For the first summer Mini solo episode, I talk about the importance of thinking about overall daily movement, not just exercise and I offer some practical tips to become more aware of your movement, including sitting actively and ways of taking regular breaks to move.

Chapters

00:00 The Importance of Daily Movement

01:27 The Negative Effects of Prolonged Sitting

03:23 Strategies for Incorporating Movement into Daily Life

If you want to delve deeper into how you can add more natural movement into your life, you can register your interest for the next live Reclaim Movement 5 Day Course, 'Move more naturally to live better' or to be notified when the NEW self-paced course is released SOON!

Register your interest here:

https://www.reclaimmovement.co.uk/5-day-introductory-course

How often do you get to hear the pearls of wisdom that someone who’s been on the planet for 103 years can share. Not often! 

In the last interview style podcast of Season 2, I had the massive honour of speaking with the wonderful Dr. Gladys McGarey, who is no less than 103! 

Having read her inspiring book, ‘The Well-Lived Life’ it was brilliant to be able to delve into the significance of movement and her perspectives for a fulfilling life. 

In this lovely conversation full of anecdotes, we talked about the feeling of being stuck and identifying the root of this blockage. Dr. Gladys introduced me to her 5 L's for a well-lived life: life, love, laughter, labour and listening. The conversation covered the power of joy, the pitfalls of comparison, and the choice in responding to fear, underscoring the value of listening, caring for others and ourselves.

Dr Gladys shared her wise words about acceptance to alleviate pain and enhance well-being, her concept of ageing into health, and the importance of finding purpose. Sharing lots of her personal experiences, she emphasised that there is a choice to ‘be glad’ and the importance of spreading joy. 

I smiled from ear to ear throughout the recording and felt sorry to have to say good-bye as I could have listened to her stories all day! There were lots of takeaways and I hope you enjoy being a part of this conversation as much as I did. 

If you enjoy this podcast, please support the show by pressing Follow & giving a Rating.

To find out more about today's guest and for the full show notes visit:

⁠The Make Movement Matter Podcast⁠

Connect with your host, Wendy, founder of Reclaim Movement on

⁠Instagram⁠ or find out more about more at 

⁠https://reclaimmovement.co.uk⁠ 

or on ⁠YouTube⁠

Trigger Warning: This episode discuss cancer diagnosis, treatment and more in detail. Please take care of yourself, and hit pause at any stage and if now isn't the right time to listen, please to feel free to come back at a better time for you or those around you.

After seeing images on Instagram of Louise Butcher crossing the line of the London Marathon with such pride, I realised what I was seeing was a truly incredible story.

Delving deeper into Louise’s story on her vlog on Instagram, I was taken by how positive she is, despite having lived through one of the hardest experiences life can throw at you.

In today’s episode of the @makemovementmatterpodcast Louise tells us about the rollercoaster that has been the last few years of her life. She candidly shares her experience of living with health anxiety and then being diagnosed with lobular breast cancer.

Having running in her life wasn’t just a physical activity, it became a lifeline for managing her mental health and she is now using it as a way to break records to break down barriers with her Guinness World Record as 'the fastest marathon with a double mastectomy'.

Challenging societal stigmas surrounding breast cancer and life after mastectomy, Louise wants to start important conversations to bring greater awareness and I respect her immensely. 

If you enjoyed this podcast, please support the show by pressing Follow & giving a Rating.

To find out more about today's guest and for the full show notes visit:

⁠The Make Movement Matter Podcast⁠

Connect with your host, Wendy, founder of Reclaim Movement on

⁠Instagram⁠ or find out more about more at 

⁠https://reclaimmovement.co.uk⁠ 

or on ⁠YouTube⁠

I didn’t realise that the way our feet move; the space we give the toes to splay, the importance of  stimulation by varied surfaces, the level of movement in and the alignment of our big toes and more, can hugely affect the way our entire body moves…until I became injured and was searching for anything that might help me get out of pain. 

However, I was aware that when I wore narrow or heeled shoes, I was in pain both during wearing them and afterwards, and as so many other people felt the same, I just accepted it as ‘normal’! Looking back I’m amazed I did. It’s a bit like wearing clothes that are so tight you struggle to breathe and move and yet, you just do it (I could go on about that too, but that’s for another episode)! 

Since being a barefoot convert about 7 years ago, knowing how much better my feet feel and how much these natural shoes helped decrease my pain and help my movement, I’ve been following some great accounts on Instagram. One of these was forward thinking @anybryant_podiatrist, so I was thrilled when he agreed to give me some time, all the way from Melbourne, Australia.

