The Core Connect Podcast

In this candid second episode of her Pilates journey, Marianne opens up about the dedication, sacrifice, and resilience it took to build the business of her dreams. 

She also shares the strategies that helped her build a loyal and like-minded client base early on in our instructor journey.

From teaching over 40 hours a week during pregnancy and postpartum, to navigating the upheaval of leaving places of work during Covid, to finally finding the space that became her studio, this episode is a deep dive into the reality behind the passion.

Milestones covered in this episode:

• 2015: Getting started: a quick discussion on pay realities.
• 2017: The birth of her first child and postnatal program.
• 2018: A pivotal year: How Marianne positioned herself as a postnatal expert.
• 2020: The Covid curveball: From lockdowns to going international.
• 2021: Self-doubt in studio settings and navigating the “jab era.”
• 2022: Going solo: the choice to remain investor-free.
• 2024: When the weight gets heavy, why it’s essential to talk about wanting to give up.

Whether you're a fitness professional, an entrepreneur, or someone seeking inspiration, this episode is packed with real talk, valuable lessons, and the raw truth of building a meaningful business from the ground up.

We talk openly about ACL tears and their recovery protocols.

But pelvic floor tears? That silence is costing women time, confidence, and long-term health.

In this episode, Matt Marney, Pilates educator, personal trainer, meditation teacher, and founder of Wellness Education Dubai, interviews Marianne Tafani, women’s health advocate and creator of the Core Connect postnatal method and studio.

Marianne shares the personal story that led to the creation of her postnatal courses.

Together, they explore:

• Realistic timelines for postnatal recovery
• The role of Pilates in rebuilding strength and confidence after birth
• The issues with common Pilates cues when it comes to pelvic floor health
• Why education, individualisation, and patience are essential to healing
• How movement professionals can better support women during the vulnerable postpartum window

If you're feeling lost about what steps to take after childbirth to return to exercise or are a practitioner working with postpartum clients, this conversation is filled with clarity, empathy, and practical tools.

Connect with Matt on Instagram: 

https://www.instagram.com/wellness_education_dubai/

Find out more about Matt's educational programmes: 

https://www.wellnesseducationdubai.com/about-me

Marianne walked into her first Pilates class in London at 22, just hoping to move without pain. Chronic injuries had ended her rhythmic gymnastics dreams as a teen, and her body was still in recovery.

At 16, the pain was so bad her friends would push her around in supermarket trolleys, because walking was too much.

A simple, no-frills mat class in 2008, the first time she’d moved pain-free in nearly a decade.

What began as physical relief soon became something deeper.

By 27, in the midst of a mental health crisis, Pilates gave her the only quiet she could find. Weekly classes and a retreat in Fuerteventura that helped her reconnect to herself.

Two years later, newly arrived in Dubai and still unsure where it would lead, she signed up for her first teacher training.

This is the story of how Pilates changed her life as a client, and quietly began to shape her future.

🎧Have a listen. It could change yours too.

• Azul Pilates & Yoga Retreats in Fuerteventura

https://www.azulfit.com/

• Frauke, the incredible Kundalini teacher Marianne met in 2013 https://9dbreathwork.com/facilitators/frauke-behrens/
• Gymbox, where healing began https://gymbox.com/

Any questions about her journey?

Drop Marianne a line: 

https://www.instagram.com/marianne.coreconnect/

Stay tuned for part 2 where Marianne will share how she went from teaching as much as she could whilst pregnant to opening a studio, and becoming known in the Middle East for her clinical and perinatal expertise. 

Une senteur vous a-t-elle déjà consolé, apaisé ? 

Une huile vous a-t-elle déjà aidé à traverser un rhume ou unetempête émotionnelle ? 

Dans ce premier épisode en français du Core Connect Podcast, Audrey Fosseries, membre fondatrice de la grande entreprise d'huiles essentielles doTERRA partage son parcours singulier où santé naturelle, maternité, intuition et liberté se rejoignent.

Audrey est maman de quatre enfants, doula spécialisée enfertilité, conseillère fondatrice chez doTERRA et entrepreneure en ligne. 

Depuis trois ans, elle voyage à plein temps avec sa famille tout en menant son activité professionnelle autour de la santé des familles.

Cet épisode explore aussi des thèmes profonds comme le deuil, l’éducation en contexte nomade ou expatrié, et surtout le rôle fondamental de l’intuition dans la santé des femmes.

• 03:24 Décision radicale post-COVID : Tout quitter pour voyager en famille
• 07:10 Trois jours seuls au milieu de l’Atlantique
• 13:26 Liberté éducative et école à distance
• 22:20 Du parcours de PMA aux huiles essentielles en passant par la formation de doula
• 29:38 Le deuil, l’émotion, et les outils olfactifs
• 35:35 La recette du déodorant naturel d’Audrey

🎧 Un épisode qui ouvre les sens et invite à repenser nos repères, autant en matière de santé que de parentalité.

🗣️ Épisode recommandé en anglais : Découvrez également l’échange avec Leslie Parker, professeure de Pilateset fondatrice du Mindful Movement Centre à Toronto, surl’entrepreneuriat et le deuil périnatal.

