Pelvic Floor, Core & More | Healing Beyond Kegels: Core Rehab, Prenatal Fitness, Birth Prep, Postpartum Recovery, Nervous System Regulation, and Holistic Self-Care for Moms

Spring naturally invites us to reset, refresh, and reconnect with ourselves. But after a long winter of stress, busy schedules, and less movement, many women feel the opposite of refreshed — they feel stiff, tired, disconnected from their bodies, and unsure how to restart healthy habits. In this episode, Dr. Des shares a holistic Spring Reset framework designed specifically for women who want to r...

Have you ever been told your pelvic floor is weak, so you start doing kegels… but things actually feel worse? Maybe you feel tight, tense, or guarded, yet you’re still experiencing symptoms like leaking, pelvic pressure, pain, or instability. You’re not crazy — and your body isn’t broken. One of the most common patterns pelvic floor physical therapists see is tight AND weak muscles at the same tim...

If your core feels tight all the time… that’s not strength. If you’re constantly sucking in your stomach, clenching your abs, gripping your glutes, or holding your pelvic floor “just in case” — this episode is for you. So many women have been taught that strength means tension. Brace harder. Squeeze more. Engage constantly. Never relax. But what if that gripping is actually the reason you still fe...

If you’ve been following this series on pain with intimacy, you now understand: ✔️ What might be causing your pain ✔️ How mental load and nervous system stress impact arousal ✔️ Why pushing through makes things worse ✔️ Practical rehab strategies to reduce tension Now let’s talk about something we don’t normalize enough: Supportive tools. Because using tools does not mean you’re broken. It means y...

Hey Girl, How many times have you ignored your body because you felt guilty? Guilty for not working out. Guilty for wanting alone time. Guilty for not being in the mood. Guilty for resting. Guilty for saying no. Guilty for going to girls’ night. Guilty for spending money on yourself. In this episode, we’re unpacking something that quietly sabotages women’s health more than almost anything else: gu...

Pelvic floor tips to move from tension and guarding to comfort and confidence If you’ve been listening to this series and thinking… “Okay, I understand what might be causing my pain.” “I see how stress and mental load are affecting my body.” “But what do I actually DO?” This episode is your next step. Pain with intimacy is common — but it is not something you have to push through, numb out, or acc...

Signs, symptoms & why waiting until postpartum may be the harder path Most women don’t even know they can see a pelvic floor physical therapist while pregnant. They’re told leaking is normal. Pelvic pain is normal. Pressure is normal. Back pain is normal. And while those symptoms may be common in pregnancy — they are not something you simply have to live with. In this episode, Dr. Des breaks d...

How stress, emotional disconnection, and overwhelm impact intimacy (and what to do about it) If you’ve ever thought… “I love my partner, but I just don’t want sex.” “By the end of the day I’m touched out.” “I feel guilty that I’m never in the mood.” “Something feels off… but I don’t know what.” This episode is for you. Low desire isn’t always hormonal. It’s not always about attraction. And it’s de...

Why slowing down may be the missing piece in healing, strength, and confidence If you’ve been doing “all the right things” — exercising, stretching, eating well, trying to rest — and your body still feels tight, painful, fatigued, or stuck… this episode is for you. So many women believe their body is broken when healing doesn’t happen fast enough. But more often than not, the issue isn’t what you’...

Is sex painful for you — and you’re tired of being told “it’s just stress,” “you need to relax,” or “it’s normal after kids”? You're not alone — and more importantly, you’re not broken. In this powerful kickoff to our February podcast series on intimacy, pain, and pleasure, Dr. Des dives deep into the real reasons women experience pain with sex and why it’s often misunderstood, dismissed, or misdi...

Ever thought of a sauna as more than just a luxury? In today’s episode, we’re diving into the surprising science and benefits of sauna use — especially for women navigating pelvic floor issues, postpartum recovery, chronic stress, or hormonal imbalances. Whether you're dealing with pelvic pain, burnout, or just looking to support your healing journey, the sauna might be the missing piece to help y...

Are you doing “all the right things” — working out, lifting weights, moving your body — but still dealing with symptoms like leaking, core weakness, pain, or just feeling off? This week’s episode is for you. We’re diving into the difference between just exercising and true healing — and why so many women feel stuck in their bodies even when they’re being “consistent” with their workouts.   ✨ Insi...