In this hugely informative conversation we talk about Andy’s story with foot problems, training in podiatry at University and how his journey with foot health and the way he views treatment for the feet has changed since those early days.  

Packed with lots of practical tips, you will be sure to view your own foot function differently by the end of this episode. It’s also a must listen if you’re suffering with foot pain, including problems like bunions and plantar fasciitis, as Andy offers alternative approaches to standard treatment and prevention. Andy also highlights the significance of foot strength and exercises in maintaining foot health and recommends resources for finding barefoot shoes and practitioners who promote natural foot function.

If you enjoy this podcast, please support the show by pressing Follow & giving a Rating.

To find out more about today's guest and for the full show notes visit:

⁠The Make Movement Matter Podcast⁠

Connect with your host, Wendy, founder of Reclaim Movement on

⁠Instagram⁠ or find out more about more at 

⁠https://reclaimmovement.co.uk⁠ 

or on ⁠YouTube⁠

In a change to the normal format, today I’m going solo to talk to you about ageing. Why? Because I turned 50 yesterday! Woop woop!

The move into a new decade affects everyone differently, as does the ageing process and yet we all have quite set thoughts on how we see the ageing process, particularly with regards to our ability to keep moving and what we expect of ourselves and others at each age. 

In this episode, I reflect on the impact ageing has on movement and physical activity. I share a personal experience which shaped my thinking about my own future movement choices as well as some of my own insights to encourage you to consider your mindset, expectations, and goals related to movement as you age. 

I talk about the importance of positive thinking, small changes, and the value of movement in maintaining independence and vitality. I also talk about the influence of role models in shaping our perspective on movement as we age and end with 5 questions that may help you to have a think about exactly what ageing means to you. 

If you enjoy this podcast, please support the show by pressing Follow & giving a Rating.

For the full show notes visit:

⁠The Make Movement Matter Podcast⁠

Connect with your host, Wendy, founder of Reclaim Movement on

⁠Instagram⁠ or find out more about more at 

⁠https://reclaimmovement.co.uk⁠ 

or on ⁠YouTube⁠

Navigating this part of life myself, I know how important it is to be open and discuss the importance of movement through what can be a turbulent and confusing time. 

I really enjoyed talking to Dr. Katie Hilton and Dr. Laura Clark who founded The Lifestyle Health Clinic to help midlife women with their health and well-being during perimenopause and menopause; giving women time to really understand what is happening by looking at their whole lifestyle to help unlock how wellbeing can look for them. 

In this conversation, we discussed the multifaceted benefits of regular exercise, and focussed on empowering women to prioritise their own health and well-being, by recognising the importance of self-care, as well as always seeking support. We looked at practical strategies such as habit stacking and integrating movement into daily routines to help make sustainable lifestyle changes. We also covered the power of social connection in fostering overall health and the significance of building supportive networks. I know that without the support and openness of discussion with my friends through this time of life, it would have been a lot more difficult.  

The message we convey is that feeling suboptimal is not acceptable, and women should strive for optimal health and well-being by embracing movement, seeking help, and prioritising self-care during the phases of perimenopause, menopause and beyond.

If you enjoy this podcast, please support the show by pressing Follow & giving a Rating.

To find out more about today's guest and for the full show notes visit:

⁠The Make Movement Matter Podcast⁠

Connect with your host, Wendy, founder of Reclaim Movement on

⁠Instagram⁠ or find out more about more at 

⁠https://reclaimmovement.co.uk⁠ 

or on ⁠YouTube⁠

Getting outdoors, meeting and moving in a wide range of ways, with a wide range of people and learning about yourself in the process, is a really special combination.  

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing this week’s podcast guests; Gill Erskine & Andrew Telfer, for a while now. I’ve even been fortunate enough to experience some of their magic, at a Wildstrong certification weekend. I came away having had my knowledge challenged, movement and coaching skills improved and having had warm conversations and made lovely connections. I wished there was a Wildstrong nearer me!

Gill & Andrew are a great combination, as they have different backgrounds, giving them different perspectives and I managed to get a little of Andrew’s wisdom before technical difficulties, sadly, got in the way. 

In the conversation we explored the barriers people have about moving outdoors, as well as the benefits of being in nature. We look at the challenge of incorporating outdoor time into daily life, the role a community can have in bringing social support through outdoor activities. Gill and I discussed the benefits of intergenerational movement and the importance of play in adult fitness as well as the impact of movement on ageing and the role of genetics and lifestyle on mobility. We touch on fear of movement and the need for permission to explore and be curious. 

