The Empowered Athlete

By Body By Boss, LLCHealth & Fitness

The Empowered Athlete episodes

February 20, 2023Mini Series: Understanding The 5 Survival Patterns (Part 1/3)
In part one of this three-part series, I explain how our 4 biological survival strategies form the basis for the 5 survival patterns. I dive into detail about neuroception and the relationship between unprocessed trauma and our ability to cope in life. This is the foundation for the next 2 episodes that will explain the 5 strategies in more depth.

What You'll Learn:
4 Biological Survival Strategies

Defining Neuroception

The Window Of Tolerance

What Widens and Shrinks the Window of Tolerance

An Overview of The 5 Survival Patterns

How Survival Patterns Form

How Survival Patterns become Self-perpetuating

Episode Resources:
Empowered Athlete Academy:
The only 4-month Trauma-Informed Program for female athletes who desire to heal from their past and step into their power using the potent tools of breathwork, energetics, and somatics. In this container we dive into understanding our childhood programming and the roots of our limiting beliefs while simultaneously developing the tools to improve our emotional intelligence, self-regulate when we are triggered, re-parent our inner child, and step into the becoming the conscious creator of our lives.
Next Session starts March 5th 2023. Click HERE to apply.

Podcast Links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodybybossllc
39 min
February 13, 2023Navigating Sickness + Competition
In this episode, I share 6 tips of how to navigate and find your power in getting sick leading up to a competition. Whether you are sick, injured, or on your menstrual cycle, this episode will help you shift out of victim mentality, so you can maintain your mental focus and still put your best foot forward on the competition mats.

What You'll Learn:
6 Steps to find your power in unfavorable circumstances

How I've used these steps to mentally and physically prepare for the Dallas Open

Episode Resources:
BTC (Breathwork Training Center):
BTC is our breathwork membership designed to facilitate a self-healing process that allows you to use the energetics of the system to heal the trauma, stuck emotions, and pain locked within our bodies. Our videos are designed to help you regulate your nervous system, connect to your truth, re-claim your power, reduce stress, increase performance, find inner peace and more. Click here https://www.bodybyboss.com/offers/oh5cYeQB/checkout to become a breather for only $20/month.

EAA (Empowered Athlete Academy):
This is our trauma-informed 4-month coaching container for deep transformative healing using breathwork, energetics, and somatic/subconscious practices. This is a spiritual and personal development journey for those who desire to live from their truth, intuition, and purpose and for those who want to heal from their past and uncover who they are before society told them who they have to be. In 4 months we will work through limiting beliefs, patterns, and conditioning, that are holding us back from stepping into our most authentic and empowered selves. This is a 4-figure investment; If you are ready for the NEXT LEVEL of your spiritual and personal development journey, complete application here: https://www.bodybyboss.com/assessments/166243
The next round of EAA will be from March 5th, 2022 - June 25th, 2023.
Podcast Links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodybybossllc
26 min
January 23, 2023The Relationship Between Physical Pain and Emotional Trauma with Medium and Intuitive Alex March
In this episode, I chat with Alex March, blue belt under Tom DeBlass and medical trauma intuitive and medium. As a medium, she physically feels how spirit died and can feel the trauma stuck in the body causing pain or chronic illness. She shares her incredible life story and how her experiences led her to do the work she does today.

What You'll Learn:
Her mission and story and how it’s led her to do the work she does

Her experience of how physical ailments/disease directly relate and stem from the unprocessed trauma and emotion in the body

The relationship between childhood trauma and weakened gut and immune health

The importance of parasite and liver detoxing

How trauma impacts our relationships, including how we attract toxic partners

How she manages her energy and set boundaries as an empath and intuitive

Why she believes jiujitsu is one of the most healing practices for trauma

Advice for those called to do the inner work and healing, but need help getting started

Her process in working with a client + how you can connect with her

Episode Resources:
Alex's Website: https://www.alexmarchenergy.com/linkinbio
Alex's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexmarchenergy/

Podcast Links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodybybossllc
1 hr 24 min
January 16, 2023Healing Ammenorhea Naturally
In this episode, I dive into what ammenorhea is, my story of ammenorhea, what I've done to heal my ammenorhea naturally, as well as common causes with solutions of how to bring your body back into balance and heal.

What You'll Learn:
The 2 classifications of ammenorhea

The health dangers of ammenorhea

My story of having ammenorhea + the steps I took to heal naturally

The relationship between trauma to ammenorhea

The relationship between restrictive eating and overtraining to ammenorhea

Addressing the weight gain in healing ammenorhea

Hormone supporting supplements you can try

The relationship between chronic stress to ammenorhea

The relationship between the hypothalamus to ammenorhea

What Functional Hypothalamic Amenorrhea, including its causes and symptoms

Episode Resources:
Book Recommendations - Woman Code by Alisa Vitti, In The Flow by Alisa Vitti, The Hormone Cure by Sara Gottfried and Beyond The Pill by Dr. Jolene Brighten
Podcast Links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodybybossllc
46 min
January 02, 20235 Steps To Holding Yourself Accountable
In this episode, I break down why we struggle with accountability and give you a step by step process on how to develop self-accountability.

