Welcome to Stroke Recovery: Therapy Ended? Now What? — an educational podcast series by Tracy L. Markley designed to help stroke survivors, caregivers, and professionals better understand the body, the brain, and the recovery process long after formal therapy ends.

Each episode focuses on one essential area of stroke recovery, blending neuroscience, movement education, functional training, safety guidance, and real-life insight from Tracy’s decades of experience specializing in stroke, balance, gait, proprioception, and the brain–body connection.

This series is based on Tracy’s award-winning work with stroke survivors around the world and her book Stroke Recovery: What Now? When Physical Therapy Ends But Your Recovery Continues. Her mission is to empower survivors at every stage — from newly home to years into recovery.

IN THIS SERIES, YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT:

• Muscles, biomechanics, and movement patterns
• Proprioception, spatial awareness, and body connection
• Brain injury basics and how to care for the healing brain
• Balance training, stability, and fall prevention
• Walking gait, posture, and leg alignment
• Spasticity, drop foot, bracing, and safety strategies
• Strength training, fascia, flexibility, and mobility
• Memory, vision challenges, reading difficulties, and peripheral vision
• Communication and cognitive struggles after stroke
• Pain management, fatigue, and realistic recovery expectations
• Home-exercise ideas and equipment recommendations
• How to choose the right trainer or recovery professional
• Emotional recovery, confidence building, and support systems
• Neuroplasticity and what improves it
• Caregiver education and family guidance
• And many more recovery essentials throughout the series

No matter where you are in your recovery journey — early, mid, or long-term — these episodes help you understand your body more clearly and provide the tools you need to continue improving safely and effectively.

Website (resources, articles, membership library):
www.TracyMarkley.com

Amazon Author Page:
www.Amazon.com/author/tracymarkley

Membership Library (workouts, Pilates, balance training, stroke-recovery videos):
www.tracymarkley.com/membership

In celebration of National Author’s Day, Tracy Markley shares how writing her very first book completely transformed her life — and how your story has the power to transform yours as well.

When Tracy published The Stroke of an Artist, she had no idea it would lead to speaking opportunities, national recognition, awards, magazine features, media interviews, and collaborations with inspiring people like Elaine LaLanne. What began as one book became the foundation for her entire author journey.

If you’ve ever felt a pull to write but didn’t know where to begin, this episode will give you clarity, encouragement, and a reminder that your story matters.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL HEAR:

• How writing a first book can open unexpected doors and life-changing opportunities
• The mindset shift that helped Tracy turn passion into purpose and profession
• Why sharing your story creates connection, healing, and legacy
• How to start your own book even if you feel unsure, overwhelmed, or not “ready”
• Why writing is a gift — for the writer and the reader

Your book is more than an idea — it’s your legacy. Your words can inspire, educate, heal, and empower others. If you’ve ever felt called to write, this episode will help you take that first courageous step.

📚 CONNECT WITH TRACY L. MARKLEY

Explore Tracy’s books on stroke recovery, balance, brain health, and inspiring personal stories:

Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/author/tracymarkley
Website & Bookstore: www.tracymarkley.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/motivate_healthfit

🌟 ABOUT THE TRACY MARKLEY MEMBERSHIP COMMUNITY

Looking for deeper guidance on strength, balance, mobility, brain health, stroke recovery, or overall wellness?
Tracy’s website membership offers education and movement sessions for all fitness levels — not just seniors or stroke survivors.

Inside the membership, you’ll find:

• Stroke recovery education & training
• Balance, walking, proprioception & fall-prevention lessons
• Strength training workouts
• Pilates mat classes
• Stretching & mobility sessions
• Yoga-inspired movement
• Brain health education
• Whole-body wellness tools

Whether you’re a stroke survivor, caregiver, fitness professional, or someone seeking better movement and health, this community supports every stage of life.

Join the membership at: www.tracymarkley.com

Music is one of the most powerful — and most overlooked — tools in stroke recovery.
In this episode, Tracy Markley explains how listening to meaningful, familiar music can improve cognition, verbal memory, language recovery, emotional regulation, focus, and motivation during stroke rehabilitation.

You’ll learn how the brain responds to your favorite songs, why familiar music activates multiple regions of the brain at once, and how this multisensory stimulation supports neuroplasticity. Tracy also shares insights from neuroscience research and a lecture from a leading neuroscientist whose clinical studies show that personalized music strengthens cognitive processing after a stroke.

This episode includes two powerful personal stories of stroke survivors who transformed right in front of Tracy when listening to music they loved — changes so profound they inspired her to research this topic further and write about it in her book Stroke Recovery: What Now? When Physical Therapy Ends but Your Recovery Continues.

Music is not just entertainment. It’s a healing tool for the brain.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:

• How familiar music activates multiple regions of the brain
• Why your favorite songs stimulate verbal memory and language pathways
• How music improves focus, emotional stability, and motivation
• The role of rhythm in gait, timing, and coordination
• Real-life examples of stroke survivors transformed through meaningful music
• How to use music safely and intentionally during home recovery
• Neuroscience research on auditory–memory pathways and neuroplasticity
• Why emotionally significant music enhances healing and cognitive function

If you or a loved one is healing after a stroke, adding meaningful music to daily routines may provide new progress, renewed motivation, and a powerful emotional lift.

🎙️ ABOUT TRACY L. MARKLEY (AUTHOR & STROKE RECOVERY SPECIALIST)

Tracy Markley is the author of multiple stroke recovery and brain health books, including:

• Stroke Recovery: What Now? When Physical Therapy Ends but Your Recovery Continues
• Stroke Recovery: Regaining Arm Movement
• Stroke Recovery: Leg Stability and Walking Gait
• The Stroke of an Artist: The Journey of a Fitness Trainer and a Stroke Survivor
• Your Brain: The Engine of Your Body – A Fitness Trainer’s Guide to Brain Health
• Balance, Walking & Fall Prevention: A Fitness Trainer’s Guide for Seniors and Pre-Seniors

📚 Amazon Author Page: www.Amazon.com/author/tracymarkley
🌐 Website Bookstore: www.tracymarkley.com