273. Move to Heal: Exploring the Medicine of Motion with Dr. Amy Valasek

Whether you're a physician, a parent of young athletes, or someone exploring your own healing journey, this episode is a reminder that healing isn’t always found in a prescription pad, it might be found in motion. Episode Summary: Have you ever felt there had to be more to practicing medicine? That healing could happen beyond prescriptions and procedures? In this powerful and heartwarming episode, we welcome Dr. Amy Valasek, a Presidential Award winning pediatric sports medicine physician, group fitness instructor, and mom of two athletes, as she shares how she integrated movement and joy into her medical practice. Reuniting after 20 years since medical school, host Dr. Ni-Cheng Liang and Dr. Valasek dive into the transformative power of physical activity—for themselves, their patients, and their families. Special Guest: Dr. Amy Valasek is a physician at Nationwide Children's Sports Medicine and an associate professor at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. A graduate of the University of Maryland School of Medicine (Class of 2005), she is board-certified in sports medicine, a Les Mills certified instructor, and winner of the 2024 President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition Community Leadership Award.   🔑 In This Episode, We Explore: Dr. Valasek’s journey from traditional sports medicine to incorporating Les Mills group fitness classes into her clinical care How she overcame resistance and embraced innovation in healing The emotional and psychological benefits of group movement for patients and for Dr. Valasek, herself. Insights for parents of youth athletes and her philosophy on multi-sport participation The healing power of movement for people of all ages from kids to those with chronic illnesses     🏃‍♀️ Movement as Medicine: Dr. Valasek’s approach challenges the status quo of medical practice by bringing patients into fitness spaces and out of purely clinical spaces. From youth athletes to entire communities, her work exemplifies how movement can be a healing modality in and of itself.   🧠 Takeaways for Healers & Listeners: Movement is medicine for mind, body, and spirit Resistance to change is normal and curiosity can lead the way There’s room in medicine for joy, creativity, and connection 🔗 Connect with Dr. Amy Valasek: [email protected]   🌟 Join Our Community: Mindful Healthcare Collective – Join us on Facebook or at mindfulhealthcarecollective.com to explore mindfulness and healing with fellow healthcare professionals Want us to lead or host a healing workshop or retreat? Contact Dr. Ni-Cheng Liang or Dr. Jessie Mahoney to bring wellness to your colleagues. Move beyond consuming this amazing podcast. True change happens when you work with us - virtually and/or in-person. Coach with Jessie - 1:1, in topic-focused small groups, or at a retreat. www.jessiemahoneymd.com Work with both of us in person at The Mindful Healers Annual Retreat www.jessiemahoneymd.com/retreats Hire one or both of us to speak or lead a workshop on any topic covered in the Mindful Healers Podcast. We also create team retreats, teach yoga, and offer experiential mindfulness for teams, groups, grand rounds, institutions, and conferences. www.jessiemahoneymd.com/mindful-healers-podcast www.awakenbreath.org  www.jessiemahoneymd.com/speaking *Nothing shared in the Mindful Healers Podcast is medical advice.  

What can gardening teach us about life, medicine, and mindful living?  In this conversation, we explore the parallels between tending plants and tending ourselves. From planting seeds to harvesting fruit, every stage in the garden offers lessons about patience, presence, letting go of control, and trusting the natural rhythm of growth. Whether you’re an experienced gardener, a houseplant enthusiast, or simply plant-curious, you’ll hear insights, humor, and inspiration to deepen your connection to nature—and yourself. Pearls of Wisdom: Begin where you are—growth starts with action, not perfection. The best lessons in patience come from nature’s timeline, not our own. Letting go of control allows room for unexpected beauty and resilience. Pruning and “deadheading” aren’t just for plants—they’re a metaphor for focusing energy on what matters most. Gardens thrive in community, just as we do. Reflection Questions: Where in your life might you create more space and light for growth? What would you prune away to direct energy toward what matters most? How can you honor the seasons and cycles in your own life and work? Take a moment to stay mindful at the end of the episode and practice grounding yourself, just as plants root into the earth. If you’d like to experience mindful presence and community in person, join me for a retreat at www.jessiemahoneymd.com/retreats, explore coaching at https://www.jessiemahoneymd.com/coaching, or learn more about my speaking engagements at www.jessiemahoneymd.com/speaking. Dr. Liang also offers workshops and speaking for healthcare and wellness communities at www.awakenbreath.org. We invite you to share this episode with a friend who loves gardening—or who could use a reminder to slow down and savor the process. Nothing shared in the Healing Medicine Podcast is medical advice.  

