• What role does diverse representation have in gym environments?
• How might someone overcome their own insecurities in regards to health and fitness?