The Undetectable AI Problem Nobody's Talking About

[00:00:00] Speaker: Hi, everyone. Welcome back to Polished Beauty Podcast. I am so, so excited today to have my guest. She's amazing on so many front, but let me just tell a little bit about her, okay? Her name is Mickey Price-Harvert. She's a Pilates educator, wellness expert, author, founder of Mickey Fit, with more than 20 years experience.

[00:00:24] Speaker: What I love about Mickey is that in 2011 she founded Mickey Fit, which is a wellness company dedicated to making Pilates accessible and sustainable for every stage of life. What is even amazing is that she launched her online platform in 2018 called Mickey Fit Online, and that was awesome for every member to access Pilates 24/7, all the step-by-step that you need to know, whether you're traveling, at home.

[00:00:52] Speaker: I mean, she's just phenomenal, and I thought I will bring her today. So hello, gorgeous.

[00:00:58] Speaker 2: Hi. Hi. Thank you so much for having me. Thanks for having me. I'm so excited to have this conversation.

[00:01:03] Speaker: Absolutely. And thank you for gracing us with all your expertise and so we can learn from you. So I wanna know, Mikki, you have been doing Pilates for over 20 years.

[00:01:14] Speaker: I mean- Yes, yes ... you're helping people feel better, look stronger. I mean, what first brought you to Pilates, and what made you realize this was going to be more than just exercise?

[00:01:26] Speaker 2: So I started doing Pilates in, like, 1997 or '98. Uh, I used to be a buyer for a boutique, and a lot of the girls started talking about a new class called Pilates.

[00:01:40] Speaker 2: And I had never heard of it at that point, and so I started doing, um... I buil- I went to the library. This is how old I am. So I went to the library, and I re- you know, I got some, um, some,

[00:01:55] Speaker: uh,

[00:01:55] Speaker 2: I don't know if they were VHS or, or disc, but I got some disc of Denise Austin, and I started doing Pilates, and I just fell in love with it.

[00:02:03] Speaker 2: So me and some of the girls started taking some classes, and I was

[00:02:09] Speaker: hooked.

[00:02:10] Speaker 2: So that was my first introduction.

[00:02:13] Speaker: Nice. Nice. So in 2011, you founded MikkiFit, which is... I wanna know, what did you feel was missing in the fitness world at that time that made you wanna create your own approach?

[00:02:25] Speaker 2: So I had been teaching for maybe six or seven years at that point, and what I noticed was even when I took, um, continuing education courses, there were no modifications given for exercises, and

[00:02:47] Speaker: I found that

[00:02:47] Speaker 2: stunning, actually.

[00:02:50] Speaker 2: So I had such a diverse class that I was... had seniors in my class, I had beginners in my class, I had Pilates enthusiasts with a lot of

[00:03:03] Speaker: experience,

[00:03:04] Speaker 2: but I wanted everyone to be able to do the class and feel successful, so that's when I started creating modifications for some of the traditional moves. And that's what spurred the whole MikkiFit idea because a lot of students requested the modifications

[00:03:22] Speaker: Yeah.

[00:03:23] Speaker: I mean, that's really important because everybody's fitness level is different, you know? Absolutely. Absolutely. So recognizing that, yeah, and, uh, keeping attention to it is fantastic. So what would you say that you have noticed working with women, different ages, different stages of life, when you first started teaching compared to now?

[00:03:40] Speaker: What is, uh, some of the things that you have learned that when you started wasn't- So I, I,

[00:03:44] Speaker 2: I, I always say that I have grown with my students, because when I started practicing, I was probably, I guess, about 29, 30 years old.

[00:03:54] Speaker: So

[00:03:56] Speaker 2: my idea of fitness and body image were totally different than it is now. And I think

[00:04:05] Speaker: that

[00:04:06] Speaker 2: when I started teaching Pilates, there were a couple different things.

[00:04:09] Speaker 2: One, that it wasn't as diverse as it is now, and two, I didn't feel the need to teach to different levels as much as I do now, because most of my classes were filled with women like me, either younger than me or that were pretty fit, you know, ex-dancers, gymnasts, et cetera. So I've definitely learned that growing with your students is, as long as you

[00:04:33] Speaker 2: You can just reflect what you're doing. So I know that I was moving towards some different, um, needs for my mobility and, you know, past injuries that I had. So I just started to kind of craft it and curate it to what I needed and my current students needed.

[00:04:53] Speaker: Very nice. I mean, that, that t- says a lot, because one of the good thing about being an instructor is understanding your audience.

[00:05:02] Speaker: And-

[00:05:02] Speaker 2: Absolutely.

