Movement Therapy Is Not “Exercise”: Joy, Resilience, and Everyday Freedom with Vanessa Leone

On The Mindful Living Podcast, host Sana talks with Vanessa Leone—a movement therapist and exercise scientist—about reframing “exercise” as movement therapy: a practical, personal language for the body. Drawing on her lived experience with ADHD, Hashimoto’s, 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’re juggling work, family, and health, this episode shows how to start now—without perfection or pain. SEO: movement therapy, mindful living, ADHD, Hashimoto’s, hypermobility, CPTSD, resilience, daily routine, mental health, walking, yoga, Pilates, sustainable fitness, Australia, Sydney — Guest: Vanessa Leone.

About the guest

Vanessa 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—especially those navigating conditions like hypermobility, autoimmune issues, and ADHD.

Key takeaways:

• Movement ≠ punishment. Treat it as a language of the body—play, exploration, and presence, not just calorie burning.

• Start tiny, repeat daily. Use rules/standards/goals: e.g., “I walk every day” (rule), 7,000 steps (standard), 12,000 steps (goal). Five minutes still counts.

• Make it joyful. Walk to music that matches (or nudges) your pace; joy increases adherence and cardio load naturally.

• Play scales effort. Simple games (foam rollers + soft ball) delivered laughter, intervals, and community—without obsessing over metrics.

• Resilience is two-sided. It’s not just “push harder”; it’s also self-compassion, pacing, and honoring signals.

• Hypermobility needs care. Extra joint range can mean greater injury risk; prioritize stability, gentle progressions, and rehab consistency.

• Autoimmune & ADHD lenses. After a Hashimoto’s diagnosis and later flare-ups, Vanessa replaced intensity with nervous-system friendly movement and recovery.

• Movement freedom matters. Training so you can say “yes” to hikes, paddle boarding, stairs, or rearranging furniture—function first.

• Household motion counts. Cleaning, carrying, and stairs provide meaningful activity bursts when life is full.

• Community helps. Support networks and accountability make rehab and routines stick.

How to connect with the guest

• YouTube: Vanessa Leone Movement Therapist

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vlmovementtherapist/

• Open to questions—reach out via YouTube/Instagram DMs.

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Disclaimer: 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™️. 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.

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