What You'll Learn:
The two factors that cause us to not to hold ourselves accountable

Why radical ownership is critical to developing self-accountability

How to shift your perspective around accountability

Why defining your prioritizes is key to preventing burnout

Strategies to help you build self-accountability

Why implementing deadlines may be supportive in holding yourself accountable

The power of celebration + how it builds self-trust and confidence

Episode Resources:
Empowered Athlete Academy - A 4-month Trauma-Informed Program for female athletes who desire to heal from their past and step into their power using the potent tools of breathwork, energetics, and somatics. Next Session starts Jan 2023. | Click HERE to apply.

Podcast Links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodybybossllc
22 min
December 26, 20223 Limiting Beliefs Stunting Your Progress
In this episode, I break down the 3 core limiting beliefs I see in athletes that stunt athlete's growth, progress and potential.

What You'll Learn:
Where our beliefs stem from + how they develop

Why breathwork is key in re-wiring limiting beliefs

How the Limiting Belief Cycle works

The 3 most common limiting beliefs I see that hold athletes back

How how childhood conditioning grooms these beliefs

How these beliefs show up and affect your jiujitsu

Mantras you can use to begin re-wiring these beliefs

Episode Resources:
Empowered Athlete Academy - A 4-month Trauma-Informed Program for female athletes who desire to heal from their past and step into their power using the potent tools of breathwork, energetics, and somatics. Next Session starts Jan 2023. | Click HERE to apply.

Podcast Links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodybybossllc
32 min
December 19, 2022The Fight For Life: Overcoming Bullying, Depression and Suicide with JiuJitsu (Interview w/ Matt Machado)
In this episode, I chat with Matt Machado, a brown belt in BJJ who opens up about his story and struggle with depression, bullying and suicide + how BJJ has helped him battle those demons.

About Matt:
Matthew Machado started training Martial Arts, beginning with Tae Kwon Do, at the age of 7 at Semper Fi Tae Kwon Do and holds the rank of 1st Degree Black Belt. He started training at Danny Savery Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 2012, currently holding a Brown Belt in BJJ and Black Belt in Kickboxing. He’s been teaching BJJ and kickboxing classes at DSBJJ since 2019 but has been a martial arts instructor since the age of 12. He currently lives in Massachusetts.
He has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and currently works as a clinical staff nurse at Emma Pendelton Bradley Hospital in Riverside, RI on the Children’s Inpatient Unit and serves as an adjunct clinical instructor for the Health Assisting Program at Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School in Fall River, MA. His goals include going back to school to obtain his Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP), become a nurse educator, and incorporate Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as an alternative treatment modality for children/adolescents who suffer from various mental illnesses including anxiety, depression, and PTSD.”

What You'll Learn:
His story of how growing up being bullied led him to join martial arts and ultimately jiujitsu

His family dynamic and trauma he experienced and how that impacted his self-image and mindset

How he used JiuJitsu as a coping mechanism

The benefits he feels BJJ offers for confidence and mental health

What keeps him motivated to stick with BJJ, even during his darkest times

What tools he uses to help him navigate depression and suicidal ideation

Advice he offers for athletes who may be experiencing similar “dark thoughts”

How his pain has led him to find his purpose as a Nurse working with troubled kids and teens

Episode Resources:

Matt's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thattnursematt/
Empowered Athlete Academy - A 4-month Trauma-Informed Program for female athletes who desire to heal from their past and step into their power using the potent tools of breathwork, energetics, and somatics. Next Session starts Jan 2023. | Click HERE to apply.

Podcast Links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodybybossllc
59 min
December 12, 20227 Tips for White Belt Competitors
In this episode, I'm sharing my top tips for 1st Time White Belt Competitors! Stepping on the competition mats can be a daunting experience, especially if you have never been an athlete or have any past experience doing so. These tips are some of my truths that I've learned along my journey as a competitive BJJ athlete for over a decade. I hope they help you feel more confident and prepared in entering your first competition. Enjoy!

Episode Resources:
Competition Confidence Program: A self-guided competition prep course to increase your confidence and success on the mat. In this program, I cover the Competition Triad: nutrition, training, and mindset.
By the end of this program you will have clarity and confidence in:
knowing how to fuel your body optimally for competition

having an A-Z game plan that capitalizes on your strengths

knowing how to adjust your training to reach athletic peaking for competition

embodying a champion mindset
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE (one payment of $555)

Podcast Links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodybybossllc
20 min
December 05, 2022Navigating Anxiety as an Introvert in BJJ w/ Kristina Barlaan
In this episode, I chat with multiple-time World Champ Kristina Barlaan. We talk about her story, how she navigates social anxiety and imposter syndrome as a coach and high level athlete and how she prioritizes her mental health.

