Pelvic Secrets: Unlocking the Hidden Power of Your Core

In this episode of Soma Says, Dr. Soma sits down with Dr. Krystal Couture, DPT, LAc., a holistic physical therapist and acupuncturist, to shine light on an often-overlooked topic: pelvic floor health.

Krystal explains what pelvic floor dysfunction really is, the common symptoms women (and men) experience, and the surprising emotional and physical causes behind it. Together, they explore how holistic practices—like acupuncture, craniosacral therapy, and breathwork—can be combined with traditional physical therapy for a deeper, more integrative approach.

Listeners will learn practical tools like pelvic breathing exercises, hear myths about pelvic floor health get debunked, and discover why open conversations and proper education are essential to breaking the taboo around this vital part of our health.

Whether you’re navigating postpartum changes, perimenopause, or simply curious about strengthening your pelvic health, this episode will leave you with both knowledge and empowerment.

Timeline

00:00 Introduction and Disclaimer

00:52 Meet Dr. Krystal Couture

02:02 Understanding Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

03:04 Pelvic Floor Symptoms and Causes

06:38 Pelvic Floor Breathing Exercise

11:26 Combining Acupuncture and Physical Therapy

15:01 Breaking the Taboo Around Pelvic Health

20:46 Holistic Treatment Approaches

34:20 Men’s Pelvic Health and Other Specialties

36:18 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Resources & Links

🌐 Learn more about Dr. Krystal Couture: www.krystal-couture.com 📲 Follow Krystal on social media:

• Instagram: @krystalcouture

• Facebook: Krystal Couture

🌐 Connect with Dr. Soma: www.somamandalmd.com 📚 Dr. Soma’s book Midlife Masala — available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and BookBub

Support the Podcast

If this episode inspired you, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review for Soma Says on Apple Podcasts. Reviews also help more women discover these important conversations. And after you read Midlife Masala, don’t forget to leave a review for the book too!

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Hi, this is Dr.

(00:01):
Soma.
Just a disclaimer, this podcast is for informational purposes only and isn't intended as medical advice.
Always consult with your doctor before making any changes to your diet, exercise, or health regimen.
Let's go to the show.

(00:52):
.000209808Today on Soma Says I’m joined by Dr. 7 00:00:56,610.000209808 --> 00:00:57,960.000114441 Krystal Couture, DPT, LAc.—a 8 00:00:58,20.00005722 --> 00:01:02,899.999694824 holistic physical therapist and acupuncturist whose work weaves science with soul. 9 00:01:03,479.99961853 --> 00:01:07,840.000228882 Krystal is a gifted healer and spiritual teacher devoted to conscious, inside-out healing. 10 00:01:08,159.999923706 --> 00:01:21,670.000152588 She blends Five-Element acupuncture, advanced pelvic-floor dry needling, craniosacral somatoemotional release, osteopathic manipulation, and resistance-flexibility to help patients restore harmony in body, mind, spirit, and emotions. 11 00:01:21,920.000152588 --> 00:01:29,539.999084473 She’s a Reiki Master, trained in Chinese nutrition and peristeam hydrotherapy, and is currently completing her Doctorate of Acupuncture. 12 00:01:29,999.998168945 --> 00:01:40,960.00106812 Krystal’s signature offerings even include her ocean-based Dolphin Integrative Vitality Experiences, reflecting her belief in authenticity, vulnerability, and true soul alignment. 13 00:01:41,249.99816895 --> 00:01:48,539.99908447 Inspired by Chinese medicine, nature—and yes, dolphins—she champions the idea that you are uniquely designed to heal.

