Teacher Spotlight: Zizi de Winter on Movement, Mobility, and Strength

<p class="p1">Movement has always been a constant in Zizi de Winter’s life. From coaching athletes and teaching yoga to helping people build strength without sacrificing mobility, her approach is rooted in the belief that movement should support us for life. By bringing together yoga, strength training, and functional movement, she encourages her students to train with intention, build resilience, and move with confidence both on and off the mat.</p>
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<h3>How did movement first become such an important part of your life?</h3>
<p>I've always been involved in sports. From working as a swim coach to teaching skiing and snowboarding, movement has always been at the center of my life. Sport gives me energy, keeps me grounded, and has shaped who I am.</p>
<p>My journey into strength training and yoga began as two separate paths. I was initially drawn to strength training because I loved how raw and demanding it was. It challenged me to push my boundaries. It taught me discipline, resilience, and confidence.</p>
<p>Yoga entered my life for different reasons. It became a way to slow down, reconnect with myself, and truly listen to my body and the world around us. It taught me that progress isn't only about pushing harder, but also about creating space to breathe, recover, and be present.</p>
<p>Today, these two practices have become inseparable. Strength training challenges me to grow, while yoga reminds me to move with awareness and intention. Together, they form the foundation of how I coach today: helping people become stronger without losing mobility, confidence, or connection to their bodies. So they can move well, feel well, and continue doing what they love for years to come.</p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0087/5193/9635/files/Image_1_-_Teacher_Spotlight__Zizi_de_Winter_on_Movement_Mobility_and_Strength.jpg?v=1783340785" alt="Side-by-side images of a woman exercising outdoors on a Manduka mat, doing a plank and a jump near a brick building." style="float: none;"></div>
<h3 class="p1">When did you realize yoga and strength training belonged together?</h3>
<p>I quickly saw how these two practices weren’t just compatible: they actually elevated each other. In my work as a personal trainer and yoga teacher, these elements blend naturally, and I build from that foundation. My students connect deeply with this integrated approach. </p>
<p>Strength training builds the power and resilience, while yoga develops body awareness, breathing, mobility, flexibility and control. My clients experienced better performance, fewer injuries, and greater enjoyment when combining both. That inspired me to develop my Yoga x Strength Method, where strength and yoga are practiced together rather than separately.</p>
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<h3>How would you describe your approach to movement in three words?</h3>
<p>Strong, Supple and Sustainable.</p>
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<h3 class="p1">What’s the biggest myth about combining yoga and strength training?</h3>
<p>Many people believe they have to choose between being strong or being flexible. In reality, these qualities enhance one another. Strength gives your stability, while mobility and flexibility allows you to move efficiently and safely under load. Together they help you move better, recover faster, and train for the long term.</p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0087/5193/9635/files/Image_2_-_Teacher_Spotlight__Zizi_de_Winter_on_Movement_Mobility_and_Strength.jpg?v=1783340968" alt=""></p>
<h3 class="p1">How have yoga and strength training made each other better?</h3>
<p>Yoga has changed the way I train in the gym. It has taught me to breathe with intention, stay focused under pressure or discomfort, and move with greater awareness. As a result, my lifting technique has improved, my recovery is better, and I know when to push and when to ease off.</p>
<p>Strength training has been just as valuable for my yoga practice. It has given me the stability, control, and confidence to move into postures with more ease and less effort. Instead of relying on flexibility alone, I can move from a place of strength.</p>
<p>Together, they remind me that true performance isn’t just about lifting heavier or stretching deeper. It’s about building a body and mind that are strong, resilient, and capable in everyday life.</p>
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<h3 class="p1">How can people build strength without losing mobility?</h3>
<p>Combining strength, mobility, and flexibility is the foundation of my philosophy. Together, they form the basis that supports performance, longevity, and the way you move through life.</p>
<p>My advice is to integrate mobility work into your strength training consistently, rather than treating it as something separate. Start your sessions with dynamic mobility to prepare your joints and nervous system for load, and finish with intentional recovery to restore range of motion and support the body in downregulating.</p>
<p>Flexibility should never be rushed or forced. It should be developed through control, awareness, and strength, and supported with mindful cooldown work at the end of your practice. When these three elements work together, they create a body that performs better, recovers faster, and stays resilient for the long term.</p>
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<h3 class="p1">What does movement look like in your own life right now?</h3>
