Move the District: Recent Episodes
Mike Yasson
This podcast was created to help people get a better understanding of the offerings that are available in the health and fitness community in Washington D.C. and the surrounding areas.
What is up, everyone, and welcome back to Move The District! We had a little bit of a summer hiatus but we are glad to be back! Today, I bring you my interview with Chase McKesey. Chase is founder of Trophy Body, which is an online platform that gives clients results in health & wellness. Trophy Body has prided itself on doing just that for its clients through accessible, actionable, programs that are backed by science and refined for practical use!
Chase personally writes all Trophy Body Online programs, responds to every Trophy Body Online client himself, and enjoys every step of his clients' journey to results! Enjoy!
Reach out to Chase:
Via website: https://trophybodyonline.com/
Via Instagram: @trophybodypt @eatmightymeals @sweatdc
Welcome back to Move the District, the best health, wellness and fitness podcast straight out of the Washington, D.C. metro area. This week’s episode celebrates one full year of the podcast, and also features special guest Dr. Kennedy Chukwuocha, a physical therapist and master of healing, strength and movement, and the newest member of The Big League Performance team! Dr. Chukwuocha joins us to talk about getting injured at the pinnacle of his athletic career, his involvement in the APTA and how he implements his own injury experience during his clinical practice.
Other topics of conversation include:
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What it’s like to know you want to work in sports therapy from an early age
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Recovering from microfracture surgeries and when to have them
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The mental wear-and-tear of the rehab process
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Having a solid support system during recovery
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Starting a private physical therapy practice
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How to prove to patients that you’re invested in their physical development
You can find Dr. Chukwuocha on Instagram @ken__vp
Welcome back, D.C.! This week we have another great episode between Zaineb Hassan and I! Zaineb Hassan and is a certified yoga Specialist (RYT-500 HR) and Lululemon ambassador who founded ZiZi Yoga in February of 2016. Zaineb specializes in sports performance yoga and work with Elite Athletes worldwide. Born and raised in the Middle East, she moved to America in 2008 to attend Towson University followed by the completion of her PharmD at The University of Maryland School of Pharmacy & Johns Hopkins University.
Upon graduation, Zaineb worked at John Hopkins University Hospital and in 2015 relocated to MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Shortly after moving to Georgetown she knew she wanted to pursue a full-time career in instructing yoga. She entered the practice of yoga 12 years ago when she began her rigorous academic career looking for a relaxing outlet. Understanding the importance of yoga and mediation in stressful situations, she started focusing on teaching Performance Athletes her specific style of yoga practice, which primarily entails dynamic, static movement & mindfulness meditation. Zaineb now dedicates her time to helping the elite prepare for competition and everyday life, focusing on physical and mental strength facilitated through yoga and meditation.
Reach out to Zaineb:
Via Instagram: @zizi.yoga
Via website: ziziyoga.com
On our 50th episode of Move The District, I interview Rekha Ayalur, certified kettlebell instructor. After college, Rekha stepped away from competitive running and began focusing on other forms of training - mainly kettlebells. She began training with an RKC - certified instructor in 2009, where she learned the basics of the hard-style kettlebell technique and has continued to refine her technique and coaching since.
Rekha coaches athletes from a variety of different sports in strength training and speed development. Additionally, she has hosted and attended courses with some of the top Physical Therapists and Chiropractors in the world and has gained a tremendous amount of knowledge on injury prevention and rehab. Rekha is a Team Lead with RKC and is seen as one of the top kettlebell instructors in the nation.
Reach out to Rekha:
Via Instagram: @rekha_ayalur
Via website: https://www.rekhaayalur.com/
Welcome back to Move The District as we close in on episode 50! We have another great episode for you all as we are joined by co-founders of OutFit Class, Justin Hunter and Kara Holinski. OutFit Class is a platform for instructors to host indoor and outdoor socially distanced workout classes in the D.C. area.
Topics discussed:
- How OutFit Class came to be during the early wild west days of Covid-19
- Somehow always a mile apart
- Flipping the organizational structure upside down
- Classes offered through OutFit Class
- Showing up for human connection in the fitness world
Reach out to Justin and Kara:
Via Instagram: outfitclass.dc
Via website: outfitclass.com
What is up, D.C.? Welcome back to Move The District! This podcast was created to help people get a better understanding of the offerings that are available in the health and fitness community in Washington D.C. and the surrounding areas! This week, I am joined by Corbin Jennings, owner and MADabloic DC & Arlington.
Topics discussed:
- Learning as you go
- From the corporate ladder to frustration
- Retaining clients through relationship building
- Remaining present as a gym owner
- Breaking the misconceptions about fitness, body composition, etc
Reach out to Corbin:
Via Instagram: @corbinsgonemad & @mad_dmv
Via website: www.madabloic-dmv.com
Hey again, everyone, and welcome back to Move The District! I am your host, Mike Yasson, and today I had the pleasure of being joined by Owner and Founder of Good Sweat Cycle Studio, Ali Hashemi! Good Sweat Cycle Studio is Northern Virginia's only social impact fitness studio.
Located in the Rosslyn neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia - Good Sweat is an indoor cycling studio committed to giving you the best sweat of your life all while improving the lives of others. They are a community for everybody- especially those who crave a challenging, energetic, community driven, socially conscious way to work out.
