Many women are affected by PCOS, infertility and PMS. In this episode, I'm speaking with Kendra Tolbert about all of it. We discuss how yoga, nutrition and lifestyle changes can reduce the need for medication, improve chances of fertility and improve your menstrual cycle.  Check it out and let me know what you think.

Kendra Tolbert MS, RDN, CDN, LD, RYT, Cert AT is a registered dietitian nutritionist, registered yoga teacher, and certified aromatherapist specializing in PCOS, fertility, and PMS. She completed her Bachelors of Science in Nutritional Sciences at Howard University and her Masters degree in Nutrition and Public Health at Teachers College, Columbia University.  Kendra has experience helping individuals, families, and communities make improvements to their health and lives by adopting healthier habits. Her areas of expertise include women's health, PCOS, fertility, and community nutrition. Kendra has been featured on and written for numerous websites.  Previously, Kendra worked as an acute care clinical dietitian, outpatient oncology dietitian, nutrition educator, community nutritionist, and consultant for nonprofit organizations.

Connect with Kendra

website: https://livefertile.com

Facebook: Facebook.com/livefertile

Instagram: instagram.com/live.fertile

YouTube: YouTube.com/livefertile

To reach me for questions or inquiries, email me [email protected].

Enjoy the episode!

Low pressure fitness exercise, also known as hypopressives, have become increasingly popular lately. It's been around for quite a while, practiced in a few different cultures and countries. Recently though, it's made its way to the US and into the workspaces of physical therapists. Some pelvic floor physical therapists have adopted this practice to help with abdominal and pelvic floor dysfunction. In this episode, I discuss with Dr. Ayo what hypopressive is, how to perform it, how it would benefit those with conditions such as constipation, pelvic organ prolapse (POP), and diastasis recti abdominis (DRA). 

Dr. Ayo is a certified Pelvic Rehabilitation Practitioner (PRPC), specializing in bowel, bladder, and sexual disfunction. She is also holds a certification with the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and a certification in Strength and Conditioning (CSCS). Dr. Ayo, working with both women and men, hopes to encourage movement joyfully and to educate women and men on pelvic wellness while keeping in mind how unique or vulnerable every body can be.  Her practice is heavily based in manual therapy, utilizing techniques such as visceral manipulation.

To learn more about hypopressives and work with Dr. Ayo, connect with her:

website: www.ayomipt.com

instagram: @ayomi.pt

To reach me for questions or inquiries, email me [email protected].

Enjoy the episode!

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Theresa Pride to talk about the love of her life, Pilates. As a trained physical therapist, Pilates instructor, former dancer and wellness coach, we talk about how blending all of the above is able to help every and all bodies. 

Dr. Theresa Pride is the owner of Pride Physique, a virtual pilates studio based in Atlanta, GA. Dr. Theresa has nearly two decades of experience with injury, Pilates, and teaching others about their bodies and movement.  With a history of injury, a former professional dance career, and education as a Doctor of Physical Therapy, she really gets it. She uses her experience, intuition, and way with words to help her rehabilitation and fitness clients alike.

If you want to learn more about wellness or join in on virtual Pilates (with or without equipment) with Theresa, connect with her:

website: https://pridephysique.com

Facebook: @Pridephysique

Instagram: @pridephysique

Enjoy!

In this episode, we discuss the 4 P's Dr. Amber Brown. Dr. Brown has experience as a yoga instructor, pelvic health physical therapist, a lymphedema therapist and most recently, a birth doula.  This episode is involved as we discuss cancer, black maternal mortality,  how other PTs can help to improve care for mothers, and more. 

Dr. Amber Brown is the owner of Root Physical Therapy and Wellness and  Care 4 You First, where she serves as a health and wealth coach. As a doctor of physical therapy and Board-Certified Women's Health Specialist, her primary focuses are pelvic floor dysfunction and Black Maternal Health.  She also serves several clientele as a doula, certified lymphedema therapist and registered yoga teacher.  Dr. Brown contribute to academia as a guest lecturer and is involved in research as she completes her second doctorate.  As an entrepreneur and educator, she teaches and empowers college students, parents, and healthcare professionals on how to make, manage, and multiply their money.  

