Tone It Down

Tone It Down

Welcome to Tone It Down, your new weekly ritual for exhaling, exhaling again, and remembering you’re not supposed to have it all figured out. Hosted by Karena Dawn, cofounder of Tone It Up and your favorite wellness bestie, this is the girlfriend group chat you actually want to be in. The one where we laugh so hard our mascara migrates, unpack the stuff that’s been sitting on our hearts, and walk away feeling—finally—seen. Every episode is an invitation to step out of the relentless “do more, be more, achieve more” swirl and slip into something softer. Here, we explore what it really takes to feel good in our bodies, steady in our minds, and connected in our lives. Think fitness and nutrition with a side of real-life evolution, the quiet self-care practices that actually stick, and the private girl talk rarely shared in public. No posturing. No perfection. Just honest conversations about the glow-ups, the growing pains, the rituals we love, and the resets we desperately need. Tone It Down Tuesdays are your new anchor. A place to feel grounded, motivated, held, and reminded that wellness is not a performance. It’s a relationship. And the good news? You don’t have to do it alone. Whether you’re stretching, meal prepping, commuting, multitasking, or tapping out of the chaos, this podcast offers space to breathe and reset. Because at the end of the day, we’re all evolving. We’re all learning. And we’re all craving conversations that go deeper than highlight reels. So pull up a seat. Bring your full self. And come tone down the noise so you can tune into your life again.

  1. 1d ago

    Pilates Princesses lift heavy, too: Jasmine Sharp on Strength, hormones and starting over

    This week Karena sits down with Pilates expert and Sharp Body Pilates owner Jasmine Sharp for a wide-ranging, honest conversation. Jasmine breaks down the real history of Pilates (yes, it started with hospital beds), debunks the "Pilates Princess" stereotype once and for all, and gets real about her own perimenopause journey,  including the hormone shifts nobody warned her about. They also dig into fascia, working through injury without giving up, and how she found community and connection as a single mom building a business.  [00:55] The Real History of Pilates Jasmine shares how an injury from ballet led her to Pilates. The surprising origin story: Joseph Pilates originally designed the reformer to help injured soldiers get moving again from hospital beds. Classical, contemporary, and high-intensity Pilates are three distinct approaches, and Jasmine breaks down what separates them. [04:25] Debunking the "Pilates Princess" Myth Jasmine and Karena tackle the culture clash between the strength-training and Pilates communities. Even male athletes are starting to see the value of Pilates as a complement to their training. [09:01] Getting Honest About Perimenopause Jasmine opens up about her perimenopause journey starting at 42 — the weight gain, the hormone shifts, and the mental toll of "loving yourself" one day and feeling betrayed by your body the next. Why she believes women aren't taught to talk openly about these changes, even within their own families. Her approach: staying transparent about trying different solutions, including a supportive, honest conversation about her experience with a peptide as one tool in a larger toolkit, not a stand-alone fix. [15:45] Motherhood, Business & Finding Community Jasmine reflects on the difficult balance of building a business while raising her daughter as a single mom. The loneliness that can come with pouring everything into work and parenting and the deliberate steps she's taking now to build friendships and community. Her advice for reconnecting: find your gym or studio, seek out women-forward groups, and put yourself out there. [25:24] Fascia, Pain & Moving Through Injury Jasmine explains what fascia is and why it holds onto tension, stress, and old injuries. Practical tools for release: foam rollers for bigger areas, massage balls for targeted spots. Her advice for anyone feeling discouraged by chronic pain: find an instructor who will work within your parameters, not around your setbacks. Connect with Jasmine: The Sharp Method Pilates (https://www.thesharpmethod.com/sharper-life) @thesharpmethod on IG (https://www.instagram.com/thesharpmethod/) Let's Connect: Karena Dawn — @karenadawn on IG (https://www.instagram.com/karenadawn/) THE BIG SILENCE PODCAST (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-big-silence/id1607181597) Join the #1 Fitness App for Women: Tone It Up App (https://my.toneitup.com/pages/tone-it-up-app) Tone It Up YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@toneitup/featured) Tone It Up Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/toneitup/?hl=en)

