Getting (Back) into Motion: Alison’s Cavaillé-Jouannet Turning Point

After a long time away from sports, Alison Cavaillé-Jouannet, founder of the podcast La Matrescence, had never truly found her place in the world of movement. It was only after several “false starts” that a real breakthrough occurred, prompting her to integrate physical activity into her daily life as a mother of three.

In this honest and inspiring interview, she reflects on her journey, the physical and mental benefits of sport, and shares practical tips to help other women (re)embrace movement—without pressure. She also talks about her “Déclic” retreats, designed as a restorative break for anyone who wants to relearn how to move—together.

Can you tell us about your journey and your relationship with sports before becoming a mother?

I was never really athletic. I tried football around the age of 12 or 13, but it never really clicked... nor did it have any real significance in my life.

Was there a defining moment, a turning point, that pushed you to start, resume, or intensify your physical activity?

Yes, absolutely. But that turning point actually came from a series of what I call “false starts,” which eventually led me toward movement, and then toward sports. I actually talk about this in more detail in the latest episode of my podcast La Matrescence, released last Friday:

https://lamatrescence.fr/episode-243-quand-la-vie-toblige-a-te-regarder-en-face-prise-de-poids-anxiete-les-declics-dalison-cavaille/

What physical and emotional sensations does sport bring you today, as a mother?

It brings me a tremendous sense of pride and a lot of peace. It’s become just as essential to me as eating or drinking throughout the day.

How do you manage to balance motherhood and sports in your daily life?

My kids are older: I have a 17-year-old son, a 12-year-old daughter, and a 7-year-old little boy. So their age definitely helps me find that balance between motherhood and sport.

Especially since I didn’t have this habit before — sport wasn’t part of my daily life at all. I had to learn how to integrate these moments into a routine already full of “mom life.”

My tip for balancing sport, work, and family time: I book my workout sessions directly from my phone, which allows me to see which ones are available when I am. That way, I can try different activities, often at the last minute.

Otherwise, I schedule workout sessions in my calendar like any other appointment — it helps me make sure I carve out time to train each week.

What would you say to a woman who wants to take that time for herself but doesn’t know where to start?

In my opinion, the hardest part — when your days are already full — is imagining adding more to them. I think the key is to *replace* rather than *add*.

Before trying to squeeze sport into an already packed schedule, you can start by swapping the escalator for the stairs, or the car for a bike when possible.

Little by little, it becomes a virtuous cycle, and you realize you can make more space for movement than you ever thought possible.

Was there a particular practice that helped you reconnect with your body after pregnancy?

For a long time, I thought I needed to turn to so-called “gentler” forms of exercise like yoga or Pilates.

Because I wasn’t athletic, I assumed those would be more accessible.

But I eventually realized that the sports I used to find intimidating — like CrossFit or Dynamo Cycling — are actually the ones that suit me best.

How do you handle the days when you have no energy or motivation to move?

Sometimes I simply listen to my body: if I genuinely don’t feel like it, physically or emotionally, I don’t force it. I’m not a professional athlete — skipping a day or two isn’t going to ruin my progress — so I listen to myself.

But if I sense that underneath that pause there’s just a bit of laziness or a desire to stay curled up in bed, then I give myself a gentle push… because I know I’ll feel better afterward.

What message would you like to share with moms who doubt their ability to (re)start moving?

We are a thousand times more capable than we think.

Can you tell us about the “Déclic” retreats you organize for mothers who want to embrace this new momentum?

“Déclic” is a series of retreats I created a few months ago for women — and men — who want to shift their lives through movement.

During these retreats, we laugh, we try all kinds of different sports, we eat well…

And we come out with living proof that we’re capable of far more than we imagined. The power of the group — before (via the private WhatsApp messages), during, and after — plays a huge role in the motivation and momentum.

The next retreat dates will be announced within a week, with more beautiful opportunities to (re)connect with yourself.