Episode 87: Listening to Your Body and Letting Yourself Off the Hook with Matt Sorensen

Have you ever felt like your body is trying to tell you something… but you’re too busy pushing through to actually listen? Or maybe you’ve been doing all the “right” things - exercising, eating well, showing up - yet something still feels off. In this episode of It’s a Mindset, I’m joined by Matthew Sorensen - a specialist in corrective exercise, strength and conditioning, manual therapy, counselling and lifestyle coaching, who takes a deeply integrative approach to health, performance and wellbeing. Matt designs personalised programs that support resilience, injury prevention and sustainable health, and his work goes far beyond the physical. With a background spanning nutrition, strength and conditioning, and advanced manual therapies, he brings a unique lens to understanding the body - not just as something to fix, but something to listen to. Matt and I actually met around 20 years ago at the gym, and it’s been intriguing to see how our paths have evolved in a similar direction - both of us becoming more curious about what really makes people tick, beyond the surface. In this conversation, we explore the deeper connection between body, mind and behaviour, and how so often what we’re experiencing physically is a reflection of something deeper. Matt also shares insights from his extensive work in CHEK therapy, his experience lecturing and educating others in the field, and the philosophy behind his books, including What Pain Is Telling You - Your Diagnosis Is Just the Symptom. This is one of those conversations that invites you to slow down, tune in, and reconsider the way you relate to yourself - not just physically, but emotionally and mentally as well. Key Episode Takeaways: What CHEK therapy is and how it looks at the body as an integrated system Why your relationship with yourself and your level of self-awareness underpins everything Why your “yes” has no value until you learn to say “no” The importance of letting yourself off the hook more often and listening to what your body actually needs About the Guest: Matthew is a specialist in corrective exercise, strength and conditioning, manual therapy, counselling, and lifestyle coaching. He designs personalised, integrative programs that support performance, resilience, injury prevention, and sustainable health. Alongside his clinical work, Matt lectures at governing institutes for Personal Trainers and Massage Therapists. He has developed and delivered multiple professional workshops and is the author of two books Show Resources: Follow Matt on Instagram - HERE Follow Matt's Podcast, The Body's Compass on Instagram - HERE Check Out Matt's Website, The Healing Hub - HERE Follow Emma, the Podcast Host on Instagram - HERE Learn More About The Next Chapter Collective - HERE Learn More About Emma's 1:1 Coaching - HERE If you LOVED the episode, make sure you share this on your Instagram stories and tag us @emmalagerlow and @mattsorensenhh. Yours in Listening to Your Body, Emma. X.