  2. Aug 11

    Reclaim Your Relationship’s Confidence & Connection with Sexual Wellness Coach Gabriella Espinosa

    This week Karena welcomes Gabriella Espinosa — certified women's health and sexual wellness expert, host of Pleasure and the Pause, and executive producer of the documentary Hot — for the joyful, empowering conversation the Tone It Up community has been asking for. Gabriella shares how she went from feeling disconnected in her 40s to becoming one of the leading voices in women's pleasure and hormone health, then she and Karena dive into "pleasure snacks," how to communicate what you want with a partner, and why prioritizing your own pleasure is one of the most powerful wellness tools you have. Plus: a community voicemail question, answered live. How Do I Reconnect With Pleasure and Discuss It Without Shame? [00:00] Coming Next [01:50] Karena’s Intro & TIU Updates [05:47] TIU App [07:30] Pleasure Is Wellness Gabriella reframes the whole conversation from the jump: sexual wellness isn't separate from your health, it's part of it, just like skin, muscles, and bones. Her own turning point came from choosing curiosity over silence during a season of change in her 40s. Her mission now: help women feel confident, informed, and unashamed talking about their bodies. [17:45] Pleasure Snacks: Small Moments, Big Impact Gabriella introduces "pleasure snacks": tiny, everyday moments that build your capacity to feel good. Simple examples include feeling the sun on your skin, dancing in your kitchen, savoring a meal, moving your body. The takeaway: filling your own cup first widens what's possible with a partner. [24:42] Community Voicemail: Supporting Your Hormones Listener Dawn calls in with a question about navigating an estrogen patch shortage. Gabriella shares practical, doctor-conversation-ready options including alternative forms of estrogen worth asking about. You have more options than you think, and your doctor can help you find the right one. [30:43] Know Your Body, Own Your Confidence Gabriella brings hands-on models to break down vulva and clitoral anatomy in a clear, judgment-free way. The empowering stat: the clitoris exists purely for pleasure, with thousands of nerve endings dedicated to it. Her encouragement: getting familiar with your own anatomy is one of the simplest confidence-building steps you can take. [40:37] Build Your "Yucks and Yums" List Gabriella's favorite communication tool: writing out what you love and what's a pass, solo or with a partner. It's a low-pressure way to open the conversation — grab a notebook, a glass of wine, and get curious. Her reminder: your partner wants to hear this from you, and naming your desires is a gift to both of you. [47:41] The Empowering Truth to Remember Gabriella closes with a stat worth sharing: most doctors won't bring up sexual health unless you do  Her closing message: pleasure has no age limit and no expiration date. It's yours for life. Connect with Gabriella: A gift for listeners: Receive Gabriella’s FREE Pleasure Upgrade Bundle (https://www.pleasureinthepause.com/gift). Includes 7-Day Pleasure Body Journal + Guided Visualization + Pleasure Checklist. @gabriellaespinosa on IG (https://www.instagram.com/gabriellaespinosa/?hl=en) Pleasure in the Pause podcast (https://www.pleasureinthepause.com/) HOT! Documentary (https://www.themilkhaus.com/hot-documentary/) Let's Connect: Karena Dawn — @karenadawn on IG (https://www.instagram.com/karenadawn/) THE BIG SILENCE PODCAST (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-big-silence/id1607181597) Join the #1 Fitness App for Women: Tone It Up App (https://my.toneitup.com/pages/tone-it-up-app) Tone It Up YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@toneitup/featured) Tone It Up Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/toneitup/?hl=en)

  3. Aug 4

    Beating Skinny Culture & Conquering Fitness Slumps with Strength Coach Jacqueline Kasen

