Exercising Without Mirrors and Moving Beyond Weight Loss with Kim Gould | #7

Click here to access a written transcript of this episode.

I spoke with therapist and fitness instructor Kim Gould about the power of having a fitness studio with no mirrors or scales, what exercise has to offer us outside of weight loss, and why Kim thinks we need to change the way we think about exercise in eating disorder recovery.

We discussed:

• Kim's journey to becoming a therapist and personal trainer.
• The space that Autonomy Movement, Kim's brand new body-positive fitness studio, will be occupying here in Austin, Texas.
• The benefits of having an exercise studio without mirrors or scales, including being able to feel in your body how to do movements properly.
• All the things exercise has to offer us outside of the weight loss and body change people typically use it for, including the importance of enjoying the process.
• The five themes of class types that Autonomy Movement will have available for clients and the fusion classes they'll be offering, which will be a combination of movement and therapeutic processing.
• Kim's belief that we need to change the way we think about exercise in eating disorder recovery.
• Kim's hope that Autonomy Movement will help a lot of people who often aren’t included in traditional gyms.
• Reframing how we think of “modifications” in fitness classes.
• How Kim defines health and wellness for herself at this time in her life, including setting boundaries and delegating tasks.

Mentioned in This Episode

• Alsana Recovery

Featured in This Episode

Kim Gould (she/her) is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in eating disorders and body image issues. She was formerly a barre instructor at a local Austin studio and is also a Certified Personal Trainer. Kim's passion, and why she decided to open Autonomy Movement, is helping clients learn how to connect with exercise and their bodies in a non-weight-related way. You can find Kim on her personal Instagram.