Smiling Soul Fitness Podcast: Recent Episodes
Beth Alexander
Episode 5 Description:
What are green flags, and red flags, in your relationship to movement, fitness and exercise? When it comes to exercise routines and working out, we often don’t acknowledge the big changes happening in our lives. Instead of feeling guilt over a missed workout, improving your relationship with movement can help you to accept and acknowledge that sometimes, other things take priority in life. Beth shares a personal story, and goes over ways to improve your relationship to exercise so that your routine is full of grace, attunement and kindness.
Resources:
Mental Health Is Moving Your Body - https://www.colorado.edu/health/2021/02/11/mental-health-moving-your-body
Connecting with Host Beth Alexander:
Website: https://www.smilingsoulfitness.com/
Website: https://www.bethalexanderfitness.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smilingsoulfitness/
Quotable:
3:30 “So if you’re someone who’s going through a big change or transition, you know whether it’s something individual or its something bigger on a collective level and your capacity for exercise or the way that you want to move has shifted, know that that's totally normal.”
4:50 “I hope to plant some seeds so that whenever changes come up, because they will, that you can attune and attend to yourself in a compassionate, and graceful, and loving way.”
5:07 “One of my favorite things I say at Smiling Soul Fitness is move in a way that works for your body today.” 8:26 “It has been hard in the sense that mentally, I had a plan. And I wanted to stick to it. And it’s not gonna happen.”
9:09 “Accept yourself where you’re at and focus on what you can do, rather than what you can’t”
10:00 “But, exercise and fitness and movement can also have a dark side and this can be perpetuated in our culture.”
18:01 “I want you to take the workout challenge, to take the workout calendar and I want you to make it work for you.”
19:01 “The workout challenges, the workout calendars, at least when I’m offering them, they are designed to give you structure, to give you a focus, to encourage you to get started with and stick with a workout routine. But the best, the best thing you could do is make it work for you!”
Credits:
Host: Beth Alexander
Producer: Marissa Jacky
Editor: Ash Jeane
Episode 4 Description:
Join us as we talk about Gideon Akande’s inspiring journey that includes winning the Men’s Health Next Top Trainer competition, being a 3x Chicago Golden Gloves boxing champion and completing the New York City Marathon. Whether it’s football, running, boxing, or personal training, Gideon brings a mindset of growth, patience, and empathy to his athletic pursuits and training others. In this episode, Gideon talks about how to learn from your experiences and inspires you to become your best too!
Gideon Bio:
Three-time Chicago Golden Gloves boxing champion and national winner of the Men’s Health Next Top Trainer competition, Gideon Akande (@getfitwithgiddy) excels at motivating people to be their best. Offering online workouts both live and on-demand at www.gideonakande.com, his love of fitness leaps right through your screen.
Connecting with Gideon Akande:
Website: https://GideonAkande.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getfitwithgiddy/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GetFitWithGiddy
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/getfitwithgiddy
Connecting with Host Beth Alexander:
Website: https://www.SmilingSoulFitness.com
Website: https://www.BethAlexanderFitness.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smilingsoulfitness/
Quotable:
9:16 “Sometimes people forget that outside of what we do, we may be novices, and that’s okay. Cause you gotta start from somewhere, you grow, you build, you adapt, and you adjust based off of that.”
9:45 “Being able to humble myself, alright, take my licks, get knocked down on my butt, get right back up on my feet, and learn from those experiences, is something I even take into my day to day life.”
11:26 “This person might not do what you do right now, but they’re working, they’re giving it their best. Show them that same respect that you would want, give them that same chance that you would want, so you can watch them grow.” 12:45 “And remember what that experience was like for you while you were boxing while you were running the marathon and how their life and their experience from start to finish is being. It's happening right there unfolding right before their very eyes, the same way it did for me. And also it just draws us all together because we all share those same experiences. And no matter where, if it's in fitness, no matter if it's in our career, no matter if it's in our families and relationships, we all share those same things.And that's what ties us together. The human experience. ”
14:18 “It was more so a celebration of me committing to doing something, committing to the training program, whether I was in another city or another country, I did the put the mileage in.”