About Kristina:

Kristina Barlaan is 2nd degree black belt under Professor Caio Terra. When she started her Jiu-Jitsu journey in October 2007, Kristina had no previous experience in martial arts until she started Muay Thai in October 2006. Until that time, she had dedicated a considerable amount of years to the study of dance and performing arts. Jiu Jitsu quickly became a passion and tool to help Kristina feel empowered and confident. With her first tournament in June 2008, Kristina fell in love with competition and has been able to create an impressive resume of wins and titles throughout the years. Her proudest achievement though was the creation of INSPIRE, an open mat event that was made with the intention of building and strengthening the women’s Jiu-Jitsu community. She is an advocate for mental health awareness and she hopes that by living her life with passion and purpose, she can inspire others to do the same.
Main Black Belt Accomplishments:
3x World Master Champion (2020, 2019, 2018)

2x Asian Champion (2018, 2016)

2020 Pans Master Champion (2020)

2x American National No-Gi Champion (2021, 2015)

2016 European Champion

2017 Copa de Marianas Invitational Champion

2x Pans Finalist (2017, 2016)

2016 World Finalist

2017 European Finalist

2x World Medalist (2019, 2017)

2019 Pans Medalist

2019 Brazilian National Medalist

2021 American National No-Gi Finalist (Absolute)

2021 American National Finalist
Main Accomplishments at Lower Belts:
4x Pans Champion

4x American National Champion

3x American National No-Gi Champion

7x World Medalist

ADCC Veteran (2013)

What You'll Learn:
Her story and what got her started in BJJ

How BJJ has helped her, as a self-proclaimed introvert

How she navigates anxiety and nerves in competition

The mental blocks she's navigated over the years

Her advice for how to be a good coach and how to gain confidence as a coach

Her advice and tips to women who desire to step into a coaching role but struggle with anxiety and imposter syndrome

How she personally prioritizes her mental health

Her advice in how to navigate mental health and BJJ

Her inspiration and mission behind INSPIRE

Episode Resources:
Kristina's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kbjiujitsu/
Kristina's email: [email protected]
Podcast Links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodybybossllc
1 hr 19 min
November 28, 2022Leading a Movement of Self-Expression through Spats (Interview w/ Kendall and Karla of Gaidama)
In this episode, I chat with Karla and Kendall of the growing brand: Gaidama Fightwear; they share their personal stories and how the universe serendipitously brought them together to bring Kendall's initial vision to life.
ABOUT KENDALL + KARLA:
Kendall Vernon was born in Louisiana, but raised in Houston TX. She graduated from high school at 16 and went to college in St Petersburg FL, to then Master in Computer Engineering from the University of Tulsa on a full ride scholarship. While attending TU, she took up Jiujitsu as a hobby and it was on the mats where she met her husband, Matt, now also father of her two children, Raiden (2+) and Indiana (11mos). They both own a gym together, Primate Jiujitsu.

Karla Shellhammer was born in Caracas, Venezuela. She moved to the United States on her own at 17yo to pursue a college education. She graduated with honors at 19yo with an Associate’s in Video Production to then finish her Bachelor in Arts in Film Production at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, California. The year she graduated she also married her husband Jay, now father of her two children, Matilda (11yo) and Luke (8yo). Her and her husband are black belts and train at Checkmat Phoenix.
Gaidama was born out of Kendall’s vision to design a pair of Jiujitsu spats that were actually functional and flattering to the female body. Karla was the brand’s first official ambassador, but after being so invested in the initial growth, Kendall offered a partnership that felt very aligned as both their skills nurtured the brand and community in different ways that were needed. In April 2021, Karla became officially part owner of Gaidama and has since then ran all social media operations. Kendall oversees all executive decisions and single handedly runs the warehouse and logistics.
As a small business we have an athlete’s program that could compete with big brands. We provide more than just gear for our athletes. We have an annual event to highlighting our top selling ambassadors, top competitive athletes and partner brands (which are also jiujitera owned small businesses). Our ambassadors have recently been able to earn compensation for competition performance and content views. While aiming to support jiujiteras, we also envision a creative ecosystem in which female grapplers can use their self-expression skills to thrive in this world. Gaidama has truly became something so much more magical than we could have ever planned, but all of our success is thanks to the Jiujitera community and we could not be more grateful for every fox that has taken part of this beautiful growth.

What You'll Learn:
Their stories of how they found jiujitsu

The story and mission of Gaidama

The inspiration behind the name "Gaidama" and what it represents.

Why they believe their products fill the gaps in female grappling clothing industry

Kendall's creative process in designing Gaidama pieces and where she sources her inspiration

The biggest obstacles they face being business owners, competitors and moms, while growing a business and brand?

What they believe is the key to creating an engaged community

Details about their annual event and athlete ambassador program

What does the future looks like for Gaidama, including upcoming projects they are working on

Episode Resources:
Karla's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karlashellhammerjitz/
Gaidama Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gaidama.usa/
Gaidama Website: https://gaidama.com/

Podcast Links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodybybossllc
1 hr 6 min

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The Empowered Athlete

The Empowered Athlete episodes

About The Empowered Athlete