What if smaller wasn’t a limitation, but a superpower?  We explore the countercultural truth that success doesn’t always mean scaling up—it can mean rooting down. Inspired by Bo Burlingham’s book Small Giants, we reflect on companies and people who intentionally choose depth, intimacy, and meaning over sheer size.  We discuss how “great instead of big” has led us to more fulfillment, deeper connection, and increased joy.  You’ll hear our personal stories and be invited to rethink how you measure success—whether that's in medicine, business, or simply being human. Pearls of Wisdom: Fulfillment can be your ultimate measure of success—quality, mastery, and purpose often matter more than numbers or scale. Being “small” can deepen roots, strengthen community, and preserve your values. Intimacy—whether with patients, clients, or community—creates an impact that scale can’t always replicate. You can intentionally design your “company culture,” whether that’s your workplace, your family, or your ecosystem. Choosing less can often give you so much more. Reflection Questions: What would it look like for you to be a “small giant” in your own life? How might you choose quality, intimacy, and depth instead of scale, speed, or more? Where could you deepen your roots instead of stretching yourself thinner? If you’d like to bring this kind of mindful, intentional leadership into your life and work, I invite you to join me for coaching or a retreat at www.jessiemahoneymd.com or learn more about my speaking offerings at www.jessiemahoneymd.com/speaking.  Dr. Liang also offers workshops and speaking engagements at www.awakenbreath.org. We are, proudly, a small giant—-rooted in connection, intimacy, and the belief that depth changes lives. Nothing shared in the Healing Medicine Podcast is medical advice.  

What if your relationship with the robots—the algorithms, the bots, and the emerging AI tools—could be approached with softness and intention, just like any other relationship in your life? A playful yet grounding episode, exploring the rise of artificial intelligence through a lens of mindful curiosity, wonder, and loving amusement.  Rather than catastrophizing or glorifying AI, we explore how it might become a creative collaborator, a mirror for our own biases, and a surprising connector across generations.  As physicians and humans navigating change, our invitation is to approach this new reality with open hearts and hands wide open. Pearls of Wisdom: Mindfulness provides a robust framework for engaging with technology—not out of fear or resistance, but with intentionality, presence, and curiosity. AI reflects how we interact with it—when we ask thoughtful questions, we receive thoughtful answers. It's a mirror of our energy, not just our words. While AI can save time and support creativity, it cannot replicate the nuance, compassion, and healing presence of human connection. Wonder, loving amusement, and discernment are vital tools for navigating rapid technological change. Mindfully choosing how we relate to AI—just as we do with any relationship—gives us back our power and deepens our humanity. Reflection Questions: What emotions come up for you when you hear the word "AI"? Can you allow them all to be present? In what ways could AI support your values, creativity, or time? How might you bring intentionality and kindness into your relationship with the machines? If you're feeling called to explore your relationship with change, creativity, or your work in healthcare, I invite you to consider coaching with me. Whether you're navigating new technology or seeking more meaningful connections in your life and career, coaching creates space for clarity, intention, and aligned action. Learn more here: https://www.jessiemahoneymd.com/coaching If you're curious about what’s possible when you step away from the machines and into spaciousness, join me for an upcoming retreat: www.jessiemahoneymd.com/retreats And if you’d like to bring this mindful approach to your team, institution, or event, I offer workshops and talks that integrate mindfulness, leadership, and well-being: www.jessiemahoneymd.com/speaking. Dr. Ni-Cheng Liang is also available to speak and lead mindfulness sessions. Learn more at: www.awakenbreath.org Nothing shared in the Healing Medicine Podcast is medical advice.  

