The Vintage Athlete Podcast - Doing Life After Sports

Date: 6/3/24

The Vintage Athlete Podcast: How to Do Life After Sports

Episode 3: Why Your Athlete Identity is Holding You Back

Episode Summary:

In this episode of The Vintage Athlete Podcast, we tackle the concept of athlete identity—what it is, how it impacts retired athletes, and why it's essential to balance this identity with other aspects of life.  Given that research shows a strong athlete identity in retirement can have a negative impact in life after sports, it is important to tackle this need first, making it easier to move forward to a fulfilling life.

The key points discussed include defining and understanding athlete identity, the challenges it can present in retirement, and why it is important to let go of the rigid view and expectations we have of ourselves after we leave our sport.

Tara also shares their personal experience as a former competitive athlete, discussing the challenges and benefits of letting go of a strong athletic identity. They emphasize the importance of recognizing the valuable life skills gained from sports while also moving beyond limiting self-beliefs.

Curious about how to start loosening the grip of your athlete identity? There are some amazing FREE resources on The Vintage Athlete website, including a meditation practice specifically about this topic.  Check it out here!

You can also try our FREE 3-day series, The Vintage Athlete Awakening, and start your journey towards a balanced and fulfilling life. Sign up here to begin!

Join us in this enlightening episode as we explore the complexities of athlete identity and why it is to evolve beyond it. Don’t forget to subscribe to The Vintage Athlete Podcast for more insights, expert advice, and inspiring stories tailored for retired athletes!

Date: 6/3/24

The Vintage Athlete Podcast: How to Do Life After Sports

Episode 2: 7 Unique Physical and Mental Needs of Retired Athletes

Episode Summary:

In this episode of The Vintage Athlete Podcast, Tara delves into some of the unique physical and mental challenges that retired athletes face. Transitioning from an active sports career to everyday life can be daunting, but it’s also a journey filled with opportunities for growth and self-discovery. This episode sets the stage for our series by exploring essential topics like maintaining physical fitness, dealing with injuries, redefining identity, and more.

1. Maintaining Physical Fitness:

   - The challenge of maintaining fitness without the intense training regimen while creating a balanced workout plan that respects your body’s new needs

2. Muscle Memory and Intuitive Movement:

   - The transition from sport-specific muscle memory to more intuitive movements.

3. Dealing with Injuries:

   - The lingering injuries and chronic pain retired athletes face from years of intense activity.

4. Developing a New Schedule:

   - The difficulty of establishing a new routine that balances health, wellness, and free time without the structured schedule of a competitive athlete.

5. Setting Non-Sport Goals:

   - Developing new goals outside of sports by recognizing the importance of values and mindfulness in goal-setting.

6. Loss of Athlete Identity:

   - Coping with the loss of your athlete identity and discovering who you are beyond your sport.

7. Grief:

   - Understanding and accepting the grief that comes with retirement from sports.

Personal Insights:

Tara shares personal anecdotes from her competitive gymnastics career, offering a relatable perspective on the emotional and physical journey post-retirement.

Are you a retired athlete looking to thrive in your life after sports? Join our FREE 3-day series, **The Vintage Athlete Awakening**, and unlock your potential for a balanced and fulfilling life. Visit this link to sign up and start your journey today!

Don’t forget to subscribe to The Vintage Athlete Podcast for more episodes packed with expert advice, inspiring stories, and practical tips for retired athletes!

Date: 6/3/24

The Vintage Athlete Podcast

Episode 1: Welcome to the Vintage Athlete Podcast!

In this inaugural episode, host Tara Fortier introduces herself, tells her story of being a former athlete, and shares why it was so important to her to start a podcast specifically for retired athletes who are navigating sports retirement.

As a competitive gymnast and college cheerleader, Tara takes about her transition out of sports and the challenges that came with it.  The combination of her clinical experience as a behavior analyst and yoga practice lead to meaningful changes and she’s ready to share her insights and best strategies with you.

Learn what The Vintage Athlete Podcast has in store in order to help former athletes do life after sports.

Get ready to grow and evolve in your next chapter with this unique and holistic fusion of strategies specifically for retired athletes.

If you want to get a feel for what The Vintage Athlete is all about, head over to The Vintage Athlete website for free resources to start your journey.

Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review and follow us on Instagram at @vintage.athlete!