Fitness is at the very center of personal growth: by all accounts, it offers a positive impact on one’s mood, sleep, stress, energy levels, and mental health. In this episode of Self Improvement Atlas: The Personal Science Insights Podcast, host Sabrina Oktavelia interviews fitness instructor Sarah Hentges.

Teaching community yoga classes at the UMA Bangor campus and dance and fitness classes at Bangor YMCA, Sarah Hentges is an insightful fitness instructor. That aside, Sarah Hentges serves as professor of transdisciplinary cultural studies at the University of Maine at Augusta. Impressively, she has written four books in different genres: fitness, film critic, and even dystopian. Sarah Hentges is now anticipating an upcoming book, ‘Demystifying American Yoga’.

In this episode, Sarah Hentges explains the holistic nature of fitness as it is a holistic endeavor, impacting mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. Sarah Hentges addresses the prevalent misconception, in this social media era, that fitness is primarily about losing weight and achieving a certain body image instead of focusing on overall well-being, energy, and stamina for daily activities.

Together, Sabrina and Sarah Hentges discuss the main ways to be healthier in mind, body and spirit as well as approaching self empowerment in a holistic approach to fitness along with critics on current fitness communities in uplifting the empowerment of fitness community.  

Follow Sarah Hentges’s work via the following links: 

Connect with Sarah Hentges via the following links:

Produced by the Personal Science Labs, a division of LMSL, the Life Management Science Labs. 

Explore https://lifemanagementsciencelabs.com/ to learn more about LMSL and visit http://ps.lmsl.net/ for more information about Personal Science labs.

Follow us on Social Media to stay updated: 

You can also subscribe and listen to the show on your preferred podcasting platforms: 

Fitness is at the very center of personal growth: by all accounts, it offers a positive impact on one’s mood, sleep, stress, energy levels, and mental health. In this episode of Self Improvement Atlas: The Personal Science Insights Podcast, host Sabrina Oktavelia interviews fitness instructor Sarah Hentges.

Teaching community yoga classes at the UMA Bangor campus and dance and fitness classes at Bangor YMCA, Sarah Hentges is an insightful fitness instructor. That aside, Sarah Hentges serves as professor of transdisciplinary cultural studies at the University of Maine at Augusta. Impressively, she has written four books in different genres: fitness, film critic, and even dystopian. Sarah Hentges is now anticipating an upcoming book, ‘Demystifying American Yoga’.

In this episode, Sarah Hentges explains the holistic nature of fitness as it is a holistic endeavor, impacting mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. Sarah Hentges addresses the prevalent misconception, in this social media era, that fitness is primarily about losing weight and achieving a certain body image instead of focusing on overall well-being, energy, and stamina for daily activities.

Together, Sabrina and Sarah Hentges discuss the main ways to be healthier in mind, body and spirit as well as approaching self empowerment in a holistic approach to fitness along with critics on current fitness communities in uplifting the empowerment of fitness community.  

Follow Sarah Hentges’s work via the following links: 

Connect with Sarah Hentges via the following links:

Produced by the Personal Science Labs, a division of LMSL, the Life Management Science Labs. 

Explore https://lifemanagementsciencelabs.com/ to learn more about LMSL and visit http://ps.lmsl.net/ for more information about Personal Science labs.

Follow us on Social Media to stay updated: 

You can also subscribe and listen to the show on your preferred podcasting platforms: 

As science expands and more studies are finally conducted on women’s health, more and more interesting connections are being made on the impact of the menstrual cycle on overall health. In this episode, expert Lyssandra Guerra joins host Joahanna to talk about something everyone goes through - stress - and how it might be connected to the cycle. 

Lyssandra Guerra is a Certified Nutrition & Wellness Consultant and the Founder of Native Palms Nutrition based in Oakland, California. She has over five years of nutrition coaching experience and specializes in providing support to overcome digestive issues, food sensitivities, sugar cravings, and other related dilemmas. She received her holistic nutrition certification from the Bauman College: Holistic Nutrition and Culinary Arts in 2014.

Lyssandra Guerra shares tips for tracking the cycle, how this might be a helpful tool, and touches on apps that might be of help and the pros and cons of using these.

Together Joahanna and Lyssandra Guerra explore practices that might assist people in better tracking their cycle and how this could benefit your overall wellbeing. 

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Connect with Lyssandra Guerra via the LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyssandra-guerra/

Produced by the Personal Science Labs, a division of LMSL, the Life Management Science Labs. 

Explore https://lifemanagementsciencelabs.com/ to learn more about LMSL and visit http://ps.lmsl.net/ for more information about Personal Science labs.

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There is now a growing body of research that’s shown strong connections between mental and physical health, but little is known about the pathways from one another. On this episode of Self-Improvement Atlas, host Joahanna is joined by Jarryd Heasman to learn more.

