The Project: Kuwait

Time Stamps:

2:18 – Jamie talks about how the Kuwait Moms Guide started and how it has unexpectedly grown.

3:04 – Jon P tells the story of the creation of Stop Crying Studios and his philosophy of approaching every client differently based on their background and the best way to motivate them.

5:34 – Jamie says that it is necessary to use a similar approach in parenting and coaching kids. By having a positive vibe but still encouraging them to work hard, as well as demonstrating a healthy lifestyle by doing activities together, parents can help their kids in all aspects of life.

8:48 – Jon uses different modalities such as HIIT, strength training, and injury rehabilitation depending on the needs and preferences of the client. With beginners, he tries to distract the clients from the actual number of sets and reps in their workout.

10:39 – Jamie’s husband started training with Jon in fall 2018, and after Jamie injured her hip and was unable to run as she had been doing, her husband recommended that she try a session with Jon. Initially, she was intimidated because she had never been in a workout setting like that, but now she is consistently going, even bringing her daughters with her on Saturdays.

13:06 – Mahdi asks how Jamie handles social media exposure with her daughters, focusing on health more than image. Jamie’s daughters are 7 and 10 years old, so they do not have access to social media yet and she limits their other media exposure as well. She never talks with them about diets, losing weight, or looks, rather focusing on health and being active.

16:50 – Jon discusses how he coaches children by encouraging them and treating everyone as they need to be treated.

17:40 – Jamie keeps her daughters active with gymnastics 2 days per week, knitting, unstructured play time, and plenty of exploring as a family.

20:26 – Jon’s favorite type of client is open-minded, willing to listen to Jon’s recommendations. Liam says that his least favorite type of client is the one that says “I can’t do that” when they really mean “I won’t do that.” Jamie emphasizes that it was helpful for her to make her workouts digestible.

25:13 – Jamie says that a lot of parents don’t realize that they impact their kids by what they do and what they say. Kids are learning how to live from their parents and your behavior is shaping their mindset towards all of life. Liam says that this dynamic is the same in the client/trainer relationship as well.

27:40 – Jamie talks about nutrition being the most challenging aspect of a healthy lifestyle. Mahdi reiterates that while it is difficult to eat completely clean, it is important to source your food and come up with a long-term plan you can live with. 

29:36 – Jamie then shares the difficulty of being consistent in working out, but her commitment to train with Jon twice per week until she can manage more.

30:55 – She says that she has noticed a big difference in her energy level, stress management, and overall health since she started working out.

32:42 – Jon talks about the misconceptions of training and trainers on social media. So many people are posting unrealistic images and exercises that are just ploys to get more followers, but these posts build up impractical expectations for the Average Joe about what they can do. Jamie says that social media is a good way to create positive connections, but there is also an expectation that every post has to be perfect.

37:15 – Mahdi believes in posting your failures and just real-life events that you feel like posting. Your social media feed does not have to be curated and groomed to please anyone.

38:59 – Jon says that if you have any inclination to get more active, you should reach out to a close friend or family member who is activ

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Time Stamps:

1:41 – Catherine started ballet at age 9, but had to stop after about 10 years due to an accident. She then became involved in aerobics which led her into gym training, where she began training for and competing in fitness figure competitions. There is immense pressure in that sport to use performance enhancing drugs, but she never did. Instead, she committed wholeheartedly to body shaping through nutrition, diet, and exercise. Catherine is now a Pilates instructor at ARC.

7:40 – Catherine describes her diet leading up to fitness figure competitions.

9:34 – She is passionate about Pilates because of her experience trying other modalities and her recognition of the merits and benefits that Pilates provides over other workouts. She specifically trains her clients in studio Pilates, which uses various apparatus to aid in the training.

12:25 – Mahdi asks if there is any relationship between Pilates and CrossFit, and Catherine describes what Pilates is and what it is not.

14:18 – Pilates was created in 1902 by Joseph Pilates as a series of corrective exercises that focus the body, mind, and spirit, which he called “Contrology”. It was originally intended to be a workout for men to be able to control their breathing, and it had its most notable initial results in 1914 at the Isle of Man POW camp. In 1916, Joseph Pilates opened up a studio in New York City that mainly served dancers and artists. Originally, regular participants in Pilates knew the specific order of exercises and did their workout with very little interaction with each other or the instructor. 

