Can Mother Nature help us reconnect, rebuild confidence, and overcome the mental health challenges of a digital world?

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

Mike Hench pulls back the curtain on the world of wilderness therapy and why Mother Nature remains one of the most powerful catalysts for mental and emotional healing. You’ll hear how adventure, challenge, and time away from technology help young adults—and all of us—move through anxiety, overwhelm, and life transitions with more clarity and resilience. 

Mike explains the realities behind “failure to launch,” why movement matters more than comfort when we’re trying to change, and how nature creates the ideal environment for real accountability and self-discovery. We also explore the therapeutic role of discomfort, the importance of mentorship, and the surprising ways the outdoors reveals our strengths, our blind spots, and our true potential.
Key Takeaways

Nature isn’t just a backdrop — it’s co-therapist. Removing modern distractions lowers defenses, activates primal instincts, and helps trauma release.

Wilderness challenge builds real confidence. Simple acts — shelter, fire, water, exposure — teach competence, patience, persistence.

“Failure to launch” is often a symptom of disconnection — from nature, discomfort, challenge, and real responsibility.

Modern life and digital overload amplify anxiety and isolation. For many young adults, the transition to independence has been derailed not just by circumstance, but by a lack of grounded real-world experiences.

Healing and growth require discomfort — not comfort. Whether physical (injury, cold, hunger) or emotional (loss, trauma, responsibility), challenge reshapes identity.

Therapy can — and maybe should — go beyond the office. Real growth often happens outside: in nature, movement, tasks, vulnerability, and genuine exposure to life’s unpredictability.

Next Steps

If this conversation resonated with you — share it with someone you think might benefit (a young adult, a parent, a friend). If you’re curious about reconnecting with nature, resilience, or real growth — hit subscribe, leave a review, and explore more episodes at The Mindful Trainer Podcast with Melanie Webb.

Resources & Mentions

Read Melanie's Book: Adventures in Mother Nature's Gym
Transform with the Elements of Body, Mind, and Nature –– The WebbWell Way of Life™Learn More about “Failure to launch” / “Emerging adulthood”

In this inspiring episode of The Mindful Trainer Podcast, Melanie Webb sits down with Rachel Friedman-Elberts—better known as The Stoke Coach—to explore how outdoor fitness becomes a gateway to joy, creativity, mental health, and self-love. From her transition from New York City to mountain life, to building a coaching philosophy rooted in movement, mindfulness and nature, Rachel shares the practices that help people reconnect with their bodies, nature, and their own inner spark.

Together, Melanie and Rachel dive into the mindset shift from “working out” to “moving with intention,” the power of play in fitness, and the art of creating everyday magic. They also discuss the flow state, longevity, emotional release through movement, and why outdoor fitness can transform both body and mind.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, uninspired, or pressured by the traditional indoor fitness industry, this episode will remind you of what’s possible when you infuse presence, creativity, and joy into how you move.


What’s in This Episode


Rachel’s journey from NYC to mountain living

How The Stoke Coach was born

Movement as an act of self-love

Why outdoor fitness builds confidence, consistency, and vitality

The role of mindfulness and the breath in training and vitality

How creativity influences and shapes Rachel’s coaching style

The power of the flow state and everyday awe

Approachable badassery: helping anyone feel empowered being present in nature

Emotional release through movement and navigating body-mind integration

Key Takeaways


Movement is joy, not punishment. Reframing movement as self-love changes everything.

Nature amplifies presence. Outdoor fitness in Mother Nature’s Gym supports mental clarity, emotional regulation, and confidence.

Consistency creates longevity. Year-round training supports vitality, resilience, and injury prevention.

Creativity fuels motivation. Play, curiosity, and flow help people stay inspired.

Your energy matters. The right coach brings positivity, support, and emotional safety.

