We've Got to Move It! Meeting Your Body Where It's At with Kaisa Keranen

Exercise and Fitness

https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/wa94uv/kaisafinal_-_1_10_22_204_PMajah0.mp3

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EPISODE SUMMARY:

As a personal trainer, social media influencer, fitness educator and more, Kaisa Keranen is using her platform to inspire people across all fitness levels to get motivated and get moving. In today’s episode, we sat down with Kaisa to discuss the most simple ways to start moving, alternative items for workouts, the importance of starting at a true beginner level, and her Start Moving Program.

First, we asked Kaisa about what has inspired her to help get people moving. She told us that as someone who works in the fitness industry, she’s always been disheartened by the message that movement needs to be associated with changing one’s body and appearance. Hoping to change the narrative, her programs emphasize how movement is about making you feel your best. Our bodies are meant to move, so it’s important to find movements that you enjoy the most to stay motivated, healthy, and happy. When starting a movement routine, it’s important to begin as simple as possible. Based on your current daily movement, create a routine or habit that you can stick with and start with small steps. Movement routines can also be easily done at home, and for household items that can be incorporated into movement, Kaisa gave us a myriad of suggestions, including toilet paper, chairs, towels, paper plates, and soup cans.

We also asked Kaisa about the importance of starting at a beginner level when you begin any sort of movement or workout regime. She explained that fitness brands and industries often promote workouts as “beginner” when they’re not, which causes people to injure themselves or feel pain in their joints. The negative outcome of these fake beginner routines then discourages people from wanting to continue, for they feel like their bodies are incapable. To rectify this, Kaisa wanted to create routines that were truly beginner so that anyone can start them without becoming overwhelmed. Her programs are not based on clinical terms or complicated movements; she teaches in a way that a person with no experience with movement could understand.

For her Start Moving Program, Kaisa told us how heartwarming it has been to hear the success stories of members starting their movement journeys. Many have found freedom and felt more empowered and confident in what their bodies can do, and have even moved on to KaisaFit’s other programs, such as Start Dancing and Start Yoga. On justmove.com, those who don’t know where to start when it comes to movement can find a safe space to begin at a true beginner level. Start Moving is a 4-week program and works as a subscription-based service. People can pay $20 dollars a month or purchase a year-long subscription to access the movement routines. KaisaFit is happy to refund anyone who feels the program is not a good fit, for the most important thing to Kaisa is that people receive the movement help they need. Kaisafit also has a Facebook group for community members to connect, share tips, and discuss their movement stories with one another.

Although five minutes of movement a day may not sound like a lot, Kaisa emphasized to us just how impactful it can be. If a person starts with five minutes and sees positive effects, their bodies will eventually crave more, leading them to start moving more and feeling better. Even starting at a minute a day can make the change your body needs to start moving.

Finally, we asked Kaisa tips for forming a good movement routine. She told us that keeping it simple is ideal, so nothing too overwhelming or specific. She said to move in ways that make your body feel its best and that get your heart rate up. After a few weeks, strength training can slowly be incorporated into the movement routine to strengthen joints and muscles.

To find the Start Moving Program as well as KaisaFit’s other programs, they’re all available on justmove.com.

Kaisa Keranen

Kaisa Keranen is a personal trainer, fitness educator and social media influencer known for her fun and innovative ways to get people moving. She graduated from the University of Washington where she was a member of the Track and Field team and later went on to get her Masters in Exercise Science, Sports Performance and Injury Prevention. As owner of KaisaFit, she has developed her own method of movement which she shares daily with her clients and social media followers world wide. She lives and teaches by the motto that health is a feeling not a look and believes whole-heartedly in her mission to get people around the world up and moving!

Kaisa has been featured in such digital magazines as Vogue, Shape, SELF, Harpers Bazaar, Oxygen and ESPNW to name a few. She was featured on the Greatist as one of the most influential people in health and fitness and most notably was asked by Michelle Obama to be one of the go to trainers for her “Let’s Move” digital campaign.

You can find Kaisa on social media as KaisaFit where she educates, motivates and empowers people to #JustMove