Drawing on his background in sports science, research, and mining industry wellbeing, Jarryd Heasman translates multidimensional expertise into practical strategies that enhance physical and mental health. He has a mission to empower people with actionable insights and foster environments that prioritize holistic wellbeing, and distills complex information into clear, concise insights.

In this episode, Jarryd Heasman shares the important part hormones play in stress, and strategies for managing stress. 

Together, Joahanna and Jarryd Heasman discuss exercises that are beneficial for mental health, especially for those who struggle to exercise due to mental health obstacles. Jarryd Heasman also touches on the many wellness apps available on the market at the moment and gives advice on improving mental resilience. 

Connect with Jarryd Heasman via the LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarryd-heasman-32773b69/

Produced by the Personal Science Labs, a division of LMSL, the Life Management Science Labs. 

Explore https://lifemanagementsciencelabs.com/ to learn more about LMSL and visit http://ps.lmsl.net/ for more information about Personal Science labs.

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Prioritizing health in our mile-a-minute days can feel like an impossible task. Between work, family, social obligations, and personal interests, we’re often left feeling drained and out of sync with our own well-being. Yet, it remains all the more crucial for us to treat our health as a priority. So, in this episode, host Marie Stella is joined by health coach Sharon Gleeson to explore routines that prioritize health.

Working with busy executives, leaders, and teams across a range of industries to provide coaching and support, Sharon Gleeson aims to help people create a sustainable, healthy lifestyle that enables them to perform at their best, through her health and life coaching practice. A mother of two with a background in corporate human resources, Sharon Gleeson is also familiar with juggling a demanding corporate career and running her own business, using the knowledge to empathize with her clients.

In this episode, Sharon Gleeson shares the importance of consistency and routine when creating a balanced and practical lifestyle. Additionally, she sheds light on the role that mindset and diet plays in maintaining health goals.

Together, Marie and Sharon Gleeson explore values — figuring out what is most important and slowly integrating a desire to improve into your routine. So, whether you’re a seasoned professional, or full-time student, tune in this week for expert insights on how to prioritize your health amidst a busy schedule!

Follow Sharon Gleeson’s work: https://www.sharongleeson.com/

Connect with Sharon Gleeson via the following platforms:

Produced by the Personal Science Labs, a division of LMSL, the Life Management Science Labs. 

Explore https://lifemanagementsciencelabs.com/ to learn more about LMSL and visit http://ps.lmsl.net/ for more information about Personal Science labs.

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Self-care is a term that’s been trending everywhere from the early stages of social media, but what does it truly mean? Beyond the aesthetically pleasing Instagram posts of bubble baths and scented candles lies the psychology explored in this episode of Self-Improvement Atlas.

Joining our host Marie Stella is clinical health psychologist Dr. Samantha McLeod, who’s been running her own wellbeing center since 2009, which aims to help others live with vitality as their potential becomes reality, through individual and group-based programs.

In this episode, Dr. Samantha McLeod shares the benefits of self-care and how to implement genuine self-care instead of simply following the trends. While self-care is often seen as a buzzword, looking after oneself properly is a must for improving one’s mental health.

Together, Marie and Dr. Samantha McLeod discuss how people can center self-care, instead of viewing it as just another item on the to-do list, and one that often gets ignored. They share practices that people can implement in their day to day lives to ensure self care is prioritized despite a busy work schedule. 

Visit Dr. Samantha McLeod’s work: https://samcentre.com.au/ 

Connect with Dr. Samantha McLeod via the following platforms:

Produced by the Personal Science Labs, a division of LMSL, the Life Management Science Labs. 

Explore https://lifemanagementsciencelabs.com/ to learn more about LMSL and visit https://personal.lifemanagementsciencelabs.com/ for more information about Personal Science labs.

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Emotions can often affect our demeanor, and even our health. So, this week on Self-Improvement Atlas: The Personal Science Insights Podcast, host Marie Stella is joined by psychology professor Benjamin D. Rosenberg, Ph.D. to explore the world of emotions, and about how they affect us and we affect them.

An associate professor and department co-chair at the psychology department at Dominican University of California, Benjamin D. Rosenberg, Ph.D. is a social-health psychologist with expertise in health behavior, research methods and statistics, and survey design. But most of all, he is a passionate instructor and mentor; collaborating with students on research is one of his favorite parts of being a professor.

In this episode, Benjamin D. Rosenberg, Ph.D. shares that emotions serve three main purposes: to help us figure out how to manage major life events, to function as a motivator for our behavior, and to serve as a barometer for how we’re adapting to our environment. On top of that, he reveals that emotions are generally categorized by four quadrants, from low to high arousal, and positive to negative.

Together, Marie and Benjamin D. Rosenberg, Ph.D. discuss the age-old debate of emotions being innate versus learned, and further examine the all-too-common pursuit of happiness and its missteps. So, tune in to this episode for an in-depth look into the world of emotions.

