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Align Podcast

Welcome to the Align Podcast, hosted by me, Aaron Alexander. This is a place where we focus on optimizing your mind, body, and movement through exploring unconventional approaches and unique viewpoints on all things health, wellness, and life. I'm joined by top wellness experts and world-renowned thought-leaders, including Byron Katie, Bruce Lipton, Aubrey Marcus, Jim Kwik, Marriane Williamson, Ben Greenfield, Robb Wolf, Shawn Stevenson, Abel James, Mark Sisson, Wim Hof, James Clear, Zach Bush, Gabby Reece, and many more. Get ready for deep conversations that open you up to new perspectives and ways of life that will ultimately take your mental, physical, and emotional wellness to the next level. If you love this podcast, I would love for you to connect with me on Instagram, @alignpodcast.
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Now displaying: January, 2022
Jan 27, 2022
What if the solution to your chronic knee pain lies in how you exercise the often-neglected body parts, like your toes, feet, and ankles Whatever pain you're going through, there's always someone who can offer the tools for your own breakthrough. Ben Patrick (known online as "Knees Over Toes Guy"), the founder and CEO of Athletic Truth Group (ATG), worshipped basketball since he was a kid, but at 9 years old, chronic knee problems started crushing his dreams…or so he thought.

By 18, he had 3 surgical knee alterations and decided to quit basketball. Driven to heal himself naturally, Ben experimented with unorthodox methods and was introduced to Charles Poliquin's "knees over toes" training techniques - something prohibited in college sports. Despite criticisms, Ben kept doing his training and regained his athleticism. At 21, he was offered a full-ride basketball scholarship and transformed his basketball career. Not long after, Ben needed to let go of a full-ride D1 scholarship because of NCAA eligibility rules. Not to mention his strength coach then was against his knees over toes training, too.

Now in his 30s, Ben has a record-breaking 42-inch vertical jump even elite NBA players find hard to top. On a mission to educate people and alleviate the epidemic of knee surgeries, he spends countless hours producing free content and designing programs based on the knees over toes approach. Ben's methods focus on transforming one's athleticism by strengthening the body from the ground up, which means re-integrating the toes, feet, ankles, and the anterior tibialis. He explains why we need to practice walking backward and reveals the secrets to pain-free knees by doing backward sled drags and split squats.

Our conversation gets more personal as Ben reveals the driving force behind his epic wins and how he deals with pain and failures. He also looks back on his battle with depression and painkiller addiction and shares the most important lesson he learned from it.

 

What we discuss:

00:00 - Introduction to Ben Patrick

4:00 - What does "knees over toes" training mean?

8:50 - Reversing pain through manual therapy

13:00 - Exercises to banish your knee pain & reveal your weak spots

16:20 - What split squats are for & why you need to work on your anterior tibialis

18:15 - How to drastically improve your vertical leap & dunk like the world's top jumpers

20:00 - How to relieve tight hip flexors + Glute workout that’s perfect for the elderly

22:20 - No-nonsense tips to staying driven & motivated

27:00 - The "Sled" Metaphor: How to find light in your life's darkest moments

31:00 - Debunking popular myths about movement & sports training

33:50 - Why you need both strength & flexibility in sports & life

36:20 - Training advice for athletes & sports enthusiasts

 

Learn more from Ben Patrick:

Website: www.atgonlinecoaching.com/

Youtube: TheKneesovertoesguy

Instagram: @kneesovertoesguy

Book: “ATG For Life” by Ben Patrick

 

Related Links:

The revised version of the Align Method book is now available with 22 brand-new exercises!

Pre-order here: alignpodcast.com/alignbook

.alignpodcast.com/alignmethod for a special discount 

drinkLMNT.com/align for a FREE sample pack of LMNT RECHARGE

magbreakthrough.com/alignpodcast and use ALIGN10 during checkout to save 10%.

neurohacker.com/qualia-mind and use AARON during checkout to save 15%

Jan 21, 2022
Did you know that you're exposed to over a hundred harmful chemicals daily? Ironically, some of these potentially toxic chemicals lurk in your "self-care" products. In this episode of the Align Podcast, Katie Wells and I go deep into the endocrine-disrupting effects of plastic chemical exposure from some of your everyday essentials, specifically oral and hair care products and deodorizers.

