Pelvic Floor, Core & More | Healing Beyond Kegels: Core Rehab, Prenatal Fitness, Birth Prep, Postpartum Recovery, Nervous System Regulation, and Holistic Self-Care for Moms
The podcast where nervous system healing meets pelvic floor rehab. Helping you LOVE movement again and LIVE WITHOUT PAIN, PRESSURE or PEEING YOUR PANTS!
I’m Dr. Desiree Cassell — pelvic floor physical therapist, mom of 3, and your guide to embodied, empowered healing after birth. (And don’t worry, you don’t have to have birthed a child or even be a mom to benefit from this show. This is here for ALL Women, mom or not, Fit or Weak)
Here, we go way beyond kegels.
You’ll learn how to:
💫 Heal pelvic floor symptoms like leaking (incontinence), prolapse (POP), and pain (Dyspareunia, Vulvodynia etc)
💫 Rebuild core strength without making symptoms worse
💫 Move through pregnancy and postpartum with confidence and connection
💫 Use breath, fascia, and nervous system tools for real, full-body restoration
💫 Shift from surviving to thriving in your body — all during your daily routine
After healing my own prolapse, leaking, and diastasis (that no one warned me about), I made it my mission to make sure no woman is brushed off or left behind again.
Because these symptoms might be common — but they are NOT normal.
🎧 Subscribe for real-talk, expert support, and soul-led strategies to feel strong, safe, and free in your body again.
It is time to get you out of those pads and back to loving movement again.... yes even jumping on the trampoline.
Put your earbuds in, grab a glass of water, roll out your mat, and let’s connect💫
Learn >
www.balancedmomtality.com
Connect or Inquiries About Wellness Consults> PTDes@balancedmomtality.com
Community>
Facebook> @thebalancedmomtality
Instagram> @the_balanced_momtality
Women’s Health & Wellness | Prenatal Fitness | Postpartum Recovery | Pelvic Floor Exercises | Holistic Whole Body Healing | Breathwork | Fascia Release | Emotional Embodiment | Restore Your Core | Somatic Healing | Pregnancy
Episodes

Friday Nov 01, 2024
Friday Nov 01, 2024
Hey Love,
Have you been wondering when the best time to see a Pelvic Floor PT is? Maybe you are pregnant, about to give birth, or postpartum and know that pelvic floor PT can be helpful, but you aren’t sure when the right time to make that appointment is. Or maybe you have been dealing with pelvic pain, frequent UTI’s, or frustrating pelvic symptoms that you aren’t getting answers for from your gynecologist. Or maybe you are healthy and have no issues but want to be preventive and proactive to make sure that you are avoiding any leaking, prolapse, pain or dysfunction elsewhere in your body.
Inside this week’s episode I am going to change the way you view physical therapy in general, but especially pelvic floor PT. I am going to explain why and how I am an advocate for seeing a physical therapist as a wellness/preventive yearly visit, but also what dysfunctions physical therapy can help with. I will help those pregnant mommas know when the right time to get in to prep for birth and recover optimally and make sure that you understand what services are out there for you to help with all your neuro and musculoskeletal issues! Or if you have some other conditions in the body like endometriosis, pelvic venous disorder or pelvic congestion or interstitial cystitis, I explain how and why Pelvic PT should be a part of your healing journey. Maybe you had a c-section, hysterectomy, abdominal laparoscopy, embolization or prolapse repair and are not sure if you should do any rehab since your surgeon didn’t mention it. My women's health coaching and therapy services are available for all women whether you are a mom, or not or feel you need pelvic floor PT or not! Hint.. everyone needs to see a pelvic floor PT at some point just to be proactive, but especially if you have had children or experience any of the symptoms below.
As always, if you are experiencing any pelvic floor/women's health issue like urinary incontinence/leaking, pelvic pain, pain with sex, urgency, heaviness/prolapse or any other back/hip/joint pain let's get you booked for a virtual coaching session or in person physical therapy session for a more individualized plan and one-on-one instructions so you can feel confident in your body and start healing today!!