Reach out to Ali:
Via Instagram: @cyclewithali @goodsweatstudio
Via website: goodsweat.co
Today's episode is a very special and highly anticipated episode of Move The District! Today's guest, Chris Perrin, is someone that I have been trying to get on the show from day one. Chris is the co-founder and co-owner of Cut Seven along with his wife, Alex. The two met seven years before these doors officially opened, with Chris playing the part of personal trainer and Alex—unknowingly—the first Cut Seven test.
Alex was building her marketing career and lost sense of balance, gaining over 40 pounds. Chris led a triple-life as accountant by day, PhD student by night, and personal trainer every spare minute in between. Chris created a program based on his football conditioning at UConn—hard intervals, zero bullshit, and total body soreness. In six months, Alex lost sixty pounds.Inspired by a seemingly impossible transformation, Alex got certified and over time their training sessions shifted to business meetings. Over the next few years they went from coaching eight athletes at gravel parks to crowds of 500 at Union Market and the Nike sales floor.
For seven years, they made each other better—through marriage, baby, and a shared business. Today, the Cut Seven team is built on the same foundation as their original partnership: We push you. You push us. We all get better.
Topics discussed:
- Extreme Ownership
- Building group fitness through human connection
- Chris on helping people take their self-improvement even further
- The last book Chris has read
Reach out to Chris and Cut Seven:
Via Instagram: @chrisperrin7 & @cutseven
Via website: cutseven.com
Welcome back, D.C.! This week, I am joined by Emma Gaquin! Emma is the head of onboarding and an instructor at Spark By Gabby. You can find her between Mass and D.C. enjoying the remote office that she can pack up and take (almost) anywhere with a mask in hand. She loves health and healthcare. When she's not coaching, Emma works at a tech startup focused on revolutionizing physician continuing education.
Emma's new podcast, @relationshiftpodcast, dropped it's first episode this week so check it out!
Reach out to Emma:
Via Instagram: @emma_gaquin @sparkbygabby @outfitclass.dc
Welcome back to Move The District! This week, I am joined by Dr. Oliver Tannous who is an orthopedic spine surgeon with MedStar Washington Hospital Center. Dr. Tannous also serves as the assistant professor of orthopedics at Georgetown University.
Topics discussed:
- Uptick in back pain in the past year
- Insurance companies backing off giving everyone MRI's
- Pain is not a normal part of the aging process
- The power of physical therapy patients being able to tell their story
- The process for a patient post spinal surgery
Reach out to Dr. Oliver:
Via Instagram: @drolivertannous & @medstarhealth
Welcome back, D.C! I am super excited to have you all hear my conversation with Gabby Lubin on this week's episode!
Gabby is a wellness professional, founder & CEO of spark by gabby, and Harvard Graduate School of Education Masters student. With a background in early childhood education, Gabby left the classroom to answer the question “how can we help teachers stay in the classroom?” This systemic issue moved her to create her own wellness space that combines mind-body, community, and social justice.
She hosts a variety of virtual classes from HIIT to yoga to low-impact to core to spin. Her speciality is HIIT, but not any old HIIT class. The class parallels daily experiences you may have to ultimately support your overall emotional (and physical) growth. Spark by gabby’s unique HIIT class incorporates HIIT moves focused on strength, core, and cardio with mindfulness and a brief meditation at the end. No meditation experience necessary. As the body’s cortisol increases during exercise, we work to decrease cortisol through a mindfulness exercise.
Gabby teaches HIIT, LIIT, core & more, spin, and stretch & breathe.
Reach out to Gabby:
Via Instagram: @gabbyl_wellness & @sparkbygabby
Via website: sparkbygabby.com
What is up, everyone? Welcome back to another edition of Move The District! Today, we will be joined by Co-Founder of District Running Collective, Matt Green! District Running Collective exists where fitness, fun, and community collide. Their success is directly grounded in the successes of their runners! They create a space for runners of all levels to get to know one another, share challenges & triumphs, and redefine their impossible, every day.
Topics Discussed:
- Matt's views on diversity in the running community
- How DRC got it's start
- Matt on choosing the right running shoe
- DRC playing their part with social justice
- Creating and facilitating positive running experiences
Reach out to Matt:
Via Instagram: @marsgreen & @districtrunningcollective
Via website: districtrunningcollective.com
On this week's episode of Move The District, I am glad to be joined by Coach Danielle Hirt! Danielle is a certified personal trainer, running coach, as well as an instructor at Formula Running Center in Arlington, VA. Danielle has 12 marathons and 25 half-marathons under her belt. She is also a certified TRX instructor.
Topics discussed:
- Danielle's journey through the running world
- Growing up in a home of entrepreneurs
- Foam rolling: is it worth it
- If your rehab is not challenging you, it's probably not right for you
- Finding what discipline of fitness is right for you
Reach out to Danielle:
Via Instagram: @runwithcoachd & @formularunningcenter
Via website: formularunning.com & runwithcoachd.com
Welcome back, D.C.! I am super excited to be joined by founder and CEO of HUSTLE DC, Sunny Mae! Sunny created HUSTLE not just as a fitness brand, but as a lifestyle motto. Sunny will challenge you to tap into your own abilities that are already there. She believes that life isn't about trying to be something else; it's about activating what you already are!