(01:49):
.17Krystal, welcome to Soma Says I wanted to officially welcome you. 15 00:01:54,950.17 --> 00:01:56,210.17 To Soma Says. 16 00:01:56,210.17 --> 00:01:58,910.17 So excited To be talking with you today. 17 00:01:59,250.17 --> 00:02:02,640.17 You are both an acupuncturist and physical therapist. 18 00:02:02,640.17 --> 00:02:22,710.17 I love acupuncture and I also love physical therapy, but today we're talking about pelvic floor health, which is so important in women's health, and it's something that I discuss with all my patients that are having issues like incontinence and. 19 00:02:23,200.17 --> 00:02:24,520.17 sexual issues. 20 00:02:24,880.17 --> 00:02:27,700.17 So let's just jump right into it. 21 00:02:27,700.17 --> 00:02:43,360.17 what are some of the signs and symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction? thank you for being an MD who is out there sharing about pelvic health with clients because not everyone is doing that. 22 00:02:43,360.17 --> 00:02:45,310.17 So thank you for being at the forefront. 23 00:02:45,360.17 --> 00:02:55,140.17 That's so important because very often you're in the line and when clients come to someone like me, it's very often that it's a last resort. 24 00:02:55,140.17 --> 00:02:56,220.17 They've tried everything. 25 00:02:56,220.17 --> 00:02:56,310.17 It's. 26 00:02:56,495.17 --> 00:02:59,135.17 Been years and years that they've had the dysfunction. 27 00:02:59,135.17 --> 00:03:03,725.17 So the sooner someone is getting into a therapeutic environment, the better. 28 00:03:04,95.17 --> 00:03:05,325.17 Let's talk about symptoms. 29 00:03:05,535.17 --> 00:03:12,105.17 So you know, the first that you mentioned, and perhaps the most common is going to be urinary incontinence. 30 00:03:12,885.17 --> 00:03:21,835.17 But with that also comes urinary frequency, urinary retention, and difficulty with like emptying fully. 31 00:03:22,85.17 --> 00:03:25,415.17 So there's a lot of components to the urinary aspect. 32 00:03:25,655.17 --> 00:03:28,385.17 There's also those components that are associated with. 33 00:03:28,390.17 --> 00:03:33,790.17 The bowel that people don't always consider are related to the pelvic floor as well. 34 00:03:34,60.17 --> 00:03:44,680.17 So we can actually have incontinence of bowel, we can actually have retention of stool, and those can be so deeply connected to what's happening within the pelvic floor. 35 00:03:44,740.17 --> 00:03:55,530.17 And then of course, as you mentioned, sexual dysfunction, which can be, pain with penetration, it can be unable to tolerate any type of penetration. 36 00:03:55,530.17 --> 00:03:57,180.17 It can be pain at rest. 37 00:03:57,610.17 --> 00:04:02,650.17 It can be inability to achieve an orgasm, right? There are so many things going on. 38 00:04:02,650.17 --> 00:04:12,580.17 And then if we go deeper into the world of menstruation and menopause and everything that the hormones have going on, pelvic floor is just so related to. 39 00:04:13,405.17 --> 00:04:21,825.17 The totality of what we call in Chinese medicine, the lower jao, which is essentially from the belly button down to the base of the pelvis. 40 00:04:21,855.17 --> 00:04:24,465.17 So all the things that can happen in that region. 41 00:04:24,960.17 --> 00:04:25,770.17 Are connected. 42 00:04:26,760.17 --> 00:04:47,85.17 Can you explain what happens to our pelvis? Perhaps is it an overworking muscle or an underworking muscle, or is it a nerve issue? Can you explain to our audience, for example, what happens with urinary incontinence and and frequency as you were mentioning. 43 00:04:48,410.17 --> 00:04:49,460.17 Yeah, for sure. 44 00:04:49,460.17 --> 00:04:54,550.17 So it can be an overworking of the muscles so they can be too tight. 45 00:04:54,880.17 --> 00:05:02,230.17 It can also be, and this is the common misnomer, this is what most sort of people think is what's going on, is that everything down there just gets weak. 46 00:05:02,660.17 --> 00:05:04,10.17 So that can happen. 47 00:05:04,10.17 --> 00:05:08,90.17 There can be a weakness issue, but that's not always the case. 48 00:05:08,150.17 --> 00:05:08,480.17 Okay. 49 00:05:08,510.17 --> 00:05:10,220.17 And it can also be a nerve issue. 50 00:05:10,220.17 --> 00:05:12,20.17 So if there's trauma. 51 00:05:12,235.17 --> 00:05:24,615.17 or if someone sits for a long time or, I've had a client who like always keeps their chapstick in their back pocket and is sitting on it, right? things like that can also lead to some nervous system dysfunction. 