20:31 – Mahdi mentions that Boston Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek recovered from a serious injury using Pilates, so he wonders about its integration with sports. Catherine explains that “how you stand is how you land” and that Pilates helps strengthen the muscles that keep the skeleton upright using specific tension. She also explains that strengthening the smaller muscles will in turn strengthen the larger muscles, improving the body’s resiliency.

24:16 – Liam has been doing a lot of accessory work lately, and he has seen what Catherine is describing in his own life. 

27:02 – In response to Mahdi’s question about how Pilates could make him a better athlete or give him a competitive advantage, Catherine explains that Pilates creates a balance where there is otherwise an imbalance. For instance, if you are right-handed, it is likely that the muscles on your left side are weaker and less developed, so Pilates would help both sides become equally stronger. 

29:07 – Liam talks about the benefit that he has noticed from his accessory work and lifting in a different plane of motion.

30:08 – While the Pilates classes at ARC are only for women, Catherine says that Fawzia has clinical Pilates that is open to men.

32:20 – One of the biggest misconceptions about Pilates is that it is only for healthy and strong people. In fact, anyone and everyone can benefit from Pilates, no matter your age or physical condition. Mahdi agrees, saying that his aunt has been doing Pilates and has made great progress in reducing neck pain.

36:27 – Catherine describes the perfect programming for an athlete as well-structured, including Pilates, cardio, yoga, and functional exercises. She recommends Pilates 3 times per week and never in the same day as another workout. There are group classes as well as private sessions available depending on your needs.

39:57 – Mahdi asks about specific Pilates exercises that he could inject into his other workouts, and Catherine says that after a private session, the instructor will be able to give you a few key exercises that will be beneficial for you.

42:05 – Catherine says that there aren’t any apps she could recommend, but she is a fa

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Time Stamps:

1:01 – Fahad’s dad joins Mahdi first to talk about the five years since Fahad started playing baseball, at age 10. During a tournament early on, Fahad’s parents realized that he would be a standout player if they invested in his training, so Fahad and his dad have spent the past few summers in the States learning from professional coaches.

3:05 – Fahad’s parents have always believed in the talents of their 2 daughters and 2 sons, and they have provided them with every opportunity to succeed.

5:08 – Fahad’s dad talks about parents in Kuwait who put too much emphasis on their children’s studies and how the world could be a richer place if these kids were able to cultivate their talents.

7:39 – Mahdi first met Fahad when he was about 13, and he immediately recognized his talent. Fahad’s dad says that their family is committed to helping Fahad pursue his dreams by recording every second of his training, practices, and games and potentially moving to the States for him to go to a Division 1 college.

10:47 – Next, Fahad joins the conversation and describes his love for the game and commitment to conditioning, driven by the support of his family and community. He reiterates what his father said about the benefits of focusing on school and sports together, which helps him with time management.

13:04 – To parents who hold their children back from extracurricular activities, Fahad says that kids should be able to study earlier so they can play.

14:05 – Fahad’s typical training session includes stretching, running laps, pitching, batting, fielding, and long toss.

14:46 – His favorite baseball team is the New York Yankees, and he likes Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez.

15:00 – In order to stay healthy and fit, he uses bands, ice, and heat for recovery and he is working on improving his strength through weight lifting, ropes, and long toss.

16:39 – Fahad talks about the improvements he has been able to make in his batting game thanks to the batting cage and pitching machines that his parents have purchased for him to have at home.

18:21 – In 5 years, Fahad hopes to be signing with a Division 1 team or with the MLB. He currently tops out at 81 mph pitching and 85 mph batting.

19:17 – Fahad describes his intensive summers in the States as “all business” and filled with ups and downs, but filled with competition that is unparalleled in Kuwait.

20:39 – He is looking at colleges in Florida, Indiana, and Kentucky, and Mahdi mentions that he has been throwing his name out there to some of his buddies of influence in the States.

22:13 – Fahad’s favorite pitch to throw is a strike, of course, but when pressed about it, he would say a fastball.