[00:05:02] Speaker: Yeah, and, uh, crafting and changing things as time passes on. So- Absolutely. One of the things I love about you is that you like to reframe the word aging, which I think is such a overused thing, and we should not- Uh-huh ... be saying anti-aging, and you say pro-aging.

[00:05:20] Speaker 2: Absolutely. What does

[00:05:20] Speaker: pro-aging means to you?

[00:05:22] Speaker 2: Well, for me, my mom always said, "You're blessed to get to the stage of aging," right?

[00:05:30] Speaker: Yes.

[00:05:30] Speaker 2: And I think women especially, we've just been socialized not to celebrate aging. And I just think that a pro-aging approach is not just celebrating aging, but, like, enjoying the process, because aging just means you have more days.

[00:05:52] Speaker 2: So if you look at it that way, and you are thinking, "Okay, I have more days to do, to do life, you know, to be with friends, to exercise, to, you know, to shop for flowers," whatever it is, I think if we kinda turn that perspective, it's becomes more positive. And women in, you know, in America have been just taught that aging is a negative, and I think we have to really start separating ourself from that.

[00:06:20] Speaker: I couldn't agree even more. I mean, I love what, how you frame it. It's we gotta do more. You have more days ahead

[00:06:27] Speaker 2: of you. Yep, yep. Yes, we have more days. You know? More days.

[00:06:28] Speaker: Yeah. And aging is wisdom. You know, and with that said, you know, a lot of women enter midlife with this preconceived notion, less energy, less strength, less mobility.

[00:06:40] Speaker: How much of that decline is truly inevitable, and how much of it can we actually influence through movement?

[00:06:48] Speaker 2: I mean, I'm not a med- I mean, I'm not a medical doctor obviously but I mean, j- from my experience, I think that we have such autonomy in that department. I think that it's, you know, much more than 50%.

[00:07:01] Speaker 2: Let's, you know, I'll create a number. Let's say 80%. I think that we have to continue to push ourselves, and that push can be very different than it was in our 20s. It- if you're in your 20s and you're pushing yourself to do, let's say, a half-marathon, when you're in midlife, maybe your push is, you know, to create your v- to increase your VO2 max, to walk your mile faster, to sort of train more consistently.

[00:07:29] Speaker 2: But I think it's super important that we continue to push ourselves, because I think we'll be surprised at how our body will adapt, react, and meet us where we are.

[00:07:44] Speaker: Absolutely. I mean, I don't think you need to be a medical doctor to answer that question, because you're the expert. Thank you. Thank you. You see these women change.

[00:07:51] Speaker: Thank you. You know? So it's not so much about a science, it's about real-life experience, what you're seeing hands-on. Because you can actually see women come in and manifest and morph in your hands where they started and where they are. So-

[00:08:04] Speaker 2: That's true. Thank you ... yeah. Thank you.

[00:08:06] Speaker: Yeah, absolutely. And with that said, what do you think are some of the biggest changes that you see women experience in midlife?

[00:08:13] Speaker: Like, what they understood of their body before they reached this stage, and then where they are right now. What do you see in your experience?

[00:08:21] Speaker 2: I think there are a couple things. One is, it's like the shift in our metabolism, and that is created by a couple of things, obviously. Loss of estrogen, um, loss of muscle mass, trying to diet more and eating less.

[00:08:39] Speaker 2: All those things can affect our metabolism, which then creates a little domino effect of gaining weight and just not having as posi- uh, a positive body image. So I think the metabolism, weight gain is probably the biggest thing that women notice physically. And I also think that we, some of us just kind of think that that's just inevitable, that we can't change that.

[00:09:07] Speaker 2: But I always tell my, my students or my clients that we are in charge of much more than we give ourself credit for.

[00:09:17] Speaker: Absolutely. Absolutely. I mean, I think as we transition to midlife, there's a lot happening. There's also this emotional transition happening, which is what- Yeah ... you're touching on. Have you seen movement not just affect a woman's body, but affect their confidence, their mood, their relationship to themselves?

[00:09:36] Speaker 2: A- absolutely. Absolutely. I mean- I mean- ... exercise is a mood booster. I mean, there, there have been research and studies that show that it can help alleviate not just anxiety, but depression. It also can help some of the loneliness that has been created by this whole social media overtake. So you have, you know, you get together with your friends, not just to have coffee or dinner, but how about get with your friends to, you know, be physical.

[00:10:02] Speaker 2: Go outside for a walk, you know, go roller skate. So I think that

[00:10:07] Speaker: that

[00:10:07] Speaker 2: mental shift is such a big piece in, um, perimenopause and menopause and midlife, you know, in general. So I think it's really important that we focus on how an influential movement can be to the- to our minds as well.