🔗Retrouvez Audrey et Marianne sur Instagram 🙂

Audrey : https://www.instagram.com/foxiesmelodie/. Marianne: https://www.instagram.com/marianne.coreconnect/

Decouvrez les formations d'Audrey: https://www.foxiesmelodie.com

This week, Marianne dives into the stages of labour and the all-important question- when should you head to the hospital? - with doula, hypnobirthing educator, and lactation specialist Stevie McKenzie.

Stevie and Marianne also explore how tuning into your intuition and embracing discomfort in daily life can prepare you for a more empowered experience.

🎙Curious about how to prepare your body pre-pregnancy? Check out:

The powerful episode with Chantal Blake on mastering menstrual health: 

https://podcasts.apple.com/lb/podcast/unlocking-the-power-of-your-menstrual-cycle/id1766482868?i=1000678559124&l=ar

The conversation with Liberty Gelderloos on the benefits of vaginal steaming:

https://podcasts.apple.com/ae/podcast/period-pain-infection-prevention-easing-postpartum/id1766482868?i=1000698218640

🔗 Connect with Stevie: 

https://www.instagram.com/thismumhypnobirthing/

🤰Check out Stevie's digital courses: 

https://www.thismumhypnobirthing.com/onlinehypnobirthing

🧘‍♀️If you are in Dubai, Marianne will be leading her next Contraction Prep Workshop on May 11th from11am-1pm at Core Connect.

More info: https://www.coreconnectstudio.com/events

In this powerful episode, Marianne welcomes Luz Maria Villagras Surco for a heartfelt conversation on attachment wounds and the path to inner healing.

With nearly three decades of experience, a deep understanding of understanding of multicultural and interfaith dynamics, and trainings in clinical hypnosis, NLP, conscious parenting and Neurofeedback, Luz Maria is a renowned holistic therapist and mum of three based in the UAE.

Today, she offers insights on how early relational patterns continue to shape our adult behaviours, particularly in parenting and intimate relationships, and provides empowering strategies for cultivating emotional safety and connection.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in breaking generational cycles, deepening their self-awareness, and creating more connected, conscious relationships.

• 02:20 Secure Attachments: One of our 4 Survival Needs
• 07:34 Luz’s Story & Attachment-Related Adaptations
• 13:20 Psychotherapy, Yoga & Sound Healing: 3 Avenues
• 17:15 The Power of Internal Family Systems
• 25:18 When vulnerability is met with power struggles
• 31:21 How not to blend with your “old parts”.
• 33:40 The 4 Different Attachment Styles Resources & Connections 

🌕Next Cacao Ceremony at Core Connect (Full Moon in Scorpio) on May 11th 2025. 

Find out more here: https://www.coreconnectstudio.com/events

🌬Find Max Strom’s A Life Worth Breathing  here: https://www.amazon.com/Life-Worth-Breathing-Handbook-Strength/dp/1616084278 

Dive Deeper 👇 

Connect with Luz at @positivelivinguae

Find Luz’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Truth-Multicultural-Relationships-Effects-Parenting/dp/B0DWLHZYT3?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DERDon't forget to hit the subscribe button to help us reach more women with this content!

Want practical tips on how to approach healing incontinence based on the real reasons you are leaking?

Listen up!

In this solo episode, Marianne busts the myth that all pelvic floor symptoms stem from weakness. You'll learn how overactive muscles, neurological misfiring, and core coordination issues can all play a role in pelvic floor dysfunction. And strategies to get better!

If you've ever experienced leaking when laughing, running, or lifting, and were told to “just do Kegels”, this conversation is for you! 

What This Episode Covers:

• Why leaking isn’t always a strength issue
• The difference between underactive andoveractive pelvic floors
• How breathing and timing matter more than we think
• The surprising role of the nervous system in pelvic floor health
• What compensation patterns are — and how to spot them
• Why “tight” doesn’t mean “strong”
• Why some bodies need coordination, not just contraction
• When to seek support from a pelvic health physio or from your movement therapist

If you already know what the root cause of your symptoms is, head over to:

03:00 Issue 1: Delayed Response & Coordination Issues

06:30 Issue 2: Overactive Pelvic Floor

09:38 Issue 3: Signalling Issues

12:56 Issue 4: Pressure Mismanagement / Core Imbalances

Related Episodes:

🎙Healing your Pelvic Floor with Claire Sparrow https://podcasts.apple.com/ae/podcast/the-core-connect-podcast/id1766482868?i=1000681063526

🎙Beyond Kegels: 3 Simple Pelvic Floor Exercises https://podcasts.apple.com/ae/podcast/the-core-connect-podcast/id1766482868?i=1000674250480

🎙Pelvic Floor Training During Pregnancy: Why Squeezes won't Save You! https://open.spotify.com/episode/1xMJIcXBNd7Yl1A3oaEHJj

📣Calling Out Podcast Participants!

We are looking for people who feel like their pelvic floor are failing them but whose current treatment strategies are not working for them. If you’re ready to explore a different approach and are open to sharing your story on the podcast (anonymously if needed), email us at [email protected] and help others implement real strategies to improve their health. 