52 00:05:24,615.17 --> 00:05:33,815.17 So there can be a wide range of tightness, weakness, nerve problems, and let's add to that emotional issues of course. 53 00:05:33,815.17 --> 00:05:34,925.17 Which could be trauma. 54 00:05:35,350.17 --> 00:05:47,50.17 It could also be like microtraumas, so there are many different ways in which pelvic floor dysfunction as an umbrella term can come to exist. 55 00:05:47,440.17 --> 00:05:54,300.17 And the problem is that if someone is not seeing a specialist or they're not talking to a specialist, then. 56 00:05:54,860.17 --> 00:05:57,920.17 The sort of, roundabout answer is, oh, just do Kegels, it's fine. 57 00:05:58,40.17 --> 00:06:12,800.17 And that really doesn't work, because we don't know what the intricacy of the dysfunction is and being able to diagnose that and spend time with that, helping the client to understand these patterns that are going through their body or their emotions is key to moving forward. 58 00:06:13,750.17 --> 00:06:22,930.17 I often find, and I include myself in this category as well, is that women don't often know how to do Kegels properly. 59 00:06:23,120.17 --> 00:06:25,620.17 It's actually quite difficult to do. 60 00:06:25,900.17 --> 00:06:28,510.17 It's not, and people are people are also misinformed. 61 00:06:28,510.17 --> 00:06:34,300.17 So I just wanna say that, kegel is not stopping your urine stream midway through. 62 00:06:34,350.17 --> 00:06:38,150.17 That's just, that's, I don't know where that came from, but it's just bad advice. 63 00:06:38,510.17 --> 00:06:42,410.17 So what I teach my clients, and we can do this if that's okay with you. 64 00:06:42,770.17 --> 00:06:42,830.17 Yeah. 65 00:06:42,830.17 --> 00:06:45,50.17 This is spontaneous, but do a quick little meditation to. 66 00:06:45,340.17 --> 00:06:47,380.17 To connect in with the pelvic floor. 67 00:06:47,860.17 --> 00:06:58,910.17 So if we have our feet, grounded down to the earth, like feet on the floor, and we get our posture upright, connecting our crown up to the heavens, expanding our sides out wide. 68 00:06:59,120.17 --> 00:07:04,670.17 And then if we rock around in our seat a little bit, so if we move forward and back, we start to feel. 69 00:07:05,685.17 --> 00:07:10,575.17 The tip of the tailbone, the saum, and we start to feel the bone in the front. 70 00:07:10,575.17 --> 00:07:11,775.17 That's the pubis. 71 00:07:12,225.17 --> 00:07:19,165.17 And if we rock a little bit side to side, we can feel the two sit bones or the ischial tuberosities. 72 00:07:19,455.17 --> 00:07:25,695.17 Now together these make a kite like shape, and within that kite like shape is where the pelvic floor exists. 73 00:07:26,65.17 --> 00:07:27,685.17 It's like a beautiful hammock. 74 00:07:28,15.17 --> 00:07:30,925.17 That beautiful hammock is going to support our organs. 75 00:07:31,165.17 --> 00:07:43,135.17 It's going to help us with our sexual and reproductive function, and it's also going to support continence and optimal bladder and bowel function, right? So that's the pelvic floor. 76 00:07:43,135.17 --> 00:07:51,445.17 So I just encourage people to feel into that pelvic floor feel, into that space between those two sit bones, between the pubis and the tailbone. 77 00:07:51,835.17 --> 00:07:54,415.17 And now as we're feeling into that. 78 00:07:54,835.17 --> 00:08:00,355.17 If we take an inhale, I wanna feel that space relax. 79 00:08:00,565.17 --> 00:08:04,285.17 So that means it expands like a balloon on the inhale. 80 00:08:05,845.17 --> 00:08:09,575.17 And as we take an exhale, we can squeeze up and in that area. 81 00:08:09,575.17 --> 00:08:15,635.17 So it pulls away from our seat and that diamond becomes a little bit closer together on that exhale. 82 00:08:16,660.17 --> 00:08:21,700.17 Then we inhale and everything relaxes, and we feel like a balloon. 83 00:08:21,700.17 --> 00:08:27,920.17 It's like belly breathing, except we're taking it one step further down to the pelvic floor, and now we squeeze up. 84 00:08:27,970.17 --> 00:08:38,260.17 One more on that inhale, filling that space, allowing that diamond like structure to fill with air, fill with the breath, fill with the energy of healing. 85 00:08:38,770.17 --> 00:08:48,930.17 And then on that exhale, we're squeezing up and in pushing that breath out from the pelvis through the abdomen, squeezing the belly to the spine and out through the nose or mouth. 86 00:08:50,655.17 --> 00:08:56,805.17 As people get into this pelvic breath, we start to realize a couple of things. 