Make Sure to reach out to> PTDes@balancedmomtality.com
AND/OR
Join my FREE Facebook community for ACCOUNTABILITY and a safe and supportive place to share and support each other!> https://www.facebook.com/groups/1696216757461633/
Join my VIP Insider group and receive my Newsletter full of great tips and tricks and upcoming resources! > https://newsletter.balancedmomtality.com/
Follow and get tips/tricks on:
Facebook> @thebalancedmomtality
Instagram> @the_balanced_momtality
Learn > www.balancedmomtality.com

Thursday Oct 24, 2024
Thursday Oct 24, 2024
Hey Girl,
Do you suffer from chronic pelvic pain or heaviness? Hemorrhoids? Ovarian pain or cysts? What about bloating or constipation? Is it worse with standing or exercise? Maybe sex makes it worse? It’s possible you have Pelvic Venous Disorder (PeVD) or recently known as Pelvic Congestion Syndrome. This Diagnosis is so under diagnosed and missed and many times the same symptoms are attributed to things like Endometriosis, PCOS, IBS, or ovarian cysts and fibroids. PeVD is a part of my story and I have a few episodes talking more about the disorder itself and how to identify it and many holistic things you can do to help so check those out if you would like!
Inside this week's episode I am diving more into my personal journey and updating my tribe on how I am doing since my embolization procedure. I share my hopes, my struggles, and my experiences with chronic pain and what my plan is moving forward. Thank you to all of my amazing listeners and friends who have reached out to check in on me and let me know that sharing my journey has been helpful for you! You all give me so much strength and support and just know, I'm here to do the same for you!
As always, if you are experiencing any pelvic floor/women's health issue like urinary incontinence/leaking, pelvic pain, pain with sex, urgency, heaviness/prolapse or any other back/hip/joint pain let's get you booked for a virtual coaching session or in person physical therapy session for a more individualized plan and one-on-one instructions so you can feel confident in your body and start healing today!!
Make Sure to reach out to> PTDes@balancedmomtality.com
AND/OR
Join my FREE Facebook community for ACCOUNTABILITY and a safe and supportive place to share and support each other!> https://www.facebook.com/groups/1696216757461633/
Join my VIP Insider group and receive my Newsletter full of great tips and tricks and upcoming resources! > https://newsletter.balancedmomtality.com/
Follow and get tips/tricks on:
Facebook> @thebalancedmomtality
Instagram> @the_balanced_momtality
Learn > www.balancedmomtality.com

Friday Oct 18, 2024
Friday Oct 18, 2024
Hey Love!
Are you feeling like no matter how much you want to take the right steps to heal your pelvic floor or get on a good fitness routine, you just can’t seem to show up for it? Everything else getting in the way or feeling like you don’t have enough time? Overwhelmed with all the things you need and also want to do? Maybe you feel guilty about taking that time to work on yourself? Or maybe you actually are not sure how or what you should be prioritizing in your healing? Mom life can be so stressful and all of these statements might be your reality, but they don’t have to be!
I have been there momma. I truly have felt truth behind all of the statements above, and it can feel so overwhelming and out of our control, right? But, what if I told you that you have way more control than you are giving yourself credit for, and maybe, just maybe, you are the one contributing to these thoughts and making them your reality? Inside today’s episode we have a heart to heart where I challenge you to think introspectively and honestly about what is truly holding you back. You are the only one that has control over what you do, how you feel and what you decide to put your energy into. So it is time to look deep within ourselves and be honest with what we have been doing to contribute to some of these fears and feelings and then re-write our narrative! You deserve to feel strong, confident and peaceful and doing all the self care is only a small piece of the puzzle. You also need to change the inner workings of your brain and challenge your thoughts and feelings. Find more time in your day, get rid of the guilt and stop letting overwhelm lead to exhaustion and stress. It is time to heal your pelvic floor, core, body, mind and spirit! This is the mentality piece of The Balanced Momtality, I hope you enjoy it!
As always, if you are experiencing any pelvic floor/women's health issue like urinary incontinence/leaking, pelvic pain, pain with sex, urgency, heaviness/prolapse or any other back/hip/joint pain let's get you booked for a virtual coaching session or in person physical therapy session for a more individualized plan and one-on-one instructions so you can feel confident in your body and start healing today!!