Topics discussed:
- Sunny's days as a bartender in Union Square, NYC
- Connecting with your clients on a personal level
- "If you're not having fun, then why are you doing it"
- How Sunny took an opportunity and ran with it
- Where Sunny's various skillsets came from along the way
Reach out to Sunny:
Via Instagram: @sunnymaeerryday & @hustle_dc
Via website: hustle-dc.com
Welcome back, everyone, to another edition of Move The District! I am excited to be joined by co-founders of the Boombox Boxing Club, Angela Jennings and Reggie Smith! Reggie and Angela founded BOOMBOX on their love for boxing, music and community. Their goal is simple, to empower and inspire, while making the health benefits of boxing-inspired training accessible to all fitness levels and backgrounds.
Reach out to Boombox Boxing Club:
Via Instagram: @boombox_boxing, @brooklyn_globetrotter, @aj_boomin
Via website: www.boombox_boxing.com
On today's episode of Move The District, I bring you my conversation with fitness manager Tyler Humphrey! Tyler manages several Orange Theory locations in D.C. and Arlington.
- Tyler's career path from coaching debate teams to the fitness industry
- Shifting our mindsets from wanting that expensive car to wanting to hike in Italy in the summer
- If you focus on the right stuff, the aesthetics will work themselves out
- D.C. food talk
- Facilitating an environment for fitness clients to feel right
Reach out to Tyler:
Via Instagram: @ty.humphrey
On this week's episode of Move The District, I am excited to have on someone who is not only part of the fitness world, but also a part of the high school sports world! He is running coach, and general manager at Formula Running Center, Ryan Widzgowski! Ryan has moved up in the ranks of coaching starting with youth programs, High School/College and now Post-Collegiate runners. He’s also the General Manager of District Track Club based in the DMV. Enjoy!
Topics discussed:
- When Ryan realized running was it for him
- Does seasonal weather make us tougher athletes'
- Ryan's brand choices for running clothing
- How did Ryan get his start at FRC
- Who is FRC for
Reach out to Ryan:
Via website: https://formularunning.com/team/ryan-Widzgowski/
Via Instagram: @ry_widzgowski & @formularunningcenter
This week, I am joined by Navin Hettiarachchi! Navin is the founder of the REDT Method and has been featured in Men’s Health, Washington Post, Washington Times, Geo News, NBA Philippines, NBA Japan, and various prominent social media outlets around the world.
Navin has over 20 years of experience working in the NBA, WNBA, and NFL. He also works with Olympians, U.S. Women’s Soccer, Paralympians, and NHL athletes. Celebrities and musicians from Hollywood have also sought his care for their health and wellness.
Topics discussed:
- How Navin's journey in sports medicine began
- Navin's method of giving himself a wealth of knowledge and where this benefited him
- Impacting lives and the power of nurturing relationships
- Navin's philosophy on empowering his athletes' through treatment
Reach out to Navin:
Via website: https://www.navinhealth.com/
Via Instagram: @navin.het
Via Twitter: @navin_H
On this week's edition of Move The District, I spent some time with Laura Silverman, founder of Booze Free In D.C.! Booze Free In D.C. is a website to showcase sober-friendly restaurants, bars, wellness activities, and events. According to Laura, "Booze Free in DC is what I hope will be a revolutionary new way of looking at travel and exploration -- even from the comforts of home." This was a fun interview and I look forward to you all getting to hear what Laura has to say! Enjoy!
Topics discussed:
- Finding comfort in sobriety and letting go of toxic influences
- Events and organizations Laura is currently involved with
- Who is a typical 'Dry-January' participant
- Where to begin when one is sober-curious
- D.C.'s best places to find zero proof cocktails
Reach out to Laura:
Via Instagram: @wearesober, @boozefreeindc, @zeroproofnation
Via website: https://www.boozefreeindc.com/
What is up, D.C.? Welcome back to another edition of Move The District! I am very excited to bring you today's episode with Mere Chambers, who is a coach at Cut Seven and Equinox! Mere is a NASM certified personal trainer and a precision nutrition coach. This was Mere's first podcast and she knocked it out of the park! Enjoy!
Topics discussed:
- How running was the gateway to fitness for Mere
- 'Comparison is the thief of joy'
- Showing up for your athletes and clients no matter what
- The three people that had the biggest impact on Mere's growth
- How the world has changed the fitness industry from Mere's point of view
Reach out to Mere:
Via Instagram: @mere.chambers @cutseven
Via website: cutseven.com
Welcome back to Move The District, everyone! This week, I am delighted to be joined by registered yoga teacher, Mina Roukbi! Mina helps create a more inclusive and body positive fitness industry through her teaching of yoga. Yoga is her passion and I can't wait for you to hear what she has to say on today's episode!
Topics discussed:
- The struggles of battling an eating disorder
- Living in Dubai: is it as amazing as it seems?
