We know that exercise supports our physical and mental health, however many of us have complicated relationships with exercise and our bodies. For some, gyms can feel intimidating or unwelcoming. Others know the gym can be a place to feel better, but no one is teaching them how to reap all the mental health benefits from their movement practice. And if you’re living with trauma, contending with systemic discrimination, or coping with stress, you likely have another obstacle to contend with—you may be disconnected from your body and not even know it. This disconnect can lead to frequent feelings of overwhelm, illness, chronic pain, and injuries—even if you are trying your best to tend to your well-being.

Whether you think movement and exercise is enjoyable, a chore, unattainable, or not important to your self-care, Laura will change the way you think about movement and wellness, and she does so with a sense of humor and compassion.

In this engaging presentation, you will explore how to turn any movement you already do (even chores!) into a healing practice that allows you to reconnect with yourself, and increase your capacity for curiosity, self-knowing, and joy. You will also uncover the true meaning of “wellness” and discover how a shift in your approach to movement can foster a deep mind-body connection, increase your access to a tremendous amount of knowledge about yourself and the world around you, boost your communication skills, and tap into your agency.

As a kid she was picked on and picked last in gym class and in high school she became a gym class truant. In her twenties she shifted her relationship to exercise and her body to manage chronic pain. In her thirties she incorporated various trauma-healing tools into her approach to strength training to support her own healing from PTSD. In her forties she became a leader in trauma-informed strength training and a leading advocate in using movement and exercise to support your mental health and wellness.

Laura’s bestselling book Lifting Heavy Things: Healing Trauma One Rep at a Time, has been widely recognized by the trauma and fitness community. She has been featured by The New York Times, NPR, and Buzzfeed. She has presented her work for Somatic Experiencing International, The Breathe Network, La Clinica de La Raza, Reebok, and schools and fitness studios in the US and Canada.

Mindful Movement: The Most Empowering, Transformative, and Self-Compassionate Approach to Moving More and Feeling Better is for:

• People suffering from burnout, compassion fatigue, or secondary trauma

• People who want to use movement to support their health and wellness

• People living with chronic stress

• Caregivers looking for support