Practice Human

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 [email protected] 

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 [email protected], 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?

Bio

Giulia Pline’s journey has evolved from a career as a professional dancer to becoming an educator of movement and now a Doctoral student in Physical Therapy. Her experiences, including several injuries, inspired her to pursue extensive studies in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, and biomechanics. The years she spent healing and recovering from these injuries have equipped her with invaluable tools and a unique skill set that shape her approach to treating and caring for others on their own physical rehab journeys.

Giulia’s mission is to offer empathetic, intelligent, thoughtful, and thorough movement education and treatment through a science-backed, integrative, and multidisciplinary approach. Her work focuses on helping students and clients understand the body in an anatomically holistic manner, fostering discernment, discovery, learning, and healing.

Find out more about Giulia's work at www.giuliapline.com, watch her on youtube @giuliaplinemovement, and follow her on instagram @giuliapline.

Episode Summary 

In this episode, Caitlin and Giulia discuss their experiences and insights regarding the journey to obtaining a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree and the various settings in which physical therapists work. They also delve into the different types of physical therapy (PT) settings, such as inpatient, outpatient, neuro rehab, and home care. Giulia recounts her personal experience with PT after a severe ski accident, highlighting the importance of personalized and attentive care, which she found more effective in private PT sessions compared to hospital outpatient care. She emphasizes the value of manual therapy combined with movement therapy, noting the psychological and physical benefits, and how it informs her current work as a movement coach. Giulia shares her father’s recovery journey after a traumatic brain injury, illustrating the crucial role of PT in regaining independence and improving quality of life. They conclude by acknowledging the complexity and adaptability of the PT field, emphasizing its broad scope beyond just movement and exercise.

What's covered in this episode?

• How do manual therapy and movement strategies impact recovery?
• How does personalized physical therapy aid in rehabilitation?
• How are different movement practices gateways to becoming a Physical Therapist?
• What manual therapy techniques can be used to address neurological conditions?
• How do past experiences with Physical Therapy and movement, inform how you approach to studying to become a DPT?

CHECK OUT THE SPOTIFY PLAYLISTS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE!

Caitlin Playlists:
Practice Human 🔥 Gym
Amped-up pop + aggressive rock to fuel your heaviest lifts.
Practice Human 🐢 Run
Equal parts lively + chill to keep your easy runs easy.

Domini Playlist:
Joy, Sweat and No Fear
Getting our groove on for sweaty Gyrokinesis.

Bio

Domini Anne is a multi-disciplinary movement educator, dedicated to helping people fully inhabit their bodies. Through her unique approach, she supports an aging population in maintaining vitality, mobility, and a pain-free existence. With a background as a former Gyrotonic Master trainer, Domini now identifies as a “Movement Agnostic," educating trainers from diverse backgrounds on proprioceptive training, movement principles, and embodied anatomy. Her teacher training program, Proprio-Synthesis, guides instructors in honing their skills, cueing effectively and intuitively tailoring their approaches to meet clients' needs. Fascinated by the human body, Domini feels fortunate to focus her career on studying and exploring its capacity for expression.
Learn more about Domini's work and follow her via the links below.

Websites : dominianne.com, galileousa.com
Instagram : @domini_anne

Episode Summary 

In this episode, Caitlin and Domini explore the transformative role of music in their fitness routines and teaching practices. They discuss how carefully curated playlists enhance different aspects of their workouts, from running to strength training, by influencing pace, intensity, and emotional engagement. They delve into the physiological and psychological effects of music, noting its ability to modulate energy levels and support emotional catharsis during exercise. Domini emphasizes strategic use of music in movement practices like Gyrokinesis, highlighting its capacity to facilitate fluidity and rhythm in workouts. Overall, they advocate for using music as a dynamic tool that enhances both physical performance and emotional well-being in fitness activities.

What's covered in this episode?

• What is the Gyrotonic System?
• How can music influence or alter your training?
• How can we find more joy in our movement practices?
• What is the importance of diversifying our movement disciplines?
• What exactly is a movement agnostic?
• What psychological and physiological effects does music have on us?

Ben Cormack owns and runs Cor-Kinetic. He is a musculoskeletal therapist with a clinical background in sports therapy, rehabilitation, pain science & exercises stretching back 15 years. Ben specializes in a movement and exercise-based approach with a strong education component and patient-centered focus and runs evidenced-based courses nationally and internationally.

Join us at Practice Human in NYC for Ben's course September 28-29, 2024. For details and registration CLICK HERE.

Learn more about Ben's work and follow him via the links below.

Website + blog: cor-kinetic.com
Instagram : @corkinetic

Episode Summary 

In this episode, Caitlin and Ben discuss nonspecific low back pain (NSLBP), emphasizing its diagnostic challenges and the importance of understanding pain's multifactorial nature, including psychological and behavioral influences. They highlight the need for realistic patient conversations about pain recurrence and self-management strategies. Over-medicalization and its detrimental effects on patients are addressed, along with the concept of "movement snacks" as manageable exercises to aid recovery. Ben underscores the importance of understanding pain mechanisms rather than just focusing on exercise. The interview concludes with information about Ben's course promoting evidence-based approaches for clinicians.

What's covered in this episode?

• What factors contribute to longer-term or recurrent episodes of low back pain?
• How can over-medicalization negatively impact patients with low back pain?
• What are movement snacks, and how do they help manage low back pain?
• How should clinicians address patients' expectations regarding the recurrence of low back pain?
• What is the significance of patient beliefs and psychology in the recovery process from low back pain?