22:35 – Asked about his favorite training modality, Fahad says that he focuses on the basics of leg strength, crossover, core strength, and using ropes to build up his arm strength.

24:34 – At school, he doesn’t show off or school his classmates, but helps them with their own fitness goals.

25:00 – Since he got serious about baseball, Fahad has lost 35-40 kilos by cutting down his portion sizes and training for 3 hours a day.

26:10 – Fahad’s advice to other kids who want to get serious about athletics is to get off of Fortnite, get out there and do something. 

26:35 – Fahad gives a shoutout to Coach Salvatore and Coach Aaron Hernandez who have been integral in his growth as a player. He also reiterates that baseball is a game of failure, so you are continually given areas of improvement.

Links:

Fahad’s instagram

mr_bye_bah 

Connect with us:

https://www.instagram.com/theprojectkuwait/

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Summary:

On this episode of the Project Kuwait podcast, we are joined again by Luwlwa, the Functional Nutritionist, who is broaching a taboo topic. Luwlwa and Meg share their expertise on the female cycle and hormones as well as learning how to have a healthy relationship with your period.

Time Stamps:

1:10 – People don’t typically talk about PMS, PCOS, and hormones in females, especially in Kuwait. Mahdi and Meg are joined by Luwlwa, the Functional Nutritionist, again to discuss these taboo topics. 

2:24 – Recently, Luwlwa posted something on her Instagram regarding changing her eating habits in preparation for her period coming soon, and she was amazed at the supportive responses as well as the hostile ones.

3:31 – Meg brings up the point that there are purposes of the female cycle beyond childbearing.

4:04 – Luwlwa provides a detailed background on the hormones present in women: estrogen, progesterone, and male hormones like testosterone. There are defined pathways for these hormones to break down in the body, and the way the body metabolizes them can have much broader impacts than most people are aware of.

6:08 – Mahdi asks about the common assumption that hormones make you gain weight. Luwlwa says that imbalanced in way the hormones are metabolized can lead to water weight gain, irritability, aggression, heavy bleeding, and hair growth or loss. The best way to learn about these imbalances is through blood or urine testing.

7:52 – Meg points out that the body needs balance to function properly, and things such as food or stress can affect this balance.

9:05 – Mahdi chimes in with “men’s interpretation” of PMS: back off and give the women whatever they want.

10:06 – Luwlwa describes the 28-day cycle and the difficulty that can come from doing a single test to determine if there is a problem because of the length of the cycle. Through cycle mapping, women can begin to understand the relationship that their cycle and hormones have with external variables.

11:35 – She then addresses the misconception that periods are painful, unpredictable, and mysterious by explaining that extreme pain or heavy bleeding can indicate a vitamin or nutrition imbalance.

13:11 – Meg says that most people don’t understand their cycle because sex ed is usually too vague and high schoolers don’t want to know about it. In fact, as a high school athlete, Meg saw her period as a nuisance and she tried to avoid having it.

14:12 – Luwlwa describes the ideal diet for women who are experiencing PMS: anti-inflammatory foods and limited gluten and dairy. Symptoms of PMS include anger, anxiety, cramping, headaches, and mood swings.

16:02 – Mahdi brings up something he has heard about the need to avoid nightshade vegetables. Luwlwa says that if you aren’t sure if they have a negative effect on you, cut them out for 3-6 weeks and then reintroduce them to confirm.

17:15 – Meg and Luwlwa agree that it is counterproductive when men assume that women are having PMS if they are emotional or aggressive, and it is important for women to be self-aware enough to know if they are experiencing PMS or if they are just being especially moody.

19:00 – Luwlwa shares that many of the symptoms of PMS can be caused by the drop in blood sugar that occurs with the fluctuation of progesterone in the week leading up to a woman’s period. Just as when they are otherwise “hangry”, this can be amended by eating smaller and more frequent meals to regulate the blood sugar.

21:01 – This backs up the claim that women crave chocolate when they are PMSing – this is caused by blood sugar drops and drops in serotonin. Meg says that this is why women crave carbs.

24:00 – Meg emphasizes that it is important to know where you are in your cycle.

2

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 Time Stamps:

1:48 – The Kuwait Scorpions rugby team started in 1946 as a way for British oilfield workers to compete against British military officers.

