In this powerful episode of What’s My Body Telling Me?, Dr Anthea Todd sits down with Emma Masters, movement expert, studio founder, and creator of Therapy Fitness. Together, they explore why exercise has become a source of shame, pressure, and punishment for so many women, and how to rebuild a relationship with movement that is rooted in self-trust rather than self-criticism.

Drawing on Emma’s personal journey through the performing arts, disordered eating, and the fitness industry, this conversation unpacks how environment, messaging, and comparison shape the way women move their bodies. Emma explains why most people don’t fail at exercise, they are simply trying to move inside systems that don’t feel safe, supportive, or human.

From gym culture and aesthetic driven marketing to nervous system regulation and intrinsic motivation, this episode reframes movement as a tool for connection, healing, and mental health rather than calorie burn or body control.

You’ll learn:

Why exercise often feels overwhelming instead of supportive
How shame based fitness culture disconnects women from their bodies
The difference between moving for punishment versus nourishment
Why environment matters more than discipline when it comes to movement
How music, lighting, community, and safety change the way exercise feels
Why aesthetics based fitness goals rarely lead to consistency
How movement helps regulate anxiety, stress, and self worth
Why healthy and fit looks different on every body
How to start rebuilding trust with movement if you feel disconnected
The most compassionate place to begin if exercise feels too hard right now

This episode is for any woman who has ever felt intimidated, judged, or exhausted by exercise. Emma and Dr Todd reveal a different truth: movement is not something your body needs to earn. It is something that can help you come home to yourself.

To learn more about what your body is telling you, visit: https://www.femalefundamentals.com.au

To connect with Dr Anthea or Emma Masters, you can find their social links here: https://www.instagram.com/dr.antheatodd/ and https://www.instagram.com/ema_masters/

Explore Emma Masters and Therapy Fitness here: https://www.therapyfitness.com.au/