87 00:08:56,805.17 --> 00:09:03,525.17 One is we may not have the sensation that we think we do in our pelvic floor. 88 00:09:03,805.17 --> 00:09:07,45.17 we might realize that our breathing is upside down. 89 00:09:07,225.17 --> 00:09:12,955.17 We might realize that on the exhale we are actually relaxing the pelvic floor on the exhale. 90 00:09:12,955.17 --> 00:09:16,255.17 If we're relaxing, let's just, logically put this together for a second. 91 00:09:16,625.17 --> 00:09:19,865.17 A sneeze, a cough, a jump, all of those things. 92 00:09:19,865.17 --> 00:09:39,760.17 A lift, right? If we exhale and our pelvic floor is relaxed during that time, what's gonna happen? If we've got a full bladder, we're gonna leak, right? So the pelvic breath, I actually prefer to Kegels because it helps to recalibrate the pelvic floor in alignment with the breath for proper. 93 00:09:40,120.17 --> 00:09:41,50.17 Pressure. 94 00:09:41,260.17 --> 00:09:46,450.17 'cause the abdomen is a pressure gradient, right? If we think about lifting something, we have to squeeze the abdomen, we have to squeeze the back. 95 00:09:46,450.17 --> 00:09:49,90.17 If we're not squeezing the pelvis, then everything just goes down. 96 00:09:49,570.17 --> 00:09:54,550.17 So it's part of the pelvis and It's part of that pressure gradient. 97 00:09:54,970.17 --> 00:09:55,510.17 And. 98 00:09:56,40.17 --> 00:10:00,870.17 It also serves as a diaphragm, so people get into this concept of the respiratory diaphragm. 99 00:10:01,140.17 --> 00:10:09,750.17 Then we have the pelvic diaphragm, and we want that sort of expansion contractibility to be in synchronicity rather than opposition. 100 00:10:10,440.17 --> 00:10:12,420.17 Hopefully that makes sense for the Yes. 101 00:10:12,470.17 --> 00:10:12,710.17 Yeah. 102 00:10:13,465.17 --> 00:10:20,175.17 I'm actually gonna, when this podcast is produced, I'm gonna go back to what you just said and make sure that I do it. 103 00:10:20,445.17 --> 00:10:23,655.17 'cause that was, I think that is very useful. 104 00:10:23,955.17 --> 00:10:25,255.17 So thank you so much. 105 00:10:25,305.17 --> 00:10:26,355.17 Yeah, it's so useful. 106 00:10:26,355.17 --> 00:10:30,495.17 It's actually like the number one thing that I give to all of my pelvic health clients. 107 00:10:30,545.17 --> 00:10:33,215.17 Because maybe they're not ready for an internal exam when they see me. 108 00:10:33,215.17 --> 00:10:34,535.17 Maybe they're not ready to, yeah. 109 00:10:34,565.17 --> 00:10:35,195.17 Get needles. 110 00:10:35,195.17 --> 00:10:47,550.17 There could be a wide range of stuff that's going on and whether or not they have a pelvis that's tight, that's weak, that has some type of nerve pathology, the pelvic breath is a safe way for them to begin. 111 00:10:47,680.17 --> 00:10:51,10.17 So it's like my top exercise I recommend everyone do it. 112 00:10:51,10.17 --> 00:10:55,810.17 And just three breaths in the morning each day, and you'll start to notice some changes. 113 00:10:55,810.17 --> 00:10:57,520.17 You'll start to notice more awareness. 114 00:10:57,670.17 --> 00:11:00,15.17 You'll start to notice more conscious breath throughout the day as well. 115 00:11:00,860.17 --> 00:11:01,340.17 Okay. 116 00:11:01,950.17 --> 00:11:07,200.17 If it's okay, I'm gonna share this with my patients as well who are hopefully listening and watching. 117 00:11:07,650.17 --> 00:11:22,775.17 And yeah if I have patients who are having these kind of issues, I'm going to definitely direct them to our podcast because that is probably the most useful piece of information when it comes to pelvic floor discu dysfunction that I've learned. 118 00:11:23,105.17 --> 00:11:24,425.17 So thank you so much. 119 00:11:24,675.17 --> 00:11:24,975.17 my pleasure. 120 00:11:26,430.17 --> 00:11:29,485.17 You are both an acupuncturist and physical therapist. 121 00:11:29,785.17 --> 00:11:41,970.17 What led you to combine the two? Were you an acupuncturist first? Were you a physical therapist later? How did that happen? Yeah, so honestly I was a PT first. 122 00:11:42,70.17 --> 00:11:47,940.17 And I got into dry needling and pelvic health concomitantly around the same time. 123 00:11:48,360.17 --> 00:11:52,80.17 I really loved the medicine of inserting a needle. 124 00:11:52,290.17 --> 00:11:59,40.17 Like it was so cool, and it was very immediate to me that the response was more than a tissue response. 125 00:11:59,250.17 --> 00:12:06,360.17 I also will say, because there is a lot of adversity about dry needling between professions that exist out there. 