[00:10:24] Speaker: Yeah. I mean, what you're referring to is, what, uh, endorphins.

[00:10:28] Speaker: You know, I mean, endorphins- Yes ... are happy hormones.

[00:10:31] Speaker 2: Yes. Absolutely. Yes. Yes. '

[00:10:34] Speaker: Cause you feel great when you do a session, and you feel like you gave it 100%. Absolutely. And, you know- Yeah ... you walk out of there, you just have this zest within you.

[00:10:43] Speaker 2: Yes. And I think- It feels good ... a lot of times it's getting over that hump.

[00:10:46] Speaker 2: Getting over that hump. Just starting. Just starting. You know? You know?

[00:10:50] Speaker: Yeah. Yeah. Just starting. That's the key word there. So let's talk a bit about your technique. You know, you've made- Okay ... strength and functional movement important part of the Mickey Fit method. Why do you think strength is so critical for women in their 40s, 50s, and beyond?

[00:11:07] Speaker 2: I- it's important in our daily lives. Functional fitness, meaning, you know, the ability to lift groceries, you know, to, to open a heavy door, to, you know, open a jar of,

[00:11:22] Speaker: you know,

[00:11:22] Speaker 2: spaghetti sauce. All those things go back to the strength that we're getting in the gym, at home, you know, walking, et cetera. So I think that that's a big thing that a lot of us tend to miss, the importance of strength training for our

[00:11:39] Speaker: bones,

[00:11:40] Speaker 2: for our, you know, muscle skeletal health, and being able to do things into the latter part of life.

[00:11:48] Speaker 2: Because midlife is not the end of life. I mean, we wanna be able to do things in our 70s, 80s and 90s, and we're setting those building blocks now with the strength training.

[00:12:00] Speaker: Yeah. I mean, for the longest time, I feel like women were taught, you know, you should become smaller, you know, skinny. Yes. Yeah. Now we're finally- Yeah

[00:12:08] Speaker: talking about muscle, we're talking about strength- Yeah, yeah ... we're talking about longevity. Do you think we need to completely redefine what fit woman looks like?

[00:12:16] Speaker 2: I think, I, I mean, I think that- I, I mean, I think that- I think we're kinda re- redefining it now, um, especially-

[00:12:22] Speaker: Especially- ...

[00:12:23] Speaker 2: with, I mean, social media.

[00:12:25] Speaker 2: Because I saw a post the other day,

[00:12:27] Speaker: and

[00:12:28] Speaker 2: it was a, it was a young lady, and she was super fit. She was doing pull-ups, and she was doing, you know, all these body weight exercises that most women can't do. And it, she didn't have a body that most people would consider fit. And I think that

[00:12:44] Speaker: that

[00:12:46] Speaker 2: narrative is shifting.

[00:12:48] Speaker 2: So that is a positive thing about social media, because now we have, now we can see ourselves in other people, not just, you know, in our own little box. And it, I mean, and you can be thin and fit too, you know? That it's not, it's not a one size fits all. We have, you know, a Olympic, you know, long distance runner who may be 90 pounds, and then we have an Olympic shot putter who's a woman that may be 250 pounds, and they're both fit.

[00:13:15] Speaker: Yeah. Absolutely. I mean, that's the beauty of social media. It has its negative, but we're gonna celebrate the- Absolutely ... we're gonna celebrate- Yes,

[00:13:22] Speaker 2: yes, yes ... the positives. Yes, yes, absolutely.

[00:13:26] Speaker: So you know what? I wanna know, do you think Pilates is, can provide everything for a midlife woman, what she needs? I mean, or do you think that doing Pilates should be incorporated with other resistance training and cardiovascular exercise?

[00:13:41] Speaker: Because I hear people say, "All I do is Pilates." What is your thought on that?

[00:13:45] Speaker 2: Yeah. That has been like a big, you know, um, controversial point lately, recently. And Pilates is definitely not enough, especially as we age. We have to have some progressive load. That means be able to increase the weight so that your bones and muscles can continue to grow.

[00:14:07] Speaker 2: And there's a limitation in Pilates. On the mat, there's a limitation because your body weight is, is not, you know, increasing necessarily. That's not normally our goal. And on the Reformer, the springs, the resistance does not increase. You cannot increase the resistance once you max it out. But with the, if, you know, if you're with weights, of course you can pick up a heavier dumbbell and you can increase that.

[00:14:33] Speaker 2: So the progressive load is what's missing in order for Pilates to be the only thing you do as far as strength is concerned. And not to mention your heart

[00:14:42] Speaker: health.