"What goes on your skin goes into your body," Katie says as she explains how you can nourish your body by from the outside in by being extra conscious of what you put on your skin and hair. There are always better options than the overmarketed products you’re manipulated to buy, and she shares where and how you can naturally source them.

Our conversation gets vulnerable as Katie opens up about her issues with weight and body image that stem from a deep emotional trauma. She claims that successfully losing 100lbs in 6 months isn't just about sticking to a workout routine; it's about revisiting her past wounds and choosing to heal from them, no matter what it takes.

Katie Wells is a best-selling author, entrepreneur, and a mom of six. She’s the host of the podcast “Wellness Mama” and the founder and CEO of Wellnesse. With her background in research, journalism, and nutrition, she teams up with medical advisors to find answers to essential health problems and help women and moms live a healthier life.

If want to live a more eco-conscious and purposeful life for you and your family but can’t commit to it, this episode will make you realize it’s easier than you think.

 

What we discuss:

0:00 – Introduction to Katie Wells

3:00 – On learning comedy: "It's like playing a mental chess"

5:00 – The endocrine-disruptors lurking everywhere in your home

12:05 – Simple tips for minimizing plastic use and toxin exposure

17:00 – How your skin and hair products affect your overall health

24:00 – Why keeping your microbiome healthy isn’t as expensive as you expect

30:00 – Why weight loss involves trauma work

35:00 – The root of her body and weight issues + how she overcame them

44:00 – Practical tips for becoming a healthier human

53:00 – Katie’s advice: Be your own primary healthcare provider; take responsibility for your own health.

 

Learn more from Katie Wells:

Websites: wellnessmama.com wellnesse.com

Instagram: @wellnessmama

Katie Wells’ books: wellnessmama.com/books

 

Related Links:

The revised version of the Align Method book is now available with 22 brand-new exercises!

Pre-order here: alignpodcast.com/alignbook

.alignpodcast.com/alignmethod for a special discount 

drinkLMNT.com/align for a FREE sample pack of LMNT RECHARGE

magbreakthrough.com/alignpodcast and use ALIGN10 during checkout to save 10%.

neurohacker.com/qualia-mind and use AARON during checkout to save 15%

Jan 13, 2022

What does it mean to train like a woman? How does women’s menstrual cycle affect athletic training and performance?

In this episode of the Align Podcast, I’m honored to host one of the world’s leading experts in female physiology and sports nutrition, Dr. Stacy Sims. We have an awakening conversation on the power of tracking women’s menstrual cycles not only for optimal sports training and performance, but also for a deeper understanding of what women have to consistently go through.

Arguing that sports and fitness science is designed from a cis-male’s perspective, Dr. Stacy lays out the complexities of female physiology and why it merits a whole different approach. She explains how to track menstrual cycles so women can plan their own training based on their cycle metrics. Knowing these patterns allows women and coaches to leverage hormonal changes and identify the best days for steady-state work, high-intensity session, and recovery period.

Plus, Dr. Stacy shares what trainings can be done during high-hormone and low-hormone phases, the best food to eat during each phase, and essential training advice for young girls. She also debunks popular myths around menstrual cycles: Does ovulation predispose women to ACL injuries? Is having sex really a no-no during red days?

Dr. Stacy Sims is an Environmental Exercise Physiologist and Nutrition Scientist specializing in gender differences. She’s also an innovator, entrepreneur, and author. 

What we discuss:

0:00 – Introduction to Dr. Stacy Sims

6:00 – Gender bias in sports training & other reasons she studied female physiology

10:00 – What causes menstrual cycles?

18:00 – Low-hormone phase + why women need more protein than men

23:10 – Ovulation + why women crave carbohydrates on their period

30:00 – Most important lessons from her years of research & experience  

32:30 – Debunking myths: Are women more likely to tear their ACL on their period?