    Part 2 of Karena’s conversation trainer and fitness industry veteran Jacqueline Kasen picks up right where we left off — and this half goes even deeper. Karena and Jacqueline talk through the future of fitness (and why Jacqueline feels genuinely hopeful about where the industry is headed), the three real things that beat a motivation slump, and a live "workshop your why" exercise using Jacqueline's goal-tree method. Then it gets personal: dating in Miami, Karena's decade of marriage, why every good relationship (and every good goal) takes real work, and the importance of self-accountability when you mess up.  [00:00] Coming Next [01:36] Intro & TIU Updates from Karena [06:29] TIU App [08:18] Welcome back Jacqueline [10:00] Skinny Culture, Then and Now Karena and Jacqueline discuss body positivity  The pressures of social media on today's kids  Why "doom scrolling" makes skinny culture harder to ignore than the magazine-era pressures we grew up with [06:59] The Future of Fitness Jacqueline shares why she's hopeful about the future of fitness  The medical and fitness worlds are starting to merge with doctors leaning on nutrition and movement before medication. [11:25] Workshop Your Why: The Goal Tree Live exercise: Jacqueline walks Karena through her "tree" method for breaking a big, undefined goal into specific, actionable steps  [~20:00] Ten Years of Marriage & Being a Good Damn Person Karena reflects on nearly a decade of marriage Jacqueline connects successful relationships back to integrity — "how you act when nobody's watching"  Connect with Jacqueline: @kasenfitness on IG (https://www.instagram.com/kasenfitness/?hl=en) Let's Connect: Karena Dawn — @karenadawn on IG (https://www.instagram.com/karenadawn/) THE BIG SILENCE PODCAST (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-big-silence/id1607181597) Join the #1 Fitness App for Women: Tone It Up App (https://my.toneitup.com/pages/tone-it-up-app) Tone It Up YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@toneitup/featured) Tone It Up Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/toneitup/?hl=en)

  4. Jul 28

    Live from Miami: Karena Answers Your Questions on Workout Snacks, Motivation Slumps and Vacation Mode in Your App

    We are LIVE from Miami and Karena and Des are fresh off a Walk & Talk with local Tone It Up gals. Today, they’re digging into YOUR community questions: what to do when motivation disappears, why building muscle feels harder after 40, the "lazy but effective" workouts that still count, and how to stay on track while traveling. Plus a huge announcement about where Tone It Up is filming next. Drop your own question at karenadawn.com/message and you could be featured on the pod! [7:06] Motivation Ebbs, Flows & Showing Up Anyway Karena gets honest about founding Tone It Up at 27 out of a passion for fitness, after living through her "decade of darkness" Her go-to fix: show up for just one small step — a 5, 10, or 15-minute workout in the app — and let the feeling of doing it rebuild the motivation. Big takeaway: lacking motivation is normal, especially with hormone shifts throughout the month, and an accountability partner can help. [9:55] Building Muscle After 40 & the Power of Protein Karena explains that muscle loss after 40 is real (hello, sarcopenia) and connects it to perimenopause and menopause and shares that she's building a program specifically on gaining muscle. Her practical advice: prioritize protein throughout the day, and consider creatine and aminos alongside consistent weight lifting. [11:26] Workout Snacks, Travel Routines & Vacation Mode Karena's favorite "workout snacks": squats every bathroom break, dumbbells kept on the kitchen island, and walking phone calls instead of sitting. Des shares how walkable cities like New York and Montreal turn exploring into built-in movement The app's Vacation Mode program (7 days, no weights required) is built to keep a light routine going without sacrificing the fun of a trip. [16:34] Big News: Filming in Saint Vincent After years of requests for beach workouts, Tone It Up is headed to Saint Vincent in the Caribbean to film, plus a surprise beyond the workouts themselves. Karena and Des close with an open invitation: DM your ideas for future guests and topics, including more lighthearted, pop-culture conversations. Let's Connect: Karena Dawn — @karenadawn on IG (https://www.instagram.com/karenadawn/) THE BIG SILENCE PODCAST (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-big-silence/id1607181597) Join the #1 Fitness App for Women: Tone It Up App (https://my.toneitup.com/pages/tone-it-up-app) Tone It Up YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@toneitup/featured) Tone It Up Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/toneitup/?hl=en)