Make Sure to reach out to> PTDes@balancedmomtality.com
AND/OR
Join my FREE Facebook community for ACCOUNTABILITY and a safe and supportive place to share and support each other!> https://www.facebook.com/groups/1696216757461633/
Join my VIP Insider group and receive my Newsletter full of great tips and tricks and upcoming resources! > https://newsletter.balancedmomtality.com/
Follow and get tips/tricks on:
Facebook> @thebalancedmomtality
Instagram> @the_balanced_momtality
Learn > www.balancedmomtality.com

Wednesday Oct 09, 2024
Wednesday Oct 09, 2024
Hey Love!
Kegels are what most women and providers think of when they think of healing or restoring their pelvic floor or going to pelvic floor physical therapy. Especially if you experience leaking/incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse, we tend to associate these conditions with weakness. When many times, the pelvic floor muscles are already too tight and doing kegels can make things worse! This can make things so confusing, which is why it is always a good idea to see a Pelvic Floor PT to see what is actually causing your issues. Is it actually weakness, or maybe hypertonicity or tightness or lack of coordination and poor pressure management strategies? I dive into more on if you should Kegel or not in a previous episode:
Ep 11- To Kegel or Not to Kegel- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pelvic-floor-core-more-with-the-balanced/id1682290727?i=1000617570016
However, this week I am diving into performing the kegel and different ways we can address weakness within the pelvic floor to improve that strength and control! They are not always going to make things worse and many times with true weakness, we do need to spend some time working on isolating the pelvic floor. So inside this week's episode I dive into different types of kegel contractions, how to perform them functionally and other ways you can progress those kegels using vaginal weights like the ones from Intimate Rose linked below. You can perform these during pregnancy, postpartum, post hysterectomy or c-section or at any time! As long as they are appropriate for you, so make sure you get clearance from a Pelvic Floor PT before going too crazy with kegels.
As always, if you are experiencing any pelvic floor/women's health issue like urinary incontinence/leaking, pelvic pain, pain with sex, urgency, heaviness/prolapse or any other back/hip/joint pain let's get you booked for a virtual coaching session or in person physical therapy session for a more individualized plan and one-on-one instructions so you can feel confident in your body and start healing today!!
Make Sure to reach out to> PTDes@balancedmomtality.com
AND/OR
Join my FREE Facebook community for ACCOUNTABILITY and a safe and supportive place to share and support each other!> https://www.facebook.com/groups/1696216757461633/
Join my VIP Insider group and receive my Newsletter full of great tips and tricks and upcoming resources! > https://newsletter.balancedmomtality.com/
Follow and get tips/tricks on:
Facebook> @thebalancedmomtality
Instagram> @the_balanced_momtality
Learn > www.balancedmomtality.com
Vaginal Weights:
www.intimaterose.com/DESIREE2

Friday Oct 04, 2024
Friday Oct 04, 2024
(Part 2)
Hey Girl!
Last week was Part 1 of my chat with my good friend and fellow Lobo Nutritionist and Elite Sports Dietitian, Brooke Wyatt, where she broke down some myths about high performance fueling and nutrition misinformation and shared alot about her journey in the 2024 Paris Olympics working with the American Beach Volleyball Team! This week is Part 2 where she is going to dive into some practical tips and strategies for pre and post workout fueling to optimize your energy and your performance and recovery! We talk gut health, cycle syncing with your hormones, electrolytes, protein and much more!
Brooke Wyatt, MS, RDN, CSSD, is a registered dietitian and board-certified sports nutrition specialist with extensive experience in professional sports. Throughout her career, she has dedicated herself to enhancing the performance and recovery of elite athletes and teams. Brooke excels at translating complex nutrition science into actionable strategies, offering personalized guidance on training and competition fueling, travel nutrition, meal prepping, and supplementation. She holds a Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences from Cal State Long Beach and a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition & Dietetics from the University of New Mexico, where she also competed as a Division 1 soccer athlete.
As always, if you are experiencing any pelvic floor/women's health issue like urinary incontinence/leaking, pelvic pain, pain with sex, urgency, heaviness/prolapse or any other back/hip/joint pain let's get you booked for a virtual coaching session or in person physical therapy session for a more individualized plan and one-on-one instructions so you can feel confident in your body and start healing today!!