Were you the one who always held it together? The responsible one?  The one who made sure everyone else was okay—sometimes at the cost of your own well-being?  In this episode, we explore what it means to grow up as the eldest daughter—and how the roles we took on early in life may have shaped how we show up as women, physicians, caretakers, and leaders.  Whether or not you're technically the eldest daughter, if you're a woman in medicine, you may recognize yourself in this conversation.  Together, we share our personal stories, the burdens we unknowingly took on, and the healing that’s possible through mindfulness, self-compassion, and intention. Pearls of Wisdom: Eldest daughter syndrome often mirrors what is expected in medicine: overresponsibility, emotional caretaking, perfectionism, and silent overwhelm. Mindful awareness helps us gently unpack the roots of these tendencies—where they began and why they persist—without blame or shame. Healing begins with recognition and continues with rest, boundaries, support, and a willingness to unlearn. You are allowed to stop carrying it all. And doing so may be the most loving act for yourself and those around you. Therapy, coaching, rest, and mindfulness are all powerful pathways to releasing what was never meant to be yours alone to hold. Reflection Questions: When did you first feel like it was your job to hold it all together? What have you mistaken for compassion that was self-abandonment? What might reclaiming your story look like now—with boundaries, rest, and gentleness? Are there areas where forgiveness—for yourself or others—might bring relief? Stay with us until the end for a grounding mindful moment—a space to breathe, feel, and explore what you’ve been holding... and what you might lovingly choose to lay down. If you’re ready to stop carrying it all—and begin honoring your own needs with compassion—consider joining me for coaching: https://www.jessiemahoneymd.com/coaching For deeper integration and connection with others who share your lived experience, I warmly invite you to join a retreat: www.jessiemahoneymd.com/retreats If your organization or institution is seeking healing, inclusive conversations, and support around leadership, well-being, and identity, I would love to speak or lead a workshop for your group: www.jessiemahoneymd.com/speaking Dr. Ni-Cheng Liang is also available to bring her expertise and compassionate voice to your team or conference. Learn more at www.awakenbreath.org Nothing shared in the Healing Medicine Podcast is medical advice.  

I am beyond delighted to share this beautiful conversation with Diana May, the yoga teacher who first taught me how to teach yoga.  If you’ve ever practiced yoga with me, you, too, have been touched by Diana’s powerful, nurturing teachings.  In this rich and heartfelt episode, we explore how both of us and the practice of yoga itself have evolved over the years.  Our conversation is a journey through yoga, chronic pain, trauma, somatics, and the profound wisdom of the nervous system. Diana is a yoga teacher, somatic experiencing practitioner, applied neurology educator, and expert retreat facilitator. She brings a deeply compassionate and science-informed approach to healing through movement.  We share a gentle approach to reclaiming vitality, safety, and ease in your body.  We reflect on what it means to reconnect to your body, especially in midlife, after trauma, in menopause, or perimenopause, or when living with chronic pain. Pearls of Wisdom: Yoga is so much more than movement. Yoga is a pathway to remembering who you are beneath all the layers of expectation, perfectionism, and societal “shoulds.” Trauma-informed yoga is about agency, choice, and offering people the safety to meet themselves exactly where they are with compassion, not judgment. Chronic pain and trauma often live in the nervous system, not just the body. Healing occurs through slow, intentional movement informed by the rhythms of the nervous system. Pleasure is not optional. It’s a necessary part of nervous system regulation and healing. Practices that orient you toward ease, rest, and joy are essential especially during menopause or transitions. Retreats offer profound co-regulation, nature-based healing, and space to be your full, human self that is tender, real, and whole. If this episode resonates with you, consider joining me for an upcoming Pause & Presence retreat. A space to soften, reconnect, and listen deeply to what your nervous system truly needs. www.jessiemahoneymd.com/retreats If you’d like support as you navigate chronic pain, midlife transitions, or healing from burnout, I offer mindful coaching to help you reclaim vitality and peace. Learn more at: https://www.jessiemahoneymd.com/coaching If you’d like to bring a conversation like this to your team, institution, or conference, I offer speaking and workshop facilitation on healing through mindfulness and movement: www.jessiemahoneymd.com/speaking To learn more about Diana May’s work, including her yoga classes, retreats, and somatic coaching, visit her at https://www.dianamay.com/ Nothing shared in the Healing Medicine Podcast is medical advice.  

