Exercise and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction with Dr. Nidhi Sharma
In this conversation, Jessica Valant and Dr. Nidhi Sharma, physical therapist, delve into the intricacies of pelvic floor health, exercise and postpartum care for women. You'll learn:⚫︎ The personal experience that led Nidhi to specialize in women's health⚫︎ The importance of strength in the postpartum period⚫︎ How to create a sustainable exercise plan with pelvic floor dysfunction⚫︎ Common myths around exercise and pelvic floor health, including why you can and should do squats even with pelvic floor issuesJoin us for this extremely empowering and informational discussion around pelvic floor health and exercise.Dr. Nidhi Sharma is a pelvic health physical therapist with over 15 years of experience in helping people recover from injuries and regain function. She is double board certified in orthopedics and pelvic health through the American Physical Therapy Association. Her passion is to help women overcome pelvic health challenges in pregnancy, post-partum and beyond. Her goal for her patients is for them to understand their body and take ownership of their health. When not treating patients, she'll often be found speaking at local support groups and community events, or teaching in childbirth education classes to raise awareness about pelvic health. She is also involved in teaching physical therapists and fitness professionals in the specialty of pelvic health.Resources mentioned in this episode:⚫︎ Dr. Nidhi Sharma on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pelvicharmony.pt/⚫︎ Free prolapse resource guide: https://jessicavalant.com/prolapse-safe-exercise-program⚫︎ Four Week Prolapse Workout Plan: https://payhip.com/b/04F6H⚫︎ Prolapse podcast series: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-your-body/id1649561552?i=1000627755982⚫︎ Jessica’s website, resources, services & more:http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com⚫︎ Jessica’s UNLIMITED community and app with daily workouts for muscle strength:http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com/unlimited⚫︎Watch our podcast episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@meetyourbodypodcast ⚫︎ YouTube workouts: https://www.youtube.com/c/JessicaValantPilates ⚫︎ Follow Jessica on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/jessicavalantpilatesChapters00:00 Introduction to Pelvic Floor Health02:37 Nidhi's Journey into Pelvic Health05:31 Understanding Pelvic Floor and Pain Connections08:29 Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: Weakness vs. Tightness10:53 Symptoms of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction13:56 Movement and Pelvic Floor Health18:14 Philosophy of Safe Movement with Dysfunction21:23 Empowering Movement: Overcoming Fears in Health22:38 Gradual Exposure: The Key to Strength and Resilience23:26 Squats and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: Finding the Right Approach27:03 Running: Earning Your Stride33:06 The Importance of Weight Lifting for Everyone36:53 Movement as Medicine: The Fallacy of Waiting for Pain to DisappearJessica Valant and Jessica Valant Pilates, LLC, recommend you consult with a physician before starting any new exercise program. The information given here is not meant to treat or diagnose any medical condition.
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My Journey with Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
In this episode, Jessica shares her personal journey with pelvic floor health, focusing on her experience with prolapse, the impact of pregnancy and childbirth, and the importance of seeking professional help. She discusses her surgery, recovery, and the ongoing management of her pelvic floor health six years after surgical repair. Jessica emphasizes the need for empowerment through movement and exercise, encouraging listeners not to let fear dictate their physical activity.This episode is for anyone dealing with pelvic floor dysfunction. It will offer a glimpse into the story of someone who has been there and will also give actionable steps to take in order to feel comfortable in your body.Resources mentioned in this episode:⚫︎ Free prolapse resource guide: https://jessicavalant.com/prolapse-safe-exercise-program⚫︎ Four Week Prolapse Workout Plan: https://payhip.com/b/04F6H⚫︎ Prolapse podcast series: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-your-body/id1649561552?i=1000627755982⚫︎ Jessica’s website, resources, services & more:http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com⚫︎ Jessica’s UNLIMITED community and app with daily workouts for muscle strength:http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com/unlimited⚫︎Watch our podcast episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@meetyourbodypodcast ⚫︎ YouTube workouts: https://www.youtube.com/c/JessicaValantPilates ⚫︎ Follow Jessica on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/jessicavalantpilatesChapters00:00 Introduction to Pelvic Floor Health01:27 Jessica's Personal Journey with Prolapse05:20 Understanding Prolapse and Its Impact10:25 Seeking Professional Help: Urogynecologist Insights11:51 Surgical Options and Recovery15:50 Life After Surgery: Managing Pelvic Floor Health20:01 Empowerment Through Movement and ExerciseJessica Valant and Jessica Valant Pilates, LLC, recommend you consult with a physician before starting any new exercise program. The information given here is not meant to treat or diagnose any medical condition.