126 00:12:06,660.17 --> 00:12:10,865.17 When I learned dry needling as a pt, it was not a weekend course, it was a fellowship. 127 00:12:10,865.17 --> 00:12:12,555.17 It was, 2000 hours. 128 00:12:12,985.17 --> 00:12:14,455.17 And so I spent a lot of time with it. 129 00:12:14,465.17 --> 00:12:25,855.17 And then when that sort of drama happened between multiple fields and for good reason, I got into a place where I didn't feel like I was in, in integrity with the medicine that I wanted to be in. 130 00:12:25,855.17 --> 00:12:35,815.17 So I went back to acupuncture school, and up to this point I had started to really get to know Chinese medicine through the perspective of acupuncture because. 131 00:12:36,775.17 --> 00:12:53,35.17 The points in the body were talking to me like they were very, it was clear that there was more to the system than just a muscle twitch and, better muscle contractibility, There was much more than the trigger point response that I was experiencing with my clients and my own self. 132 00:12:53,445.17 --> 00:12:54,915.17 So I wanted to know more about that. 133 00:12:54,915.17 --> 00:13:04,315.17 I really wanted to get into the spiritual, emotional aspect of, what acupuncture provides I was seeing pelvic health clients again before it was cool. 134 00:13:04,315.17 --> 00:13:07,155.17 Like I did all these things before, they were mainstream topics. 135 00:13:07,335.17 --> 00:13:11,75.17 Clients were just coming in with a shoulder thing and then they were like, Hey, I really trust you. 136 00:13:11,75.17 --> 00:13:12,335.17 I feel safe with you. 137 00:13:12,955.17 --> 00:13:17,515.17 I have this thing that's going on and no one knows what it is. 138 00:13:17,515.17 --> 00:13:24,55.17 Can we talk about this? Like, why is sex painful? It's okay, I don't know either, but let's find out, let's explore this. 139 00:13:24,445.17 --> 00:13:38,355.17 So as that was evolving and as I was getting into how do we rehab this from a traditional perspective, I was very consciously aware that there was an aspect that was missing and that was that there. 140 00:13:39,205.17 --> 00:13:44,665.17 So often an emotional or spiritual component associated with pelvic health dysfunction. 141 00:13:44,665.17 --> 00:13:58,315.17 no matter how many exercises I can give you, no matter how good my needling skills are for the pelvic floor, if we don't address the emotional issue, like if that's the root cause, then there's no way. 142 00:13:58,705.17 --> 00:14:01,675.17 That this dysfunction is going to be remedied. 143 00:14:01,945.17 --> 00:14:02,995.17 It's going to come back. 144 00:14:03,45.17 --> 00:14:04,895.17 And so that was really important. 145 00:14:04,895.17 --> 00:14:09,815.17 And that was part of both of those things were catalysts for me to go to acupuncture school to bring in this missing piece. 146 00:14:09,865.17 --> 00:14:13,285.17 As acupuncturists, we are perfectly positioned to treat the pelvis. 147 00:14:13,285.17 --> 00:14:21,535.17 We understand biomedicine, we understand the organ systems of the body from both a Western and an eastern energetic. 148 00:14:21,925.17 --> 00:14:34,855.17 Perspective, and we can get into this spiritual emotional aspect without, going really deep into kind of the trauma because the needles take the edge off of trauma, which is one of the cool things about it. 149 00:14:35,545.17 --> 00:14:41,505.17 So it was like, I have to do this and not only do I have to do this, then it became I have to teach this. 150 00:14:43,200.17 --> 00:14:45,260.17 So you also teach acupuncture, Okay. 151 00:14:45,260.17 --> 00:14:46,670.17 I teach pelvic health. 152 00:14:46,720.17 --> 00:14:48,10.17 To acupuncturists. 153 00:14:48,220.17 --> 00:14:54,280.17 As you were talking, you were mentioning that some of your patients who are coming in for other issues like shoulder issues. 154 00:14:54,865.17 --> 00:15:01,595.17 Would then develop a trust with you and feel safe to talk about their pelvic health. 155 00:15:01,955.17 --> 00:15:40,205.17 Why do you think that there is still a taboo when it comes to dis discussing pelvic issues, incontinence, sexual dysfunction and what are the barriers in openly talking about them? Oh my gosh, that is such a good question, so I think there are a number of barriers, right? I think there is an overall shame that associated with in our Western culture to some degree about talking about sexual dysfunction, talking about reproductive dysfunction. 