- When you're forced into the realization that you are dealing with an eating disorder
- Coming out on the other side and rediscovering your health
- What it really means to 'listen to your body'
- It's not just about the calories
Reach out to Mina:
Via Instagram: @mindfully_mina
Via website: https://www.mindfullymina.com/
On this episode of Move The District, I am joined by a very special guest and he is Terrence Mann aka Coach T, owner of Hard Training Club-DC and the creator of Urban Wellness Market DC! Terrence is a native of D.C. and we had a chance to discuss how his life has evolved around fitness.
Topics Discussed:
- How freelance fitness training led to Hard Training Club
- How a really cold winter prepared Terrence for coaching clients virtually throughout Covid-19
- Balancing business related tasks vs. coaching clients
- How Terrence is implementing social media in business
- Boxing making it's way to the forefront of fitness
Reach out to Terrence:
Via Instagram: @coach_t_boxing, @hardtrainingclub_DC, and @urbanwellnessmarketdc
Via website: www.hardtrainingclub-dc.com
What is up, everyone? Welcome back to Move The District! This week, I am excited to be joined by Coach Katie Collard! Coach Katie is a former multi-sport athlete who is now the owner of Coach Katie Training. Katie Collard M.S., CSCS evolved her career as a multi-sport athlete into a lifetime strength coach and personal trainer, studying under Mike Boyle and receiving her Masters Degree in Exercise Science from George Washington University, where she worked as an assistant strength and conditioning coach for volleyball, basketball, crew and swimming.
Topics discussed:
- Shifting career paths from physical therapy to Exercise Science
- "If you have a body, you're an athlete"
- Educating the community you're already in front of
- The downside of people holding back knowledge in S&C
- The overselling of misinformation in the fitness industry
Reach out to Katie:
Via Instagram: @katie_collard
Via website: www.katiecollard.com
On this week's edition of Move The District, I had the privilege of chatting with Sharon Kim who is the founding trainer at Rumble Boxing! After 5 years of corporate life, she took the ultimate risk and quit her job to pursue fitness full-time. She picked up boxing as a way to blow off steam from her corporate days and she picked it up so quickly that she began teaching classes at her boxing gym. Sharon is NASM certified and she is still pursuing the sweet science of boxing!
Topics discussed:
- How Sharon's parents immigrated from Korean to make something out of nothing
- Living in a city with an abundance of fitness options
- Reprogramming our perspectives
- Bypassing her feelings and thoughts during a global pandemic
- The benefits of mental self-awareness
Reach out to Sharon:
Via Instagram: @thesharonkim
On this week's edition of Move The District, I am joined by the amazing Dr. Carrie Pagliano! Dr. Carrie Pagliano has been a dynamic leader in clinical care and education in the areas of women’s/pelvic health and orthopedics for nearly 20 years. Dr. Pagliano received her Masters in Physical Therapy from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia in 1999 and Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in 2007. Dr. Pagliano is a double Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedics and Women’s Health and holds Manual Therapy Certification from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. Dr. Pagliano is the founder of Carrie Pagliano PT, LLC. For over 10 years she was the program lead/founder for the Pelvic Physical Therapy clinical program/physical therapy residency at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC.
Topics discussed:
- Carrie's luck of falling in to a career that she loves
- How Carrie was able to use her creativity in a medical profession
- Not knowing where she was going, but knowing she wanted to be well-respected in her field
- How Carrie helps inspire people to pursue pelvic health
- Carrie's advice on postpartum mothers getting back to the gym and exercise
Reach out to Carrie:
Via Instagram: @carriepagliano
Via website: carriepagliano.com
Welcome back, everyone, to another edition of Move The District. Today, I am excited to bring you a very special episode featuring the co-founders of WeFitDC! They are Joe, Mallory, and Walter and they are all native Washingtonians and their mission is to close the health and wellness gap among the District. It was awesome to have on some D.C. natives and I really enjoyed learning what they are about today. They have a very important mission and I can't wait for you to hear what that is on this episode!
Topics discussed:
- What a fitness routine can do for you while in prison
- Improving mental wellness through environmental cleanups
- How WeFitDC gives locals an outlet to deal with emotions they may be dealing with
- Special moments WeFitDC has experienced during these times
Reach out to WeFitDC:
Via Instagram: @wefitdc
Via website: www.wefituniversal.com
Via YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYVHFg_01qmST55zW7YWDDQ
Welcome back to Move The District! I am joined by Nildo Silva of FIT Personal Training! Born and raised in Brazil, Nildo earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Physical Education from the Universidade Federal Da Paraiba in Joao Pessoa, Brazil and furthered his education achieving a Master’s Degree in Exercise Physiology at the Universida de Federal De Sao Paulo in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Nildo is also an NASM Certified Personal Trainer and furthered his certification with the specialized NASM Corrective Exercise Specialist Certification. Nildo is a trainer with more than 18 years of experience.Keeping with the standard and tradition of excellence and stellar academic credentials at FIT, Nildo is a unique and elite trainer in our industry.Topics discussed:
- Nildo's experience growing up in Brazil
- Brazil's fitness industry vs. the U.S. fitness industry
- Nildo's specialty of working with clients that have Parkinson's disease
- How Nildo built his client base as a personal trainer in Brazil
- What has contributed to the success of Nildo's virtual personal training sessions
Reach out to Nildo:
Via Instagram: @nildosilva19
Via website: fit-dc.com & physiologyfitness.com
Today, I am joined by Serki Abdi of HighKey Balance! Serki is the owner and founder of HighKey Balance. She has about 15 years of experience in the health and fitness industry. She first started her journey when she accepted a full-ride scholarship to George Mason University and majored Exercise Science and minored Psychology. I was glad to have her join us this week and I think you will enjoy my conversation with her!
