205- Why I Told My Patient I Didn't Care What Exercise She Did And What I Cared About More to Stop Her Leaking

205- Why I Told My Patient I Didn't Care What Exercise She Did And What I Cared About More to Stop Her Leaking

Author: Dr. Desiree Cassell | Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist, Women’s Health Specialist, Strong and Fit Momma August 19, 2026 Duration: 20:53
What if finding the “perfect” exercise isn't actually the thing that moves you forward? I recently told a patient that I didn't really care what exercise she did—which probably sounds like a strange thing to hear from a physical therapist! But what I meant was that I cared far less about choosing the perfect exercise and far more about what was happening in her body while she was doing it. In this episode, we're talking about why two people can do the exact same exercise and have completely different experiences—and why learning to notice your breath, pressure, tension, symptoms, and overall connection can be more valuable than constantly searching for the “right” movement. Because the goal isn't perfect exercise. It's learning how to move with intention, awareness, and confidence. In This Episode We Explore Why I told a patient I didn't care what exercise she chose Why we get so caught up searching for the “best” pelvic floor or core exercise How the same movement can look completely different inside two different bodies What I'm actually paying attention to when I watch a patient move The relationship between breath, pressure, tension, symptoms, and movement Why intention over perfection matters How awareness helps you make better decisions about your body Why learning to listen to your body can ultimately build confidence and trust A simple way to approach an exercise you're already doing differently this week Why This Matters When you're dealing with leaking, pelvic pressure, pain, core weakness, or simply trying to get stronger, it's easy to believe there's a specific exercise you're missing. But healing isn't about collecting more exercises. It's about understanding you. When you learn to notice how your body responds during movement, you can begin making adjustments instead of immediately assuming an exercise is “good” or “bad.” And over time, that awareness can help you move away from fear and toward something much more powerful: trusting yourself to move. Ready to Understand the Bigger Picture? This connection-first approach is one of the reasons I created Healing Beyond Kegels. Pelvic floor healing isn't just about finding the right Kegel, core exercise, or stretch. Your breath, core, pelvic floor, pressure, movement patterns, nervous system, and the rest of your body are all part of the conversation. Healing Beyond Kegels will help you zoom out and understand how those pieces work together—so you can stop chasing random exercises and start making sense of what your body is actually telling you. Healing Beyond Kegels is coming soon. Stay connected  by Downloading the Pelvic Floor, Core and More APP for all the details! Link below!   Want More Support? Inside the Pelvic Floor, Core & More App and RESTORE, we focus on helping women build strength, coordination, stability, and confidence in their bodies through a whole-body approach to pelvic floor and core health. ✨ Learn more here: https://balancedmomtality.com/the-app Want a Guided Healing and Rehab Program to Help You Reconnect and RESTORE? If you’re ready to rebuild your core and pelvic floor with a structured, step-by-step plan, check out RESTORE, my 12-week pelvic floor and core rehabilitation program inside the Pelvic Floor, Core & More App. Inside RESTORE you’ll learn how to: ✔ release tension and improve mobility ✔ reconnect breath and pelvic floor coordination ✔ strengthen your core safely ✔ progress back to lifting, running, and higher-impact activities All with guided lessons, workouts, and support from a pelvic floor physical therapist. Inside RESTORE you’ll get: ✔️ 12 weeks of progressive breathwork, mobility & strength ✔️ 5- and 20-minute workouts to fit your life ✔️ Deep pelvic floor education (with zero fluff) ✔️ Real-life tools to reduce pain, improve leaks, and feel like YOU again ✔️ Access to our private community and support Inside RESTORE, we cover: Breathwork + pelvic floor connection Mobility + postu

There's a lot of noise out there about "bouncing back" after having a baby, often centered on intense workouts and restrictive diets. Pelvic Floor, Core & More | Healing Beyond Kegels cuts through that clutter with a different, more sustainable approach. Hosted by Dr. Desiree Cassell, a pelvic floor physical therapist and women's health specialist, this podcast is a resource for mothers at any stage-whether you're preparing for birth, navigating the early postpartum months, or years beyond and still dealing with the lingering effects of pregnancy. The conversations here move far beyond basic Kegel exercises, diving into practical core rehabilitation, nervous system regulation, and holistic self-care strategies that fit into a real, busy life. You'll hear about functional movements that build strength without fear, ways to prepare your body for labor with confidence, and compassionate guidance for the long journey of postpartum recovery. Dr. Cassell brings her professional expertise and personal experience as a strong and fit momma to every episode, offering actionable advice that prioritizes feeling capable and healthy over adhering to punishing routines. This is a space where the complexities of the female body are honored, not rushed, providing a sense of community and grounded knowledge for anyone looking to heal and thrive through motherhood.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Pelvic Floor, Core & More | Healing Beyond Kegels: Core Rehab, Prenatal Fitness, Birth Prep, Postpartum Recovery, Nervous System Regulation, and Holistic Self-Care for Moms
Podcast Episodes
207- Stop Trying to Fix Your Posture // Start Listening to Your Body [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:29
Sit up straight. Pull your shoulders back. Tuck your pelvis. Engage your core. Stop slouching. Sound familiar? 😂 We've been taught to think about posture as either “good” or “bad”—and that if we could just hold our bodie…