Mom Strength

Surabhi Veitch and Joanne Ukposidolo have a dynamic conversation on how to become a better and more successful pelvic floor physiotherapist, while respecting shared decision making, cultural humility and embracing your own identity.

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We discuss:

—Creating a space where you and your Type A clients can release the pressure and stress of the day

—The role of the physiotherapist in creating an environment where clients want to participate in their rehab

—Empowering clients as the custodian of their own care

—Getting better at understanding client’s goals, identity and culture in order to better treat them

—The importance of hearing people out and validating their concerns as a pelvic health physiotherapist

—Cultural competence vs cultural humility

—Understanding body shame and body confidence as a woman treading across multiple cultures

—The hypervisibility and hyperinvisibility of being a visible minority (terms by Stephanie Lurch)

—Embracing your culture, identity and parts that “stand out”

—The importance of knowing yourself and respecting your own boundaries - “once you understand why something is important to you, nothing can touch you at that point”

—The importance of critical thinking as a healthcare professional

—Understanding how race and technology/AI can impact pain management and birth outcomes

—Why it is crucial for healthcare professionals to take care of themselves in order to provide better client care

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✨This episode is sponsored by Embodia https://www.embodiaapp.com/ - use code momstrength to save $20 off your first month’s Tier 3 membership.

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Connect with Joanne: Instagram @yourphysio_jo

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Connect with Surabhi:
—Find Surabhi on Instagram or Facebook @thepassionatephysio
—Website: https://www.thepassionatephysio.ca

Surabhi chats with Dr. Yeni Abraham, pelvic physical therapist and creator of the Pelvic Rehab Fertility Specialist (PRFS) Certification Program, all about infertility, the importance of prioritizing sexual wellness, and using a holistic approach to supporting fertility.

We discuss:

—What is infertility and how to know when to get help?
—The ideal age for fertility and impact of advanced maternal age
—How lack of time impacts fertility especially for busy, Type A successful women
—How the western medical and traditional cultural approaches both play a key role in fertility
—How the search for economic stability can impacts an immigrant’s experience with fertility
—Importance of education on regular intercourse, pleasure, orgasms and sexual wellness as part of fertility treatment
—When should genetic and reproductive testing come into play
—The role of a pelvic floor physical therapist in supporting fertility
—The importance of shared decision making rather than resorting to the patriarchal model of healthcare
—Fibroids, premature ovarian failure and other fertility cases that keep Dr Yeni up at night
—Dr. Yeni’s services including mentorship, PRFS Certification Program, and masterclasses on endometriosis, adenomyosis, irregular periods
—How Dr. Yeni prioritizes happiness and self-care as a mom and successful business owner

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✨This episode is sponsored by Embodia https://www.embodiaapp.com/ - use code momstrength to save $20 off your first month’s Tier 3 membership.

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Connect with Dr. Yeni & Important Links:
—Instagram @triggeredpt
—Sign up for Dr. Yeni’s courses and programs: https://www.triggeredacademy.com

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Connect with Surabhi:
—Find Surabhi on Instagram or Facebook @thepassionatephysio
—Website: https://www.thepassionatephysio.ca

Surabhi chats with Dr. Sinéad Dufour, leading researcher and pelvic physiotherapist in a conversation all about incontinence, pelvic girdle pain and HIFEM technology.

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We get into:

—The benefits of virtual and hybrid models of care when it comes to pelvic physical therapy
—What the research says about pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PGP)
—Reducing fear of movement and getting moms moving
—Understanding physiologic vs structural pain
—Pelvic floor dysfunction and urinary incontinence
—High-intensity focused electromagnetic technology (HIFEM) like Emsella and other “Kegel chairs”

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✨This episode is sponsored by Embodia https://www.embodiaapp.com/ - use code momstrength to save $20 off your first month’s Tier 3 membership.