Topics discussed:
- How Serki discovered that massage therapy was for her
- What providing quality care to her client's means to Serki
- Serki's work with Georgetown Basketball
- Taking care of your body now so you don't have to pay for it later
Reach out to Serki:
Via Instagram: @highkeybalance
Via website: www.highkeybalance.com
On this week's edition of Move the District, I am joined by Marcus Fitts! Marcus Fitts is a Interactive Designer, Swim & Triathlon Coach, Founder & President of District triathlon and Triathlete.
Three years ago Fitts founded the District Triathlon club, centered in the Washington D.C. area. District Tri began with five enthusiasts and today there are 80 members in a thriving enterprise bringing swimmers, cyclists and runners together. Fitts, who earned his USA Triathlon Level 1 coaching certification, has brought together experts in the various disciplines of triathlon to lead daily workouts and training programs for beginners, intermediates and advanced athletes. Fitts also organizes expeditions to many nearby and some faraway triathlons.
Topics discussed:
- How being a multi-sport athlete led to becoming a triathlete
- Marcus's experience coaching high school swimming
- How District Triathlon takes one from couch to 5K, triathlon, and everything in between
- Marcus's mission to continue amplifying voices that are not heard
Check out what Marcus has been up to:
Via Instagram: @coach_fitts & @grit.usa
Triathlete website article: https://www.triathlete.com/culture/people/club-hub-grit-usa-creates-a-model-for-inclusion-new-limits-and-fun/
Grit USA: https://www.gritusa.club/
Today's episode features Emily Collinson, former Solid Core coach. Emily is the founder of Solid Core United, which is a group of Solid Core employees and independent contractors united to create a safe, equitable, and inclusive workplace. You may have read about Emily in the Washington Post, the Washingtonian Magazine, Buzzfeed, and a few other articles. Emily was great to hear from and I think you will enjoy hearing what she has to say as well!
Topics discussed:
- What led Emily to pursue fitness as a hobby and a career
- Going from being last in gym class to becoming a successful group fitness instructor
- How the Covid Pandemic helped bring out the entrepreneurial side of fitness
- The benefits of being an employee vs. an independent contractor
- The idea of unionizing the fitness industry
Reach out to Emily:
Via Instagram: @emily.collinson & @solidcoreu
Via website: www.solidcoreunited.com
On this episode of Move The District, I had the chance to chat with fitness industry expert, Alicia McKenzie! Alicia has over 10 years of experience in the fitness industry. The first 5 years of those were owning a Crossfit gym in Virginia, as well as being a competitive Crossfit athlete! Alicia is now the founder of Lift Like A Mother and LLAM Amplify which are both online health and wellness programs designed to empower entire communities. Alicia is also a fellow Lululemon ambassador. I am excited for you all to hear from Alicia in this episode!
Topics discussed:
- How randomly stumbling into Crossfit in 2008 changed Alicia's career path
- Building the online brands of Lift Like A Mother and LLAM Amplify
- Building and running a business with your spouse
- What is clean beauty
- Alicia's passion of raising her four children to be health & wellness minded individuals
Reach out to Alicia:
Via Instagram: @liftlikeamother, @llamanplify
Via website: https://www.liftlikeamother.com/links & https://llamamplify.com/links
On this episode of Move The District, I am joined by yoga instructor, fellow Lululemon ambassador, and founder of Vibras + Vinyasa & Tan the Mat, Alix Montes! Alix is a full time Advertising Executive who follows his passion of teaching yoga as his side hustle. Alix has an understanding that not one thing in life is going to fulfill you completely. Teaching yoga on the side has also helped Alix from a confidence standpoint inn his full time job where he frequently is having to speak in front of others.
Topics discussed:
- Breaking the rules of traditional jobs and pursuing your passion
- Finding the value of your engaged audience
- What is the biopsychosocial model
- Modifying yoga to the individuals' needs
- How Alix used live music to expose people to yoga
Reach out to Alix:
Via Instagram: @alixmontes, @vibras_vinyasa, & @tanthemat
Via Twitter: @alixmontes
Hey everyone, welcome to this week's episode of Move The District! I am super pumped to be joined by a close, personal friend of mine and fellow Doctor of Physical Therapy, Dr. Megan Brown! She is the co-owner and co-founder of Mind the Mat Pilates & Yoga studio located in Del Ray, Virginia.
Dr. Megan Brown discovered Pilates after finding herself in an advanced class by accident. She was awed by the method and surprised that she needed to mentally connect with her body and control her muscles in a way she'd never experienced in her typical weight lifting, running and spinning practices. To enhance her skills at a physical therapist (PT), Megan pursued her Pilates certification through Polestar, an organization founded by a PT.
