“Your body is not broken—it is constantly listening, learning, and responding to how you care for it.”
Spring is almost here, and for those of us in the north, the pull to get outside is strong. We’re ready to walk, bike, garden, and move again. But what happens when your body feels like it’s holding you back instead of carrying you forward?
For years, I lived with arthritis and chronic pain. I’ve had two knee replacements, rotator cuff surgery, and plates put in my foot and wrist after falls. There was a time in my life when I wasn’t active—and more importantly, I wasn’t taking care of my body. Like so many women, I was busy taking care of everyone else.
Then something shifted.
About ten years ago, I made a decision to change my lifestyle—slowly and intentionally. I lost 30 pounds and became more mindful about what I ate, how I moved, and how I managed stress. What I learned is this: with the right education, support, and discipline, our bodies are capable of incredible healing.
Today, I practice Qigong daily, work out with weights weekly at The Exercise Coach, bike and swim in the summer, and am now currently working to become certified in scuba diving. In 2027, I’m planning a two-week scuba diving journey in Indonesia with our January Smart Women Talk guest’s company, Konjo Cruising Indonesia. I honestly can’t believe I’m doing all of this in my third chapter of life! This huge goal will keep me focused and inspired!
I just heard from another former Smart Women Talk guest who completed a four-year Peace Corps mission in Africa in her 60s. Now in her 70s, she just emailed from her trip overseas that she’s in Marrakech tomorrow, will SCUBA dive in the Red Sea and then head for a Nile cruise! Wow! Staying fit both mentally and physically is so important at midlife and beyond.
More recently, I witnessed another powerful transformation up close. One of my dearest friends was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and told there was no cure—only medication. As a piano teacher and performer, this was devastating. Yet just months later, after radically changing her diet (eliminating gluten, dairy, and sugar) and beginning a gentle but powerful full-body stretching practice called Essentrics, she was transformed. In fact, she invited us to dinner one evening and this woman who once struggled to walk down her stairs was suddenly flying around her kitchen—strong, energized, and joyful. She continues to work full time into her mid 60s and shared that all her symptoms are completely in remission!
If these kinds of changes are possible for us, I believe they’re possible for you too—which is why I love learning from and sharing the wisdom of our Smart Women Talk guests.
Food, movement, and mindset matter. They matter more than we’ve been taught—and far more than we’ve been told is possible.
This month on Smart Women Talk
I’m thrilled to share two fabulous conversations that beautifully support this truth.
Our first guest is integrative health coach and author Margie Bissinger.
What if you could strengthen your bones, increase your energy, and improve your overall happiness—naturally? In our conversation, Margie and I explore why a true osteoporosis program must include resistance, weight-bearing, and balance training, which key vitamins and minerals support bone health, and how mindset and stress directly impact your body.
Margie’s work has had a personal impact on my life—I’ve actually increased my bone mass thanks to what I’ve learned from her. If you’re concerned about osteoporosis or want to be proactive about your bone health, this interview is a must-watch.
Our second guest is Master-Certified Vegan Lifestyle Coach and author Vicki Brett-Gach.
What if eating healthier didn’t mean giving things up—but discovering delicious new possibilities? Vicki shares why eating more plants supports energy, longevity, and overall health, which plant foods offer the most nutritional impact, and simple, realistic ways to begin adding more plants to your plate.
Even if you still enjoy meat, reducing it and increasing plant-based foods can make a meaningful difference—and Vicki makes it approachable, inspiring, and delicious.
A Gentle Invitation
As we move into spring, I invite you to reflect:
What is one small change you could make—in food, movement, or mindset—that would support your body more lovingly?
Strong, healthy bodies are not reserved for the lucky few.
They are built—one choice at a time.
Katana Abbott is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, Retirement Income Coach, and the founder of Smart Women’s Empowerment, a nonprofit project of United Charitable. For more than 35 years, Katana has helped women gain clarity, confidence, and peace of mind around their money and their lives—guiding them through major transitions such as retirement, encore careers, caregiving, and legacy planning.
After retiring from her corporate advisory career, Katana brought together her lifelong passion for financial education, philanthropy, and women’s empowerment by creating Smart Women’s Empowerment. Through her long-running podcast Smart Women Talk, her inspirational ezine Smart Women Smart Choices, and her signature course Unlock Your Financial Power, Katana continues to educate, inspire, and support women around the world as they step into their next chapter with purpose and intention.
Katana believes there is no single “right” path—only the one that aligns your values, resources, and vision for the life you want to create.
To learn more or connect with Katana, visit www.katanaabbott.com.
Smart Women’s Empowerment is a project of United Charitable, a registered 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 20-4286082). Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.