2:40 – Our guests today are Aziz, the chairman of the Scorpions Rugby Club, and Hussein, the manager of the Rugby Club. They both play and work for the team administratively.

3:10 – Kuwait paved the way for the establishment of the GCC, which now includes teams in the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Dubai. Understandably, there are some logistical challenges in traveling from country to country to compete, but these teams are all a part of Asia Rugby and compete frequently.

5:17 – Since the tradition of playing rugby in Kuwait began with engineers and workers playing against the military, there are still occasional games against British and American military teams.

6:37 – Mahdi compares Kuwait rugby to Kuwait baseball in that they were both trailblazers that have been slow to develop.

6:48 – The Scorpions’ organization has programs for children ages 3 and up, adult teams for competition, and veteran teams for ages 35+. The majority of those on the competitive teams are in their 20s or 30s, and the organization is known to represent all nationalities due to the high expat population.

10:51 – The rugby club aims to teach the game to different age groups of different experience levels, but since Kuwait is often a transitional place, it is difficult to recruit players who will stick around to grow with the team.

14:22 – The Kuwait Oil Company recently upgraded the rugby pitch with artificial turf and created a high-quality facility for the Scorpions’ use, which has enhanced the atmosphere. There are shops and restaurants in the area, so rugby has become a family-friendly activity.

18:32 – Liam talks about his experience playing rugby in England.

20:06 – The Scorpions have Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram accounts as well as a website, and they have noticed that most Kuwaitis engage with them on Instagram most. Since they are an amateur team, they do not have a budget for advertising, so social media is their primary promotion source.

22:57 – The female Scorpions rugby team practices from 5-7pm on Mondays and the men practice from 7-9pm on Mondays and Wednesdays. During the preseason, they focus on fitness by doing HIIT workouts, and once the season starts in September, they shift to working on their skills through body weight and anaerobic exercises. They have also been using Titan sensor GPS trackers that allow them to train for peak performance.

26:30 – They would like to acquire a scrum machine and some sleds, but there is not currently a budget for those types of things. Hopefully, they will be able to have someone in Kuwait make one rather than having to import. The KOC might have some budget opening up for the team in the future.

30:45 – In March, the KOC is hosting a sports day with rugby, CrossFit, hockey, and soccer, as well as vendors to encourage the community to get active. Liam chimes in that this is going to be a great event and he hopes that the ministries will continue to pursue sponsoring events like this.

32:48 – Mahdi and Liam talk about the importance to the community of kids getting more active and being involved in sports.

33:48 – The rugby club is working on creating more programs that will encourage people to learn more about rugby and use it as a way to get active. They are currently hosting a flag rugby league that will have its final matches during the March Sports Festival.

36:50 – Aziz and Hussein talk about the difficulty they have had finding venues for mixed sports and finding competition for the female team except for when Kuwait hosts other teams.

38:08 – They discuss the lack of knowledge and experti

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Summary:

On this episode of the Project Kuwait podcast, Mahdi, Meg, and Liam are honored to interview Faye Sultan, a Kuwaiti Olympic swimmer in the 2012 and 2016 Games. Faye shares with listeners about her journey as a swimmer and the importance of being involved in athletics and studies in a good balance. She is an advocate for female athletes and she wants to see more people in Kuwait be active.

Time Stamps:

1:39 – Faye describes her journey towards becoming an Olympic swimmer. She started swimming competitively at age 8 (when her parents had to bribe her with Kit Kats) and she joined Elite Swim Team a couple of years later. On this team, she was introduced to reliable and established workouts which propelled her to the next level.

4:48 – She really had a proclivity towards the water, but at times it was a love/hate relationship.

5:37 – Meg talks about her own experience with beginning swimming at age 5 and having to choose to commit to swimming over other sports at age 12. What stands out to her looking back is the incredible time commitment that swimming required.

6:18 – Faye went to the States for college, where her swimming experience was very different than her time in Kuwait. Because of the remoteness of her college, she was able to focus entirely on being a student athlete.

7:44 – Faye provides some background on her family and asserts that swimming was more grueling than the tennis and basketball that her brothers chose to pursue. She typically trained from 5:00-6:45am, went to school, and was back in the pool by 2:30pm for another training session before going to bed at 8:00pm and starting all over. She credits the support of her family for her success and ability to train as much as she could.