  5. Jul 21

    Strength Coach Jacqueline Kasen on Lifting Heavy, Peptide Culture, & the Truth About "New Healthy"

    On today’s episode, Karena is live from Miami with part one of her conversation with trainer, gym executive, and fitness industry veteran Jacqueline Kasen. Jacqueline grew up behind the scenes of the at-home fitness world (her dad's company helped launch Denise Austin), studied exercise science with plans to go the medical route, and lasted exactly 10 hours as a trainer before she knew fitness was where she belonged. Karena and Jacqueline dig into the current peptide and extreme-lean culture, why lifting heavy matters more than ever (especially on GLP-1s), supplement basics, and why "back to basics" beats chasing the next trend.  [06:56] How Fitness Has Changed Over 20 Years From the Arnold Classic bodybuilder era and supplement-brand booth culture to calisthenics, the COVID minimalist-workout boom, and 10,000 steps. Where the industry is now: an "odd phase" of extreme leanness driven by the peptide boom. [11:05] The Peptide & "New Healthy" Conversation Jacqueline shares her honest, non-judgmental take on GLP-1s and peptides in the fitness industry, and the long-term health concerns she sees. [14:15] Simple, Non-Negotiable Basics Move daily, lift heavy and often, get quality sleep, eat well, spend time outside — Jacqueline's no-frills formula for feeling better fast. Karena connects it to "workout snacks" and short Tone It Up app workouts for low-motivation days. [18:31] Lifting Heavy, Explained What "heavy" actually means (RPE — rate of perceived exertion), why bone density and strength training matter especially for women as they age, and the muscle/bone loss risk tied to GLP-1 use. Form and technique over ego — and why trainers should step in to help, not judge. [23:21] Supplements, Protein & Wearables Jacqueline's take on creatine, protein targets, and why she's wary of over-measuring and fitness trackers creating unnecessary stress. [29:20] Back to Basics & the Medical-Fitness Divide A candid conversation about prescriptions vs. root-cause care, including Jacqueline's personal experience navigating a family member’s treatment. Where Jacqueline sees medicine and fitness merging — more in Part 2. Connect with Jacqueline: @kasenfitness on IG Let's Connect: Karena Dawn — @karenadawn on IG THE BIG SILENCE PODCAST Join the #1 Fitness App for Women: Tone It Up App Tone It Up YouTube Tone It Up Instagram

  6. Jul 14

    Lisa J of BK Beauty on Beauty After 40, Finding Your Confidence & Building a Brand

    In this conversation with Lisa J, founder of BK Beauty and longtime beauty creator, Karena Dawn explores how great tools (not more product) transform your makeup routine, why real confidence takes years to build, and how she and her husband built a self-funded beauty brand on their own terms — plus, the honest, hopeful story of how fitness and self-care helped both women come back to themselves. What if the secret to feeling beautiful has less to do with what you're wearing, and everything to do with how kind you are to yourself? Great tools, honest confidence, and a whole lot of self-kindness — this conversation has it all. [04:28] Building BK Beauty: From YouTube to Beauty Empire Lisa's five years making YouTube makeup tutorials before launching BK Beauty in 2019 Why she started with brushes instead of products, and the difference the right tools make Building the business alongside her husband Paul, and how they divide roles without stepping on each other Staying self-funded and what that freedom has meant for the brand [11:11] Makeup as Self-Expression & Teaching Her Daughters Confidence Lisa's earliest memory of falling in love with makeup at twelve years old Choosing the name BK Beauty for her daughters, and the lesson she wanted it to carry Why she teaches her girls that beauty is kindness — to others and to yourself How makeup, like clothing, became less about hiding and more about expression [16:49] Beauty Tips for Every Stage: Skin, Brushes & Confidence After 40 The most common concealer mistake — and why less is more Why dense brushes aren't your friend after 40, and what to look for instead Lisa's tinted-SPF hack and her go-to layering routine for hydrated, glowy skin The real difference between bronzer and contour [36:11] Finding Yourself Again: Fitness, Motherhood & Coming Back to You Karena on how fitness became her therapy and helped her through a hard chapter Lisa's own journey into fitness after losing her best friend Karena's honest take on weight changes, perimenopause, and getting back on track Why both women believe you have to take care of yourself before you can take care of anything else Guest Resources Follow Lisa J on YouTube Follow Lisa J on Instagram Check out BK Beauty Find Lisa on TikTok: Lisa J Makeup If this episode made you feel good, please consider supporting the show and exploring our resources: Let's Connect: Karena Dawn — @karenadawn on IG THE BIG SILENCE PODCAST Join the #1 Fitness App for Women: Tone It Up App Tone It Up YouTube Tone It Up Instagram