“Aging isn't just about getting older; it's about growing more evolved each day.  More nuanced, more enriched. More beautiful. More ourselves” - Emily Dickinson How do we age with softness?  How do we approach a birthday—or a fertility milestone—with compassion instead of judgment?  In this rich and heart-forward conversation, I join Dr. Erica Bove, my birthday twin, to explore what it means to see with the heart, especially in moments of uncertainty, grief, and growth. Dr. Erica Bove is a reproductive endocrinologist and integrative fertility coach for women physicians. She is a beloved retreat participant who shares candid reflections about her experience at not one, but two of my retreats.  This podcast episode was recorded for her podcast, Love and Science Fertility. We recorded it in celebration of our upcoming birthdays. This is what she has to say about the episode –  “With the growth of the Love and Science community, it feels like we are constantly navigating a birthday in the group. Birthdays are often fraught with many complexities-- grief for where we thought we would be by now, cognitive dissonance of people wanting to celebrate us when we feel sad and angry, and also the sheer fact that our ovaries are getting older.  I've known Dr. Jessie Mahoney for a long time; in fact, we share the same birthday. July is our birthday month, so we decided to team up and share our wisdom about birthdays. We hope to share a fresh perspective on birthdays. I look to her for wisdom and guidance, and I'm sure you will feel the depth of her presence when you listen.” In this episode, we discuss birthdays as soulful markers of time and growth, how expectations can shift into intentions, and what it means to return to yourself with tenderness, especially in the face of challenges. This episode is a mindful invitation to pause and reflect on how far you’ve come, what you’ve learned, and who you’re becoming. Pearls of Wisdom: Replacing expectations with intentions opens space for softness, peace, and joy, especially around birthdays and timelines. Fertility journeys can feel like a relentless race against time, but when we pause to look through the lens of growth and wisdom, we find we are never moving backwards. Self-compassion is not optional—it's essential. Learning to see with the heart invites healing, clarity, and grounded decision-making. We are not meant to carry everything alone. Being part of a loving, mindful community changes everything. The nervous system responds to intentional calm. Creating space for reflection and stillness isn’t indulgent—it’s medicine. Reflection Questions: What do you know this year that you didn’t know last year? How are you not alone in your current journey? What would your future, wisest self wish you had done more of this year? If this episode resonates with you, I invite you to explore how Pause and Presence retreats can offer you a transformational reset.  Whether you're seeking grounding, clarity, or simply a breath of fresh air in your life, you'll return home with renewed energy and wisdom that lasts. Visit www.jessiemahoneymd.com/retreats to learn more. Mindful coaching also offers tremendous support for transformation and a reset.  www.jessiemahoneymd.com/coaching.  If you're a team, institution, or conference seeking a speaker or workshop on mindfulness, leadership, or healing in medicine, please contact me at www.jessiemahoneymd.com/speaking. To experience more of Dr. Erica Bove’s integrative fertility wisdom, or to invite her to speak or teach, visit www.loveandsciencefertility.com. Nothing shared in the Healing Medicine Podcast is medical advice.  

Have you ever found yourself asking, Why can’t they just…? or Why are they doing this to me? These questions often swirl through our minds during frustrating moments on the road, at work, in our relationships, or even in response to news headlines and legislation.  They come with a heavy emotional toll. Today, we explore the actual cost of resisting reality.  We share vulnerable personal stories, practical tools, and insights from lived experiences that help soften the inner storm and shift us toward mindful acceptance.  You'll learn how to move from reactivity and depletion to intentional response and inner steadiness, even in the face of injustice, disappointment, or chaos. This episode is a call to pause, feel, and choose love over resistance, without bypassing the hard stuff.  We offer gentle practices and an empowering new lens to meet the human experience with compassion. Pearls of Wisdom: Resisting reality, whether in policy, traffic, or personal relationships, drains your emotional and energetic resources. Acceptance isn’t resignation; it’s acknowledging what is so that you can choose your response with clarity and care. Mindful practices like “R.A.I.N.” or “RainR” help you feel your emotions fully and shift out of resistance with grace. Humor, curiosity, and generous narratives can support the acceptance process when feelings of anger or sadness feel overwhelming. You can’t control others’ actions or thoughts, but you can ground yourself in your values and intentional responses. Reflection Questions: When I ask, “Why can’t they...?” how do I feel—empowered, or depleted? What am I currently resisting—and what is it costing me? How might I allow myself to feel my emotions without judgment? What would a wise, compassionate next step look like? Stay until the end for a calming, mindful moment designed to help you ground, release resistance, and gently return to a state of peace.     If this episode resonates and you're navigating resistance in your own life, join Jessie for a retreat where we practice letting go, feeling fully, and moving forward with strength and softness: www.jessiemahoneymd.com/retreats. For 1:1 support on your journey toward inner steadiness, alignment, and healing, explore mindful coaching with Jessie at https://www.jessiemahoneymd.com/coaching. To bring this kind of healing wisdom to your team, institution, or event, reach out to invite Dr. Jessie Mahoney or Dr. Ni-Cheng Liang to speak or lead a workshop: Jessie: www.jessiemahoneymd.com/speaking Ni-Cheng: www.awakenbreath.org Nothing shared in the Healing Medicine Podcast is medical advice.  

