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We’re calling out the outdated, fear-based, and sometimes downright harmful approaches that still dominate the fitness and rehab industries.

I’m joined by Autumn Halazon, a personal trainer, Pilates instructor, and founder of Halazon Fitness with over 27 years of experience. From her early days in a full-contact boxing gym to her evolution into fascia-based, intuitive movement coaching, Autumn brings a no-nonsense, whole-body perspective to fitness for women over 40.

We explore how the “textbook form” obsession, aesthetic pressure, and shame-based coaching create pain—not progress. We also unpack how overtraining, instructor ego, and nervous system dysregulation sabotage long-term results for clients…and what to do instead.

Whether you’re a clinician, fitness pro, or just sick of toxic wellness culture, this one’s for you.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why many fitness certifications don’t prepare you for real bodies
• How form obsession and body shaming sneak into even “wellness”-based spaces
• The harmful legacy of ‘knees over toes,’ posterior tilts, and ‘don’t arch your back’
• How exercise intolerance, chronic pain, and burnout are often signs of nervous system dysregulation
• What happens when movement is used as a trauma response
• Why interoception—body awareness—is the real foundation of strength
• How to coach clients who say “I don’t like strength training” (without forcing it)
• Why overcorrecting or over-cueing is harmful

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to TMI Talk with Dr. Mary

00:35 Meet Autumn Halazon: A Fitness Journey

01:19 Challenging Traditional Fitness Norms

03:37 Real-Life Client Experiences

05:02 The Importance of Individualized Training

06:27 Addressing Body Image and Trauma

08:54 Ego and Exercise: A Personal Reflection

11:06 Bridging the Gap Between PT and Fitness

13:23 Empowering Clients Through Education

14:37 Understanding and Teaching Body Awareness

22:47 Healing Relationships with Exercise

27:33 Unlearning Old Fitness Myths

28:31 The Importance of Strength Training

29:49 Motivating Reluctant Clients

31:57 Balancing Self-Love and Discipline

34:03 The Influence of Social Media on Fitness

42:58 The Role of Certifications and Intuition

48:30 The Value of Referrals and Holistic Approaches

50:20 Conclusion and Contact Information

You can learn more about Autumn below:

https://www.halazonfitness.com

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I’ll see you in a week!