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Connect with Dr. Sinéad & Important Links:
—Instagram @dr.sinead
—Work with Dr. Sinéad at Urospot and Compass Rose Wellness

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Connect with Surabhi:
—Find Surabhi on Instagram or Facebook @thepassionatephysio
—Website: https://www.thepassionatephysio.ca

Pregnant, trying to conceive or planning a future pregnancy? Tune into this episode to learn why you should work with a pelvic floor physiotherapist. Whether you have pelvic symptoms like leaks, constipation or pain, other symptoms like lower back pain, sciatica, or maybe you don’t have symptoms at all, you’ll learn why it’s a good idea to work with a pelvic physio in pregnancy. You’ll also learn how to prepare for birth and minimize risk of tears.

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Helpful Links:

—Book a pelvic physiotherapy or coaching consult: https://www.thepassionatephysio.ca/book-with-surabhi

—Prenatal fitness - sign up for BASE fitness membership: https://www.thepassionatephysio.ca/base-membership

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Connect with Surabhi:
—Find Surabhi on Instagram or Facebook @thepassionatephysio
—Website: https://www.thepassionatephysio.ca

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Episode Sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by Embodia https://www.embodiaapp.com/ - use code momstrength to save $20 off your first month’s Tier 3 membership.

Not sure how to find a physio that’s a good fit for you? The thing is: not all physical therapists are created equal. There are many factors to consider in choosing the right practitioner for you, including their training, work experience, life experience, cultural competence, ability to listen to you, ability to empower you, and ability to get you results! Listen to this full episode so you’re empowered with information when finding the right person to support your needs.

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Helpful Links:

—Book a physiotherapy or coaching consult: https://www.thepassionatephysio.ca/book-with-surabhi

—Sign up for BASE online fitness membership: https://www.thepassionatephysio.ca/base-membership

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Connect with Surabhi:
—Find Surabhi on Instagram or Facebook @thepassionatephysio
—Website: https://www.thepassionatephysio.ca

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Today’s Sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by Embodia https://www.embodiaapp.com/ - use code momstrength to save $20 off your first month’s Tier 3 membership.

How does a physiotherapist who's not "tech-savvy" turn into an health tech entrepreneur and create a product that is used worldwide?! Tune in to find out!

Surabhi interviews Maggie Bergeron, a physiotherapist with a drive to improve client care! We chat about the founding story of Embodia, a health tech platform that make it easier for healthcare professionals to schedule, bill, receive payment, chart, send exercises, send education, host a course and more!

We discuss:

—Maggie’s journey as a physiotherapist and the story of how Embodia was founded
—How to take risk as an entrepreneur
—Build a business the slow way
—Embrace change as a profession
—Ways to get outside of your comfort zone
—How Embodia has evolved
—Maggie’s fave features on Embodia

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✨This episode is sponsored by Embodia https://www.embodiaapp.com/ - use code momstrength to save $20 off your first month’s Tier 3 membership.

✨Click here to learn more about How I use Embodia as a Pelvic Physiotherapist!

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Bio for Maggie Bergeron:

Maggie Bergeron is a PT turned tech entrepreneur. 10 years ago she met a chemical engineer turned software developer at a dragon boat practice that changed the trajectory of her career. Like most healthcare professionals, Maggie was not particularly tech savvy, but deeply cared about helping her patients. Over a summer of dragon boat practices, the founding principles of Embodia were formed and in Oct 2014 Embodia was officially 'born' (ie incorporated), and thus began her journey into building, growing, and scaling a health tech company - with many ups, downs, and twists along the way.

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Connect with Maggie & Important Links:
—www.embodiaapp.com
—Instagram @embodia @maggiebpt

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Connect with Surabhi:
—Find Surabhi on Instagram or Facebook @thepassionatephysio
—Website: https://www.thepassionatephysio.ca

Did you grow up learning about your private parts? Do you want to do better for your own kids? Or maybe you have nieces, nephews or family members that you want to empower. This episode, from the perspective of a pelvic physiotherapist and mom (me!), will teach you simple ways to reduce the awkward, and get comfortable having conversations about our bodies and genital area.

You’ll learn why it’s important and how to actually teach your babies and young kids about their private parts. We also cover setting boundaries, teaching them about consent, and giving them respect and autonomy over their bodies. Having these conversations early on can help keep your kids safe, and also help them understand when to speak up and who to go to for help if they feel uncomfortable.