44:30 – Training recommendation during the luteal phase 

47:30 – Debunking myths: can women have sex on their period?

50:00 – How sexual contraception affects athletic training & performance

58:00 – Dealing with irregular cycles & amenorrhea among athletes

 

Learn more from Dr. Stacy Sims:

Website: www.drstacysims.com

Instagram: @drstacysims

Books: www.drstacysims.com/booksandmore

 

Related links:

The revised version of the Align Method book is now available with 22 brand-new exercises!

Pre-order here: https://www.alignpodcast.com/alignbook.

Jan 12, 2022
Jan 7, 2022

As the new year unfolds, do you feel more pressure to fully live your purpose? But what if your purpose remains unclear to you?

In this episode of the Align Podcast, I'm joined by Youtuber, Podcaster, and polymath Chris Williamson. He's the creator and host of "Modern Wisdom" where he interviews some of the brightest minds on the planet to explore different topics on human nature, philosophy, health, fitness, and many more.

Chris admits feeling like an outsider his whole life, which helped forge his exceptional perceptive qualities that led to his huge commercial success as a club promoter. But, for Chris, we're more than what we do. He goes on to discuss the key to finding your purpose, how to make sense of your suffering, and one of the most bewildering topics of all…modern dating. He explains why more men and women struggle to find a partner nowadays and how balancing the feminine and masculine energies can solve it.

 

What we discuss:

0:00 – Introduction to Chris Williamson

2:30 – How dogs can help you live longer

7:09 – Intrinsic focus Vs. Extrinsic focus

13:30 – Is there a cheat code to finding love?

17:30 – How to reframe your negative experiences

21:40 – Why curiosity is also a desire to be understood

32:00 – How to transcend your suffering

38:40 – Finding and questioning your purpose

42:00 – The most attractive quality in a person

46:00 – Is a high-agency partner good for you?

55:00 – On modern dating: Problematic relationship advice you need to rethink

1:02:00 – Balancing the feminine and masculine energies to solve the chaos of modern dating

 

Learn more from Chris Williamson:

Website: https://chriswillx.com/

Instagram: @chriswillx

 

 

Jan 3, 2022

Did you know that your body needs movement as much as you need food?

In this episode of the Align Podcast, biomechanist and movement guru Katy Bowman explains what human movement truly means, why it affects your quality of life, and how to get yourself to move more often and effectively in a sedentary world that offers limitless reasons to sit on hours. 

What's really interesting to know is that it's not enough that you exercise or move your body once in a while; Katy says you should be moving in ways that optimize ALL parts of your body. Yes, there's actually a "dosage" of movement required for different body parts. It seems complex, but it's totally achievable if you introduce even small changes in your routine.

Whether you're working in front of the computer or glued to the TV screen, there are easy ways you can secure that daily dose of healthy movement. Learn more as Katy and I delve deep into that in this educational talk.

Aside from writing the best-selling "Move Your DNA" along with 7 other books, multi-awarded leader Katy Bowman teaches movement globally through her movement education company, Nutritious Movement. Her work has been featured in diverse media including The Today Show, CBC Radio One, The Seattle Times, and Good Housekeeping.  She’s one of the most influential thinkers whose work continues to amaze and inspire me.

What we discuss:

2:50 – What is movement, and how to know if you're "under moved"

8:00 – Pelvic Floor biomechanics, and the “movement dosage” your body parts need

13:40 – How to incorporate movement even if you’re just sitting

16:50 – Why you need to go out more often and look at things from a distance

24:00 – Katy’s book reco: The Wizard and the Prophet

36:15 – “The body is a renewable resource through movement.”

41:00 – Tensegrity beyond the skeletal system: How your perception of the world shapes your body and life

46:11 – How to be more active individuals in a sedentary world

49:00 – Movement as Nutrition: Why "Move Your DNA" is worth the read

 

Learn more from Katy Bowman:

Website: https://www.nutritiousmovement.com/

Instagram: @nutritiousmovement

 

Related Link:

Katy Bownman’s books: https://www.nutritiousmovement.com/product-category/bookstore/

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