Reach out to Dr. Megan:
Via Instagram: @drmeganbrown & @mindthemat
Via website: mindthemat.com
Welcome to the 20th episode of Move The District! Today, I am super pumped to be joined by my friend Joe VanCleve. Joe is co-owner of Dedicated Strength located in the Shaw neighborhood here in D.C. with his wife, Angela. Dedicated Strength is a diverse community of different races, genders, sexual preferences, ages, body types, and beliefs. They strive to always represent an inclusive community in which ALL people feel safe and comfortable training hard.
Topics discussed today:
- Understanding that there is always something for everyone when choosing to live a healthier lifestyle
- Why having a base of strength is so important in all fields of fitness
- Knowledge is nothing if you can't translate it
- Joe's ongoing 10-year streak of wearing only shorts (even during the winters)
- What differentiates power lifting from Olympic lifting
- What variables lead to a successful, high-level Olympic lifter
Reach out to Joe:
Via Instagram: @dedicatedstrengthdc
Via website: www.dedicatedstrengthdc.com
What is going on, everyone? Welcome back to another edition of Move The District! Our very special guest this week is Dr. Melody Hawkins. Not only is she a Big League Athlete, she is a triple-board certified physician in pediatrics, pediatric pulmonology, and sleep medicine. She currently works at Fairfax Neonatal Associates which is a multidisciplinary clinic. I am super excited for you all to hear from her on this episode!
Topics discussed:
- Dr. Melody's early days of living on a cattle farm
- Figuring out how to be a good college student and finding your career path
- What sparked Melody's love for working with children
- Factors that can impair the quality of your sleep
- When is the right time to go see a sleep doctor like Dr. Melody
- Regulating sleep through how you diet
Reach out to Dr. Melody:
Via Instagram: @melodyhawkins3
Via Fairfax Neonatal Associates website: https://www.fnapc.com/directory/people/show/melody-hawkins/
Via Fairfax Neonatal Associates Instagram: @fairfaxneonatalassociates
On this week's episode of Move The District, I am very excited to be joined by Mimi Rieger, owner of MRY | Studios! Mimi Rieger is an internationally recognized yoga teacher and the proprietor of Mimi Rieger Yoga, “The Power of Teaching” Yoga Teacher Training Program and PureFitnessDC, LLC.
Mimi Rieger is passionate about creating opportunities for people to explore both their physical and inner landscapes through committed practice and self study within a supportive, inspired community. Her desire is that connection, creativity and consistency serve as the pillars of her platform, both personally and professionally.
Topics discussed:
- What keeps D.C. such a transient city
- How Mimi stumbled into yoga from injuries in martial arts
- Where Mimi is at with virtual training for her clients
- The blessings and change of perspective COVID has given us professionally and personally
Reach out to Mimi:
Via Instagram: @mimirieger
Via website: www.mimiriegeryoga.com
Today, I am super excited to bring you our newest physical therapist at Big League Performance and she is Dr. Zoë Pond-McPherson! Zoë is an avid Cross-fitter that also has a passion for wanting to help other athletes' get back to their sport. Zoë's interests in the human body, movement, and solving problems made it a no-brainer for her to pursue physical therapy as a profession.
Topics discussed:
- How Zoë made the decision to pursue becoming a physical therapist
- Zoë's PT school experiences and using critical thinking
- The importance of memorization in PT school
- Zoë's background in competitive gymnastics
- What Zoë would tell someone who is interested in starting Crossfit
- Zoë's competitive Crossfit career and how many years she was the Fittest in the Philippines
Connect with Dr. Zoe on IG- @Zoepmcp @bigleagueperformandrehab
To book an appointment with Dr. Zoe go to bigleagueperformanceandrehab.com/contact
Today, I am lucky enough to be joined by Coach Demi Yeager! Demi is an ex-politico turned full-time fitness professional after swapping the pant suits for the sweat life 2 years ago. With over 3 years of experience teaching group fitness and programming for a wide variety of personal and small group training clients, she's ready to expand her reach to help people near and far achieve their fitness goals.
She is inspired daily by the energy of those around her and always seeks to bring out the best in those she trains -- as well as fully standing by the belief that even the most busy individuals have time for their health and fitness.
Topics discussed:
- Demi's decision making process of leaving the political world behind her
- How making a little conversation goes a long way with Demi
- Demi's way of leaning on the local community to learn the fitness industry
- The new reality of continuing to make fitness clients feel comfortable during the pandemic
Reach out to Demi:
Via Instagram: @savage.training
Via e-mail: demiayeager@gmail.com
This week, I am joined by Dan Graziano, co-founder of Mighty Meals. Dan is a fitness professional who worked with 100’s of clients for over a decade. Seeing the need to bridge physical fitness with proper nutrition, he created the DC Areas favorite meal prep company MightyMeals. Founded in 2015 by two fitness professionals and one classically trained Chef, MightyMeals is now serving well over 10,000 meals weekly in the DMV right to your door!
Topics discussed:
- Dan's Italian heritage leading to a love of cooking
- The importance of building relationships according to Dan
- How Dan moved away from training clients to meal prepping full-time
- Moving forward in business and Killing Comfort
- How COVID has affected Dan's business
Reach out to Dan:
Via Instagram: @ddannydonuts & @eatmightymeals
Via website: eatmightymeals.com
Today, I am joined by my friend, Jamel Clark! Jamel is the regional manager for Elevate Interval Fitness and also personal trainer for them. Jamel’s career in fitness began as an amateur bodybuilder almost 13 years ago. Although he loved the sport and was able to build the physique he has today, he also developed a desire to increase his mobility and add more function to his training.