15:16 “Oftentimes, you know, we have a goal and it has to look a certain way and it has to be a certain way. Oftentimes the, the journey that's the experience and that's where the growth and development happened not necessarily the end point, right”
23:46 “Hey, even if you don't think you're going to do well in it, or if you don't think it's for you, it's worth exploring because you never know what's gonna happen. The worst thing that can happen, oftentimes if someone says no, right, or the door is closed or the opportunity doesn't happen and that's fine, but what's the best thing that can happen. And if we start switching our mindsets to the possibilities that are out there for us, I think we'll make our decisions in a wiser way.”
31:32 “And, and I think anybody, whether you're a fitness, professional, or not, if you are able to drill down on what your time looks like and work with your partner or work with your resources to allow you to have those 30 minutes, 45 minutes, one hour or whatever you need. That's gonna make a world of difference.”
35:21 “I try to stay away from 'em as much as I can, but one that I'm like, man, that's just really true. Is that you never, you never regret a workout.”
39:53 “I’m living my life, I’m pursuing my passion, I’m doing exactly what I want to do, there’s like not too many things that can provide you that much joy, living your true passion.
47:04 “Yeah, if someone's currently lacking motivation, uh, let them know that. It's natural. Welcome to the club. Everyone loses, loses motivation from time to time, but we often come back to whatever we enjoy the most. So think of something that's fun for you.”
Credits:
Host: Beth Alexander
Guest: Gideon Akande
Producer: Marissa Jacky
Editor: Ash Jeane
Episode 3 Description -
This week Beth shares some of her favorite “Bethisms” - 4 phrases designed to help you make the most out of your workouts. Smiling Soul Fitness members will definitely recognize these memorable phrases. In this episode, Beth does a deep dive of what she believes makes a healthy, sustainable, and feel-good movement practice and why she uses these “Bethisms” again and again at Smiling Soul Fitness.
For the rest of 2022, first time members can get 10% off your first month or 10% your first year access pass with Smiling Soul Fitness. Use code podcast10 at checkout to redeem this offer.
Connecting with Host Beth Alexander:
Website: www.SmilingSoulFitness.com
Website: www.BethAlexanderFitness.com
Instagram: @SmilingSoulFitness
Quotable:
2:03 “I’m really big on celebrating when people show up, because in my opinion, that is the hardest part.”
2:48 “We encourage you, since you showed up, to move in a way that works for your body today.”
4:19 “I am honored when my workouts get to be part of that rotation. I am committed to celebrating you showing up for whatever workout actually feels good to you in that moment.”
7:09 “I am the trainer and the person I am today, because of all these other teachers, who showed up with their great cues, who showed up with their great regressions and progressions. It’s an honor to be able to pay it forward and share it with you.”
10:58 “Sometimes people feel like if they're doing a low impact workout that it’s not hard or it’s not challenging, and let me just tell you at Smiling Soul Fitness, the members, they know that’s not true.”
11:22 “If you're working out with me, I love offering options. A perfect example for this is one of our power sculpt workouts. Those are our cardio and strength workouts that we do once a week. I might offer squats as a low impact option. I might offer jump squats or squat jacks as a high impact option.”
12:12 “Your body is magnificent. It is awesome. It is an amazing source of information for you. And I really want these workouts to help you connect with your body in meaningful ways to help you appreciate all that it does for you, whether you're thinking about it or not thinking about it.”
Credits
Host: Beth Alexander
Producer: Marissa Jacky
Editor: Ash Jeane
Episode 2 Description:
This week Beth is joined by Jennifer Haddad, one of our very own Smiling Soul Fitness members. Jennifer started working out to get ready for her wedding. She joined for the physical results but has stayed working out with us for years because of the whole body benefits she experiences. In this episode we explore what to do when you’re struggling with feeling unmotivated, how to make your routine work for you, and developing confidence to feel good in your body.