[00:14:43] Speaker 2: I mean, 150 minutes of some kind of cardio work is what, you know, the American Heart Society recommends, and Pilates is not a cardio exercise.

[00:14:54] Speaker 2: So those are two things that are missing But the combination of cardio of your choice, Pilates and strength training, I think that's like the, you know, trifecta that couldn't, you know, be more perfect

[00:15:07] Speaker: Absolutely. You know, I, I know you mentioned reformer and you're heavy on floor Pilates, which is-

[00:15:14] Speaker 2: Yes, yes

[00:15:14] Speaker: the OG of Pilates, which I personally love. Absolutely. I would say that. Yes, yes. I am not a reformer Pilates girl at all. I've done it, like maybe three or four times, and each time- Mm-hmm ... I'm so scared I'm gonna fall off or something- ... is gonna happen to hurt myself. Yes,

[00:15:27] Speaker 2: yes.

[00:15:29] Speaker: So let's talk about your method because your- Sure, sure

[00:15:32] Speaker: Mickey Fit method combines Pilates, functional movement, strength training, and as I mentioned, it's heavy on the floor. What do you feel those three needed to come together? Like, why did you think all three were so important for your method?

[00:15:47] Speaker 2: Because of what I said prior in the last answer. I think that th- there is a missing link.

[00:15:54] Speaker 2: It can't be your everything as far as your fitness is concerned. So that's why I wanted to add strength training and functional fitness to Pilates. And not that Pilates doesn't, um, create that. I mean, Pilates is a form of strength training, and it is a form of functional training. But I think that we have to branch out and add some things to it to make it more of a whole method

[00:16:21] Speaker: Yeah, yeah.

[00:16:22] Speaker: And, and that's true because one of the things that's important for us as we age is core strength, right? Yes. Because it becomes increasingly important to focus on our core as we age, but, you know, there's more to it than just abdominal muscle. Absolutely there is. What does having truly strong core mean from a functional standpoint?

[00:16:40] Speaker 2: So first of all, let's talk about the core, right? So the core is from your shoulders to your glutes, so your entire trunk. Um, it's, and so that's one of the misconceptions. So we have to train the entire core, and that's important for balance, which is super important as we age. And that alone, if, if there's no other concern of yours, the fear of a fall or being able to keep yourself steady should be something that's concerning to you as you age.

[00:17:13] Speaker 2: So that's why I think the core strength that we can build in Pilates is super important. There's so many benefits. Uh, uh, and like I was saying, the functional training of it all, the functional fitness of it all, just being able to hover over a public toilet, being able to reach for something that's high and keep your balance.

[00:17:34] Speaker 2: All those are things that we do in our daily life, and that's what functional fitness means

[00:17:40] Speaker: You know, as you were talking, I had a flashback. I remember many, many years ago, it was a show on PBS, and I forgot who the instructor was. You probably remember. And she did Pilates, but it was on chair.

[00:17:53] Speaker 2: I re- yeah.

[00:17:54] Speaker 2: It was hard. Yeah.

[00:17:54] Speaker: You know who I'm talking about? Yeah, yeah. It was an older white lady, and she

[00:17:57] Speaker 2: was just- Yes, I, I don't know her name, but yes, I know exactly who you're talking about. I'm talking about. Yeah.

[00:18:00] Speaker: I don't know, I just had a flashback moment, and that came in mind. 'Cause I remember watching her show, and I was young, and I, you know, loved working out.

[00:18:06] Speaker: Yeah. And I used to think to myself, "Wow, she's just sitting there telling us how to exercise on the chair."

[00:18:12] Speaker 2: Yes. Yeah. And I, I mean, it's fu- I, I- I have a, I have a program called Chair Fit, and it started when I was teaching seniors who weren't able to get up and down from the mat.

[00:18:23] Speaker: Yeah.

[00:18:23] Speaker 2: And you'd be surprised how challenging it can be.

[00:18:25] Speaker 2: Like, I have a lot of students that don't have mobility issues that have taken my chair Pilates class, and they're surprised at how much of a workout you can get from that.

[00:18:35] Speaker: Very nice. Yeah. And the chair Pilate that you have, is it part on your online studio where when audience members- It

[00:18:40] Speaker 2: is. I do have some classes.

[00:18:42] Speaker 2: Yes, you said you do. Yes. And I have a separate page called Chair Fit, and that's chair, P-H-I-T, that has, you know, hundreds of chair exercises that are on that, um, Instagram page as well.

