{"href":"http://player.captivate.fm/services/oembed?url=http%3A%2F%2Fplayer.captivate.fm%2Fepisode%2F7d5a450a-2d05-4640-ae0a-9061f964ef40","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Captivate.FM","provider_url":"https://www.captivate.fm","width":600,"height":200,"type":"rich","html":"","title":"Movement Therapy Is Not \u201cExercise\u201d: Joy, Resilience, and Everyday Freedom with Vanessa Leone","description":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\nOn The Mindful Living Podcast, host Sana talks with Vanessa Leone\u2014a movement therapist and exercise scientist\u2014about reframing \u201cexercise\u201d as movement therapy: a practical, personal language for the body. Drawing on her lived experience with ADHD, Hashimoto\u2019s, hypermobility, and supporting a partner with CPTSD, Vanessa explains simple, sustainable ways to build daily movement, recover from flare-ups, and cultivate resilience without burnout. We discuss play, walking to music, five-minute routines, and how small, consistent actions restore freedom, mood, and stress regulation. If you\u2019re juggling work, family, and health, this episode shows how to start now\u2014without perfection or pain. SEO: movement therapy, mindful living, ADHD, Hashimoto\u2019s, hypermobility, CPTSD, resilience, daily routine, mental health, walking, yoga, Pilates, sustainable fitness, Australia, Sydney \u2014 Guest: Vanessa Leone.\nAbout the guest\nVanessa Leone is a movement therapist and exercise scientist with nearly two decades of practice. She helps clients translate movement into joy, agency, and nervous-system balance\u2014especially those navigating conditions like hypermobility, autoimmune issues, and ADHD.\nKey takeaways:\n\n\nMovement \u2260 punishment. Treat it as a language of the body\u2014play, exploration, and presence, not just calorie burning.\n\n\nStart tiny, repeat daily. Use rules/standards/goals: e.g., \u201cI walk every day\u201d (rule), 7,000 steps (standard), 12,000 steps (goal). Five minutes still counts.\n\n\nMake it joyful. Walk to music that matches (or nudges) your pace; joy increases adherence and cardio load naturally.\n\n\nPlay scales effort. Simple games (foam rollers + soft ball) delivered laughter, intervals, and community\u2014without obsessing over metrics.\n\n\nResilience is two-sided. It\u2019s not just \u201cpush harder\u201d; it\u2019s also self-compassion, pacing, and honoring signals.\n\n\nHypermobility needs care. Extra joint range can mean greater injury risk; prioritize stability, gentle progressions, and rehab consistency.\n\n\nAutoimmune & ADHD lenses. After a Hashimoto\u2019s diagnosis and later flare-ups, Vanessa replaced intensity with nervous-system friendly movement and recovery.\n\n\nMovement freedom matters. Training so you can say \u201cyes\u201d to hikes, paddle boarding, stairs, or rearranging furniture\u2014function first.\n\n\nHousehold motion counts. Cleaning, carrying, and stairs provide meaningful activity bursts when life is full.\n\n\nCommunity helps. Support networks and accountability make rehab and routines stick.\n\n\nHow to connect with the guest\n\n\nYouTube: Vanessa Leone Movement Therapist\n\n\nInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/vlmovementtherapist/\n\n\nOpen to questions\u2014reach out via YouTube/Instagram DMs.\n\n\n\nWant to be a guest on The Mindful Living? DM on PM - Send me a message on PodMatch\n\n\nDM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik\n\n\nDisclaimer: This video is for educational and informational purposes only. The views expressed are the personal opinions of the guest and do not reflect the views of the host or Healthy Mind By Avik\u2122\ufe0f. We do not intend to harm, defame, or discredit any person, organization, brand, product, country, or profession mentioned. All third-party media used remain the property of their respective owners and are used under fair use for informational purposes. By watching, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer.\n\nHealthy Mind By Avik\u2122\ufe0f is a global platform redefining mental health as a necessity, not a luxury. Born during the pandemic, it\u2019s become a sanctuary for healing, growth, and mindful living. Hosted by Avik Chakraborty\u2014storyteller, survivor, wellness advocate\u2014this channel shares powerful podcasts and soul-nurturing conversations on:\n\u2022 Mental Health & Emotional Well-being\u2022 Mindfulness & Spiritual Growth\u2022 Holistic Healing & Conscious Living\u2022 Trauma Recovery & Self-Empowerment\nWith over 4,400+ episodes and 168.4K+ global listeners, join us as we unite voices, break stigma, and build a world where every story matters.\n\ud83d\udc49 Sub","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/b1eff17c-4201-4259-ab8d-b059a3277892/the-mindful-living-artwork8wndb.png"}