Connecting with host Beth Alexander:
Website: www.SmilingSoulFitness.com
Website: https://www.bethalexanderfitness.com/
Instagram: @SmilingSoulFitness
Start Your Journey With 21 Day Arms & Abs
Quotable:
6:11 “It felt like a necessity after a while. It really had a good effect on my metal health, especially during the pandemic.”
11:45 “I like the feeling of looking back on my day, or my week and just being proud of myself for taking the time to do a work out.”
13:13 “I don’t look at it as a failure if I have to take a day off, or even a couple of days off. I know I can just get on my mat tomorrow, or even the next week.”
14:47 “I’ve kind of let go of the idea that my body has to look a certain way or be a certain way.”
15:15 “You also invited me to think about the reasons why I wanted to lose weight, and something just clicked for me there. And that felt right, and I started to examine why weight loss was such an important goal for me and I have to say it’s no longer so important.”
19:07 “I think I would tell my pre Smiling Soul Fitness self to just be gentle with yourself.”
27:46 “I would say a smiling soul is one that is connected at peace. No matter what kind of challenges come up and one that finds a way to smile, even if things are tough.”
Credits
Host: Beth Alexander
Guest: Jennifer Haddad
Producer: Marissa Jacky
Editor: Ash Jeane
Episode 1 Description:
Fitness in Place Co-Founder, Vysh Sivakumaran joins Beth Alexander this week to chat about accessible movement. Vysh shares with us her fitness journey and how becoming an entrepreneur helped her create an inclusive community for herself and her clients. Fitness in Place operates on a sliding scale basis to be more obtainable to the community they serve. They strive to make a safe space for all folks to be able to explore their own strengths. Curious about Fitness in Place? Use promo code FIRST-FREE to get your first class free.
Vysh Bio:
Vysh is a leader in the Toronto fitness community -- working to create inclusive and accessible fitness classes, along with her partner Pat, through their virtual platform called Fitness in Place (@fitness_in_place). She advocates passionately for representation in the industry for South Asian women, but more broadly, aims to be a voice for all people who may face barriers in the wellness. She recently was awarded the Canfitpro's Fitness Professional of the Year Award for Personal Training Specialist due to her quick adaptation to serve her community through Fitness In Place and trauma-informed Yoga practice at the start of the pandemic.
Connecting with Vysh Sivakumaran:
Website: www.fitnessinplace.net
- Promo Code: FIRST-FREE
Instagram: @Vy_she_lifts
Instagram: @Fitness_in_place
Facebook: VyshFitness
Facebook: Fitness in Place
Connecting with Host Beth Alexander:
Website: www.SmilingSoulFitness.com
Website: www.BethAlexanderFitness.com
Instagram: @SmilingSoulFitness
Books referenced in podcast:
The Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self Love by Sonya Renee Taylor
Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia by Sabrina Strings
People referenced in the podcast:
Meenadchi - https://www.meenadchi.com/
Reena Parekh - @itsreenaparkeh
Roz the Diva - @RozTheDiva
Trainings mentioned in the Podcast
Trauma Sensitive Yoga - @tctsy, traumasensitiveyoga.com
Intuitive Eating - Naomi Katz, @happyshapesnaomi, happyshapes.co
Quotable
7:38 “We offer invitational spaces for you to sort of explore your body. As well as offering choices for you to also understand what feels good, and what doesn’t.”
7:48 “In terms of the personal training world, usually there is this directive language, like ‘Do this and do that.’ Where as in a trauma informed world we tend to just say ‘Hey perhaps you want to lift your arm and stretch to the left, or perhaps you don’t.’”
10:00 “In the fitness industry I have not felt like there has been space made for me to thrive and made for me to feel good about my career. So in that, the challenge is that I had to create space for myself.”
13:34 “We say ‘Hey, like, come as you can, and show up as you are. We’ll meet you where you’re at.’”
24:33 “A Smiling Soul is one that is resilient.”
Credits
Host/Producer: Beth Alexander
Guest: Vysh Sivakumaran
Editor: Ash Jeane