[00:18:53] Speaker: Oh, that's so lovely. So that takes me to your next part. You launched your online studio in 2011. Yes, yes. Well before at-home digital fitness was becoming a thing as it is today.

[00:19:05] Speaker: What did you recognize about accessibility and consistency that made you take, or took your Pilates online?

[00:19:14] Speaker 2: So the reason I took my practice online was I had, was leaving a studio and, um, that I had been teaching at for a long time, and I had a lot of students that I had been teaching for, like, five to six years, and they were wanting to have, like, access to

[00:19:31] Speaker: me.

[00:19:32] Speaker 2: So I said, "Well, I can just create a couple videos, and I can just, like, create a group, and I can just send you guys some videos," you know? So I started, like, a little private little YouTube kind of thing, and Then my husband, who does web design, he was like, "Well, you should just create a little, you know, create a website, and then your, your cust- you know, your clients can come and they'll have somewhere to go."

[00:19:53] Speaker 2: And so I started doing that, and then, uh, one of my clients said, "You should be charging us. What are you doing?"

[00:20:02] Speaker: That's a good

[00:20:02] Speaker 2: customer. So they were just like, you know. Yeah, so she was like, "Well, let me help you create this business." So she influenced me to charge people and create a membership, um, type of business, and it was before the pandemic, so when the pandemic hit, I wasn't scrambling.

[00:20:18] Speaker 2: I had already had a platform that was ready to roll.

[00:20:22] Speaker: Man, the talking about perfect timing. Perfect

[00:20:24] Speaker 2: timing. Perfect

[00:20:25] Speaker: timing. Listen, the pandemic, what it taught me as a business owner was- Yes ... oh my gosh, I need to be online.

[00:20:32] Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah. And people had to not, not over, not only overcome, you know, the technical part, but just being comfortable being online.

[00:20:42] Speaker 2: That's so hard. That's a whole different animal.

[00:20:45] Speaker: It's a beast. And you know, a fun fact, guys, in my employee manual, I have it on there when it comes to social media, I discourage my staff to be on social media and to be friends with social media and follow each other on Facebook. This was in my manual.

[00:20:59] Speaker: This is pre- 2020. Wow. Yes, because I saw it as a disruptor in the business. Yes, yeah, yeah. I saw it as

[00:21:05] Speaker 2: people go on there- Distraction. Yeah, absolutely ... and

[00:21:07] Speaker: that's, yeah. And I didn't want that vibes in the office. I didn't want that energy, so I put it in the manual. I get that. And, yeah. And then 2020

[00:21:15] Speaker 2: happened.

[00:21:15] Speaker 2: That's funny. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You're like, "Okay, let me re- rewrite that little section."

[00:21:20] Speaker: I know. I know the things we'll learn as time goes by. Yes, yes, yes. And you know what? That takes me to the next thing, 'cause I really love how engaging you are at creating resources for your audience, for your members, and all of that, and then you took even one step further.

[00:21:34] Speaker: You wrote a book, and it's entitled- Yeah. Yeah ... Pilates for Everyone, which includes over 100 exercises with modifications at different levels, and how important is that idea of modification, especially for women who think she's too old, or I'm too old, or too stiff, or I'm out of shape to start?

[00:21:57] Speaker 2: I mean, modification is all about meeting people where they are, and that is like one of the biggest mottos in my practice.

[00:22:05] Speaker 2: If you are an instructor, a teacher of anything, and you can only teach to one level, how good of... You know, how good are you as a teacher? And I think that when people require modifications, it teaches you as a teacher more than sometime your students will learn. So being able to teach at different levels is great for a teacher, and also in turn makes it really good for students because it gives them not just confidence, but then a way to succeed.

[00:22:41] Speaker 2: Because that's what people want. When they come to a, you know, a gym class, if they go to a gym, if they do a group class, they want to succeed. But succeeding means I'm able to do. So if you're in a class and you're not able to do anything, then you don't feel successful, you don't feel confident, and most likely you're not going to come back.

[00:23:03] Speaker 2: And I never want that to happen in my class

[00:23:07] Speaker: That is so sweet. That is so thoughtful and sweet. So for the listener that's hearing you speak right now and she has not exercised or been consistent for years, where do you tell her to begin without overwhelming herself?

[00:23:23] Speaker 2: That's a great question. I always say to start small, and start with something you actually like, because the best workout is the workout that you're gonna actually do.

[00:23:37] Speaker 2: If you're not a runner, there's no reason to start running.

[00:23:41] Speaker: That part.

[00:23:42] Speaker 2: I- if you don't love yoga, you, you sh- you shouldn't start yoga. You should start a movement that you think you can enjoy, and once you decide that, then start with a small goal. I'm going to do Pilates once

[00:23:54] Speaker: a week.

