Green and Red Flags: Strength Coaching for Bendy People with Dena Mellick

In this episode of Zebra Talks, host Dr. Libby Hinsley, physical therapist and author of 'Yoga for Bendy People,' talks with guest Dena Mellick, a barbell coach and founder of Strength Equity. 

 

Dena shares her journey from chronic illness and pain management to becoming a strength coach. They delve into the intricacies of training clients with hypermobility syndromes (HSD) and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), emphasizing the importance of resistance training and collaborative approaches for managing pain and improving quality of life.

 

Dena explains the benefits of strength training, particularly in combating age-related muscle loss, and offers practical tips for finding the right coach, avoiding common red flags, and accommodating individual needs. They also discuss the significance of progressive overload, appropriate equipment, and the critical role of protein in muscle recovery and maintenance.

 

Highlights of this episode include: 

 

00:00 Introduction to Zebra Talks

00:35 Meet Dena Mellick: Strength Coach and Lifter

01:47 Dena's Journey to Lifting

03:30 The Importance of Strength Training

06:19 Powerlifting and Olympic Lifting Explained

09:04 Training Hypermobile Clients

16:26 Finding the Right Coach or Trainer

19:46 Resources for Training with Pain

22:30 Training with Hand Injuries

23:26 Green Flags in a Strength Coach

23:50 Red Flags to Avoid in a Coach

25:07 Importance of Proper Equipment

28:32 Personal Experiences with Coaching

30:08 One-on-One vs Group Training

32:25 Adapting Training to Life Stressors

35:17 Encouraging Barbell Use at Home

38:12 Getting Started with Resistance Training

40:43 Final Thoughts and Contact Information