  7. Jun 30

    What If It All Goes Right? TIU Trainer Angela Gargano on Resilience, Confidence & Starting Over

    This week we're back with Tone It Up trainer, 6x American Ninja Warrior, and motivational speaker Angela Gargano and this conversation is pure fuel. Angela opens up about tearing her ACL on national television (her second tear!), the mental side of her comeback, and the moment she decided to go all-in on motivational speaking after manifesting it a year before. We talk confidence vs. courage and Angela answers your community questions, from building your first pull-up without a bar to her honest take on fitness foundations and trends.  [00:00] Coming Next [01:00] Intro [02:07] New Workouts & Meet Your Trainer Karena welcomes Angela Gargano back to the show after filming new progressive-overload workouts for the Tone It Up app. New workouts hit lower body, glutes, upper body, and quick total-body/core sessions you can repeat. [03:48] The ACL Comeback & What Resilience Really Looks Like  Angela revisits her American Ninja Warrior journey — including tearing her ACL on national television, her second tear ever. It took two seasons of rejection before she made it back on the show. Her biggest takeaway: resilience is mental far more than it's physical.  [07:42] The Hallway in Between & Confidence vs. Courage Angela shares the concept behind her upcoming book, The Hallway in Between — the five steps to move through when you're not certain what's next. Her keynote audiences tell her, "I'm in the hallway, Ange" — it resonates because everyone's hallway looks different. Angela's reframe: you don't need confidence to start — you need conviction, and confidence builds as you go. All it takes is a small spark of courage to propel you forward.  [13:44] Angela's 4 F's Foundation Fitness: just three 30-minute workouts a week (1.5 hours total) is a great starting base. Fuel: start small — aim for ~30g of protein at breakfast and build from there. Focus: take a few intentional breaths and a moment present, away from social media. Fun: Angela shares a powerful personal story about a therapist's advice to simply "go have fun again" during a hard season — and how it changed everything.  [17:22] Fitness Trends & Myths, Honestly Addressed Angela and Karena share their honest, supportive take on the GLP-1 conversation  The trend they're loving right now: building strength and muscle is officially "in" — and that's a win for women's health at every age. Quick myth-busting round: weights won't make you bulky, an hour-long workout isn't required, and why cardio alone won't get you there Connect with Angela: Website (https://www.angela-gargano.com/) @angela_gargano on IG (https://www.instagram.com/angela_gargano/) Let's Connect: Karena Dawn — @karenadawn on IG (https://www.instagram.com/karenadawn/) THE BIG SILENCE PODCAST (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-big-silence/id1607181597) Join the #1 Fitness App for Women: Tone It Up App (https://my.toneitup.com/pages/tone-it-up-app) Tone It Up YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@toneitup/featured) Tone It Up Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/toneitup/?hl=en)