Resources & Mentions


Lead Your Own Outdoor Fitness Retreats with Melanie’s course – Mother Nature’s Gym Outdoor Fitness Guide
Transform Your Life with the Elements of Body, Mind, and Nature –– The WebbWell Way of Life™
Connect with today’s guest Rachel Friedman-Elberts — The Stoke Coach
Follow Rachel on Instagram @Stoke_Coach

Today, this episode is my gratitude letter.
 
A moment to look back at the first 10 guests who trusted me with their stories and their time.

And a moment to thank you — my listeners, my clients, and my community — for showing up each week, for sharing these episodes with friends, and for reminding me that real life connections and conversations matter. 

What happens when a fitness method becomes more myth than science — and who pays the price when the industry refuses to evolve?


WHAT YOU’LL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE

Amie opens the conversation talking about the explosive popularity of reformer Pilates and how its rise in pop culture—and boutique studios—has created a narrow, incomplete version of the method. She breaks down the difference between mastering the “air-quote choreography” on one machine versus understanding the full Pilates system and the underlying mechanics of the human body.

The discussion turns toward the structural problems inside Pilates certification programs, including the lack of anatomy foundations, minimal continuing education options, and the financial incentives that keep instructors siloed from broader learning. From there, Melanie asks how everyday people can protect themselves as they enter these shiny new studios. Amie offers practical red flags, questions to ask instructors, and why “options” and variations are more important than modifications or a one-size-fits-all standard.

The episode culminates in a powerful personal story about a client with a missing abdominal muscle—a moment that reshaped Amie’s understanding of privacy, trust, and the responsibility fitness professionals hold when working with real human bodies. Her message: the best instructors are humble, curious, and willing to say, “I don’t know, but I’ll learn.”


KEY TAKEAWAYS
1. Ballet creates incredible discipline — but often at a high cost.

The physical and emotional demands shape dancers for life, for better or worse.
2. Pilates is both powerful and problematic.

Its brilliance is often overshadowed by vague standards, uneven training, and dogmatic instruction.
3. Fitness methodologies must evolve — or they risk failing the people they serve.

Curiosity, continual education, and individualized work outperform rigid systems every time.
4. Not all instructors are created equal.

Training, science-based understanding, and real-world experience make the difference between helpful and harmful.
5. The future of fitness is far from AI or cookie-cutter choreography–it’s personalized.

Assessment, adaptability, and understanding human variability will drive the next era of training.


RESOURCES AND MENTIONS

Amie Kane-Lee – ACE-Certified Personal Trainer, STOTT Certified Pilates Instructor

Website: www.peakmvmt.com
Instagram @PeakMVMT
Substack   https://peakmvmt.substack.com
LinkedIn   www.linkedin.com/in/amie-kane-lee 


WebbWell Way of Life™ – 21-Day transformation embracing the elements of body, mind, and nature.

Mother Nature’s Gym™ – The course to help you take your indoor fitness practice outside.
Muscle Activation Techniques (MAT) – A precision-based system for identifying and correcting muscular dysfunction

Joseph Pilates – Contrology Principles

How can we honor Joseph Pilates’ legacy while addressing the unregulated, one-size-fits-all approaches that may put students at risk?

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

Amie Kane-Lee dives deep into her experience moving from ballet to Pilates, the lessons she learned from strict training systems, and how curiosity and questioning shaped her career. She explains how the Pilates industry has evolved over decades, the legacy of Joseph Pilates, and why many instructors are limited by the system they were taught. 

Amie also shares her transition into MAT and RTS as a Certified Personal Trainer, emphasizing a personalized, science-based approach to movement. The conversation highlights the contrast between choreographed Pilates and individualized fitness training and offers insights into staying safe and effective in your fitness practice.
Key Takeaways:

Questioning Systems: Even respected methodologies like Pilates can have limitations; asking questions can lead to safer, more effective practices.

Legacy vs. Modern Practice: Joseph Pilates’ original vision has evolved, sometimes in ways that stray from his intent—knowing the history helps inform safe teaching.

Unregulated Industry Risks: Pilates certification varies widely; many programs focus on choreography over exercise science, biomechanics, or motor learning.