Make Sure to reach out to> PTDes@balancedmomtality.com
AND/OR
Join my FREE Facebook community for ACCOUNTABILITY and a safe and supportive place to share and support each other!> https://www.facebook.com/groups/1696216757461633/
Join my VIP Insider group and receive my Newsletter full of great tips and tricks and upcoming resources! > https://newsletter.balancedmomtality.com/
Follow and get tips/tricks on:
Facebook> @thebalancedmomtality
Instagram> @the_balanced_momtality
Learn > www.balancedmomtality.com
Connect with Brooke Wyatt, MS, RDN, CSSD
Instagram> https://www.instagram.com/dietitianbrooke_/
Website> https://www.longgamenutrition.com/

Thursday Sep 26, 2024
Thursday Sep 26, 2024
(Part 1)
Hey Girl!
The Olympics were just a few weeks ago, where we got to witness hundreds of amazing elite athletes perform and show off their skills to the World. Have you ever wondered what is so different between the fueling of an elite athlete like an Olympian vs your average mom or woman that just wants to stay strong and active? Well I have! So I decided to invite my good friend and fellow Lobo Nutritionist and Elite Sports Dietitian, Brooke Wyatt to chat with us today on the show!
Brooke Wyatt, MS, RDN, CSSD, is a registered dietitian and board-certified sports nutrition specialist with extensive experience in professional sports. Throughout her career, she has dedicated herself to enhancing the performance and recovery of elite athletes and teams. Brooke excels at translating complex nutrition science into actionable strategies, offering personalized guidance on training and competition fueling, travel nutrition, meal prepping, and supplementation. She holds a Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences from Cal State Long Beach and a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition & Dietetics from the University of New Mexico, where she also competed as a Division 1 soccer athlete.
This week we will be diving into what it was like to be at the 2024 Paris Olympics, some differences and similarities about what nutrition and fueling looks like for the elite athletes vs the average strong mom, nutrition tips to optimize your fueling and she breaks down some common myths about nutrition and performance fueling in general! So much good stuff packed into this convo, so much so we had to break it down into 2 parts, so make sure you stay tuned next week for Part 2!
As always, if you are experiencing any pelvic floor/women's health issue like urinary incontinence/leaking, pelvic pain, pain with sex, urgency, heaviness/prolapse or any other back/hip/joint pain let's get you booked for a virtual coaching session or in person physical therapy session for a more individualized plan and one-on-one instructions so you can feel confident in your body and start healing today!!
Make Sure to reach out to> PTDes@balancedmomtality.com
AND/OR
Join my FREE Facebook community for ACCOUNTABILITY and a safe and supportive place to share and support each other!> https://www.facebook.com/groups/1696216757461633/
Join my VIP Insider group and receive my Newsletter full of great tips and tricks and upcoming resources! > https://newsletter.balancedmomtality.com/
Follow and get tips/tricks on:
Facebook> @thebalancedmomtality
Instagram> @the_balanced_momtality
Learn > www.balancedmomtality.com
Connect with Brooke Wyatt, MS, RDN, CSSD
Instagram> https://www.instagram.com/dietitianbrooke_/
Website> https://www.longgamenutrition.com/

Tuesday Sep 17, 2024
Tuesday Sep 17, 2024
Hey Momma!
Are you wondering where your butt went?! OR maybe you feel like you have never been able to grow a booty because of your genetics. Are you doing alot of glute exercises and not seeing much change? This can be so frustrating, especially when you are taking the time to prioritize your self care and getting exercises in. I see this so often during pregnancy but also postpartum, when our posture pulls our pelvis into an alignment where our glutes turn off. Whether you have an aesthetic goal for a big booty Judy or you just want to make sure you have strong glutes that can help you run, jump, hold your baby and more! OR maybe you're like me and you want both! I have some great tips inside for you!
Strong glutes are crucial not only for a functioning pelvic floor, but also to be able to stay comfortable and active during pregnancy and to make sure you avoid many common pregnancy pains like low back pain or SIJ pain and sciatica. However, during pregnancy, the growing belly stretches out and pulls your pelvis into an anterior pelvic tilt, which stretches the glutes out and makes it difficult for them to engage. Same thing happens to the abs obviously since they are getting stretched out. Which is why it's even more crucial to make sure that you are keeping them engaged and strong throughout pregnancy and your lifetime. As your glutes help support you with your posture, bending over and picking things up, and taking the load off of your back. And I know many of you also might just want your butt to look good in your genes and that’s ok!
