Decoding Exercise Physiology with Robert Brace from Decoding Women's Health
Mon Jan 26 2026
What if we reframed the way we approach exercise? On today’s show, Dr. Elizabeth Poynor is joined by Robert Brace - founder of Brace Life Studios. He’s also Elizabeth’s trainer. They discuss how he tailors his workouts to women in midlife, the benefits of exercising in a group and how movement and exercise connect to our mental and spiritual well-being. Robert also gives advice about how to approach training at different hormonal cycle phases, and ways to get started, even when it feels tough.
Links to resources mentioned in this episode:
Robert Brace’s Studio
Martial arts increase oxytocin production
Systematic review: pain, cognition, and cardioprotection—unpacking oxytocin’s contributions in a sport context
Bidirectional Association between Physical Activity and Dopamine Across Adulthood—A Systematic Review
Embodied mood regulation: the impact of body posture on mood recovery, negative thoughts, and mood-congruent recall
Bone mineral density loss in relation to the final menstrual period in a multiethnic cohort: results from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN)
American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal, and neuromotor fitness in apparently healthy adults: guidance for prescribing exercise
Menstrual cycle tracker apps – Natural Cycles, Flo and Apple Health
Exercise platforms/apps – Nike Training, TheBraceLife.com
Note: In this show, we use “women” as shorthand for people with XX chromosomes. We understand sex and gender are more complex, and acknowledge the experiences we describe reach beyond that word.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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What if we reframed the way we approach exercise? On today’s show, Dr. Elizabeth Poynor is joined by Robert Brace - founder of Brace Life Studios. He’s also Elizabeth’s trainer. They discuss how he tailors his workouts to women in midlife, the benefits of exercising in a group and how movement and exercise connect to our mental and spiritual well-being. Robert also gives advice about how to approach training at different hormonal cycle phases, and ways to get started, even when it feels tough. Links to resources mentioned in this episode: Robert Brace’s Studio Martial arts increase oxytocin production Systematic review: pain, cognition, and cardioprotection—unpacking oxytocin’s contributions in a sport context Bidirectional Association between Physical Activity and Dopamine Across Adulthood—A Systematic Review Embodied mood regulation: the impact of body posture on mood recovery, negative thoughts, and mood-congruent recall Bone mineral density loss in relation to the final menstrual period in a multiethnic cohort: results from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN) American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal, and neuromotor fitness in apparently healthy adults: guidance for prescribing exercise Menstrual cycle tracker apps – Natural Cycles, Flo and Apple Health Exercise platforms/apps – Nike Training, TheBraceLife.com Note: In this show, we use “women” as shorthand for people with XX chromosomes. We understand sex and gender are more complex, and acknowledge the experiences we describe reach beyond that word. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.