Personalized Movement Matters: Transitioning into MAT and RTS gave Amie a science-based toolkit to address individual needs, injuries, and goals.

Choreography vs. Individualization: Standardized routines can be limiting or unsafe; a personalized approach ensures proper biomechanics and progress.


Resources & Mentions in This Episode:
Amie Kane-Lee – ACE-Certified Personal Trainer, STOTT Pilates Certified Instructor
Website: www.peakmvmt.comInstagram @PeakMVMTSubstack   https://peakmvmt.substack.comLinkedIn   www.linkedin.com/in/amie-kane-lee  
Joseph Pilates’ Legacy – History of Pilates equipment and methodology

WebbWell Way of Life™ – 21-Day transformation embracing the elements of body, mind, and nature.

What happens to a body—and a career—when an entire industry teaches you to ignore pain, erase individuality, and mold yourself into someone else’s ideal?

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

In this first installment of our three-part series, we trace Amie’s story back to the ballet studio, exploring how early training, discipline, and body expectations shape a person long before they ever enter the fitness industry. You’ll hear about the emotional and physical realities of growing up in ballet — the perfectionism, the injuries, the aesthetic pressure, and the mindset that becomes second nature. 

From the foundational roots of professional ballet, we look at how those experiences set the stage for Amie’s eventual transition into Pilates, revealing why so many dancers gravitate toward the method and how their internal narratives often follow them into the studio. This episode lays the foundation for understanding the deeper questions we’ll explore in Episodes 13 and 14, especially around identity, healing, and the search for movement that truly supports the body.
Key Takeaways
Ballet training begins with discipline, conformity, and the expectation to never break—not even when your body does.

The professional dance world has a long history of body shaming, aesthetic pressure, and mental health challenges that still affect dancers today.

Careers hinge on silence: if a dancer reveals injury, they risk losing their role—instantly.

Professional ballet schools operate like pipelines where only a fraction of dancers graduate or advance.

Classical ballet styles (Russian/Vaganova, French, Balanchine, etc.) shape how dancers move, perform, and even look.

Amie’s final performance—dancing on broken bones—became the turning point that pushed her toward Pilates and, eventually, a new identity in the fitness world.

Resources and Mentions

Work with Amie Kane-Lee: https://www.peakmvmt.com/Instagram @PeakMVMTSubstack   https://peakmvmt.substack.comLinkedIn   www.linkedin.com/in/amie-kane-lee  
Work with Melanie Webb: https://webbwell.com/

Cultural Influences:Misty Copeland’s advocacy for body diversity and industry reform

In this enlightening episode of The Mindful Trainer Podcast, host Melanie Webb welcomes back Jason Durtschi, LCSW — psychotherapist, life coach, and long-time friend — to explore the art of applied awareness. Together, they uncover how mindfulness transforms from a buzzword into a practical, daily practice that helps us reconnect to our senses, our emotions, and the world around us.
What You’ll Hear in This Episode

Applied awareness in action — Jason shares how mindfulness goes beyond meditation and into real-world application.

The sensory switching technique — a simple, powerful exercise that uses breath and the five senses to ground you in the present moment.

How judgment fits into mindfulness — why self-criticism is normal and how compassion becomes the bridge back to presence.

Three A’s of mindful living: Awareness, Acceptance, and Application.

Breath as celebration — how taking even two conscious breaths can transform the moment into something sacred.

“When we notice what’s happening — even just one conscious moment — that’s mindfulness. Celebrate it with a couple of breaths.” — Jason Durtschi, LCSW

Key Takeaways
Jason guides us to use our awareness as a tool to move through life's anxious moments with ease. States of anxiousness and judgement arise in all of us. We're only human, after all! Escape the monkey mind habit using the Three A's of mindful living and by connecting with your breath.
Resources & Mentions

Guest: Jason Durtschi, LCSW — Mindfulness Therapist & Life CoachFollow Jason on Instagram at @ jdurtschi
Host: Melanie Webb — Founder of WebbWell and The Mindful Trainer Podcast

The WebbWell Way of Life™ — Build daily awareness habits rooted in movement and mindfulness.

