In this powerful episode of The Journey of Becoming, Karrie Mitten sits down with Rachel Jenks, founder of Booty Kicking Ballerina, to explore how dancers and high-achieving women can heal their relationship with their bodies. Rachel shares her journey from a professional ballet career cut short by injuries and disordered patterns, to rebuilding strength, mobility, and self-trust through corrective exercise, compassionate coaching, and body wisdom.

You’ll hear how Rachel pivoted from decades in marketing back to her first love—dance—blending injury prevention, corrective exercise, and self-compassion to support long-term longevity, not just short-term performance. She opens up about scoliosis, hypothyroid, identity loss, and the mindset shift from punishing discipline to loving stewardship of the body—so you can keep “kicking booty” for a lifetime.

What we cover

• Smart conditioning for dancers: strength, mobility, and injury prevention
• Recovering from burnout and disordered patterns; moving from self-critique to body love
• Corrective exercise basics that improve balance, turns, and resilience
• Pivoting careers with courage, handling comparison, and redefining success
• Practical reframes: listening to your body, aging as an athlete/artist, and sustainable training

Key takeaways

• Your body isn’t the enemy—partner with it.
• Train for longevity: technique + strength + recovery.
• Identity evolves; you have permission to be who you are—now.

If this episode resonates, share it with a dancer, teacher, or high-achieving friend who needs a reminder that healing and high performance can coexist.