What if the key to athletic breakthrough isn't training harder, but moving better? For athletes chasing performance goals, the path forward might lie in what's been there all along – your movement patterns.

From the moment we first move in the womb to our latest workout, our bodies develop unique neuromuscular highways – patterns that govern how we organize and execute every movement. These patterns become our movement signature, as distinctive as our handwriting or walking gait. But unlike static signatures, these patterns directly impact our athletic potential, either supporting or sabotaging our efforts.

This episode dives deep into how movement patterns develop, why they matter for athletes, and how addressing them can transform performance. Host Susannah Steers draws from decades of experience helping athletes break through plateaus by focusing on movement quality instead of just quantity. She shares the story of Olympic legend Michael Phelps, whose success came not just from genetic advantages but from addressing movement imbalances that threatened his performance.

For those who've hit unexplained walls in training or struggled with recurring injuries, this conversation offers a fresh perspective. You'll discover why compensations that initially help you push through challenges eventually create new problems, and how mindful movement training can rebuild patterns for sustainable strength and performance.

Whether you're a competitive athlete, weekend warrior, or simply someone who wants to move through life with less pain and more freedom, you'll gain practical insights for assessing your own movement and simple strategies to begin improving it today. The science is clear: quality movement isn't just a nice-to-have supplement to athletic training—it's often the missing foundation that determines how far your hard work can take you.

Subscribe to the Heart of Motion podcast for more insights at the intersection of movement science and vibrant living, and connect with Susannah on Instagram @theheartofmotionpodcast to share your movement journey.

I'd LOVE to hear from you! Send me a text!

Heart of Motion Podcast host Susannah Steers is a Pilates & Integrated Movement Specialist and owner of Moving Spirit Pilates in North Vancouver, BC. She is passionate about movement, about connections and about life.

Through movement teaching, speaking, and facilitating workshops, she supports people in creating movement practices that promote fitness from the inside out. She loves building community, and participating in multi-disciplinary collaborations.

Along with her friend and colleague Gillian McCormick, Susannah also co-hosts The Small Conversations for a Better World podcast – an interview based podcast dedicated to promoting the kind of conversations about health that can spark positive change in individuals, families, communities and across the globe.

Social Media Links:
Moving Spirit Pilates Instagram
Moving Spirit Pilates Facebook

Susannah Steers Instagram