Stay Connected:

💫 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marianne.coreconnect/

💫 Website: [www.coreconnect.com]

In this week's episode, Marianne guides listeners through the Head-Heart Meditation - a simple yet powerful practice designed to lock the mind in the heart.

For those who often find themselves caught in cycles of overthinking, this meditation offers a gentle invitation to drop all concerns into the heart, shifting awareness from mental noise to a deeper, more grounded presence.

The episode features the soft hum of the harmonium in the background, an organic, slightly imperfect sound (the harmonium at times gets squeaky) that enhances the raw and grounding nature of the practice.

Take a moment, settle in, and experience the practice for yourself 🧘‍♀️🎶

Marianne mentions the following resources in the beginning of this episode:

📕Yoni Shakti, Uma Dinsmore-TuliA woman's guide to power and freedom through yoga and tantra

🌐Sofya Ansari's website: www.sofya.org.uk 

If you enjoyed this episode, you might also enjoy:

🎙Episode 11: Election Week: 3 Grounding Practices

https://podcasts.apple.com/ae/podcast/the-core-connect-podcast/id1766482868?i=1000676014614

🎙Episode 15: When Sound Medicine Meets Devotion with Ellen Arthur

https://podcasts.apple.com/ae/podcast/the-core-connect-podcast/id1766482868?i=1000679438443

🎙Episode Meditation for Beginners: 3 Steps to Overcome Resistance

https://podcasts.apple.com/ae/podcast/the-core-connect-podcast/id1766482868?i=1000696714708

Have a listen and don't forget to be kind to yourself this coming week! ✨

Is the sun, the very source of life and a symbol of vitality across civilizations, really bad for us?

In the final episode of this three-part series, health coach and sports scientist Abs Sharma joins Marianne Tafani to discuss a widely debated topic: Sun exposure!

This episode takes a historical detour back to the 1970s to explore how fear of sun exposure took root.

Abs and Marianne break down the many benefits of natural light, the crucial role of vitamin D, and why a well-rounded lifestyle can actually improve sun tolerance.

They also touch on the Blue Zones—regions known for longevity—and discuss what it truly takes to make health and consistency easier for those who may not share their passion for health.

Key Takeaways:
☀️ The origins of the sun-phobia narrative
💡 The benefits of different types of light exposure
🦴 Why vitamin D is essential for overall health
🏡 Lessons from Blue Zones and long-living communities
💪 How to make a healthy lifestyle feel effortless, even for beginnersIf you enjoy this episode, please share it with friends, family, and especially coaches who are passionate about helping their communities build sustainable, lasting health!

🎧 Tune in now!

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👨‍🔬 More on Neuropsin (OPN5):

https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(19)31113-3?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0960982219311133%3Fshowall%3Dtrue&from=article_link

☀️ More on Blue Zones:

https://www.bluezones.com

🎙️ Listen to Episode 29 on Creatine for Women: 

https://podcasts.apple.com/ae/podcast/the-core-connect-podcast/id1766482868?i=1000699130643

🎙️ Listen to Episode 30 on Lifting Weights vs. Getting Bulky:

 https://podcasts.apple.com/ae/podcast/the-core-connect-podcast/id1766482868?i=1000700224812

🔗 Start your journey with Abs' programme and become the healthiest version of yourself: 

https://www.instagram.com/abs.sharma

Join Core Connect, the only Pilates studio that feels like a Blue Zone in Dubai!

https://www.coreconnectstudio.com/

Convinced by the health benefits of weight training but worried about “looking like a gym girl”?

Here’s the thing: building significant muscle mass is incredibly difficult without enhancements—especially as we age. You’re unlikely to get bulky unless you’re consistently overeating, training intensely every day, and taking hormones.

Today, Abs Sharma and Marianne break down this common myth. 

Abs explains the three main reasons why this fear is unfounded and how women don’t have the testosterone levels needed to build muscle like men. 

Gaining significant muscle mass takes extreme dedication over long periods. As we age, the real challenge isn’t getting “too muscular” but maintaining the strength we already have.

Beyond the science, this episode also tackles a bigger question: Why are women so often targeted by industries—mostly led by men—that prey on their insecurities? 

• 01:49 – Why building muscle mass takes TIME!
• 03:37 – The potential to get bulky isn’t in everyone’s genetics (The Farmer’s Type)
• 10:20 – The Big Butt Era: Why size doesn’t always mean muscle
• 11:28 – Testosterone levels & why women have a harder time building muscle
• 17:08 – How industries capitalize on women’s insecurities
• 23:36 – The challenge of cutting through misinformation in the digital fitness space

Resources & Links:

🔗 Connect with Abs Sharma:

 https://www.instagram.com/abs.sharma

🎙️ Listen to our episode on Creatine for Women: 

https://podcasts.apple.com/ae/podcast/the-core-connect-podcast/id1766482868?i=1000699130643

Next week, we’ll be wrapping up this three-parter with one final topic: sun exposure and health.

🤟Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss it!