So inside today’s episode I am giving you my favorite 3 tips (maybe some bonus tips) you can do at home or the gym, to help turn those glutes on and improve your glute recruitment and ability to engage and function for you! Not only during your leg and glute day at the gym, but also functionally when you are picking things up off the floor all day long! So stay tuned and make sure you listen to the whole episode as I have packed a lot in there for you!
As always, if you are experiencing any pelvic floor/women's health issue like urinary incontinence/leaking, pelvic pain, pain with sex, urgency, heaviness/prolapse or any other back/hip/joint pain let's get you booked for a virtual coaching session or in person physical therapy session for a more individualized plan and one-on-one instructions so you can feel confident in your body and start healing today!! I know first hand, as a busy and active mom, it is possible but so hard to do alone, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO! Join my tribe and let me help take the guess work out of your fitness and make it fun again!
Make Sure to reach out to> PTDes@balancedmomtality.com for COACHING!
AND/OR
Join my FREE Facebook community for ACCOUNTABILITY and a safe and supportive place to share and support each other!> https://www.facebook.com/groups/1696216757461633/
Join my VIP Insider group and receive my Newsletter full of great tips and tricks and upcoming resources! > https://newsletter.balancedmomtality.com/
Follow and get tips/tricks on:
Facebook> @thebalancedmomtality
Instagram> @the_balanced_momtality
Learn > www.balancedmomtality.com
Other Booty Optimizing Episodes:
30- Build Your Butt// 4 Best Glute Exercises for Pelvic Floor and Whole Body Health-
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-balanced-momtality-pelvic-floor-core-rehab-for/id1682290727?i=1000633356245
65- Get Your Booty Growth// Tips to Improve Glute Engagement During Your Workouts to Reduce Low Back Pain and Pelvic Pain
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-balanced-momtality-pelvic-floor-core-rehab-for/id1682290727?i=1000661248812

Thursday Sep 05, 2024
Thursday Sep 05, 2024
Hey Friend!
It can be overwhelming to know where to start or what to focus on when starting to try and optimize your health and wellness. From breathwork, to strength training, to cardio, there are so many areas to work on. You can totally pick one of these areas to start with and see how your body feels. However, even if you are exercising and showing up for yourself, your muscles may not be working when and how they are supposed to. That’s why today, I am sharing one of my favorite habit hacks to start with or at least add to your daily routine so that you can make sure that you are connecting and becoming aware of your body and how it functions for you throughout the day, not just when you are paying attention during exercise.
How our body functions automatically is crucial to understanding the root cause of pelvic floor and overall dysfunction. We may be focusing on breathwork and mechanics during intentional movement, but if the rest of the day your body isn’t functioning optimally, it can feel like very slow progress. Inside this week's episode, I dive into the power of the brain and re-mapping our motor plans and neuromuscular connections. This will help your body show up for you how you want it to, even when you aren't thinking about it. So stay tuned and make sure to let me know what you think at the private and FREE facebook page below!
As always, if you are experiencing any pelvic floor/women's health issue like urinary incontinence/leaking, pelvic pain, pain with sex, urgency, heaviness/prolapse or any other back/hip/joint pain let's get you booked for a virtual coaching session or in person physical therapy session for a more individualized plan and one-on-one instructions so you can feel confident in your body and start healing today!!
Make Sure to reach out to> PTDes@balancedmomtality.com
AND/OR
Join my FREE Facebook community for ACCOUNTABILITY and a safe and supportive place to share and support each other!> https://www.facebook.com/groups/1696216757461633/
Join my VIP Insider group and receive my Newsletter full of great tips and tricks and upcoming resources! > https://newsletter.balancedmomtality.com/
Follow and get tips/tricks on:
Facebook> @thebalancedmomtality
Instagram> @the_balanced_momtality
Learn > www.balancedmomtality.com

Thursday Aug 29, 2024
Thursday Aug 29, 2024
Hey Girlfriend!
Are you tired of feeling crampy, moody and tired, only to be (somewhat) surprised that your period was right around the corner? Or maybe you have PMS symptoms on and off all month with no understanding. One week you feel great and are motivated to tackle the World, only to feel totally overwhelmed and exhausted the following week. This cycle is so frustrating, especially if you have gone to the lengths of mentioning your menstrual cycle irregularities and symptoms to your provider, only to be told your hormone labs were normal and they offer birth control.