So Jamel shifted his focus to a training style that combined hypertrophy and explosive training. In 2011, he further expanded his training repertoire with the addition of HIIT. This blend allowed him to “Intensify His Athleticism.”
Topics discussed:
- Jamel's early days of wrestling and how this instilled a life of fitness for him
- From strict bodybuilding to being in the Middle East
- Jamel's leap of faith into leaving the corporate world to becoming a personal trainer
- The process of figuring out your worth to your clients
- How Jamel appeals to the experienced fitness client and the newer clients
- The human nature of people sticking to their strengths in fitness
Reach out to Jamel:
Via Instagram: jameltc78
Via website: https://www.elevateintervalfitness.com/jamel-clark
On today's episode of Move The District, I am excited to be joined by Nora Shank! Nora is a registered dietitian who owns her practice right here in Washington, D.C. Through her unique approach to dieting, her clients have achieved amazing weight loss by reprogramming a positive mindset! Nora wants you to know that you can focus more on what matters to you and less on "dieting".
Topics discussed:
- Pivoting in business and adapting to the changes in our lives
- Post-quarantine cooking and being resourceful with the excess you have
- How Nora's start as a caterer led her to becoming a registered dietitian
- How insurance companies came around to tele-health sessions during COVID-19
- The four quadrants of your food behaviors
- Choosing the right diet for you
Reach out to Nora:
Via Instagram: @norashanknutrition
Via website: www.norashank.com
Welcome back, everyone, to another edition of Move The District! Today, I am pumped to be joined by CG Green who is a full-time fitness coach travelling between Arlington, Va and D.C. CG's goal is to help people become the best version of themselves and to not be afraid to find out how strong they really are.
CG's energy is contagious and if you have been around him you know exactly what I am talking about.
Topics discussed:
- CG's recent Achilles injury and recovery
- How CG started doubling down on his personal fitness brand during the COVID Pandemic
- Not being afraid to leverage your community to help your own success
- Getting clients and patients to create buy-in to the process
- The role of social media in building CG's brand
Reach out to CG:
Via Instagram: @forever_cg
Help Support CG during his recovery- https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/v108ny
Hey everyone and welcome back to another episode of Move The District! Today, I was lucky enough to be joined by Cami Wolff who is the owner of Canis, a wellness company right here in Washington, D.C. At Canis, their mission is to optimize people's health and overall well-being through movement, nutrition, mindfulness, and wellness related events.
Topics discussed on today's episode:
- Cami's personal journey and how this drove her to start her business
- The huge component of our microbiome and our health
- Why people don't realize they're simply not eating enough
- How cleansing isn't just about changing your diet
- Cami's various corporate wellness programs
- The ideal client for Cami
Reach out to Cami:
Via Instagram: @canis.with.camille
Via website: www.caniswithcamille.com
Welcome to episode 10 of Move The District! By special request, we are joined by Jenna Weintraub today. Jenna is a licensed graduate social worker, currently works at The Dorm here in D.C. and Golden Life Counseling. Jenna specializes in anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders.
Topics discussed:
- Our collective experience of the current pandemic
- How we can't control what happens, but we can control how we respond
- Ways we can separate work life from home life
- How Jenna has handled her clients virtually and what this means for the future
- Where mistrust in Healthcare starts
- How we can break even with ourselves during this time
Reach out to Jenna:
Via The Dorm website: thedorm.com/dc
Via Instagram: @thedormcommunity
Welcome back to another edition of Move The District Podcast! I am joined by my buddy, Ralph Navarrete, who is a coach at Formula Running Center, a Lululemon Ambassador, and an endurance runner. Ralph is an overall student of wellness and loves learning about new ways to help people reach their physical, mental, and nutritional goals.
Topics discussed:
- How Ralph discovered his passion for fitness
- Bridging the divide of movement and how we can promote the best version of people
- How to avoid letting your impression of a professional blanket that entire industry
- Understanding what opportunities are available to you at any given moment in life
- How Ralph tries to cater to everyone in a group setting
- Ralph's top fitness industry pet peeve
Reach out to Ralph:
Via Instagram: @ralph.fitness
Via website: www.formularunning.com
Today, I am excited to be joined by Andrew Killion, owner of District Crossfit and Patriot Crossfit. Almost three years ago, I started my practice, Big League Performance, operating out of his gyms space. We were connected by Danny Matta and that is where we began our partnership.
Topics discussed today:
- How Andrew and I began our partnership
- Starting District Crossfit and how Andrew has made it 9 years strong
- Sticking to your guns and knowing who you are as a business owner
- How Andrew takes into account everyone's different schedules when programming
- The type of coach Andrew is looking for when hiring
- Research behind Crossfit injuries
Check out Andrew's gyms:
www.districtcrossfit.com
www.patriotcrossfit.com
Hey everyone, and welcome back to Move The District Podcast! Mona Garcia is a trainer at Rumble Boxing, an endurance athlete, and overall hype woman and today she joins me on the show. She is a close personal friend of mine and I am super excited to have her on the podcast.
