Green and Red Flags: Strength Coaching for Bendy People with Dena Mellick

In this episode of Zebra Talks, host Dr. Libby Hinsley, physical therapist and author of 'Yoga for Bendy People,' talks with guest Dena Mellick, a barbell coach and founder of Strength Equity.    Dena shares her journey from chronic illness and pain management to becoming a strength coach. They delve into the intricacies of training clients with hypermobility syndromes (HSD) and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), emphasizing the importance of resistance training and collaborative approaches for managing pain and improving quality of life.   Dena explains the benefits of strength training, particularly in combating age-related muscle loss, and offers practical tips for finding the right coach, avoiding common red flags, and accommodating individual needs. They also discuss the significance of progressive overload, appropriate equipment, and the critical role of protein in muscle recovery and maintenance.   Highlights of this episode include:    00:00 Introduction to Zebra Talks 00:35 Meet Dena Mellick: Strength Coach and Lifter 01:47 Dena's Journey to Lifting 03:30 The Importance of Strength Training 06:19 Powerlifting and Olympic Lifting Explained 09:04 Training Hypermobile Clients 16:26 Finding the Right Coach or Trainer 19:46 Resources for Training with Pain 22:30 Training with Hand Injuries 23:26 Green Flags in a Strength Coach 23:50 Red Flags to Avoid in a Coach 25:07 Importance of Proper Equipment 28:32 Personal Experiences with Coaching 30:08 One-on-One vs Group Training 32:25 Adapting Training to Life Stressors 35:17 Encouraging Barbell Use at Home 38:12 Getting Started with Resistance Training 40:43 Final Thoughts and Contact Information