156 00:15:40,595.17 --> 00:15:42,460.17 And I think it comes from. 157 00:15:44,275.17 --> 00:15:56,425.17 Us not knowing how to, as practitioners, not knowing how to talk about this in a way that has education, knowledge, and support. 158 00:15:56,455.17 --> 00:15:58,585.17 And I think it's becoming much less than it was. 159 00:15:58,855.17 --> 00:16:01,345.17 We also must remember, right? And this is. 160 00:16:01,810.17 --> 00:16:07,540.17 Not to get on another soapbox, but this is, going back medicine really began with men. 161 00:16:08,330.17 --> 00:16:10,130.17 And the doctors were men. 162 00:16:10,335.17 --> 00:16:18,145.17 And the women were very often witches or some other, strange terminology that was associated even though they were practicing medicine to some degree. 163 00:16:18,475.17 --> 00:16:24,685.17 So when I think about the dynamics here, there's so much. 164 00:16:24,715.17 --> 00:16:37,375.17 And then if we think about, religious and cultural preferences and rules and regulations, for lack of better terminology, I think it's a topic that has been set aside. 165 00:16:38,395.17 --> 00:16:43,315.17 And that's unfortunate because I think we're all here from a spiritual perspective. 166 00:16:43,325.17 --> 00:17:02,45.17 being able to talk vulnerably about what plagues us is an important part for our development, and it's an important part for us to be able to fully experience life Leaks are not normal bowel retention. 167 00:17:02,45.17 --> 00:17:04,355.17 Stool retention is not normal. 168 00:17:04,625.17 --> 00:17:07,145.17 Pain with intercourse is not normal. 169 00:17:07,485.17 --> 00:17:08,475.17 They're common. 170 00:17:09,0.17 --> 00:17:10,50.17 They're not normal. 171 00:17:10,80.17 --> 00:17:16,350.17 And so we've funneled this into it was inappropriate at some time to talk about period. 172 00:17:16,980.17 --> 00:17:21,450.17 And now we're starting to talk about it, but there's still not a lot of research. 173 00:17:21,450.17 --> 00:17:26,520.17 There's still not a lot of data and there's still not a lot of education. 174 00:17:26,890.17 --> 00:17:33,670.17 Just now I feel like just in recent years are moms really starting to talk about menstruation with their young girls. 175 00:17:33,670.17 --> 00:17:35,70.17 And I'm like, This is wonderful. 176 00:17:35,70.17 --> 00:17:36,510.17 Like we need more of this. 177 00:17:36,720.17 --> 00:17:50,700.17 How can we put this out there because this is a starting point, and would we have less pelvic dysfunction if we perhaps as women understood what was going on in our bodies from the get go? Yeah, and I think we would, I think education is, so important. 178 00:17:51,825.17 --> 00:18:09,885.17 It is definitely important and I find that whether it's doctors, nurse practitioners, and then patients themselves, right? The pelvic health gets ignored for women up until perhaps they start having issues or it's right after childbirth or surgery. 179 00:18:10,315.17 --> 00:18:12,935.17 often these things show up. 180 00:18:13,620.17 --> 00:18:22,710.17 very subtle and as we were discussing, women in general may not be comfortable bringing it up right away. 181 00:18:23,160.17 --> 00:18:26,910.17 So what I see, I'm an internist, so I see adult patients. 182 00:18:27,360.17 --> 00:18:34,180.17 In my older patients, I often find that it can cause older women to not. 183 00:18:34,465.17 --> 00:18:35,665.17 Want to go outside. 184 00:18:35,665.17 --> 00:18:38,305.17 So perhaps they're not socializing as much. 185 00:18:38,355.17 --> 00:18:44,475.17 They feel like they might have a bladder leak and obviously that would be embarrassing. 186 00:18:45,45.17 --> 00:19:01,465.17 how do you find that these kind of issues affect women when it comes to the rest of their lives? What do you see? Yeah I think the social piece is one of the biggest pieces, especially in that post-menopausal. 187 00:19:01,870.17 --> 00:19:02,590.17 Age group. 188 00:19:02,650.17 --> 00:19:08,120.17 There are actually so many studies, Most of them are done in regards to quality of life. 189 00:19:08,550.17 --> 00:19:12,180.17 And so that's amazing because that gives us some real insight into. 190 00:19:12,285.17 --> 00:19:13,785.17 What people are experiencing. 191 00:19:13,815.17 --> 00:19:18,665.17 It doesn't give us a lot in the meat of the treatment and how do we get to the root of the problem. 