  8. Jun 23

    Calmness Is Possible: Karena on Retreats, Signs From Above & Surviving a Bear

    Welcome back to Tone It Down. Today, Karena sits down with Des fresh off a seven-day Panchakarma retreat in the Blue Ridge Mountains and she’s ready to share everything, including the burnout that sent her there, an emotional sign she never expected, and a very close encounter with a bear named Blue Blue. Karena opens up about what it really takes to reset your nervous system, the moment a third-eye treatment gave her an unexpected connection to someone she lost, and how she found her way back to calm. Plus, she answers a listener's question about making the most of a solo retreat. This episode is a reminder that you don't have to wait for burnout to take care of yourself and that calm really is always within reach. How do I find my calm again when life feels like too much? Rest isn't something you have to earn and even the smallest moments of stillness can change everything. Drop your own question at karenadawn.com/message and you could be featured on the pod! (00:00) Coming Next (00:50) Intro (01:37) What Does It Mean to Lift Heavy? (02:55) The Burnout Before the Breakthrough Even when life looks good from the outside, it's okay to admit you're overwhelmed and need a reset. Asking for help and taking the time you need isn't selfish, it's necessary. Trying something completely new, even when it's outside your comfort zone, can be the doorway to exactly what you need. (10:40) A Sign You Didn't Know You Needed Slowing down and detoxing isn't just physical, it can open you up emotionally in ways you don't expect. Grief and connection can show up in the most unexpected, beautiful forms when you make space for stillness. You don't have to look for closure or connection, sometimes it finds you exactly when you're ready. (15:39) Calm is Closer Than You Think You don't need a seven-day retreat to feel grounded, even ten minutes of intentional stillness counts. Bringing a little structure into your day, like a morning routine, can help you feel less lost and more present. Giving yourself permission to rest, without guilt, is one of the most powerful things you can do. (17:35) Facing Fear and Finding Your Strength When you're faced with the unexpected, thinking clearly and staying calm can carry you through. Every challenge you move through, even a scary one, is proof of how capable and resilient you are. Sometimes the moments that scare us the most are the ones that remind us how strong we really are. (25:34) You Asked: How Do I Get the Most Out of a Solo Retreat? A little bit of structure, like journaling or movement in the morning, can help you feel connected to your time instead of lost in it. Give yourself permission to enjoy your time away without guilt, you deserve the space you're taking. Allow yourself a few days to fully drop in, real rest takes a little time to settle into. Retreat Resources: Want to experience SoHum for yourself? Use code KARENAPK for $500 off your stay atSoHum Healing Resort (https://www.sohumhealing.com) Let's Connect: Karena Dawn (https://www.instagram.com/karenadawn/) Des (https://www.instagram.com/_deseray/?hl=en) THE BIG SILENCE PODCAST (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-big-silence/id1607181597) Join the #1 Fitness App for Women: Tone It Up App (https://my.toneitup.com/pages/tone-it-up-app) Tone It Up YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@toneitup/featured) Tone It Up Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/toneitup/?hl=en)

4.7
out of 5
33 Ratings

About

Welcome to Tone It Down, your new weekly ritual for exhaling, exhaling again, and remembering you’re not supposed to have it all figured out. Hosted by Karena Dawn, cofounder of Tone It Up and your favorite wellness bestie, this is the girlfriend group chat you actually want to be in. The one where we laugh so hard our mascara migrates, unpack the stuff that’s been sitting on our hearts, and walk away feeling—finally—seen. Every episode is an invitation to step out of the relentless “do more, be more, achieve more” swirl and slip into something softer. Here, we explore what it really takes to feel good in our bodies, steady in our minds, and connected in our lives. Think fitness and nutrition with a side of real-life evolution, the quiet self-care practices that actually stick, and the private girl talk rarely shared in public. No posturing. No perfection. Just honest conversations about the glow-ups, the growing pains, the rituals we love, and the resets we desperately need. Tone It Down Tuesdays are your new anchor. A place to feel grounded, motivated, held, and reminded that wellness is not a performance. It’s a relationship. And the good news? You don’t have to do it alone. Whether you’re stretching, meal prepping, commuting, multitasking, or tapping out of the chaos, this podcast offers space to breathe and reset. Because at the end of the day, we’re all evolving. We’re all learning. And we’re all craving conversations that go deeper than highlight reels. So pull up a seat. Bring your full self. And come tone down the noise so you can tune into your life again.