Adventures in Mother Nature’s Gym — Discover outdoor practices that nurture body and mind.

The WebbWell Blog: 3 Life-Saving Keys to Navigating Emotional Numbness After Trauma, featuring Jason Durtschi

Listen Now

When movement is your medicine, what happens when pain won’t let you move? In this episode of The Mindful Trainer Podcast, host Melanie Webb talks with fitness professional Chris Kirchoff, who talks about her journey living with chronic pain, recovery, and rediscovering purpose. Together they explore what it means to slow down, listen to your body, and rebuild from the inside out—through mindfulness, functional training, and the healing power of nature. 

Whether you’re a trainer, athlete, or someone seeking relief from chronic pain, this conversation offers hope, empathy, and practical wisdom for your healing journey.

What if chronic pain could become a teacher instead of a life sentence?

In this episode, Melanie and Chris consider the often invisible struggles behind fitness careers—unpacking how pain, vulnerability, and self-compassion can lead to deeper healing and authentic connection.


What You’ll Hear in This Episode

Living with Chronic Pain – Chris talks about her struggles with Achilles tendinopathy, a failed surgery, and the emotional impact of losing movement and her Ironman triathlons.

The Gift of Pain and Empathy – Discover how living in pain reshaped her ability to connect deeply with clients and understand the human experience.

Navigating Pain and Building Community – Melanie and Chris discuss the power of sharing our stories within a supportive wellness network.

The Emotional Journey of Healing – From frustration to acceptance, how mindfulness and compassion become part of the recovery process.

Innovative Approaches to Pain Management – Chris’ pain leads to a collaboration with an acupuncturist and massage therapist to create herbal pain remedies and a functional training approach that supports long-term healing.

Creating a Healing Ecosystem – Why blending movement, nature, and emotional wellness leads to more sustainable results.

Empowerment Through Self-Compassion and Responsibility – How reframing your relationship to pain can lead to personal and professional growth.

Key Takeaways


Functional training builds strength, balance, and resilience for long-term fitness.

Exercise addiction and overtraining are common in the fitness industry and can lead to chronic injury.

Self-compassion is the cornerstone of sustainable health and emotional recovery.

Understanding pain deepens empathy for clients and loved ones.

Sitting with anxiety and discomfort can open the door to healing.

Community support and vulnerability are essential for recovery.

Holistic healing integrates body, mind, and nature—not just exercise or medicine.

Outdoor retreats, nature therapy, and mindful travel can reconnect individuals with their sense of purpose.

Resources and Mentions

Join a Kirchoff Adventure Fitness Trip – Once in a lifetime journeys that improve your health while exploring different cultures.

Herbal Medicine Collaboration – Innovative pain remedies I Feel Fantastic co-created by Chris with a massage therapist and acupuncturist.

Follow Chris Kirchoff on Instagram – @ Kirchoff_fitness

Lead Your Own Outdoor Fitness Retreats with Mother Nature’s Gym – Design adventure travel experiences that heal through movement, mindfulness, and nature connection.

Train from Anywhere with Melanie Webb and The WebbWell Way of Life™ – A Body, Mind, Nature Transformation in 21-days.

What if healing from chronic illness isn’t just about getting back to where you were — but discovering how adaptable and resilient your brain is?

In this episode, Melanie sits down with Lauren Ziaks, DPT, ATC a leading physical therapist, clinician, and researcher, to explore what it means to heal from invisible injuries like concussion, long-COVID, and dysautonomia.

If you or someone you love is navigating the challenges of chronic illness, fatigue, or brain fog, this conversation is a reminder that your story doesn’t end here — it’s just the beginning, because your brain is never done healing.

Lauren invites listeners to think about health and healing in a broader context — by reclaiming hope, embracing science, and learning how to support the body and mind’s natural ability to recover through effective behavioral changes.