If you enjoy this podcast, please support the show by pressing Follow & giving a Rating.

To find out more about today's guests and for the full show notes visit:

⁠The Make Movement Matter Podcast⁠

Connect with your host, Wendy, founder of Reclaim Movement on

⁠Instagram⁠ or find out more about more at 

⁠https://reclaimmovement.co.uk⁠ 

or on ⁠YouTube⁠

Playing is such an innate part of growing up that brings so many more benefits than we realise, so what stops us playing as adults? I hadn’t even thought of what play meant to me until I started searching for a way of moving that I knew I could keep doing after injury for life. Speaking to Darryl Edwards, founder of the Primal Play Method, I wanted to find out how he found play again and particularly why he feels it's such an important missing part of our movement lives. 

I really enjoyed this free flowing discussion about a topic that many may not have even thought of or certainly thought about in relation to the way they move. 

We explore the definition, the societal pressure for adults to play less. The importance of recognizing and appreciating play in everyday activities, as well as the myriad benefits for our health. We discussed Darryl’s personal journey from a sedentary lifestyle to embracing movement and play before moving on to thinking about the balance between technological advancement and physical movement  and its evolutionary impact. We look at the importance of finding joy and playfulness in movement, the concept of gamification and creating a sense of excitement and engagement in physical activity, and as is regularly encouraged about making small changes to incorporate more physical activity into their lives.

If you enjoy this podcast, please support the show by pressing Follow & giving a Rating.

To find out more about today's guest and for the full show notes visit:

⁠The Make Movement Matter Podcast⁠

Connect with your host, Wendy, founder of Reclaim Movement on

⁠Instagram⁠ or find out more about more at 

⁠https://reclaimmovement.co.uk⁠ 

or on ⁠YouTube⁠

On her Instagram page, Lucy Butler decided to share her passion for gardening that has helped her so much with her struggles with her mental health. In so doing, she gives hope to many and gains a community herself. 

The topic of this year’s Mental Health Awareness week is ‘Movement: Moving more for our mental health’. When Lucy reached out to me, I knew this was the perfect topic as it has such wide-ranging benefits for both our physical and mental health as well as being accessible for many. 

In our warm chat, Lucy is open about her personal journey; using gardening to navigate through tough times. Her passion comes across clearly and I was particularly inspired by Lucy describing the way to garden mindfully, which also has lessons for the rest of life.  

Our conversation has lots of practical tips about how to get involved in community gardening, volunteering, and the deep sense of fulfillment that comes with nurturing green spaces. 

Whether you're a novice or a gardening aficionado, there are lots of useful takeaways for everyone, from starting small to embracing the inevitable failures along the way. 

Join us as we celebrate the joy and sense of achievement that gardening can bring to anyone.

If you enjoy this podcast, please support the show by pressing Follow & giving a Rating.

To find out more about today's guest and for the full show notes visit:

⁠The Make Movement Matter Podcast⁠

Connect with your host, Wendy, founder of Reclaim Movement on

⁠Instagram⁠ or find out more about more at 

⁠https://reclaimmovement.co.uk⁠ 

or on ⁠YouTube⁠

In the second episode of season 2, I have a conversation that resonated very strongly with my own experience of pain and recovery.  

Samphire Hayes reached out to me about her story and I replied immediately. We share a story of chronic pain and of having to search for why our bodies were reacting that way. 

Our solutions were similar in terms of adopting a natural movement lifestyle and Samphire went even further to uncover her own story, by studying and adopting new practises she had never heard of before. Like myself, she has now chosen to use her learning and insight to help others. 

This conversation explores the experience of living with chronic pain and the journey towards building strength and finding hope. We talked about the link between chronic pain and trauma, as well as the impact of chronic pain on mental health. We cover the importance of self-advocacy, the power of small movements, breathwork and mindfulness and more, and the key moment when Samphire chose to ‘ditch the sofa’ that had been her prison. 

If you enjoy this podcast, please support the show by pressing Follow & giving a Rating.

To find out more about today's guest and for the full show notes visit:

⁠The Make Movement Matter Podcast⁠

Connect with your host, Wendy, founder of Reclaim Movement on

⁠Instagram⁠ or find out more about more at 

⁠https://reclaimmovement.co.uk⁠ 

or on ⁠YouTube⁠