Connect with Dr. Brown:

website: https://www.rootptandwellness.org and https://www.care4youfirst.com

Instagram: @Rootwellpt and @care4youfirst 

Enjoy the episode!

In this episode, I'm sitting down with Dr. Danielle Bailey, another pelvic floor PT and mama to chat about constipation in pregnancy as well as functional medicine's place in physical therapy. 

Dr. Danielle Bailey, an Illinois native, has 10 years of clinical experience as a physical therapist, of which the last 6 years have been in the Dallas-Fort-Worth area.  In 2010, she received her doctorate of physical therapy from Washington University in St. Louis.  Within the last four years, she has developed an interest for women’s health, and now provides therapy services for individuals who experience urinary and fecal incontinence, constipation, pelvic pain, sexual dysfunction, and for women during their pregnancy and postpartum. Not only does she provide women's health services, but she is also a functional medicine practitioner which focuses on treating the root cause of chronic illness. Through these services, her goal is to help individuals reach their health goals.    

In her private practice, 360 Health and Wellness Services, Danielle's mission is to provide unparalleled healthcare to every patient she encounters. Whether it is through Telehealth services, in-office visits, or in-home visits, Danielle's desire is to always inspire and positively impact the lives of everyone she encounters as a physical therapist and functional medicine practitioner.

Danielle has many hobbies which include singing, theatre, reading, speaking, service trips, and traveling the world.  Her love for the arts and the medical field intersected when she was privileged with the opportunity to represent Nevada in the Miss Black USA pageant in 2012.  Her hobbies are a part of who she is as a medical professional, a daughter, a wife, and now a mother of three.   

Connect with Dr. Danielle Bailey online:

Website: www.360hws.com

Facebook: 360 Health and Wellness Services

Instagram: @360_healthcoach

Thanks for joining us this week. Please share with friends and family who might benefit from this information. For questions and inquiries, please email me at:

Email: [email protected]

Stay strong, sisters!

In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Melanie Howell, a pelvic pain specialist from Pelvic Rehabilitation Medicine. We talk about a few things including how physiatry is similar and different to physical therapy, common conditions treated, endometriosis and even male pelvic health. 

Dr. Howell  received her medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry-School of Osteopathic Medicine.  She then completed a residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation from NYU Langone Medical Center, where she received hands on training in the treatment of pelvic pain in both men and women.  Upon completion of her residency, she went on to pursue fellowship training in Cancer Rehabilitation Medicine at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Dr. Howell is board-certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. She joined Pelvic Rehabilitation Medicine as a pelvic pain specialist in June 2019.

Connect with her:

Website: https://www.pelvicrehabilitation.com/

Instagram: @dr.melaniehowell

For questions and inquiries about the podcast, email Dr. Kenael Segal at [email protected].

Enjoy the show and don't forget to subscribe, rate and share. 

Dr. K

In this episode, I had the honor of chatting with Dr. Heather Irobunda, an OB/GYN Physician for NYC Health and Hospitals. We are not shy about talking about the vagina, what it really is and what to do is she stinks or itches. We even touch on health disparities and discuss qualities of a good doctor. 

Dr. Heather, a true New Yorker, is an OB/GYN Physician who takes care of reproductive health needs for people with vaginas and/or uterus and/or ovaries. She always wanted to do something that helped people know more about themselves and eventually narrowed things down to medicine after college. She went to medical school in NYC at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and then started her career in the US Army (thank you for your service).  She completed her residency and served for 4 years in the Army as an Active Duty OB/GYN. There, she met people from all over the country and the world. Dr. Heather also lived in places that were very different than where I grew up. Despite the differences in location, culture, etc, Dr. Heather noticed common thread: that people all want the same thing - respect and good medical care. She eventually landed back in NYC, truly serving her community and spreading knowledge and love to all patients!

