The Body Nerd Show

I sprained my ankle this weekend. And not just a sort-of-ouchy-sprain but a fall-on-your-face-and-burst-into-tears kind of sprain. But my approach to a sprained ankle (and any acute injury) is a bit different AND will get you back to pain-free faster. Whether you've sprained your ankle or not, this is a must-listen so you have the info the next time you need it! On today's episode, I cover... What...

Two-thirds of adults throughout all developed nations are chronically underslept - are you one of them? If you've ever wondered how much sleep you actually need (and no, six hours a night isn't cutting it), if you should be napping, and how you can get through the night without having a wonky neck in the morning, this episode is for you.  On today's episode, I cover... Why you need more sleep righ...

How you feel right now has everything to do with how you're moving and not that much to do with your age. Honestly! Your body is the sum total of all the things you've been doing on a consistent basis. Been sitting a lot? Then it's no surprise your hips feel stiff. The good news is that you can start making tiny changes today that will help you feel as young as you do in your head. On today's epis...

Fash-uh or fah-sha? No matter how you pronounce it, fascia is the body-wide web that holds your body together. In my opinion, it's the most important issue in the entire human body. And while it's just now getting its time in the limelight - it's always been important.  On today's episode, I cover... What fascia is and why you should care The many types of fascia that connect the body together  Wh...

I'm not a very good runner, even though I have almost every distance but the marathon under my belt. I still believe that running is for everyone, but that it's also a skill to be learned. So who better to talk to than the nerdiest of running nerds, Jason Fitzgerald of the Strength Running Podcast? On today's episode, our running expert Jason shares his best tips on how to get started with running...

When I stopped drinking coffee over two years ago, it was just for an experiment. But I ended up feeling so much better that I haven't had another coffee since then. So why did I stop? Well, it has a lot to do with how my body metabolizes caffeine and the specific effect it has on the brain. If you're feeling exhausted in the morning and your regular cup of coffee (or two, or three) is no longer c...

When your neck feels tight, stretching seems like the logical next step. But if you're stretching all the time without relief, it's probably because your neck doesn't need more stretching. It needs a completely different approach. On today's episode, I cover... Why the unique shape of the bones in your neck matters.  Why basic stretching doesn't really fix neck stiffness  The best position for you...

Muscle confusion is a gimmick to get us to buy workout products that we'll never use. But when you get down to the science of strength building, you learn it's not really a thing. On today's episode, I'm talking why muscle confusion is a lie, why there's no such thing as muscle memory and how you can build total body strength, even faster. All the links: - Join the free Body Nerds FB community - C...

What if your tension headache wasn't because of tension? Stress and burnout can manifest as physical symptoms just as frequently as feelings of overwhelm. After letting my self-care routine slip for the last few weeks, I finally hit a wall - and it wasn't pretty. On this week's episode, I'm sharing my personal experience with stress, how the universe slapped me across the face and helped me to rea...

There's a tool for everything. But how can you be sure that it's really something that you can get good use out of - and not leave in a corner collecting dust? On this episode, I'm sharing the questions you should be asking yourself before clicking the buy button on another self-care, strength or stretching tool. What's your favorite self-care hack that helps you feel amazing every day? I want to...

As a high school soccer player, I'm super familiar with ankle sprains. And even if you've never played a sport - if you have ankles, chances are you've twisted yours at least once. On this episode, I'm doing a deep dive on everything you need to know about ankles, including why ankle sprains happen and how to strengthen your feet to make them a thing of the past. What's your favorite self-care hac...

Daily gratitude journaling can change your life - I know it changed mine! A gratitude practice has been shown to improve a ton of things, including, mood, sleep, physical health, and mental strength. On this episode, I sit down with my Mom to talk about how a simple act of writing down what you're grateful for can change your day-to-day. What's your favorite self-care hack that helps you feel amaz...

The wellness industry is huge - and yet we're more exhausted than ever. Self-care is touted as a "cure-all" but it's not working. So what's broken? We need a new way to define and practice self-care that is proactive instead of reactive. On this episode, I'm talking about amplifyU - the process I use with my clients that embodies all the things that nourish your body, mind and spirit. It's not jus...

Getting 10,000 steps a day is not as hard as you might think it is - and it may be the key to having better moods and energy levels! On this episode, you'll learn why 10k steps is the default minimum for most exercise trackers, why I love FitBit, and how a simple leaderboard turned me into a competitive walking monster. All the links: - Body Nerd Garage in LA, October 2019 - Movement Mavens framew...

If I had a dollar for every time someone told me they didn't have physical therapy post-surgery or injury or that they didn't do their PT homework - I'd be a millionaire! To be honest, I really think we collectively don't understand what PT's do and going to them with the expectation to "fix us" isn't a good use of their knowledge. On this episode, I step onto my soapbox on if you really need PT,...

Do your workouts make you happy? Do you feel pressured to work out every day? I have a confession - I don't exercise every day. I MOVE every day - and there's a big difference. On this episode, I discuss the difference between exercise and movement and why it may actually be worse for your body to work out every day. We'll dive deep into answering the question of if exercising every day really mat...

Pain sucks - but are things as simple as popping a pill and calling it a day? Whether it's a fresh injury or an old friend, have you ever wondered how pain works and what's happening in your brain? In this episode, I dive deep into the pain science and how understanding it can help you come up with a plan to get rid of it! All the links: - Join the Pain-Free. Every Day. FB community https://www.fa...

Have you ever soaked in an Epsom salt bath? Or done a salt water rinse or soak for a new piercing? Have you ever wondered if any of it actually works? On this week's episode, we're talking all things salt: what it is, how it's thought to work, if it actually can help with muscle soreness and if we still should be gargling with salt water. All the links: - Join the Pain-Free. Every Day. FB communit...

Do you consider yourself a Body Nerd? Or do you still worry that you're not quite "nerdy" enough to be one? For me, the only requirement is having a human body and being curious - that's it! On this episode, I'm busting all the myths about being a Body Nerd and how getting curious about your body is the first step to getting rid of your pain. If you believe that life without pain is possible, but...

Welcome to the very first episode of the Body Nerd Show! My name is Alexandra Ellis and I am a coach, blogger, former yogi, kettlebell devotee and most importantly, 100%  body nerd. My goal with this show is to empower you with the super uncomplicated things you need to know about self-care and movement so that you can wake up every day, pain-free. To inspire your own curiosity about the body, so...