Visit Benjamin D. Rosenberg, Ph.D.'s work on the following platforms:

Connect with Benjamin D. Rosenberg, Ph.D. via email: [email protected] 

Produced by the Personal Science Labs, a division of LMSL, the Life Management Science Labs. 

Explore https://lifemanagementsciencelabs.com/ to learn more about LMSL and visit https://personal.lifemanagementsciencelabs.com/ for more information about Personal Science labs.

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Meditation has often been a topic of discussion when it comes to inner peace, but rarely discussed are the effects of meditation on our workplace productivity. So, this week on Self-Improvement Atlas: The Personal Science Insights Podcast, host Marie Stella is joined by meditation teacher Tom Cronin to learn more about what meditation can do for our focus and efficiency.

Having spent 26 years in finance markets as one of Australia’s leading bond and swap brokers, Tom Cronin had experienced a crisis point with his anxiety and chaos in the early stages of his career when he discovered meditation. Now the founder of The Stillness Project, a global movement aimed at inspiring one billion people to sit in stillness daily, Tom Cronin is passionate about reducing stress and chaos in people’s lives.

In this episode, Tom sheds light on transcending meditation, which aims to take the mind away from stimulus and bring it to stillness, which, contrary to popular belief, is a dynamic field of activity. Describing transcending meditation as an infinite stream of consciousness, he recommends 25-45 minutes of practice to reap its intended effects. 

Together, Marie and Tom Cronin discuss the various habits that support the efficacy of transcending meditation, such as mindfulness, avoiding negative media, and high intensity exercise. So, tune in to this episode for an eye-opening conversation about how to harness meditation for improved focus and efficiency!

Visit Tom’s work on the following platforms:

Connect with Tom Cronin via the following platforms:

Produced by the Personal Science Labs, a division of LMSL, the Life Management Science Labs. 

Explore https://lifemanagementsciencelabs.com/ to learn more about LMSL and visit https://personal.lifemanagementsciencelabs.com/ for more information about Personal Science labs.

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Society’s beauty standards can be crushing to the self-worth, affecting adolescents and adults alike. So, this week on Self-Improvement Atlas: The Personal Science Insights Podcast, host Marie Stella is joined by dietitian and wellness coach Kathy Ožaković to learn more about how embracing authenticity is the first step toward improving body image.

Grounded in her personal triumphs over mental health challenges, Kathy Ožaković is an integrative dietitian, wellness coach, and health practitioner who is passionate about helping people achieve and maintain their best health through lifestyle and medicine. With a stunning ability to take radical responsibility for the circumstances she created, Kathy Ožaković enabled herself to change the trajectory of her future multiple times, compelling her to lead by example.

In this episode, Kathy Ožaković highlights the importance of self-awareness, be it with respect to emotions or food, in embracing authenticity. She offers several exercises and practices that may prove useful in embracing authenticity, from mirror work to personal value worksheets.

Together, Marie and Kathy Ožaković discuss the internet-famed ‘toxic body positivity’ movement that promotes unrealistic expectations of body positivity, along with the advantages of accepting one’s emotions rather than remaining falsely positive. So, tune in to this episode for an in-depth discussion on self-love and staying true to yourself!

Visit Kathy Ožaković’s work on the following platforms:

Connect with Kathy Ožaković via the following platforms:

Produced by the Personal Science Labs, a division of LMSL, the Life Management Science Labs. 

Explore https://lifemanagementsciencelabs.com/ to learn more about LMSL and visit http://ps.lmsl.net/ for more information about Personal Science labs.

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The effects of meditation on our well-being are widely recognized, but lesser known are its role in improving our relationships and social connection. So, this week on Self-Improvement Atlas: The Personal Science Insights Podcast, host Marie Stella sits with functional medicine health coach Bridget Pennington to learn more.

As principal health coach at Melbourne Functional Medicine, Bridget Pennington coaches patients, collaborates with practitioners and helps to design and rebuild the coaching offering, granting her the opportunity to spend several hundred hours coaching. With a passion for sharing tools and resources, she continues to develop journals, books, blogs, and resources that are available for free download or purchase.

In this episode, Bridget Pennington sheds light on heart rate variability (HRV) that measures the variation in time between each heartbeat, essentially tracking the nervous system and how it reacts to not only the environment, but also to emotions and thoughts. She shares that tracking HRV can be extremely beneficial in informing an individual’s meditation practice, from techniques to frequency.

Together, Marie and Bridget Pennington discuss the role of meditation and mindfulness in improving connection to society, and the importance of mindset in meditation practices. So, tune in today for a riveting conversation about how meditation can transform your mindset, and vice versa.

Tools and resources mentioned in this episode:

Visit Bridget Pennington’s work on the following platforms:

Connect with Bridget Pennington via the following platforms:

Produced by the Personal Science Labs, a division of LMSL, the Life Management Science Labs. 

Explore https://lifemanagementsciencelabs.com/ to learn more about LMSL and visit https://personal.lifemanagementsciencelabs.com/ for more information about Personal Science labs.

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