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Nourishing Your Nervous System
In this episode of Meet Your Body, Jessica discusses the importance of nourishing your nervous system for overall health. She shares her personal journey with chronic stress and burnout and how taking intentional steps towards regulating and healing her nervous system was an essential piece for her overall health. This conversation delves into the science of the stress response, why we feel increased anxiety as our hormones change, the impact of lifestyle choices, and actionable strategies to create a balanced and nourishing environment for the nervous system.Resources mentioned in this episode:⚫︎ Sign up for the free seven day nourish program starting November 3rd: https://jessicavalant.com/seven-day-nourish-program⚫︎ Jessica's chronic stress story podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-your-body/id1649561552?i=1000622418858⚫︎ Vagus nerve massage: https://youtu.be/oJh79kcR5Tg⚫︎ Jessica’s website, resources, services & more:http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com⚫︎ Jessica’s UNLIMITED community and app with daily workouts for muscle strength:http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com/unlimited⚫︎Watch our podcast episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@meetyourbodypodcast ⚫︎ YouTube workouts: https://www.youtube.com/c/JessicaValantPilates ⚫︎ Follow Jessica on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/jessicavalantpilatesChapters00:00 Nourishing the Nervous System: An Introduction01:18 Personal Journey: From Chronic Stress to Awareness07:21 Understanding the HPA Axis and Stress Response18:20 The Impact of Chronic Stress and Hormonal Changes22:14 Practical Strategies for Nourishing Your Nervous SystemJessica Valant and Jessica Valant Pilates, LLC, recommend you consult with a physician before starting any new exercise program. The information given here is not meant to treat or diagnose any medical condition.
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Neighbors, Community and Counterweights with Shannan Martin
We are living in a heavy time. Isolation and loneliness are commonplace. We feel like the weight of the world is on our shoulders. We long for community yet don't always see a way to find it amidst the hardship and vitriol coming at us from all sides.Today's guest is here to offer us insights, steps and hope when it comes to letting ourselves feel the discomfort of our feelings while also embracing the need for community in our lives. Shannan Martin and Jessica discuss:⚫︎ The importance of feeling awkward when it comes to making connections⚫︎ How to connect to your real life neighbors (even the ones you don't agree with)⚫︎ Why counterweights are vital in order to survive the world right now⚫︎ Holding multiple feelings at once This is a powerful conversation for anyone who desires to feel more grounded and connected wherever they are in the world right now.Shannan Martin, best-selling author of Start with Hello, The Ministry of Ordinary Places, and the popular Substack, The Soup, is a voracious reader, a wannabe-gardener, a news-geek, a justice-fighter, and a thrift store-stalker. She and her family live as grateful neighbors in Goshen, Indiana, where Shannan is on staff at the local community kitchen. Her forthcoming book, Counterweights: An Essential Practice for Holding Hope in a Heavy World, releases in Spring of 2026.Resources mentioned in this episode:⚫︎ Shannan Martin substack: https://shannanmartin.substack.com/⚫︎ Order Counterweights here⚫︎ Shannan on Instagram: www.instagram.com/shannanwrites⚫︎ Jessica’s website, resources, services & more:http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com⚫︎ Jessica’s UNLIMITED community and app with daily workouts for muscle strength:http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com/unlimited⚫︎Watch our podcast episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@meetyourbodypodcast ⚫︎ YouTube workouts: https://www.youtube.com/c/JessicaValantPilates ⚫︎ Follow Jessica on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/jessicavalantpilatesJessica Valant Pilates app:Apple IOS - https://tinyurl.com/mry5ya8rGoogle - https://tinyurl.com/yh3ty5fpJessica Valant and Jessica Valant Pilates, LLC, recommend you consult with a physician before starting any new exercise program. The information given here is not meant to treat or diagnose any medical condition.
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Making Friends As An Adult
Isolation and loneliness is truly a health epidemic in our society, yet it can feel extremely difficult and intimidating to make friends as an adult. In today's podcast episode, Jessica unpacks the mental shifts that need to occur in order to feel connected to others, as well as practical tips to help keep current friends and make new friends in our adult years.Community and friendship are both vital pieces to our longterm health and emotional vibrancy, and this episode will help both introverts and extroverts discover ways to connect with others through midlife and beyond!Resources mentioned in this episode:⚫︎ Jessica’s website, resources, services & more:http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com⚫︎ Jessica’s UNLIMITED community and app with daily workouts for muscle strength:http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com/unlimited⚫︎Watch our podcast episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@meetyourbodypodcast ⚫︎ YouTube workouts: https://www.youtube.com/c/JessicaValantPilates ⚫︎ Follow Jessica on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/jessicavalantpilatesJessica Valant and Jessica Valant Pilates, LLC, recommend you consult with a physician before starting any new exercise program. The information given here is not meant to treat or diagnose any medical condition.
Join physical therapist, women's health expert, Pilates and movement teacher, mom of two, and coffee lover Jessica Valant, MSPT, as she brings her signature combination of expertise, science based research and compassion to the world of women's health and aging. The Meet Your Body Podcast will cover topics to help women feel strong, safe and secure in their bodies in all seasons of life. Jessica will bring education and knowledge, uplifting stories, actionable strategies, expert guests, personal experiences and hope to address things like perimenopause and menopause, endometriosis, hysterectomy, prolapse, infertility, the aging process, exercise, how to advocate for yourself and more. Join us as Jessica shares her own journey with these issues and ultimately provides a guide for aging and living as an empowered and strong woman.
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