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Today’s Sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by Embodia https://www.embodiaapp.com/ - use code momstrength to save $20 off your first month’s Tier 3 membership.

Helpful Links:

—Book a free call to find out how pelvic physiotherapy can help you: https://www.thepassionatephysio.ca/book-with-surabhi

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Connect with Surabhi:
—Find Surabhi on Instagram or Facebook @thepassionatephysio
—Website: https://www.thepassionatephysio.ca

If you're a physiotherapist working in pelvic health, if you struggle to navigate the biopsychosocial influences to pain and offer the most empowering care to your patients, you'll want to tune into this episode!

Surabhi interviews Teresa Waser, physiotherapist, educator, clinic owner and mom, as we explore the TIIPPSS-FC framework for Reframing Pain, Pelvic Health, and Performance. We start with the Biopsychosocial Approach, discuss psychosocial influences on pain including asking the right questions on intake forms. We discuss the importance of experiential learning for patients. Teresa shares her journey into pelvic health, highlighting the pelvic floor's vital role. We touch on Diastasis Recti, addressing disordered eating, and the challenges of perfectionism in physiotherapy. Plus, we share exciting updates about upcoming courses and delve into self-care and pessary fitting for pelvic health.

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We discuss:

—TIIPPSS-FC framework for Reframing Pain, Pelvic Health and Performance
—What is the Biopsychosocial Approach?
—Addressing psychosocial influences to pain and symptoms as a physiotherapist
—Intake Forms and Screening Questionnaires to include
—Using experiential learning to show patients how they can move with less symptoms
—Teresa's journey into pelvic health
—Pelvic floor being the missing link in physiotherapy
—Factors to consider in Diastasis Recti & Postpartum Recovery
—Addressing Disordered Eating as a Physiotherapist
—Balancing motherhood, business ownership and teaching
—Perfectionism in Physiotherapy and Letting it Be Enough
—TIIPPSS-FC Live-Online Course in October 2023 and in-person course in Ireland in March 2024 (links to register below)
—Self-Care as a Mom & Business Owner
—Pessary fitting for pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence

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Today’s episode is sponsored by Embodia https://www.embodiaapp.com/ - use code momstrength to save $20 off your first month’s Tier 3 membership.

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Bio for Teresa Waser:

Teresa Waser is a passionate educator driven to help healthcare and fitness professionals reignite their curiosity, challenge what they believe, and strive towards a truly biopsychosocial approach. She teaches online and in person courses, is a pelvic health and orthopedic physiotherapist, and owns RX Physiotherapy in Leduc, Canada. She is a former running & CrossFit coach and while she stepped away from group coaching a few years ago, she still works with clients in a 1 on 1 basis. Teresa is also a mom of 3, including a set of twins. She loves traveling, horseback riding, and lifting heavy-ish barbells repeatedly.

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Connect with Teresa & Important Links:
—https://www.facebook.com/teresa.graysonwaser
—https://www.facebook.com/rxphysiotherapy
—https://www.instagram.com/rxphysio/

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Courses:

—TIIPPSS-FC: Reframing our Approach to Pain, Pelvic Health and Performance Live online, Oct 21 & 22, 2x4hr sessions, plus 2hr recorded research review, hosted by Reframe Rehab, only $249CAD https://reframerehab.com/products/tiippss-fc-reframing-our-approach-to-pain-pelvic-health-and-performance-north-america-may-6
—Beyond the Pelvis: Live online, Nov 4, 8hr course, extremely practical, Hosted by Pelvic Health Solutions, only $199CAD https://courses.pelvichealthsolutions.ca/products/beyond-the-pelvis-exercise-for-the-whole-body-and-the-everyday-person-online-november-2023
—TIIPPSS-FC Masterclass in Cork Ireland, March 23 & 24 Live in person, 2x8hr, plus 2hr recorded research review https://rxphysio.ck.page/products/tiippss-fc-masterclass-cork-ireland

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Connect with Surabhi:
—Find Surabhi on Instagram or Facebook @thepassionatephysio
—Website: https://www.thepassionatephysio.ca

Your period is your superpower!