Connect with Dr. Heather and her pup (@hennessytheshorkie):

• Online: https://www.irobundamd.com
• Facebook: @drheatherirobundamd
• Instagram: @drheatherirobundamd
• Tic Tok: @drheatherirobundamd

If you want to reach me, check out my website at www.lotuspt.com or hit me up on IG @lotuspelvicpt. For questions or inquiries, shoot me an email at [email protected]

Peace and love

--Dr. Kenael Segal

Is this episode, I'm discussing all things pregnancy and postpartum and the trauma that your pelvic floor can endure. If you're pregnant, ever had a baby, or thinking of having a baby, give this episode a listen. You'll learn how to prepare your pelvic floor for birth and how to recognize when you need PT before and after baby is born, even years down the line. Ibukun Afolabi (Ibbie) has a wealth of knowledge as a mama and clinical PT to share with other mamas in this episode. Between the 2 of us, we have 7 children and years of experience to shape our clinical practice and treatment of women during the prenatal and postpartum experience. 

Ibukun Afolabi (Ibbie) is a pelvic floor physical therapist, childbirth educator, and doula-in-training. She works with women to help them optimize their health and is particularly passionate about perinatal health.  Ibbie is the owner of The Mama's Physio in London, Ontario, Canada where she also lives with her husband and 4 young children. 

Connect with Ibbie:

Website: https://www.themamasphysio.com

Instagram: @themamasphysio

Facebook: @themamasphysio

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQDVGPhQxAmXGhR5-7VUELQ

For questions and inquiries, find me (Dr. Kenael Segal) at www.lotuspt.com or email me at [email protected].

Be well sistas!

In this episode, I'm speaking with Dr. Shalay Foster about all things poop. We can't address pelvic floor issues without touching on this subject.  Dr. Shalay Foster, a Doctor of Physical Therapy, works at the Center for Pelvic Wellness at Princeton Medical Center (PMC), a highly specialized physical therapy practice, offering progressive treatments for men, women, and children aged 7 and older affected by pelvic floor disorders. 

Dr. Shalay is skilled in the treatment of pelvic pain, bowel, bladder, and sexual dysfunction. She works with all genders throughout the lifespan who are interested in exercise and lifestyle management strategies to reduce pain, restore function, and improve quality of life. She is a credentialed clinical instructor, volunteering to instruct, mentor, and supervise physical therapy students in the clinical setting. She has served as associated faculty for the Rutgers Doctor of Physical Therapy Program co-writing and instructing the pelvic floor elective in March 2019, and most recently writing and independently instructing the “Introduction to the Pelvic Floor” elective in May 2020. She has presented research at both regional and national conferences regarding the efficacy of aquatic therapy as a treatment for breast cancer survivors, as well as implementation of a host position at a student run physical therapy clinic. Dr. Shalay seeks to empower her patients to embrace healthy lifestyles through physical fitness, nutrition, and mindfulness. Her personal interests include spending time with family, gardening, and helping individuals become health and wealth literate.

Most recently, Dr. Shalay and myself (Dr. Kenael) co-founded the New Jersey Chapter of the National Association of Black Physical Therapists (NABPT-NJ), a non -profit organization with the primary focus of increasing opportunities for the African Diaspora in the physical therapy network. For more information, check out www.nabpt.org.

Connect with Dr. Shalay Foster on social media:

Instagram: @shalay.foster

Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/shalay.foster/

Thanks for joining us this week. Please share with friends and family who might benefit from this information. For questions and inquiries, please email me at:

Email: [email protected]

Stay strong, sisters!

Dr. Marqui Rennalls started her career at NYU Langone in acute rehabilitation working along side neurologists, cardiologists and orthopedic surgeons. Moving into Pediatrics in 2015, she now  has over 5 years of experience treating complex cases with NYC Board of Education’s District 75 And Early Intervention In-home Services and New York City-Board of Education’s District 75.  

In 2019 after training with the Herman & Wallace Institute she started a boutique practice specializing in Pelvic Floor conditions in Harlem, NYC. Featured on Parents.com and in Blood+Milk she continues to spread awareness of pelvic floor health and conditions treated conservatively with physical therapy.  

After closing her actual office due to COVID-19, Dr. Marqui Rennalls is offering virtual sessions through her website ItsPrivatePractice.com

Connect with Dr. Marqui:

Website: http://www.itsprivatepractice.com

Instagram: @itsprivatepractice

Thanks for joining us this week. Please share with friends and family who might benefit from this information. For questions and inquiries, please email me at:

Email: [email protected]

Stay strong, sisters!