A Guest Episode with Brittany LaBotz
Do you ever feel overwhelmed or anxious while teaching, even when you’ve put in all the work beforehand to plan the perfect class? Do you ever find yourself going through the motions while teaching, disconnected from the joy and passion that once fueled your classes? You’re not alone. These are all too common experiences for overworked and forever-busy fitness instructors, and they can also be signs of nervous system dysregulation.
First and foremost, there is absolutely nothing wrong with you. Your body’s doing what it’s meant to do, it’s helping you get through moments of stress and overcome obstacles. But when it’s doing this day in and day out, your nervous system can feel “stuck” in that stress response, even when you’re teaching your favorite class.
In this episode of the Mindful Fit Pro Podcast, Brittany LaBotz joins host Shelly for a discussion on the power of nervous system regulation and how you can use co-regulation to feel calm and connected while teaching.
Whether you’re new to the concept of nervous system regulation or have a few vagal tuning tricks up your sleeve, this episode is for you! It’s packed with valuable insights and practical strategies that will help you recognize signs of dysregulation, befriend your nervous system, and continue doing what you do best.
Timestamped Highlights of Ep. 7
Understanding and regulating the nervous system is essential for improving our daily experience and interactions with others.
- 00:01 Understanding the impact of the nervous system on fitness classes and forming a deeper connection with clients is crucial for fitness instructors, as reflected by Brittany LaBotz’s journey
- 13:41 Committing to understanding the polyvagal theory for behavior change, addressing the autonomic ladder and aiming for a healthy ventral connection and regulation
- 19:36 Shift your interpretation of nerves as excitement, understand the social aspect of the nervous system, and be mindful of your own internal experiences as an instructor
- 24:36 Recognize signs of nervous system dysregulation in clients and yourself as a fitness instructor, use tools like deep breathing to regain control and stay in a healthy balance of connected and mobilized energy
- 32:19 Integrate breathing exercises and vagal tuning to stimulate the vagus nerve for a healthy stress response and prepare the body for movement and get in the best headspace to teach
- 41:12 Create a safe and connected environment in fitness classes for co-regulation and better learning outcomes
Key Takeaways
The power of understanding the nervous system and how it directly impacts our daily experience, both in how we show up for teaching and in our lives:
🌱 The nervous system is truly at the root of all behavior change and how we show up in our lives, making it essential to address in order to help clients.
🧠 The polyvagal theory challenges the traditional understanding of fight or flight, and introduces the concept of the autonomic ladder with three different states of the nervous system.
💞 Tuning the vagus nerve can improve social connection and breathing, highlighting the importance of physiological factors in our interactions with others.
Who’s in this Guest Episode?
Hi, I’m Brittany!
I’ve worked in the health & wellness industry for 14 years and knew from a young age that my calling in life was to help people heal. This led me to completing my comprehensive Pilates training in 2016 and eventually into coaching others how to use their body’s innate wisdom to heal. I’ve always been committed to getting to the truth of the matter with my clients instead of just addressing symptoms – whether it’s physical pain with my Pilates students, or emotional or spiritual pain with my coaching clients. This led me to studying the nervous system – which is at the root of all thoughts and behavior – and how addressing our “stuck” points at the nervous system level can bring true healing and change.I am dedicated to the outcome of growth, evolution, healing, and sustainable change that ripples out for years after I complete my work with clients.
When I’m not working, you can find me road tripping with my husband and rescue dog, Nellie, performing with my bellydance troupe, or in the kitchen cooking new recipes.
Follow @brittanylabotz on Instagram!
If you’d like to learn more about nervous system regulation with Brittany, you can visit her website or check out her on-demand Revive + Thrive Masterclass
Resources for this episode:
Dr. Stephen Porge’s article “Polyvagal theory: New insights into adaptive reactions of the autonomic nervous system”
Thank you for listening!
Every time someone listens to The Mindful Fit Pro Podcast, I do a happy dance and now you can get excited too. Click below to receive a free gift made especially for listener’s of this episode. Learn how to tap into the power of the nervous system with this free guided practice & worksheet.
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Ep. 7: Befriending Your Nervous System – Guest Episode with Brittany LaBotz – The Mindful Fit Pro Podcast
- Ep. 7: Befriending Your Nervous System – Guest Episode with Brittany LaBotz
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- Ep. 5: Navigating Burnout as a Fitness Instructor – Guest Episode with Shay Kostabi of Fitness Career Mastery
- Ep. 4 Caring for the Whole Person: Supporting Client Mental Health
- Guest Episode: Charlotte's Interview with Shelly on the I Heart My Fit Biz podcast