11:13 – Meg brings up the difficulty finding other girls to compete against.

11:36 – Faye acknowledges that she did suffer from a lack of competition until she went to college.

13:04 – Mahdi asks Faye how she dealt with negative feedback and backlash to her competitiveness.

13:29 – Faye says that most people were supportive, but she just didn’t pay attention to those who weren’t.

14:33 – Faye talks about leading the way for female athletes with humility and building awareness about female athletes in general.

15:43 – Faye describes the lack of funding from the government or other sources until she was on the Olympic team. Her parents solely funded her training for the years leading up to then.

16:40 – Mahdi says that even though there is so much raw talent in Kuwait, many parents make their children focus on school over sports, so very few make it to elite levels of competition.

17:49 – Faye asserts that sports can save kids’ lives. There are so many applicable lessons learned through athletics, and it teaches kids about the importance of commitment and balance.

18:27 – Meg and Faye describe the lessons learned including discipline and working hard towards goals.

20:02 – Faye outlines common injuries that can occur during competitive swimming, even though it is not an impact sport. She advocates for plenty of warming up and stretching before a workout and then consistently using ice after a swim. She also says that athletes should be smart and know their bodies, not pushing too hard but also continuing to work out unaffected areas even when they’ve sustained an injury.

22:27 – Liam asks about Faye’s workout routine and if she ever works out in a gym. Faye typically worked out with weights 3 times per week and did dry land workouts 2 times per week in college. 

24:40 – In college, Faye did 2 workouts per day that were 2-2.5 hours each, and in Kuwait she did 2 workouts of 1.5-2 hours per day. She discusses the differences that she noticed between her workouts in the S

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Summary:

Liam and Mahdi have been let loose in the studio to discuss whatever is on their minds during this episode of the Project Kuwait podcast, and they cover a lot of ground! From traffic to testosterone to turmeric to trainers, you do not want to miss a minute of this riveting action.

Time Stamps:

1:30 – Liam and Mahdi talk about traffic in Kuwait and the tendency of bikers to not pay attention or ride recklessly.

4:45 – Mahdi says that he has always been told “run at night, wear something bright”, so he tries to stick to that rule.

5:20 – Liam talks about a trend he is seeing for older generations to go to the Avenues to walk around, eat, and shop. Mahdi says that anyone can enhance their normal walking with extra movement like air squats.

6:56 – Mahdi brings up a study that says that deadlifts increase testosterone and hormone levels. He talks about his own experience feeling great and energized after deadlifts, and Liam discusses the reasoning behind those feelings: peak muscle contraction which is achieved by lifting heavy weights using big muscle groups.

11:53 – They transition to talking about strongman competitions, which Liam and Mahdi both watched growing up, and Liam introduces the benefits of this kind of training for anyone. One example is carrying as many shopping bags from the car to the house as possible.

16:35 – Mahdi talks about some specific strongman exercises that are beneficial and strengthen your forearms, such as farmer’s carry, sled pull, and the sandbag walk. These techniques push your muscles to their limits.

21:00 – Liam says that when he doesn’t know what to do during a workout, he reverts back to strongman exercises that he used to do in rugby training. Mahdi mentions the log press machine, and they discuss why it works so well.

25:24 – Mahdi talks about the fear that people have that they will get hurt doing strongman, and Liam says that it is uncomfortable for people who aren’t used to it. But they both agree that it is beneficial for people to do and encourage people to watch the documentary about Eddie Hall.

28:21 – Most people will lose weight and put on muscle doing strongman exercises, but actually being a strongman athlete is not biologically sustainable.

29:52 – Mahdi and Liam commit to posting themselves doing a strongman workout on the Project Kuwait Instagram.

30:53 – Mahdi and Liam talk about the celery juice detox fad that is going around. Ultimately, they think that it is not worth the hype and that you would be healthier by maintaining a healthy lifestyle than by relying on a glass of celery juice in the morning.

36:19 – They admit that there are natural ingredients that are helpful remedies from time to time, such as garlic, ginger, turmeric, and cinnamon, but they are not all you need to be healthy.