192 00:19:18,665.17 --> 00:19:23,25.17 But it does say, you know what to these clients, what you're experiencing is real. 193 00:19:23,235.17 --> 00:19:25,875.17 Other women are experiencing this too. 194 00:19:26,265.17 --> 00:19:29,335.17 And this is impacting, your mental health. 195 00:19:30,295.17 --> 00:19:31,495.17 In a significant way. 196 00:19:31,945.17 --> 00:19:45,145.17 So what they found the most commonly is that there's that stay inside mentality so that they're not going out, they're not socializing, and that obviously leads to increased risk of depression. 197 00:19:45,445.17 --> 00:19:50,305.17 They found, believe it or not, that incontinence in the elderly, what was the most. 198 00:19:51,985.17 --> 00:19:56,125.17 Challenging for mental health was actually prolapse postpartum. 199 00:19:56,125.17 --> 00:20:05,435.17 And so there was a huge correlation with, uterine or bladder or even rectal prolapse, postpartum and postpartum depression. 200 00:20:05,745.17 --> 00:20:12,55.17 So there's a wide range, but essentially, people feel shame, people feel uncertain. 201 00:20:12,295.17 --> 00:20:14,65.17 They don't know if their bladder's gonna fall out. 202 00:20:14,65.17 --> 00:20:15,505.17 They don't know if they're gonna have leaks. 203 00:20:15,655.17 --> 00:20:17,245.17 They don't know if this is gonna smell. 204 00:20:17,245.17 --> 00:20:23,665.17 They don't know if they're gonna be able to deal with this, especially if they've got a toddler in tow or, a card game that they're into. 205 00:20:23,715.17 --> 00:20:28,5.17 So people's quality of life is severely impacted. 206 00:20:28,5.17 --> 00:20:33,250.17 And if you're listening to this and you're one of Soma's clients you know that these things are impacting you. 207 00:20:33,250.17 --> 00:20:36,760.17 You're stopping doing the things that you love, whatever those are. 208 00:20:37,0.17 --> 00:20:38,890.17 And that's sad. 209 00:20:39,220.17 --> 00:20:42,610.17 And while it's common, it's not normal. 210 00:20:42,710.17 --> 00:20:44,720.17 there are people out there that can help you. 211 00:20:46,480.17 --> 00:21:01,495.17 You gave us a little bit of how you treat pelvic issues, but tell us how your method of treating pelvic health issues differ from the traditional treatments that are out there. 212 00:21:02,965.17 --> 00:21:03,775.17 Yeah, for sure. 213 00:21:04,175.17 --> 00:21:07,430.17 I think, it's funny because we're just like on the crux of. 214 00:21:08,300.17 --> 00:21:09,950.17 Things changing a little bit. 215 00:21:09,950.17 --> 00:21:16,910.17 So companies have realized, companies that develop products have realized that pelvic health is an issue. 216 00:21:17,150.17 --> 00:21:27,800.17 So right now it's an interesting perspective because there are so many like things that you can buy that help in quotes with pelvic health. 217 00:21:28,100.17 --> 00:21:36,905.17 Many of them, I don't know if they help with pelvic health or not, but there are so many things out there and I think that's important to say because there's. 218 00:21:37,550.17 --> 00:21:41,570.17 traditional PT route and there's alternative practitioners like myself. 219 00:21:41,670.17 --> 00:21:44,100.17 So there's multiple routes that you can go. 220 00:21:44,340.17 --> 00:21:46,800.17 What I think is so important about finding. 221 00:21:47,205.17 --> 00:21:53,685.17 Someone who really specializes in the emotional as well as the physical component is key. 222 00:21:53,955.17 --> 00:22:09,225.17 Because what I do specifically, and what the way that I teach this is to create a foundation, right? If we don't have a foundation for treatment, then we're not gonna have longevity of treatment, and that's something acupuncture does really well because it treats the source of the dysfunction. 223 00:22:09,225.17 --> 00:22:14,685.17 So we create a foundation, then we work with the tissue imbalances, so whatever those are. 224 00:22:14,685.17 --> 00:22:16,95.17 So if we have a pelvis that. 225 00:22:16,275.17 --> 00:22:33,775.17 Is tilted or we have a sacrum that is on a torsion or something of that sort, right? We wanna work with those structural issues and work with the fascia and the muscles that are, supporting or creating that dysfunction as we layer that in. 226 00:22:34,25.17 --> 00:22:39,875.17 We can start to tonify the bladder, right? Wake up the bladder so that the bladder is in its state. 227 00:22:39,875.17 --> 00:22:43,205.17 If it's a bladder dysfunction is in its state, where it's in optimal health. 