A real-time invitation to pause, reflect, and integrate. In this special mid-year episode,  we offer you the spaciousness and tools to reconnect with your intentions, acknowledge your growth, and mindfully marinate in what matters most.  We reflect openly on our guiding words for the year—how they’ve supported us, challenged us, and shaped our journeys so far.  With humor, honesty, and heart, we invite you to slow down and notice what’s working, what’s shifted, and what your future self will thank you for. This is an imperfect, spontaneous practice of self-kindness—and a gentle reminder that true healing happens not just through action but through thoughtful integration. Pearls of Wisdom: Reflecting mid-year is a powerful way to integrate growth and move forward with clarity and intention. Questions like “What have I done well?” and “What’s bringing me joy?” help retrain our brains toward positive attention and away from perfectionism. Your words of the year—whether you remember all of them or just one—can serve as wise, compassionate guides when revisited with openness. Resting, in all its forms, is not a pause from progress—it is progress. You don’t have to answer every question, or reflect perfectly; this is about practicing awareness with kindness. Reflection Questions: What have I done well? What has gone well? What is working well? What’s bringing you joy, delight, or fun? What have you loved so far this year? What will your future self thank you for spending more time on in the next six months? Allow yourself to answer only what resonates and let the rest marinate. Let this be a moment to reset with kindness. Stay until the end for a grounding mindful moment of reflection—an opportunity to fully pause, breathe, and let the insights of this episode settle gently into your heart.     If this episode resonated with you and you're longing to explore your own healing, reflection, or transformation journey, I would love to support you.  Join me for a retreat in 2025 while there are still a few spots left: www.jessiemahoneymd.com/retreats. To explore mindful coaching that creates space for growth and integration, visit https://www.jessiemahoneymd.com/coaching.  If you’d like to bring this type of reflection, rest, and reintegration into your organization or conference, reach out to invite Dr. Mahoney or Dr. Ni-Cheng Liang to speak or lead a transformative workshop: Jessie: www.jessiemahoneymd.com/speaking Ni-Cheng: www.awakenbreath.org Let’s keep creating space for healing—one pause, one breath, one moment at a time. Nothing shared in the Healing Medicine Podcast is medical advice.  

How many conversations in medicine today focus on how hard and how broken things are? This episode is a hopeful and grounded counterpoint. Enjoy a rich and thoughtful conversation with Dr. Jed Wolpaw, an anesthesiologist, critical care physician, educator, and host of the beloved medical education podcast ACRAC (Anesthesia and Critical Care Reviews and Commentary)  Jed and I first connected at a speaker's dinner at the Holiday Seminars Anesthesia Conference in Aspen this winter. We bonded over our shared experiences as physician educators, parents, and advocates for cultivating wellness in medicine. Dr. Wolpaw is the residency program director for anesthesiology at Johns Hopkins.  His grounded optimism and lived wisdom offer a refreshing and insightful look at what true wellness can look like during medical training.  He also shares wise words about cultivating meaningful and sustainable careers in academic medicine and beyond. We dive deep into how training can be fulfilling, why leadership matters, and what it takes to build teams and systems that support thriving, not just surviving. Pearls of Wisdom: Wellness in medicine doesn't require perfection, but it does require intention, connection, and focusing on what truly matters. Meaning and fulfillment are protective. Doing something hard (like residency) can be energizing if we’re supported, connected, and focused on the purpose behind the work. Training systems can and must evolve. Offering flexibility, encouraging open dialogue, and creating a culture where people feel safe and seen matters deeply. Judging less and building more—especially in leadership roles—is how we create teams people want to be a part of. Mindset, expectations, and energy management matter more than time management. Focusing on what energizes you is often the most resilient path forward. Reflection Questions: What gives you energy during your day, and how might you shift more attention toward that? What kind of team member are you, and how are you contributing to the culture you want to be a part of? If you're in a leadership role, how are you creating safe spaces for people to be honest, grow, and feel supported? If you're ready to create your own sustainable path in medicine, I invite you to work with me. Whether 1:1 or as part of a small group, you will learn tools to bring intention, compassion, and creativity to leadership, doctoring, and life. Learn more at: https://www.jessiemahoneymd.com/coaching You’re also warmly invited to one of my signature restorative retreats, designed specifically for physicians seeking to reconnect, recalibrate, and realign. Find upcoming retreats at: www.jessiemahoneymd.com/retreats If you’re a medical leader or educator and would like to bring me to speak or lead a workshop for your institution, team, or conference, reach out via www.jessiemahoneymd.com/speaking . Connect with Dr. Wolpaw through his podcast at www.acrac.com. Nothing shared in the Healing Medicine Podcast is medical advice.