Inside this episode I dive into cycle syncing, or the practice of being aware of your menstrual cycle, understanding the role that hormones play in your body and how we can optimize our energy, mood and hormone cycle. We have so much more control over our hormones than we think, especially through exercise and diet. Each phase of our cycle has different levels of various hormones like estrogen, testosterone and progesterone, which significantly impacts how our body heals, feels and performs. Understanding the role of these hormones and how we can modify and adapt our lifestyle, can drastically reduce cramps, pelvic pain and improve energy and emotional regulation! So stay tuned to todays episode and let me know what you think!
As always, if you are experiencing any pelvic floor/women's health issue like urinary incontinence/leaking, pelvic pain, pain with sex, urgency, heaviness/prolapse or any other back/hip/joint pain let's get you booked for a virtual coaching session or in person physical therapy session for a more individualized plan and one-on-one instructions so you can feel confident in your body and start healing today!!
Make Sure to reach out to> PTDes@balancedmomtality.com
AND/OR
Join my FREE Facebook community for ACCOUNTABILITY and a safe and supportive place to share and support each other!> https://www.facebook.com/groups/1696216757461633/
Join my VIP Insider group and receive my Newsletter full of great tips and tricks and upcoming resources! > https://newsletter.balancedmomtality.com/
Follow and get tips/tricks on:
Facebook> @thebalancedmomtality
Instagram> @the_balanced_momtality
Learn > www.balancedmomtality.com

Thursday Aug 22, 2024
Thursday Aug 22, 2024
Hey Friend!
There is so much we do to prepare for the baby and maybe you put some time and effort into your hospital bag, but what about when you get home? Have you prepared to have the tools ready and available at home to help assist your body in healing after birth? Many women are blindsided when they get home and have to have their partners run out to pick up extra things to make momma comfortable at home. This episode is going to give you some ideas on some products that can be a huge help in assisting your healing and recovery and just to make you more comfortable while you sit and snuggle that baby.
I will be diving into many of the common and some, not so common, items that can be super helpful in reducing soreness and heaviness in the perineum and belly after baby. Everything from perineal support, hygiene, scar mobilizations, belly wraps and more! So many people are taking care of baby and have their eyes on how the baby is doing, but momma also needs to be cared for and comfortable. Not only comfortable, but recovering optimally and avoiding issues like pelvic organ prolapse, DRA, incontinence and pain. So I hope this episode helps get you thinking about some items you may or may not have forgotten to have handy and ready in a postpartum basket at home.
As always, if you are experiencing any pelvic floor/women's health issue like urinary incontinence/leaking, pelvic pain, pain with sex, urgency, heaviness/prolapse or any other back/hip/joint pain let's get you booked for a virtual coaching session or in person physical therapy session for a more individualized plan and one-on-one instructions so you can feel confident in your body and start healing today!!
Make Sure to reach out to> PTDes@balancedmomtality.com
AND/OR
Join my FREE Facebook community for ACCOUNTABILITY and a safe and supportive place to share and support each other!> https://www.facebook.com/groups/1696216757461633/
Join my VIP Insider group and receive my Newsletter full of great tips and tricks and upcoming resources! > https://newsletter.balancedmomtality.com/
Follow and get tips/tricks on:
Facebook> @thebalancedmomtality
Instagram> @the_balanced_momtality
Learn > www.balancedmomtality.com
Items Mentioned:
Dermaplast
https://a.co/d/0ehUmqy
Perineal ice pack
https://a.co/d/6fdMaiW
Tucks Pads
https://a.co/d/au4Qgho
Pelvic Wand (Use link for $5 OFF)
https://www.intimaterose.com/DESIREE2
Post Partum Diaper
https://a.co/d/cYTKamD
Massage Ball
https://a.co/d/cY0hukc
Belly Wrap
https://www.belliesinc.com/
Silicone Scar Strips
https://a.co/d/0nCrbkY
Silicone Fascial Cups
https://a.co/d/eEBCZg7
External perineal support garments
https://a.co/d/6wt80AX








