206- Your Pain Is Talking //  Should I Push Through This? And How to Respond When Movement Hurts

206- Your Pain Is Talking // Should I Push Through This? And How to Respond When Movement Hurts

Author: Dr. Desiree Cassell | Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist, Women’s Health Specialist, Strong and Fit Momma August 26, 2026 Duration: 27:12
What do you do when your body says, “Ouch”? Do you immediately stop because you're afraid something is wrong? Or do you ignore it, push through, and hope it goes away? Pain can feel scary and confusing—especially when you're trying to heal, get stronger, or return to activities you love. But pain isn't always a simple stop sign. Pain is communication. And communication needs interpretation. In this episode, we're talking about shifting the way we respond to pain. Instead of immediately fearing it or ignoring it, what if we learned to get curious about what our bodies are trying to tell us? Because listening to your body doesn't always mean stopping. Sometimes it means adjusting. Sometimes it means resting. Sometimes it means getting help. And sometimes it means realizing you're okay to keep going. In This Episode We Explore Why we tend to either fear pain or ignore it Why pain doesn't always equal damage How factors beyond an injury can influence the pain experience Why the behavior of your pain can give you useful information Questions to ask yourself when something hurts The difference between normal exercise challenge and ignoring your body's signals A simple green-light, yellow-light, red-light way to think about symptoms How modifying a movement can help you learn more about what your body needs Why connection and body awareness can build confidence instead of fear Why This Matters When something hurts, it's easy to immediately think: “Something is wrong.” But it's also easy to swing too far in the opposite direction and decide: “I'll just push through it.” Neither response leaves much room for listening. Learning to pay attention to what you're feeling, when you're feeling it, how long it lasts, and what changes it can help you make more intentional decisions about movement. The goal isn't to become afraid of every sensation. And it isn't to ignore your body's signals in the name of getting stronger. It's learning the difference between challenging your body and ignoring your body. The Big Takeaway The next time something hurts during movement, instead of immediately asking: “Is this bad?” Try asking: “What is my body asking me to notice right now?” Then: Pause. Notice. Adjust. Reassess. Maybe your body needs you to change the range, load, speed, position, or breath. Maybe it needs recovery. Maybe it needs professional evaluation. Or maybe after checking in, you realize you're okay to continue. Listening doesn't always mean stopping. It means responding. And the better you become at listening, the more confidently you can make decisions about your body. Ready to Understand the Bigger Picture? If you've been listening to the last few episodes, you're probably noticing a theme: I don't want you endlessly searching for someone to give you the perfect exercise. I want you to understand the body you're actually living in. That's a huge reason I created Healing Beyond Kegels. Pelvic floor symptoms aren't simply problems we throw exercises at. Your breath, pressure, core, movement, strength, stress, nervous system, and the rest of your body are all part of the conversation. Healing Beyond Kegels is designed to help you zoom out, connect those dots, and start understanding your body differently. It's coming soon, and I can't wait to share it with you. Until then, remember: Connection first. Intention over perfection. 💛 This episode is for general education and isn't a substitute for individualized medical care. New, severe, rapidly worsening, or otherwise concerning pain should be evaluated by an appropriate healthcare professional. 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

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
181- You’re Not Starting Over — You’re Starting From Experience [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:14
If you’ve ever felt like you keep having to “start over” with your body, your workouts, or your healing… this episode is for you. So many women feel frustrated when symptoms come back, routines fall off, or progress does…