Topics discussed today:
- What makes Mona a 'hype woman'
- How getting laid off from her job led Mona to doubling down as a fitness coach
- Creating bonds through the community of group fitness
- Knowing how to deliver the right answer to questions received on social media
- Developing the skill of knowing how to get proper sleep
Reach out to Mona:
Via website: https://www.monalavinia.com/
Via Instagram: @monalavinia
On today's episode, I had the chance of speaking with my friend, Andrew Whitener, of District Performance. I'm super pumped for you to hear my conversation with Andrew as he has a wealth of knowledge in baseball and he gets to work with athletes of all ages. Andrew also coaches travel baseball for the DC Dynasty which is one of the most competitive baseball organizations in the DC metropolitan area.
Topics discussed:
- How we're striving to develop our community by helping others
- How Andrew transitioned from being a Princeton economics grad to a strength coach
- Ways we can move healthcare forward in the U.S.
- The differences of training an adolescent baseball player vs. training an adult
- What physical therapists can learn from strength coaches
Reach out to Andrew:
Via Instagram: @districtperformancedc
Welcome back to Move The District! Today, I have a really special guest on the podcast and I am super pumped that he took some time to chat with us! He is Victor Williams, the director of operations for Nuboxx Fitness, and creator The Boxing Guy which is a combination of at-home virtual workouts that implement boxing and strength training. We are pleased the have Vic on the podcast today and we hope you enjoy!
Topics discussed:
- Vic's early start in karate and where other sports fell into place
- Making the career change from an engineering background to the fitness industry
- How Vic always knew he would circle back to martial arts in some sort of capacity
- Influences on Vic's coaching development
- Focusing on serving your clients and not getting lost in the weeds
- The ideal Nuboxx Fitness member
Reach out to Vic:
Via website: www.theboxingguy.com
Via Instagram: @theboxingguy
Welcome back to the podcast, everyone! This week I am speaking with Tammy Whyte of Equinox and TW Training and Wellness. Tammy is the owner of TW Training and Wellness which is her business that specializes in building stronger athletes through run coaching, strength training, and nutrition support. Tammy is a proud University of Michigan Alumni and she definitely has a passion for wanting to help others achieve their health & wellness goals! I hope you enjoy this episode!
Topics discussed:
- Tammy's beginnings and the influences that made her the runner she is today
- The lifestyle changes needed to commit to training for a marathon
- Tammy's opinions on where someone should begin their new interest in becoming a runner
- Tammy's philosophies on running and how she implements this into her training programs
- How Tammy handled her clients who had their races and marathons cancelled due to the pandemic
- Who is the ideal TW member for Tammy and why
Reach out to Tammy:
Via Instagram: @tw_trainingwellness & @tammyruns50
Via website: https://www.twtrainingwellness.com/
Welcome back, everyone, to another edition of Move the District podcast! I am excited to be joined by Equinox group fitness instructor, Timothy Williams. Timothy also serves as an ambassador at Lululemon and is just an all around great guy.
Today was a great conversation with Timothy and we appreciate you listening!
Topic discussed:
- A day in the life of Timothy
- How learning his clientele base helps Timothy build playlists for his classes at Equinox
- The qualities Timothy loves to see in his clients that can help them enjoy life beyond the gym
- How action drove clarity for Timothy in his pursuit of a career in fitness
- What Timothy’s programming can look like
Reach out to Timothy:
Via Instagram: @timbowilliams
Via website: www.equinox.com
Today’s episode will feature my very first interview on the podcast and we will be speaking with David Magida of Elevate Interval Fitness. David is the founder of Elevate Interval Fitness, which specializes in HIIT, endurance, and yoga training.
David is a former collegiate runner that eventually moved up the world rankings in the sport of competitive Obstacle Racing. He is also a founding member of the Reebok Spartan Race Pro Team, the author of “The Essentials of Obstacle Race Training”, and the host of Spartan Race on NBC Sports, ESPN, and Facebook Watch.
We had a blast with David today and we hope you enjoy our conversation today!
Topics discussed:
- What David has to offer at Elevate Interval Fitness
- What made David take a full dive into fitness as a career
- The goals behind the various programs at Elevate
- The creative ways David’s clients have been training through the Covid-19 pandemic
- David’s message to someone that may be on the fence about joining Elevate
Reach out to David:
Via website: www.elevateintervalfitness.com
David’s book: The Essentials of Obstacle Race Training
https://www.amazon.com/Essentials-Obstacle-Race-Training/dp/1492513776
Welcome, everyone! This is Move the District Podcast and I am super excited to have you listening! My name is Mike Yasson and I am owner of Big League Performance and Rehab located here in southwest Washington, D.C.
The goal of this podcast is to really help people get a better understanding of the offerings that are available in the health & fitness community here in D.C. and the surrounding areas.
This podcast is for people who are active, pain-free, healthy, and are looking to do these things for a long time with their family and friends. If you see your body as investment, then you are in the right place!
I appreciate you taking the time to listen today and I can’t wait for you to hear the great interviews with local professionals we will be providing! Please leave us a 5-star review on iTunes, and we will catch you next time!
Reach out to me:
Via website: www.bigleagueperformanceandrehab.com
Via Instagram: @bigleagueperformandrehab