Friends Don’t Let Friends Ab Crunch: The Truth About Real Core Training with Cory Cripe

Episode Summary:

In this eye-opening conversation, Lina Midla chats with her mentor and DVRT expert, Cory Cripe, about the myths of core training. They unpack why six-pack-focused workouts miss the mark, how traditional ab exercises like crunches can actually cause more harm than good, and what it really means to train your core.

Cory shares his journey from “chubby kid” to fitness leader, how he discovered Dynamic Variable Resistance Training (DVRT), and the game-changing role of hands and feet in stabilizing the body. Lina and Cory also break down functional strength, motor control, and how core stability affects real-life movement—especially for clients struggling with back pain, postpartum recovery, or poor posture.

You’ll Learn:

• Why your core isn’t just your abs—it’s a network of 35 muscles working together
• The difference between stability and balance (and why it matters)
• How every movement can be a core exercise when done right
• Why “strong hands and strong feet” is one of the best cues for core activation
• Why it’s time to let go of old-school ab workouts and embrace functional movement

Cory Cripe is the owner of Fitness Lying Down in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and a passionate advocate for sustainable strength training through the DVRT system. With a BS in Exercise & Sport Science from UW-La Crosse and over 20 years of experience across nearly every facet of the fitness industry, Cory blends science, faith, and fun to help people move better and live stronger.

Since founding FLD in 2014, he’s helped countless individuals grow stronger, move better, and feel more confident through a thoughtful, playful, and deeply intentional training approach.

Beyond the gym, Cory is a proud husband and father of three, a practicing Catholic, a guitarist-in-training, and someone who finds joy in both movement and stillness—whether in nature, at church, or connecting with his community.

• Website: fitnesslyingdown.com
• Instagram: @fitnesslyingdown
• Facebook: Fitness Lying Down
• YouTube: Fitness Lying Down on YouTube
• Podcast: The Fitness Lying Down Podcast (search on your favorite platform!)

• Instagram: @limitlesswithlina
• Website: limitlesswithlina.com
• Podcast: Coffee Talk with Lina Midla: Wellness, Wisdom, and Woo (available wherever you listen!)

Episode Type: Solo

Host: Lina Midla

Tagline: Cultivating resilience to help you unleash YOUR LIMITLESS POTENTIAL

In this solo Pour-Over episode, Lina explores the powerful practice of celebrating tiny triumphs and how it can rewire your brain for joy, motivation, and presence. If you've ever ended the day focused on what you didn't do, this episode is your invitation to shift your lens, reclaim your wins, and start noticing the little glimmers all around you.

You’ll learn about:

• The science behind negativity bias and why our brains tend to focus on what went wrong
• How to create a simple yet powerful Joy Journal that boosts confidence and motivation
• The magic of glimmers and how they can reset your nervous system in seconds
• Why gratitude is the secret ingredient to rewiring your mindset

This episode blends brain science with soulful reflection—and gives you practical tools to start celebrating the little wins that build big change.

📚 Study: "Bad Is Stronger Than Good" by Baumeister et al. (2001)

Read it here: https://doi.org/10.1037/1089-2680.5.4.323

📝 Joy Journal tips

💫 Glimmer-spotting practices

🧘 Breathwork and gratitude ideas

1. Start your Joy Journal tonight—just jot down 3 tiny triumphs before bed.
2. Look for glimmers today. Pause, breathe, and soak in the good.
3. Share your favorite tiny win with Lina! Tag her on Instagram @LinaMidla or send a message.

✨ Instagram: @LinaMidla

🌐 Website: www.limitlesswithlina.com

📧 Work with Lina: coaching, breathwork, cold immersion + more

If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to follow, rate, and review Coffee Talk with Lina Midla wherever you listen. And share this episode with someone who could use a little more joy today 💖

Episode Summary:

In this episode of Coffee Talk with Lina Midla, I sit down with Dr. Amy Robinson, a pelvic floor physical therapist, to dive deep into a topic that impacts so many women—but is rarely talked about. We explore why pelvic floor health is essential, common issues like incontinence, pelvic pain, and prolapse, and why just doing Kegels isn’t the solution for everyone.

Dr. Amy shares her journey into pelvic health, the importance of functional movement and strength training (yes, including heavy lifting!), and how pelvic floor therapy can support women through pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, and beyond. We also discuss how emotional trauma can manifest in the pelvic floor and why a holistic, whole-body approach is key to healing.

If you’ve ever dealt with tailbone pain, leakage, painful sex, or just want to optimize your core strength from the inside out, this episode is packed with insights you don’t want to miss!

🔹 What the pelvic floor is and why it matters for everyone (yes, even men and teens!)

🔹 Common pelvic floor dysfunctions & how they show up in daily life

🔹 Why traditional Kegels aren’t always the answer

🔹 How perimenopause and menopause impact pelvic health

🔹 The role of emotional trauma and stress in pelvic floor dysfunction

🔹 How to choose a qualified pelvic floor therapist

🔹 Practical tips for maintaining a strong, functional pelvic floor

Dr. Amy Robinson has been practicing for 29 years, with 27 years focusing on pelvic health. She

opened Restore Your Core PT in 2016 after becoming increasingly frustrated with the

insurance-driven healthcare system. Patients deserve the care they need, not what insurance

dictates.

Dr. Amy’s goal in opening a boutique practice was to provide patients with a calming and

comfortable environment, allowing for one-on-one care delivered by a physical therapist

specializing in pelvic health with 100% price transparency. RYC PT has a phenomenal team of

seven highly experienced pelvic physical therapists who provide exceptional whole-body care.

Our doctors are functionally minded and tailor treatments to each individual patient. RYC PT has three locations: Carmel, West Carmel/Zionsville, and Greenwood.

📍 IG: @restoreyourcorept

FB: https://www.facebook.com/restoreyourcorept/

Website: www.restoreyourcorept.com

Use code LIMITLESS for $50 off of a 90-minute evaluation or $25 off of a 60-minute evaluation

💬 Love this episode? Share it with a friend who needs to hear it!

📩 Have a question or topic request? DM me on Instagram @LIMITLESSwithLina

🎙️ Don’t forget to subscribe & leave a review—it helps others find the show!

Listen now & start prioritizing your pelvic health today! 🚀✨

Hey friend, I’m so excited you’re here! Before we dive into all the juicy conversations, actionable tools, and transformative insights coming your way, this quick episode is your introduction to Coffee Talk with Lina Midla.

☕ What You’ll Get From This Podcast:

• Conversations with experts in fitness, wellness, alternative healing, and spirituality
• Guided breathwork, movement tips, meditations, and mindset shifts
• Practical tools to help you feel stronger, more energized, and more like yourself again

💫 Who This Podcast Is For:

If you’re a woman with a full life who’s ready to prioritize your wellness, build resilience, and explore new ways to move, breathe, and grow—you’re in the right place!

🎧 What’s Next?

The first official episode drops soon, and we’re kicking things off with a must-listen conversation about pelvic floor health in perimenopause.

✅ How to Support the Show:

• Hit follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode
• Leave a quick rating & review to help more women find this show
• Share this episode with a friend who could use some extra wellness inspiration
• Come hang out with me on Instagram: @limitlesswithlina

Until next time—breathe deep, move well, and remember: YOU, my friend, are LIMITLESS. 💫