[00:23:56] Speaker 2: I'm going to walk for 10 minutes once a week.

[00:24:00] Speaker 2: Once you've done that for a couple weeks, then add and build on, because it becomes so overwhelming to people that people end up quitting, and that's not what we want. We need to move.

[00:24:13] Speaker: Yeah. I mean, it, that is great. You just basically kind of design a woman's week, you know? Right, right. Like your ideal week.

[00:24:20] Speaker: Yeah, yeah. How to go about it. That's what you just said.

[00:24:22] Speaker 2: Absolutely. Thank you.

[00:24:25] Speaker: You know, and it's, it's funny, in my practice when I see a lot of patients and I tell them about exercise, I would tell you, you are one of those sites that I refer my patients to because, you know- Oh, oh, thank you ... yeah, absolutely, absolutely.

[00:24:37] Speaker: And, and I recognize that they just need sometimes a guidance, someone to handhold them- Right, right ... or to give them a program or to give them a routine or something. And, and then when I ask them, "Hey, do you have a gym membership?" They're like, "Yes, I do." I say, "Okay, this is what I want you to do. Join a group fitness class in your gym."

[00:24:55] Speaker 2: Yes. "

[00:24:56] Speaker: And your only goal for the first 90 days is to show up and to do your best. Don't focus on I'm gonna lose weight, I'm gonna do that." I totally agree. "Just showing up. Let's celebrate consistency as your win." I

[00:25:08] Speaker 2: totally agree. Yes. That is, that is great advice.

[00:25:13] Speaker: Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. You're welcome. So let's talk about your Pilates, 'cause not only are you local, because you're based in Atlanta, Georgia- Yes

[00:25:21] Speaker: and, but of course you're online, you also take your Pilates international. You do all this wellness retreat, and I've seen a couple that you've, like, done, and I, every time- Yes ... I'm like, "Oh, I want to join." But of course my schedule is crazy. I know, I

[00:25:33] Speaker 2: know. Your schedule.

[00:25:35] Speaker: Right? So I want you to answer me this question.

[00:25:38] Speaker: What happens when a woman step away from her everyday responsibilities and intentionally spend time reconnecting with their bodies and themselves?

[00:25:49] Speaker 2: Well, I think that being away, not just from your home, but your normal surroundings. I mean, if you're... Even if you go to the gym, you're not at home, but if you're out of the country and you're in something totally new, I think that's a big mind shift for people.

[00:26:08] Speaker 2: And then not only that, now you're around like-minded people because everybody on the retreat is there for the same thing. They're there for self-care, for self-improvement. So then you create a community. And then you have the intimacy because it's normally less than 10 students there, so you have the intimacy of me with only 10 students.

[00:26:30] Speaker 2: Then you have the length of time, 'cause now we're there for five days. So we're having lunch, we're having dinner together, we're doing all these things, so it's not just a class. Then you have access to me, and we can talk about everything from Pilates to your cat, you know? So I... It just creates a warmth, an intimacy, a beautiful community, and I think that every woman deserves that.

[00:26:55] Speaker 2: Take some time for yourself

[00:26:58] Speaker: Yeah. That, that is so true. I mean, after 20 years of wellness that you've done so well, what do you think women get wrong about longevity?

[00:27:07] Speaker 2: Oh, wow. That's a good one. I think what they get wrong is that it's not... They don't think of, of it being a marathon, because I think that once we hit midlife, society has told us that it's kind of over.

[00:27:23] Speaker 2: Like, we're not gonna have as much attention, you know, because of our looks or whatever the case may be. So I think that women think of longevity as a shorter period of time, and we have to think of it as longer. I mean, studies show that if you make it to age 65, that you're likely to, I think, live until, like, over 80.

[00:27:45] Speaker 2: So if we think of it that way, and not midlife being the end of anything, and that being a point, a milestone, just like turning 16, just like turning 21, you know, just like turning 40, then I think that if we look at it that way and think of the positiveness of more

[00:28:05] Speaker: days,

[00:28:06] Speaker 2: more time to improve yourself, more time to spend with friends, more time to reach goals, I think that that shift will really help have a more positive spin on longevity.

[00:28:19] Speaker: Yeah. I mean, uh, we do know that women live a third of their lifespan in the post-menopausal years.

[00:28:30] Speaker: That's right. So that is a good 33 to 40 years- Yes ... of lifetime.

[00:28:31] Speaker 2: Yes.

[00:28:32] Speaker: Yeah. So we have to capture it just like we do- Yes ... in our teenage years, in our 20s.