What You’ll Hear in This Episode

Melanie and Lauren talk about three types of complex chronic medical illnesses: concussion, long-COVID, and dysautonomia.  

Understanding Neuroplasticity:
What it really means when we say the brain can change — and how that knowledge shifts the way we approach recovery.

Incremental Stress and Healing:
Why “doing less” can sometimes help you do more, and how gradual, consistent challenges restore brain and body function.

The Mental Health Connection:
How stress management, mindset, and emotional regulation directly influence brain healing and overall recovery.

Living Fully Through Chronic Illness:
Lauren shares strategies for finding balance, energy, and purpose while navigating life with long-COVID, concussion, or dysautonomia.

Hope as Medicine:
Practical ways to stay hopeful and grounded when recovery feels slow — and why small wins matter more than perfection.

Resources and Mentions

Lauren Ziaks, PT, DPT, ATC — physical therapist, clinician, and researcher specializing in concussion, dysautonomia, and long-COVID rehabilitation. Co-founder - Phoenixconcussionrecovery.com

Follow Lauren on Instagram at @lziaks

The WebbWell Way of Life™ — a holistic fitness approach to rebuilding body and mind after illness or injury

WebbWell.com/episodes — explore the archives for conversations and recovery stories that inspire resilience, movement, mental wellbeing, and reconnection with nature

Follow Melanie on Instagram @melanie.from.webbwell
To watch this episode, visit the WebbWell channel on YouTube

What if aging didn’t have to mean slowing down? What if movement — and mindset — could completely rewrite how we experience midlife and beyond?


Show Summary

In this episode of The Mindful Trainer, host Melanie Webb sits down with Ryan Gentry, Certified Personal Trainer and co-founder of Gentry Jackson, to explore how movement, mindset, and resilience can redefine what it means to age well. Together, they challenge the Generally Accepted View on Aging (GAVA) — the cultural belief that physical decline is inevitable — and offer a powerful alternative: that consistent movement and mental engagement can keep us strong, capable, and vibrant at any age.

Ryan shares stories from decades of personal training experience, including clients he’s guided from their 50s into their 80s, illustrating that fitness is not just about muscles — it’s about the human spirit. He and Melanie discuss their personal fitness routines; Melanie talks about how living with dysautonomia influences her approach to doing cardio, and Ryan talks listeners step by step through his unique mobility plus cardiovascular movement pattern workout.

Together these 50-year old fitness experts unpack how the brain drives physical capacity, why mobility matters more than flexibility, and how a strong support network can transform midlife fitness into a lifelong adventure.


Key Takeaways

The two trainers compared notes on their personal workouts and how they stay fit over fifty and came to the following conclusions:

Aging doesn’t have to mean decline — it’s an opportunity for reinvention.

Movement keeps the body and brain young; it’s never too late to start.

The brain plays a central role in maintaining strength, coordination, and motivation.

Personalized, consistent training yields real transformation at any age.

Mobility is more valuable than flexibility for long-term health and performance.

Supportive relationships with trainers, peers, and community members sustain motivation.

Challenging the “Generally Accepted View on Aging” (GAVA) empowers better outcomes.

Long-term client relationships can evolve into deep bonds that transcend fitness.

Small improvements compound into lifelong vitality.

Living with chronic conditions such as dysautonomia and rheumatoid arthritis is made easier with informed movement and a caring workout partner.

Sound Bites


“GAVA, The Generally Accepted View on Aging is bullsh!t.”“There’s always a way.”“The brain is the anchor store of the body’s mall — and if you stop using a store, the lights shut off.”
"Fitness is primarily a solo journey."

Resources and Mentions


Connect with Ryan Gentry on Instagram @ RyanMGentry


Take Your Coach with You Anytime, Anywhere, with WebbWell 21-Day Self-Care Challenge™


Download My Free Guide: 5 Steps to Healing from Injury

Save 15% On Your First Order of Hammer Nutrition by shopping this link: https://hammernutrition.com/?snowball=MELANIE91601