Desi Bartlett: Episode 9

Breathe, Lift, Expand. Join Dr. Desi Bartlett — 2025 IDEA Fitness Leader of the Year, doctoral researcher, yoga expert, and Hawaii-based wellness force — for a conversation that is equal parts science and soul. Desi shares her groundbreaking research on yoga and perimenopause, walks listeners through a live breath practice for hot flashes, and gets refreshingly real about grip strength, Wonder Woman gloves, and going through three doctors before finding one who actually listened. This episode is a beautiful reminder that midlife is not about shrinking — it's about expanding into everything you are.TakeawaysYoga, breath work, meditation, and community can meaningfully reduce common perimenopausal symptoms.Hot flashes, night sweats, and sleep disruption often create a cascade effect — and that cycle can be interrupted.There are 77 documented manifestations of perimenopausal symptoms; grip strength loss is one most women never see coming.Tracking your symptoms is just as important as tracking your nutrition or your workouts.One hormonal panel at one point in time is not enough — you need a baseline and a comparison.HRT is not one-size-fits-all; there are gels, creams, pellets, injections, and more worth exploring.If a practitioner isn't listening, you are allowed to walk out and find someone who will.Getting health information from social media is not a substitute for individualized care.How others respond to your coaching is not a reflection of your worth as a professional.Midlife is an invitation to take up space — not shrink.Chapters00:00 Words of the Episode: Abundance, Breath, and Aloha01:03 Meet Dr. Desi Bartlett: Fitness Leader of the Year and Doctoral Researcher03:19 What the Research Actually Found: The Perimenopausal Cascade04:26 Why Desi Chose This Area of Study05:58 Calladita te ves mas bonita — and Why Desi Rejects It06:28 The Most Impactful Tool: Breath Work and Sitali Pranayama08:35 The 77 Symptoms Nobody Talks About — Including Grip Strength10:39 Finding the Right Practitioner After Three Tries13:22 HRT Is Not One-Size-Fits-All: Creams, Shots, and Pellets16:16 Practical Advice for Fitness Professionals Navigating Their Own Symptoms18:38 What We're Done With: Cold Plunges, Shrinking Women, and Taking Others' Choices Personally