[00:28:37] Speaker 2: I agree. We're seeing so many- My mom will be 85 in a couple

[00:28:42] Speaker: weeks. Aw.

[00:28:43] Speaker 2: And she- That's awesome ... thank you. She is, I mean, my blueprint. She's, you know, physically active, you know, she's mentally sharp, and she stays really connected, you know, to her community.

[00:28:56] Speaker 2: And when I look at her, that's what longevity has become. She's defined it for me. Yeah. You know, having a health span, not just a life span. Because when you're healthy and you're aging, you're still able to travel, you're still able to, you know, to, to walk. You're still able to get out and do things with your friends.

[00:29:20] Speaker 2: All of those things, like, really made me look at longevity totally differently as I watched my mom age.

[00:29:29] Speaker: Does it make you do anything differently now as you approach her age?

[00:29:34] Speaker 2: Absolutely. So two things. I'll, I'll talk about my mom real quick and my dad real quick. So they were both super active when we were growing up, and my mom continues.

[00:29:44] Speaker 2: She, she gardens on a regular basis. She walks three or four days a week. She's in, like, group fitness classes with her friends. She lives at a, um, a se- active senior living, um, community, and she's still super active. So that has always been a positive influence on me. My father passed right before the pandemic, and he had a stroke in his late 60s, which is super young, right?

[00:30:11] Speaker 2: Mm-hmm. When he had the stroke, it didn't seem young because I was 30-something, but now it's so young to me. So when my dad had that stroke, I told myself I will never take my mobility for granted again, and I vouch to move in some way almost every day of my life because of that. Because you don't know.

[00:30:34] Speaker 2: Life can turn on a dime, and we have to live it like it's our last, and I think movement should be a part of that

[00:30:44] Speaker: Couldn't agree. That's so beautifully said. I mean- Thank you ... sometime it takes that personal experience to- Yeah, yes ... put the fire in what we're doing- Absolutely ... anyway.

[00:30:52] Speaker 2: Absolutely.

[00:30:53] Speaker: You know, I just love that you've built your career helping people move better, feel stronger, age with confidence.

[00:31:01] Speaker: What does aging with confidence look like to you?

[00:31:06] Speaker 2: Oh, wow. I lo- you have some good questions. So for me, aging with confidence means feeling good where you are today. Not there's... I, I, I get a lot of, "You know, you look young for your age," or, you know, "You don't look, you know, you don't look like you're 57." And I mean, I may not look that way, but I am.

[00:31:30] Speaker 2: And

[00:31:30] Speaker: I

[00:31:32] Speaker 2: celebrate that. I celebrate that I

[00:31:35] Speaker: am

[00:31:36] Speaker 2: my age, and I'm happy with that now. I'm lucky to be my age, and I want to continue to be healthy and enjoy my life. So for me, that's what it's all about. Like really accepting yourself. I think that creates more confidence than almost anything.

[00:31:55] Speaker: Oh, yeah.

[00:31:56] Speaker: Absolutely. And on that note, what would you say to a woman who looks in the mirror at 45, 50 or 55 and feels like her best physical years are behind her? How would you reach her? Oh my gosh.

[00:32:12] Speaker 2: I would... Well, first off, I would, let's, let's, let's get into some movement. Like what are we doing? Let's create some goals, because I think a goal is a really important thing that a lot of us, physical goals, that a lot of us tend to let go of when we age.

[00:32:28] Speaker 2: And I think that if you do that, and you start charting your progress, you'll see you can still get stronger, you can still get fitter, you can still move more. So I think that's a really big part of it, like setting a goal and celebrating those milestones and achievements during those goals. Because I'll be 57 in a couple weeks, and I, I definitely feel stronger than I did in my mid-40s because I was like the cardio queen.

[00:32:57] Speaker 2: You know, I was always, you know, I would run all the time. I didn't lift a ton of weights, and I'm probably stronger now than I, than I was then.

[00:33:06] Speaker: Wow. Wow. Well, let me just say this. You don't look a day over, okay, a lady in her 40s. Okay? So- Thank you. Well,

[00:33:16] Speaker 2: I co- I color my hair back in days. I color my hair ... oh, you do?

[00:33:22] Speaker: I hear you. I hear you. I still left mine. You can see my gray. I like the gray.

[00:33:26] Speaker 2: I do. Yours is gorgeous.

[00:33:29] Speaker: So finish this sentence for me, okay? Sure. Midlife isn't where we start slowing down. It's where we start...

[00:33:37] Speaker 2: Showing up

[00:33:40] Speaker: I love it. Show up as yourself- Yes. Show up ... and your best self.