You’ve done the Kegels. You’ve bought the programs. You’ve tried to rest, and pushed to get strong. But the symptoms? Still there. The pressure, pain, leaking, or just not feeling like you in your body… It’s easy to think you’re broken. But the truth is — you’re not broken. You’re just missing the full picture. In this empowering episode, Dr. Des unpacks what’s really going on when healing plateau...

Are you stuck in a frustrating loop of pain — wondering if you should keep pushing, completely rest, or give up altogether? In this powerful follow-up to last week’s conversation on how pain talks to us, I’m walking you through real-world tools to assess, interpret, and troubleshoot pain in your body — especially when you’re dealing with pelvic floor dysfunction, core issues, or musculoskeletal im...

Pain is one of the most misunderstood signals in the body — especially for women who are trying to heal from pelvic floor dysfunction, prolapse, back pain, or just rebuild strength postpartum. We’re told to “push through” or to “stop everything”... but what if there’s another way? In today’s episode, I’m diving into what pain really means — and how to know if it’s a red flag, a protective response...

Do you ever feel like you’re “doing the core work” — but still leaking, bracing wrong, or not feeling strong? You’re not alone. In today’s episode, I’m breaking down the true role of your pelvic floor in core bracing and how this often-overlooked connection is the reason your workouts might not be working the way you want them to. Whether you're postpartum, managing prolapse, or just trying to fee...

It’s the New Year — and that means goal-setting season is in full swing. You’re being hit with every kind of resolution, challenge, and pressure to shrink, push harder, do more. But here’s the truth no one talks about: 🧠 If your goals aren’t aligned with your body’s current needs, they won’t work — and they might actually make things worse. In today’s episode, I’m diving deep into the real reason...

Are you doing all the right things — kegels, workouts, even PT — but still dealing with leaking, pressure, or pain? You're not alone, and you're not broken. In this powerful episode of the Pelvic Floor, Core & More podcast, Dr. Des breaks down why your pelvic floor rehab might not be working yet — and what foundational pieces most women skip that make all the difference in healing. Whether you...

Start Your Year With a Pelvic Reset 💛 Feel disconnected from your core? Struggling with leaking, pressure, or pain — or just ready to reconnect and move intentionally in 2025? This episode dives into what it truly means to reset your pelvic floor and body from the inside out. We’re done with just doing kegels and hoping for the best. It's time to reconnect with your core, breath, nervous system,...

#1 Most Played Episode of 2025! Hey Love 💛 Are you a busy, burnt-out mom who knows you need to heal your core and pelvic floor… but just can’t seem to make time for it? Maybe you: Leak a little when you sneeze, laugh, or jump Feel heaviness or pressure by the end of the day Avoid workouts or social events because of fear or discomfort Have been told “do kegels” but know it’s not working... I see...

Hey love 💛 This is the SECOND most played episode of 2025 so its back for a REPLAY! Ever wondered: ❓ “When should I progress beyond kegels?” ❓ “How do I stop leaking when I jump or run?” ❓ “Am I actually making my pelvic floor stronger… or stressing it out more?” If you’ve tried doing kegels and core workouts but still feel confused about how to level up safely — this episode is for YOU. 🙌 In...

Hey friend 👋 Ever wonder if your jaw tension, TMJ pain, or teeth grinding might have something to do with your pelvic floor? 🤯 If you’ve been struggling with: Jaw pain or clicking Tension headaches or migraines Nighttime grinding (bruxism) Pelvic pain or pressure Overactive bladder or urgency Pain with intimacy or prolapse symptoms... Then this is an episode you need to listen to. Inside this po...

Hey love 💛 If you’ve been feeling frustrated because you want to heal — but your body is tired, your brain is overloaded, or life just keeps happening... this episode is for you. Whether you’re pregnant and nauseous, deep in postpartum fog, on day one of your cycle, or just straight-up exhausted — I see you. I am you. You don’t have to “push through” to make progress. In fact, some of the most po...

What if the pain in your knees, hips, or even pelvic floor… starts at your feet? 👣 In this empowering episode, Dr. Desiree sits down with Dr. Bob, The Sports Doc — an expert in orthotics, biomechanics, and sports performance — to talk about one of the most underestimated tools in women's wellness: custom orthotics. Hall of Fame Inductee, Dr. Bob Weil, DPM, is a long time Sports Podiatrist having...

In this heart-to-heart episode, Dr. Desiree Cassell shares a gentle and grounding message for the woman who feels stretched thin this season. If you’ve spent the year doing all the things — caregiving, working, running a household, or healing your body — and still feel behind, this one’s for you. We talk about why your symptoms might flare during the holidays (hello stress, pressure, and tension),...