Let’s dive into all things menstruation! From debunking the myth that painful periods are 'normal' to embracing the magic of your menstrual cycle, I’ll guide you through better period health. Learn about primary and secondary dysmenorrhea, tackle the shame and stigma surrounding periods, and discover how to treat your menstrual cycle like a cherished friend. Explore remedies and approaches to alleviate PMS and menstrual pain.

Dive deep into the connection between your beliefs and pain perception, and prepare your period toolkit to thrive throughout your entire cycle. From medications to nutrition, cravings to TENS machines, acupuncture to massages, and the choice of menstrual wear, I’ve got you covered. Uncover the benefits of nature time, exercise, orgasms, and learning to ask for help. Explore stress management techniques, including the wonders of pelvic physiotherapy. Discover the importance of self-care, mindfulness, and movement throughout your menstrual phases, and understand that women's health is not a one-size-fits-all concept.

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15 things to have in your period toolkit

1. Medications for PMS
2. Nutrition for menstrual health (fats, seeds, proteins, carbs), reduce caffeine and drink adequate water
3. TENS machine for period pain (not an affiliate link, just a suggestion)
4. Acupuncture for menstrual pain
5. Massage for abdominal or pelvic pain
6. Change your menstrual wear aka “feminine hygiene” eg try cup, tampon, period underwear, pads
7. Breathe, Meditation and mindfulness – be where your feet are
8. Yoga: Asana, pranayama and yoga nidra
9. Plan ahead for different phases of menstrual cycle, look at calendar for next 4-5 weeks and plan more self-care and less stress in luteal/pre-menstrual phase. Women are not small men
10. Nature time
11. Movement – relaxation stretches, isometric exercises, ab exercises, glute med exercises, jogging, pelvic floor exercises, aerobic exercise, stretching – 8-12 weeks participation eg in my BASE fitness membership
12. Orgasms, snuggling and being taken care of
13. Do less and ask for help
14. Stress management
15. Pelvic physiotherapy

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Today’s episode is sponsored by Embodia https://www.embodiaapp.com/ - use code momstrength to save $20 off your first month’s Tier 3 membership.

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Helpful Links:

Helpful Links:

—Strength and mobility workouts to support your menstrual health: sign up for my BASE fitness monthly membership
—Pelvic physiotherapy (virtual or in-person in Toronto) to manage period pain and menstrual symptoms
—Mom Strength Episode 33: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) with Dr. Whitney Baxter
—TENS machine from Ortho Canada (not an affiliate link, just a suggestion)

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Connect with Surabhi:
—Find Surabhi on Instagram or Facebook @thepassionatephysio
—Website: https://www.thepassionatephysio.ca

Surabhi Veitch chats with Divya Kumar, an Asian-American licensed psychotherapist. Divya specializes in perinatal mental health, trauma, and the life transitions related to pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting. Surabhi and Divya discuss parenting and the challenges of being a South Asian parent within Western society. Join the conversation as Divya explains how to manage your triggers when it comes to parenting and explores how race and culture impacts parenting.

We discuss:

—Forming Identity as an Immigrant
—Sacrifice as a Parent
—Intergenerational Healing
—Strategies for Self Awareness
—Dealing With Your Own Trauma & Triggers
—Living in a White World
—Cultural Appropriation
—South Asian Food
—The Namesake

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Bio for Divya Kumar, psychotherapist:

Divya Kumar, LICSW, PMH-C is a South Asian-American psychotherapist with a public health background who specializes in perinatal mental health, trauma, and the life transitions related to pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting. She is especially passionate about holding space for folks of color and folks who identify as first- and second-generation immigrants as they navigate the transition to parenthood and explore how race, racial identity, and culture intersect with parenting.

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Connect with Divya & Important Links:
—Follow Divya on Instagram @bothbrownandtherapist
—Work with Divya: www.divyakumarlicsw.com

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Connect with Surabhi:
—Find Surabhi on Instagram or Facebook @thepassionatephysio
—Website: https://www.thepassionatephysio.ca