[00:33:43] Speaker 2: That's right. That's right.

[00:33:44] Speaker 2: Yes. Yes.

[00:33:46] Speaker: You know, so before I always conclude my podcast, there's one question I ask every guest, and you're gonna, uh, get that question and- Okay.

[00:33:54] Speaker 2: Okay ...

[00:33:54] Speaker: I just, I like to pick the brain. I love this. I love this. So you're s- you're successful. You have been through life, you've built businesses, and you are where you are because of accumulation of things, right?

[00:34:08] Speaker: If you had to s- pick one thing or say that one moment that has brought you to where you are today, what would it be?

[00:34:15] Speaker 2: Hmm. Oh, wow. Oh, wow. I would say when I s- stopped teaching in Pilates studios. It was a big shift for me. I had been teaching in about three studios at one time, and I was teaching at the local YMCA at that

[00:34:31] Speaker: time,

[00:34:32] Speaker 2: and I was kinda burned out and I decided to stop.

[00:34:37] Speaker 2: And my husband built out a studio in my home, and my husband's an entrepreneur as well, and he was like, "You can do this on your own and be happier. As, and you're gonna be more successful." And literally about two weeks after that, things just start opening up. And I think because I think sometime we get locked in something that we don't have the bandwidth to be creative.

[00:35:05] Speaker 2: So I was just, you know, working for someone else. I was doing the same things over and over again. But once I let go of that mental load, I was able to create more things for my own business. So that, that was my turning point, when I stopped working for other people.

[00:35:20] Speaker: Yeah. Yeah. Let me tell you something.

[00:35:23] Speaker: You just make the chills in my back go up.

[00:35:26] Speaker 2: Oh, wow.

[00:35:27] Speaker: Because, yes, you know, I am 49, and next year I'm gonna be 50.

[00:35:31] Speaker 2: And you look like you're 35.

[00:35:35] Speaker: We thank God for being Black. We're gonna say that

[00:35:38] Speaker 2: out loud. We, we sure do. Thank you for our ancestors. That's

[00:35:42] Speaker: a wonderful, wonderful gift in life to have- Absolutely

[00:35:46] Speaker 2: this melanin. I agree.

[00:35:48] Speaker: You know, and one of the things that has been recurring for me in the past two years in my personal life is, how do I want to move in my 50s? You know, I started this business when I was 31, my private practice. I'm now 49, and I keep asking myself this question, how do I want to show up for myself in my 50s?

[00:36:05] Speaker: I don't have the answers yet, but- Mm-hmm ... I love hearing what you just said, because sometimes it takes a great voice, a partner, someone that has your best interest to just- Absolutely ... give you that boost. So yay to a great husband. Absolutely. Yes. Yes.

[00:36:20] Speaker 2: Yes. He encouraged me. He encouraged you. And I, I can't thank him enough, because the trajectory of my career totally changed after that.

[00:36:30] Speaker: Nice. Nice. That's very nice. So Micki, please tell us, share all your handle, all the different places that the audience can find you.

[00:36:40] Speaker 2: So I'm MickiFit everywhere. That's M-I-C-K-I-F-I-T. That's my Instagram, my TikTok, my Pinterest, my YouTube channel. My online studio is mickifit.com, so just very simple. That one MickiFit is all you have to remember.

[00:36:58] Speaker: Absolutely, and I'm also gonna include it in the bottom, guys, so you can- Thank you ... find her. You know, she is phenomenal. I stumbled- Thank you ... onto Mickey Fitch. Yes, you are. I stumbled into you online on Instagram, and it just resonated with me, 'cause as I shared with you, I was watching a Pilates back on PBS and- Right, right

[00:37:19] Speaker: it just brought memories. So I was like, "I'm gonna follow her. I like this."

[00:37:23] Speaker 2: Well, the feeling is mutual. I mean, I obviously met you on Instagram as well, and I just think you are just phenomenal. You're so impressive. I mean, like, who's a plastic surgeon and a OBGYN? Like, what is... What's happening here? Like, how, how, how much more successful can you be?

[00:37:39] Speaker: You're right. It's called a woman that liked both and couldn't choose.

[00:37:43] Speaker 2: That's amazing. It's amazing.

[00:37:45] Speaker: Yeah. It's been so lovely having you here. My audience- Thank you ... is gonna really appreciate this, and I thank you.

[00:37:52] Speaker 2: Thank you so much.

[00:37:54] Speaker: All right. All right, guys, so thank you for listening as always. This has been fantastic, and thank you.

[00:38:03] Speaker: Let me see