The Alignment Lab

Jessica and Jonny Hinds

We dive into the debate: Bench Press vs. Push-Up. Two iconic exercises, but which one deserves the spotlight in your workout routine?

  1. Muscles Grow Fast. Tendons Don’t — And That’s Where the Real Injuries Start.

    18/11/2025

    Muscles Grow Fast. Tendons Don’t — And That’s Where the Real Injuries Start.

    In today’s episode, we break down the real reason so many athletes — from the NFL to pickleball — are tearing tendons, blowing ACLs, and suffering non-contact injuries at the highest rates ever recorded. It’s not bad luck. It’s not age. It’s not overtraining. It’s tendon hysteresis — the silent gap between muscle strength and tendon integrity that the fitness industry never talks about. As muscles get stronger faster than tendons can remodel, the nervous system loses clarity, force gets redirected, and tissues fail under speed. We explore: Why tendons adapt 5–10x slower than muscle How misalignment and chaotic loading increase injury risk Why pickleball has become a tendon-injury epidemic The rising trend of non-contact injuries in the NFL, NBA, and soccer Why women experience higher soft-tissue injury rates And how alignment-based isometrics reverse hysteresis and rebuild durability If you want to understand why pain sticks, why athletes break down, and why most training models miss the real target — this episode will change the way you think about strength.

    50 min
  2. Pain That Moves is Better Than Pain That Sticks

    28/10/2025

    Pain That Moves is Better Than Pain That Sticks

    Not all pain is a problem. In this episode, Jessica and Jonny explore the difference between pain that moves—the kind that signals adaptation, release, and change—and pain that sticks, the kind that lingers because the body or mind has stopped listening. They break down what’s actually happening in the nervous system when pain shifts versus when it locks in place, how movement and awareness keep the fascia communicating, and why stagnation—physical or emotional—amplifies suffering. You’ll learn how to recognize when your system is processing pain productively, how to interrupt the loops that keep it frozen, and simple ways to restore flow through tension, breath, and alignment. Because pain that moves is communication. Pain that sticks is a story you’ve stopped updating.

    51 min
  3. Systems Are Freedom

    21/10/2025

    Systems Are Freedom

    We tend to think freedom means doing whatever we want—but true freedom comes from rhythm, not rebellion. In this episode, Jessica and Jonny explore how systems create safety in the nervous system, and why predictability—not spontaneity—is what actually unlocks creativity, clarity, and ease. They unpack how the brain and body crave containment to regulate, why chaos keeps you in survival mode, and how small, repeatable structures return you to flow. You’ll learn a simple three-step process to build systems that stabilize your energy without suffocating your spirit—so you can stop reacting and start creating. Because freedom isn’t the absence of structure. It’s the alignment that makes movement possible.

    41 min
  4. Guessing is Suffering

    14/10/2025

    Guessing is Suffering

    When you’re stuck guessing, you’re not creating—you’re reacting. In this episode, Jessica and Jonny explore how uncertainty pulls the nervous system into survival mode and why “just trying to figure it out” keeps you trapped in sympathetic overdrive. They break down what’s really happening physiologically when you’re spinning in doubt, and how to shift into the parasympathetic state where clarity, creativity, and grounded decision-making live. You’ll learn practical steps to move from guessing to knowing—from reacting to responding—by using your own body as the guide. Because suffering isn’t caused by not knowing; it’s caused by trying to control what you can’t feel.

    45 min
  5. Progress is a Pattern, But So Is Pain

    07/10/2025

    Progress is a Pattern, But So Is Pain

    Progress isn’t always momentum. Sometimes it’s repetition—the same lessons showing up in slightly different clothes. In this episode, Jessica and Jonny unpack why growth and pain often follow the same neurological and emotional patterns, and how learning to tell them apart changes everything. You’ll hear how the nervous system repeats what’s familiar, even when it hurts, and why we mistake exhaustion for effort. Through stories and real-world examples, they explore how alignment work helps you spot the difference between productive stress and protective tension—between moving forward and looping back. This episode invites you to slow down long enough to notice: are you practicing progress, or are you just perfecting your pain pattern?

    46 min
  6. Pain is a Message

    30/09/2025

    Pain is a Message

    Pain isn’t proof something’s wrong with you. It’s proof your body is still trying to get your attention. In this first episode of Invisible Work, Jessica and Jonny explore the hidden language of pain—why it isn’t just about tissue damage, and how your brain interprets every signal through context. From fascia’s role as the body’s sensory web, to why athletes often respond to pain differently than non-athletes, this episode unpacks how alignment—or misalignment—shapes the way you feel and respond to discomfort. You’ll learn why pain can feel like a clear radio signal one day and a wall of static the next, how emotional and physical pain overlap in the body, and why context—whether it’s on the mat, at the gym, or in your kitchen—changes everything. We close with a simple three-step practice you can use right now to relate to pain differently: notice the signal, ask about the context, and decide whether to stay or pivot. This isn’t about fighting pain or fixing yourself. It’s about listening to the message and learning to respond with clarity instead of fear.

    42 min
  7. The Golden Rule of Healing

    27/04/2025

    The Golden Rule of Healing

    When you're healing — whether it's from injury, alignment work, or chronic pain — the way pain moves matters more than whether it’s still there. In this episode, we dive into the Golden Rule of real healing: why shifting pain is a hidden sign of progress, not failure. Learn how to read your body's true signals, stay the course when things get messy, and know the difference between stuck patterns and breakthroughs in motion.

    49 min
  8. A Conversation About Dealing with Pain

    20/04/2025

    A Conversation About Dealing with Pain

    In this honest and deeply personal episode, we open up about pain—what it really is, how it shows up in the body, and how to know when it’s time to address it with more than movement. Jonny shares his decision to move forward with hip replacement surgery, a choice that didn’t come easy. We also talk about our conversation with a trusted doctor in Colorado who helped us understand when surgery is the best option—and when it isn’t. You’ll hear us break down the types of pain we’ve seen (and felt), what happens when pain becomes a daily companion, and how to move through it using a system that includes isometric holds, micro movements, mid-range strength, full-range control, and eventually, recoil. Whether you’re dealing with your own pain or guiding others through it, this episode is packed with clarity, real talk, and tools you can use right now.

    53 min
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About

We dive into the debate: Bench Press vs. Push-Up. Two iconic exercises, but which one deserves the spotlight in your workout routine?

Information

  • Creator
    Jessica and Jonny Hinds
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    The Alignment Lab