Alia began teaching yoga in 2015, but quickly became frustrated with the limitations of a single discipline. It was clear that there was infinite value in helping people become stronger and more mobile beyond the purpose of performing yoga poses, but to improve function in daily life. She developed a passion for helping make inaccessible movements more accessible, especially for those left in the margins of the fitness industry – older adults, people with pain, and the average not-so-flexible-jane and joe. Alia uses a one-on-one style approach that allows her to build relationships with individuals and work with various movement disciplines to help people move, feel, and therefore live better. She operates from a belief system that the body is inherently strong and infinitely adaptable.

Working with Pain

Growing up, Alia witnessed loved ones suffer from chronic pain and the often dismissive treatment they received from medical professionals. This inspired her to support people with pain through empathy, encouragement, and scientific understanding. The evolving science of pain has reshaped her approach to her own pains and views on aging, fueling her belief in its potential to address the chronic pain epidemic. Alia is dedicated to contributing to this positive change and invites others to join her.

Philosophy

Alia's philosophy is shaped by three guiding principles imparted by her mentors: treating each client as a whole person, listening attentively, and recognizing the body's infinite adaptability.

If you'd like to learn more about Alia, or would like to work with her. Please follow the links below.

MOB Membership Website: CLICK HERE
To join Alia's free webinar "The Truth About Osteoarthritis": CLICK HERE
Visit Alia's website: www.aliabisat.com
Follow the MOB's Instagram: @themobmembership

Episode Summary 

In this episode of the Practice Human podcast, Caitlin interviews Alia Bisat, a yoga teacher turned functional movement and strength coach. Alia discusses her transition from teaching yoga to incorporating strength and mobility training, driven by her own experiences with physical limitations and a desire to help people improve daily function. They also delve into the importance of understanding pain science and addressing the negative experiences people have with medical professionals, highlighting the significance of functional training for various populations, including older adults.

What's covered in this episode?

• Why is strength training important for maintaining functional independence as people age?
• How can an understanding of pain science influence your approach to managing your own chronic pain or injury?
• How does your personal experience and history of pain/injury factor into finding the right coach or training format to meet your goals?
• How can strength and mobility training impact your physical capacity, and help lessen the impact of injuries?
• What is over-medicalization and how does it impact peoples' perception of their pain?

Greg Lehman returns to NYC for his weekend course, Reconciling Biomechanics with Pain Science October 17-18, 2026 at Practice Human. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP NOW: https://www.practicehuman.com/event/greg-lehman-reconciling-biomechanics-with-pain-science-in-person/

Greg Lehman is a physiotherapist and strength and conditioning specialist, specializing in musculoskeletal disorders within a biopsychosocial model.

He teaches two internationally recognized continuing education courses: Reconciling Biomechanics with Pain Science and Running Resiliency, which have been conducted over 100 times in 40+ countries and 5 continents.

Prior to clinical work, Greg conducted biomechanics research at the University of Waterloo, publishing 20+ papers. As an assistant professor, he taught Spine Biomechanics and Instrumentation and led numerous research experiments.

Greg Lehman’s expertise spans biomechanics and neuroscience, emphasizing simple yet effective techniques for managing musculoskeletal disorders. Greg enjoys actively engaging in knowledge sharing on social media.

Find out more about Greg’s work at greglehman.ca. Check out his youtube channel www.youtube.com/@glehman. Follow him on Instagram @greglehman. Additionally you can reach out via email at [email protected].


What’s covered in this episode?

• What is a “Movement Optimist”?
• When does exercise prescription need to be specific and when can it be generalized across a broad array of symptoms or diagnoses?
• How does prescribing exercise based on a patient’s interests affect treatment outcomes?
• What is included in the ecosystem of factors that influence pain, function, and rehab prognosis?
• What are some strategies for prescribing cardio exercise in a rehab setting, and how does metabolic health change pain sensitivity?
• Pros and cons of cross training.
• When and how a clinician should integrate strength and conditioning into a treatment plan.
• What is non-specific low back pain? Why is this diagnosis useful and how does it relate to the biopsychosocial model?

Brian Nevison will be presenting a day of workshops on SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 2024 at Practice Human in NYC. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND SIGN UP

Brian is a playful person: Innately and intentionally. Professionally, he’s a personal trainer, strength & conditioning coach, and mobility specialist. He loves games and sports of all kinds—he played many growing up and still plays Ultimate Frisbee competitively. He tries to bring a sense of joy, play, and wonder to everything he does.

He has a BS in Kinesiology from Penn State and has been working as a trainer/coach for 13 years. In that time, he’s come to understand that genuine, uninhibited self-expression is immensely powerful. He uses systems learned from Functional Anatomy Seminars (FRC, Kinstretch) and tries to blend scientifically sound principles with an empathetic, holistic approach to health and fitness.

Find out more about Brian’s work at smilestakeyoumiles.org. Check out his YouTube channel youtube.com/BrianNevison.  And be sure to follow him on Instagram @b_nevison.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR LAUREL'S FREE YOGA WITH RESISTANCE BANDS CLASSES!

2 free classes + training Q&A sessions will be held live online January 23rd and January 30th from 12-1p EST. Replays will be available to watch for two weeks after the live classes.

Laurel Beversdorf is an international yoga educator, certified kettlebell specialist, and strength and conditioning coach. She runs her own Virtual Studio with over 150 members. Classes blend strength training, rehabilitation practices, self-massage, and yoga. Laurel is a mom and a New York City transplant living in Huntsville, Alabama. When she’s not taking care of her daughter or teaching, you can find her on long walks in the forested foothills of the Appalachian mountains. Find out more about Laurels work at laurelbeversdorf.com. And be sure to follow Laurel on Instagram @laurelbeversdorf.

TEACHER TRAINING WEEKEND:
Laurel's Yoga with Resistance Bands Teacher Training weekend will be available in hybrid format (in-person in New York City + fully online) February 17-18, 2024. Learn more about the training weekend and sign up here.