TRAINED

Over the past decade, yoga participation in the United States has nearly tripled. This comes as no surprise to Fabian Domenech, who found his practice when he was juggling an aspiring fashion career, a full-time service industry job, and a CrossFit coaching schedule in the fast-paced city of London. Thanks to yoga, meditation and his extensive world travels, he’s since learned the power of self-love and the importance of detachment. On this episode, the Nike yoga teacher and CrossFit coach gets real about mental health, shares the feeling of community and belonging he finds in sport, and tells us what we can expect from each of his classes.

Nike yoga teacher Maria Wada used to be all about chasing dreams. That’s why she left her home country of Japan to pursue — and achieve — a career as a professional dancer in the United States. But in the face of success, she realized the sacrifices she made to get there weren’t always worth it. On this episode, she shares how her practice helped her reconnect with herself and strengthen her relationships with others. She also tells us how she’s been shaped by both Japanese and American culture, and how everyone can let go of ego, perfectionism and expectation to find fulfilment in movement.

Anna Kessel has been writing about women in sports for nearly two decades. Her work — especially when it comes to women’s football — has been so impactful, she was awarded a Most Excellent Order of the British Empire as part of the 90th birthday honors of Queen Elizabeth II. Many consider her book, Eat Sweat Play, to be a must-read at the nexus of feminism and fitness. On this episode, Kessel breaks down the history of women’s athletics, tells us why societal views are largely to blame for barriers to entry, and shares how we can all play a role in evolving the narrative of women’s place in sports.

During pregnancy, your blood volume and energy expenditure can roughly double, your heart rate increases 10 to 15 beats per minute…and there are even more changes after you give birth to the human inside of you. So how do you navigate exercise during the endurance event of a lifetime? Enter Laurel Proulx, DPT, PhD, the founder of FEM Physical Therapy and a Nike (M)ove Like a Mother advisory board member. On this episode, she explains the inner workings of the pelvic floor and deep core and how to keep them strong. She also sets the record straight about pre- and postnatal myths and shares how to get back into movement after delivery.

Whether it’s the struggle to reduce screen time or the battle against overeating sugar, many of us know how hard it is to kick unhelpful habits. And according to Judson Brewer, MD, PhD, the best-selling author of The Craving Mind, it’s not so much about willpower as it is about mindfulness. On this episode, the director of research and innovation at Brown University’s Mindfulness Center explains what happens in the brain when we break and form habits. He also shares habit-mapping tools, acronyms and reframing techniques that can help anyone take better control of their behaviors — for good.

In 2017, Sloane Stephens didn’t just secure her first Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open. She did it after an injury benched her for 11 months and sunk her world ranking, earning her the World Tennis Association’s Comeback Player of the Year award. On this episode, she tells us how she maintains a positive mindset in the face of obstacles and how she’s become a champion of change in the cyberbullying space. She also describes the unconventional training regimen that took her from surgery to victory and why having an identity outside of sports can make anyone a stronger athlete.

Becoming your most athletic self isn’t just about going harder, lifting heavier or running faster. According to Kelly Starrett, a doctor of physical therapy, improving your performance starts with nailing the basics. On this episode, the CrossFit trainer and co-founder of The Ready State tells us how to build a solid fitness foundation by maximizing our movement and mobility. He explains the basic skills that can help prevent injury and how they’re consistently utilized across all areas of sport and fitness. He also breaks down how anyone can stay fit — in or out of the gym.

Like many of us, Jaelin Howell started playing sports before she could even read. Unlike most of us, she went on to rep jerseys for the U.S. National Women’s Team and Racing Louisville FC. On this episode, the up-and-coming soccer star details every step of that journey. She shares the benefits of coming from a family of athletes, gets real about the struggles of collegiate sports, and explains the training it takes to transition from club to NCAA to pro. She also tells us what she’s learned from the women who came before her, what it’s like to play with her childhood idols, and what kind of legacy she hopes to leave.

With continuously emerging fads like macrobiotics, vitamin IVs and cryotherapy, the wellness industry has been rapidly growing for decades. And the more its monetary value and list of buzzwords grows, the blurrier the line between scientific truth and pseudoscience hype gets. That’s why Timothy Caulfield, a Canadian professor of health law and science policy, has focused his career on clearing up the difference between fact and fiction. On this episode, the bestselling author tells us why the wellness industry is prone to misinformation, how we can spot it and what we can do about it. He then lays out some common misconceptions about the five facets of fitness — mindset, movement, nutrition, recovery and sleep — and shares simple tricks to help us recognize accurate research.

Most of us equate feeling tired with needing more sleep. But according to Saundra Dalton-Smith, MD, that only scratches the surface of what it really means to be rested. Through her research, the internal-medicine physician and founder of Restorasis identified seven types of rest that cut across all socioeconomic, cultural and racial barriers. On this episode, she gives us a thorough break-down of what these are and how to know when we’re getting enough of each. Whether you’re a worn-down athlete, a worn-out parent or an overworked employee, Dr Dalton-Smith assures us that her restorative practices aren’t additions to our to-do lists, they’re daily habits that can help us all become our optimal selves.

Born with spina bifida and without the use of her legs, Tatyana McFadden spent her early childhood in an orphanage, learning about self-reliance and inner strength while walking on her hands. Encouraged to participate in athletics by her adoptive American parents, Tatyana would ultimately grow up to dominate wheelchair racing, thus far winning 20 Paralympic medals and 24 major marathons. Throughout her racing career, and during her fight for equality in sport, Tatyana has relied on her mental strength to overcome challenges—a high-pressure lawsuit, a career-threatening condition—establishing herself as a leader as both athlete and advocate. In this inspiring, singular conversation with Crisis Text Line’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shairi Turner, Tatyana reflects on the foundations of her mental health, who she turns to for support and what strategies she’s established to get to the starting line with confidence, clarity and perspective.

A gifted runner raised in a remote Kenyan village, Marko Cheseto earned a scholarship to race for an American university and moved to Alaska in 2008. As his star rose on the track, Marko began to feel increasingly pressured and displaced, struggling with his own mental health. The struggle worsened when Marko’s cousin and teammate died by suicide in 2011. Later that year, Marko went for a run having taken too many antidepressants. He lost consciousness in the snow for 3 days. Somehow, he survived, but his frostbitten feet were soon amputated. From his hospital bed, Marko didn’t know if he would ever run again. In this episode of No Off-Season, Marko shares his harrowing story with Crisis Text Line’s Natalia Dayan, a licensed social worker and therapist. He explains why mental health care needs more cultural sensitivity, the importance of spreading a message of hope, and what he’s determined to achieve—beyond smashing records as a Para athlete—by sharing the most difficult details of his own experience.

Tunde Oyeneyin’s reputation as a fitness icon has been 36 years in the making. And according to the personal trainer and cycling instructor, all of her highs wouldn’t have been possible without the lows. On this episode, Tunde tells us about the ups and downs of her life and career. We’ll hear how losing her mom helped her step into the greatest version of herself, why self-doubt is a catalyst for change and how missed opportunities can shift you in the right direction. Tunde’s story is one of grace, gratitude and realizing your dreams.