<p>My days start very early, which is how I create space for myself in a very full life. I’m a mother of five, I work two jobs, and like many people, I’m balancing family, work, friends, and everything in between. Finding time for training isn’t always easy, which is exactly why those early morning hours are so important to me; they feel like they belong to just me.</p>
<p>I run four times a week using an app that helps me stay focused, and I strength train about two to three times a week. I also practice yoga during the week, although it’s not limited to dedicated sessions; I integrate yoga into both my running and strength training as well. And I hop on the mat whenever I need it.</p>
<p>A practical tip I always share: prioritize your strength training before cardio when combining both in one session. Otherwise, you risk fatiguing yourself before you’ve fully tapped into your strength work.</p>
<p><meta charset="utf-8"><img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0087/5193/9635/files/Image_3_-_Teacher_Spotlight__Zizi_de_Winter_on_Movement_Mobility_and_Strength.jpg?v=1783340973" alt=""></p>
<h3 class="p1">What’s one practice you never skip?</h3>
<p>Checking in with myself before I start moving is a non-negotiable practice for me. Even if it’s just a few minutes, I always take a moment to notice how my body feels that day. It allows me to move with more intention.</p>
<p>Another non-negotiable is simply to keep moving. As we age, our bodies naturally face new challenges, and consistent movement is one of the most powerful ways to support long-term health, resilience, and vitality.</p>
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<h3 class="p1">How does the P/ROX fit into the way you train?</h3>
<p>The <a href="/en-ca/products/prolite-yoga-mat" target="_blank" title="PROlite Yoga Mat 4.7mm" rel="noopener">PRO Lite Yoga Mat</a> is my favorite for dedicated yoga practice. It’s light, and for me, it truly feels like coming home to my yoga mat. The <meta charset="utf-8"><a rel="noopener" title="Manduka P/ROX Hybrid Fitness Mat | Shop Now" href="/en-ca/products/p-rox-hybrid-fitness-mat" data-promotion="" data-creative-name="Divinity-Gaines-booked-her-fir" data-creative-slot="1" data-location-id="article" data-promotion-id="Divinity-Gaines-booked-her-fir" data-promotion-name="page-width" aria-label="/products/p-rox-hybrid-fitness-mat" target="_blank">P/ROX Hybrid Fitness Mat</a> was designed for a different purpose. Once you roll it out, you immediately feel the sense of power it brings. That energizes. It feels incredibly stable during strength exercises, offers great grip while wearing training shoes, and transitions effortlessly between lifting and mobility work. For hybrid training, it brings everything together in one mat. The larger size is also a big advantage, giving you more freedom to move.</p>
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<h3 class="p1">If you could build the perfect home training space, what would it include?</h3>
<p>A home setup can be very simple. All you really need is a space where you can roll out your training mat. Everything beyond that is a bonus.</p>
<p>Next best thing is a kettlebell. It’s one of the most versatile tools for building strength, power, and functional movement in a smaller space.</p>
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<h3>Take a Class with Zizi</h3>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kA0q9_4bZ5M?si=U0FO2AC365DdJI0v" title="YouTube video player"></iframe></p>
<p><meta charset="utf-8"><span>Zizi is practicing on the </span><a rel="noopener" title="Manduka P/ROX Hybrid Fitness Mat | Shop Now" href="/en-ca/products/p-rox-hybrid-fitness-mat" data-promotion="" data-creative-name="Divinity-Gaines-booked-her-fir" data-creative-slot="1" data-location-id="article" data-promotion-id="Divinity-Gaines-booked-her-fir" data-promotion-name="page-width" aria-label="/products/p-rox-hybrid-fitness-mat" target="_blank">P/ROX Hybrid Fitness Mat</a><span>.</span></p>
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<h3>Connect with Zizi</h3>
<p>Website: <a href="https://aestheticfit.nl/" title="aestheticfit.nl">aestheticfit.nl</a></p>
<p>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aestheticfit.nl" target="_blank" title="aestheticfit.nl" rel="noopener">@aestheticfit.nl</a></p>
<p class="p1">Yoga + Strength: Leg Day Course:</p>
<p class="p2">Interested in combining yoga with strength training? Zizi has created a free online course designed to help yogis build strength and strength athletes improve mobility, recovery, and body awareness.</p>
<p class="p2">The course explores how yoga and strength training work together, featuring a practical Yoga + Strength blueprint, a complete Leg Day training plan for home or the gym, and guided 15 minute warm up and cool down yoga sequences designed specifically for lower body training.</p>
<p class="p3">The course is available as a free download via <a href="https://buymeacoffee.com/aestheticfit/e/553205" target="_blank" title="Yoga x Strength: Leg Day" rel="noopener"><span class="s1">Buy Me a Coffee</span></a>. Any support is greatly appreciated and helps Zizi continue creating accessible educational resources.</p>
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<h3>Partner With Manduka</h3>
<p><em>Manduka has supported teachers, studios, and wellness spaces since 1997. Whether you're a yoga teacher, studio owner, or hotel wellness lead, there's a partnership program designed for you.<span> </span><a href="/en-ca/pages/lets-partner-manduka" title="Partner with Us | Manduka" rel="noopener" data-promotion="" data-creative-name="Divinity-Gaines-booked-her-fir" data-creative-slot="1" data-location-id="article" data-promotion-id="Divinity-Gaines-booked-her-fir" data-promotion-name="page-width" aria-label="/pages/lets-partner-manduka" target="_blank">Learn more about working with Manduka</a>.</em></p>