39:06 – Next, Mahdi and Liam discuss calorie restriction, which is an easy way to quickly lose weight, but it could be detrimental to your body in the long run. Liam reminds listeners to stay away from extremes and just enjoy a healthy lifestyle.

42:25 – Liam brings up the topic of the importance and impact of having a personal coach or trainer. By meeting with someone regularly, they will get to know your rhythms, strengths, and weaknesses, and know how to motivate you to do more. Personal trainers are really unofficial therapists, and it is important that they are in a good place to help others and commit their time and energy to their clients.

47:42 – Mahdi and Liam emphasize that the personal trainer system is very helpful to the individuals and the community involved, perhaps even forming unofficial accountability partnerships.

50:18 – They discuss the differences in work ethic, ego, and expectations between trainers at boutique

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Summary:

On this episode of The Project Kuwait podcast, Meg and Mahdi are joined by Hala Mahrous, a thyroid cancer survivor who came on to tell her story. She discusses her symptoms, her interactions with doctors along the way to her diagnosis, and her workouts before and after her surgeries.

Time Stamps:

2:21 – Hala, a thyroid cancer survivor, describes her symptoms and the timeline of her diagnosis: she felt something weird in her throat but assumed it was nothing so she didn’t do anything until several months later when her aunt saw her from across the room and asked what was wrong with her neck. She went to an ENT who did an ultrasound and sent her to Kuwait Cancer Center to have a biopsy done. That very day, she went straight back to work where she is a behavior therapist for kids with special needs because she still assumed that everything was alright.

8:00 – When she got the results of her biopsy, the doctors were not sure what it was, but they recommended that it be removed so they could determine if it was cancerous. It turned out to be a 4.5 cm tumor.

10:52 – Before the operation, Hala did enough research to know that she wanted the doctor to remove her whole thyroid to avoid the chance of cancer returning if they only removed half of it. After the operation, she learned that the doctor had only removed half of her thyroid and she was not happy because she knew they would probably have to do another surgery to remove the other half.

16:45 – After this first operation, Hala posted on Instagram about her situation, her frustrations, and her worries for the future, and she received a lot of encouragement and support. She was surprised to learn that her doctor has seen an influx in young Kuwaitis developing thyroid cancer, and he thinks it is due to their presence in the country during the Gulf War.

20:15 – Meg explains that the thyroid controls everything in the body in terms of metabolism and its effects. Before her diagnosis, Hala was training twice a day to try to lose weight and not seeing any results, and it was likely because of the issues with her tyroid.

22:21 – Hala was sent to a consultant after her first surgery, who confirmed that the tumor was cancerous and that the other half of her thyroid should be removed.

23:36 – Hala’s first surgery was in February, and her second was in September. She is now focused on just being healthy when she works out.

25:55 – After her second surgery, Hala had to take radioactive iodine to kill any remaining thyroid and cancer hormones. She had to go on a low sodium diet for 3 weeks and avoid meat. After taking the iodine, she was not allowed to be close to anyone – friends or family – for 2 weeks, and she couldn’t go to work because of the adverse effects it could have on those around her. 

31:33 – The final step in her journey was a full body scan to confirm that all of the cancer was gone.

32:50 – Many people told Hala that thyroid cancer is “the best kind of cancer to have”, and Hala, Meg, and Mahdi discuss the insensitivity of that statement.

34:00 – Hala describes her husband’s journey of supporting her so soon after losing his own father to cancer.

37:45 – Meg talks about the benefit of allowing yourself to feel and release your emotions during the cancer journey, as she has walked this road with her mom this year.

40:30 – Hala was unable to work out for a month after her final surgery because of the healing of her wound. She still hates working out, but she knows that she needs to do it for her health, and she does enjoy pilates and yoga. She thinks that even having a light workout is good for her psychological health and it helped her recover faster after her surgeries.

45:46 – After taking the radioactive iodine, Hala was not allowed

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Summary:

Mahdi’s guest on this episode of the Project Kuwait podcast is Jennifer Allen, a physiotherapist who has relocated to Kuwait from Canada. Jen discusses with us the importance of physiotherapy and its far-reaching impacts on the body. She and Mahdi also talk about the biggest differences that she has noticed in her Kuwaiti clients from those she has served in other countries.

