In this episode, I sat down with Emily McLaughlin to talk about all things meditation! We discussed common misconceptions, types of meditation, and ways to incorporate it into your life without changing your routine. We even reflected on how the pandemic has changed our relationships with meditation and movement.  Connect with Laura: @lauramerkelfitness www.Lauramerkel.com Connect with Guest: @ekm_yoga If you like what you hear, please leave a review! We love hearing from you! :) Music by Adam Kurgatikov

In today's episode, Laura and Jared discuss how much has changed in regard to the covid pandemic from when they started this podcast in January. They discuss their vaccine experiences, their thoughts of the current state of things, and how they think this pandemic may change our futures. Note: This is the last episode in season 1. Jared and Laura will take a few weeks off to prepare for season 2!  Connect with us on Instagram: @lauramerkelfitness @jaredthephysio Work with us: www.Lauramerkel.com www.jaredthephysio.com Resource Links: A pretty comprehensive vaccination tracker with easy-to-read graphics. If you like what you hear, please leave us a review! We love hearing from you! :) Music by Adam Kurgatikov

In this episode, Laura and Jared had the pleasure of chatting with coach/massage therapist/doula extraordinaire, Heidi Childers Jones. They cover everything from the basics of the doula's role, to racial disparities in healthcare, to birthing during quarantine, to postpartum fitness, and more. They are so honored to share space with Heidi as she disseminates her wisdom and experiences to y'all!  Connect with us on Instagram: @lauramerkelfitness @jaredthephysio Work with us: www.Lauramerkel.com www.jaredthephysio.com Connect with Heidi: @heidi.flowbirthandbody If you like what you hear, please leave us a review! We love hearing from you! :) Music by Adam Kurgatikov

In this episode, Jared and Laura discuss the importance of grip strength, especially as you age. They get into why it is valuable, how to measure it, and how to train your grip depending on your lifestyle needs and goals. Connect with us on Instagram: @lauramerkelfitness @jaredthephysio Work with us: www.Lauramerkel.com www.jaredthephysio.com Resource Links: Captains of Crush Grip Trainers Theraputty Grip Strength Normative Values If you like what you hear, please leave us a review! We love hearing from you! :) Music by Adam Kurgatikov

In this episode, Laura and Jared cover everything you need to know about stretching. They break down what happens physiologically during a stretch, some of the language commonly used around stretching, different types of stretches and where they each fit into your fitness routine, and why you may want to rethink how you use static stretches, particularly for youth athletes. Connect with us on Instagram: @lauramerkelfitness @jaredthephysio Work with us: www.Lauramerkel.com www.jaredthephysio.com Resource Links: -will be updated shortly If you like what you hear, please leave us a review! We love hearing from you! :) Music by Adam Kurgatikov

In this episode, Laura and Jared start to break down some of the fear and stigma around deadlifts. Laura tells of how her perspective has shifted on this topic over time the more she learns and experiences this lift. They discuss some of the reasons this particular lift is so polarizing and why some of these fears are misplaced (hint: you probably do deadlifts most days without even realizing it!).  Connect with us on Instagram: @lauramerkelfitness @jaredthephysio Work with us: www.Lauramerkel.com www.jaredthephysio.com If you like what you hear, please leave us a review! We love hearing from you! :) Music by Adam Kurgatikov

In this episode, Laura and Jared tackle the age-old myth that lifting heavy weights will make a person bulky. They reflect on what "bulky" may mean for different people and the social conditioning that leads us to believe looking bulky is "bad." They discuss the benefits of resistance training, the types of sports that involve lifts, and ultimately why lifting weights will not necessarily add bulk to your body (unless you want it to!).  Connect with us on Instagram: @lauramerkelfitness @jaredthephysio Work with us: www.Lauramerkel.com www.jaredthephysio.com Some of our favorite body-positive wellness accounts: @decolonizing_fitness @meg.boggs @themollygalbraith @fatdoctoruk @thenutritiontea @sonyareneetaylor If you like what you hear, please leave us a review! We love hearing from you! :) Music by Adam Kurgatikov

In this episode, Laura and Jared discuss the difference between group classes and private sessions. They go through the pros and cons of each and at what points in your life you might find yourself drawn to one versus the other. They acknowledge some of the ways our choices are limited and talk through strategies for how to find the right instructor or coach for you. Connect with us on Instagram: @lauramerkelfitness @jaredthephysio Work with us: www.Lauramerkel.com www.jaredthephysio.com If you like what you hear, please leave us a review! We love hearing from you! :) Music by Adam Kurgatikov

Intuition can sometimes lead us astray. In this episode, Laura and Jared dig into why stretching may not be your best strategy for dealing with the sensation of tightness in your muscles. They also discuss what "tightness" is, why the word "tight" may not be the most helpful adjective when referring to muscles, and what you can work on instead. Connect with us on Instagram: @lauramerkelfitness @jaredthephysio Work with us: www.Lauramerkel.com www.jaredthephysio.com Resource Links: If you like what you hear, please leave us a review! We love hearing from you! :) Music by Adam Kurgatikov

On this week's episode of Demystifying Wellness, Laura and Jared were delighted to chat with Dr. Mary Qian about dentistry and oral health. They discuss what dentistry is, its role in overall health, what to expect during your exams, how covid has impacted dentistry, and some tips and tricks to help you get high praises during your next cleaning! Dr. Mary Qian is a general dentist practicing in Palo Alto, CA. She is originally from the east coast and completed her education at Tufts Dental School but most recently has settled in CA with her own private practice. Her practice is focused mostly on preventative and restorative work for adults. She has seen and treated a variety of patients throughout her career and is well versed on the topics and concerns that most people have involving their teeth and oral health.  Connect with us on Instagram: @lauramerkelfitness @jaredthephysio Work with us: www.Lauramerkel.com www.jaredthephysio.com Connect with Mary: IG: @DMDPaloAlto Email: [email protected] Website: www.dmdpaloalto.com Resource Links: oral hygiene and oral health: https://www.mouthhealthy.org https://cocofloss.com/ (@getcocofloss) www.nimbusdental.com (@nimbusdental.toothbrush) If you like what you hear, please leave us a review! We love hearing from you! :) Music by Adam Kurgatikov