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)