Time Stamps:

1:10 – Jennifer Allen is a physiotherapist from Canada who has been in Kuwait for about a year. She has previously worked in Mexico and Nepal as well, and she started out as a physical therapist. As a PT, she felt that she was not able to help her clients as much as she would like to because she wasn’t knowledgeable about biomechanics.

4:17 – Mahdi interjects that biomechanics means that you can alter movements based on the person’s abilities.

4:45 – Jen describes the two schools of thought on physiotherapy: (1) the goal should always be a neutral spine, and (2) if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it. 

5:47 – Mahdi mentions that his shoulders are completely different because of playing baseball.

7:05 – Jen says that Kuwaitis tend to be hyper-flexible compared to people from the other countries where she has worked. Being hyper-flexible and also relatively inactive as many Kuwaitis are can lead to collapsed foot arches and all of this can necessitate specific stretching.

9:55 – Mahdi clarifies that collapsed arches means that people are knock-kneed. He also advocates for the benefits of physiotherapists because they actually physically observe the body through movements.

12:16 – Jen says that the best way to exercise while being hyper-flexible is by focusing on remaining within a normal range of motion.

13:00 – Jen touches on the differences in body composition between Canadians and Kuwaitis who have less muscle mass and more fat due to inactivity and the lack of infrastructure for walking.

15:05 – Jen’s most memorable quote of the podcast is “motion is lotion”, which means that the joints are nourished by the body moving.

16:19 – Mahdi talks about his cousin, who he referred to Jen for assessment.

17:28 – Jen explains the public healthcare system of Canada and the long waitlists and other restrictions involved in getting imaging done there. Whereas in Kuwait and other countries, there are business interests that encourage the frequent ordering of tests and imaging. This could cause doctors to treat the imaging results rather than the root cause or symptoms of the person.

19:54 – Mahdi says that many people try to stay away from x-rays and similar tests because of the exposure to radiation.

20:39 – Jen clarifies that pain and imaging are not related, but that some people have seen their pain increase or subside simply based on the results of their imaging.

22:10 – Mahdi gives his experience after tearing his labrum and how his friend had a different experience with a different result.

23:06 – Jen talks about the research behind rehab vs. surgery outcomes and the doctor’s proclivity towards surgery if they are going to be financially compensated.

24:28 – Mahdi chimes in about a recent study that stated that 70% of meniscal tear surgeries were, in fact, unnecessary.

25:58 – Jen says that the most common injuries that she sees in Kuwait are neck and back pain due to inactivity.

27:40 – Jen continues by saying that neck and back pain can be caused by a combination of pressure on the discs and ligaments and the lack of loading which causes atrophy.

29:00 – Mahdi talks about people trying to overcompensate in their workouts, but this is only effective if you have the right trainer.

30:00 – Jen explains that when you are sitting, only part of each joint is receiving nutr

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In this episode, Mahdi and Liam sit down with Dane Lynch and discuss the importance of proper movement patterns. Learning how to move and control your body is an important lesson that carries over into everyday life, athlete or average Joe. 

0:31 Dane introduces himself and talks about his background in CrossFit and gymnastics. 

3:58 Dane discusses one of the biggest movement pattern flaws. Every body is different and moves differently, therefore there is no one way to perform a specific movement. Body types and injuries are just some of the things that need to be taken into consideration. 

10:09 A debate over machines versus body weight movements. Dane stresses that machines do not help with the overall stabalization of the body. 

13:03 Dane discusses new research on hanging therapy and how it has been shown to open up range of motion. 

17:45 Dane dives into his gymnastics rehab after spraining his ankle. 

19:03 Mahdi brings up how he incorporated body weight movement while coaching baseball. 

19:42 Dane discusses his experience coaching kids. Children haven’t built up imbalances yet and so it is important to reinforce proper movement patterns. He states that the old theory that lifting with damage growth plates has been disproven. 

28:27 The discussion moves to kids gyms in Kuwait. 

36:38 On the topic of nutrition, Dane mentions his experience with the ketogenic diet. 

37:36 Dane, Mahdi, and Liam discuss the workout in the Flare Fitness Festival. 

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