228 00:22:43,205.17 --> 00:22:49,845.17 If the bladder has damp heat, we need to be able to clear that, And that's something that acupuncture and herbs does really well. 229 00:22:50,55.17 --> 00:22:51,195.17 Traditional physio doesn't. 230 00:22:52,85.17 --> 00:22:55,985.17 Get to that space because it just doesn't have the methodology for it. 231 00:22:56,475.17 --> 00:22:58,785.17 And then we work with the spirit and the emotions. 232 00:22:58,785.17 --> 00:23:10,395.17 And, these, this is just a layering, right? So it could be that the spirit and the emotions are on top and someone in the first session might say, Hey, I've never told anyone this, but I was, sexually abused when I was 13. 233 00:23:10,635.17 --> 00:23:16,25.17 And it's okay, so we're gonna lay a foundation and we're gonna start with that before we go anywhere else because that's what's on top. 234 00:23:16,395.17 --> 00:23:20,235.17 So the sort of order of it and the layering of it, there's a poetry to that. 235 00:23:20,235.17 --> 00:23:24,345.17 And it really is meeting the client where they are. 236 00:23:24,615.17 --> 00:23:32,25.17 And if you're looking for a practitioner, if you're a client listening to this and you're looking for a practitioner, I think it's important that you find someone. 237 00:23:32,200.17 --> 00:23:45,630.17 that you can trust, that has a methodology that speaks to what is important to you, and definitely says something about sustainability because we don't want, and in my opinion, we don't want you to get better for two weeks or three months. 238 00:23:45,630.17 --> 00:23:53,190.17 We want you to have tools to, go the long haul and not have to deal with whatever it is that's plaguing you. 239 00:23:54,770.17 --> 00:24:03,760.17 So in terms of things like urinary incontinence obviously you know it, ones that don't require surgery, yes. 240 00:24:03,930.17 --> 00:24:10,560.17 How long are women typically in treatment with you for things like that? Yeah. 241 00:24:10,590.17 --> 00:24:13,590.17 I would say it's usually like 10 to 12 visits. 242 00:24:13,830.17 --> 00:24:13,980.17 Okay. 243 00:24:14,60.17 --> 00:24:17,450.17 And that's dependent upon what's their timeframe what's happening. 244 00:24:17,720.17 --> 00:24:22,50.17 I like to keep those, 10 to 12 visits within a two to three month range. 245 00:24:22,100.17 --> 00:24:22,730.17 For sure. 246 00:24:23,40.17 --> 00:24:29,95.17 Less if possible, but that's like the standard that we work with and that. 247 00:24:29,795.17 --> 00:24:33,425.17 In that time, we make big changes. 248 00:24:33,475.17 --> 00:24:34,575.17 And that's really awesome. 249 00:24:34,575.17 --> 00:24:41,75.17 Now, I have had clients I have a woman, she has had six children, vaginal births, and she. 250 00:24:42,265.17 --> 00:24:48,175.17 Had, she actually had a hysterectomy, so her uterus was removed and she had a really severe prolapse. 251 00:24:48,225.17 --> 00:24:52,935.17 She also had a whole host of other problems, so there was a concomitant constipation. 252 00:24:52,935.17 --> 00:24:56,145.17 So there was a tightness and a weakness that was filling this space. 253 00:24:56,775.17 --> 00:24:57,975.17 There was an emotional thing. 254 00:24:57,975.17 --> 00:25:02,975.17 She was going through huge transition in her life with someone very close to her who died. 255 00:25:03,105.17 --> 00:25:05,415.17 This is someone who, went through her initial protocol. 256 00:25:05,415.17 --> 00:25:13,425.17 We made a lot of progress and we continue to work together on a monthly or every six weeks basis for maintenance. 257 00:25:13,615.17 --> 00:25:15,205.17 But I would say she's an outlier. 258 00:25:15,205.17 --> 00:25:27,200.17 Most people even the elderly population that has had urinary incontinence for, 10, 15, 20 years they tend to fit well into that 10 to 12 session sort of category. 259 00:25:28,25.17 --> 00:25:28,295.17 Okay. 260 00:25:28,655.17 --> 00:25:29,15.17 All right. 261 00:25:29,45.17 --> 00:25:35,445.17 That's useful because a lot of women don't necessarily know how long treatment will go on for, and as everyone's busy. 262 00:25:35,495.17 --> 00:25:43,335.17 that's useful for them to understand that they should carve out a certain amount of time for their body to improve. 263 00:25:43,755.17 --> 00:25:48,195.17 There's so many myths I feel when it comes to pelvic health. 264 00:25:48,825.17 --> 00:25:52,785.17 What are some that you can share with us that you wish that. 265 00:25:53,235.17 --> 00:25:54,495.17 Every woman could unlearn. 266 00:25:56,145.17 --> 00:25:57,285.17 Oh my gosh. 267 00:25:57,705.17 --> 00:25:58,755.17 There are so many. 268 00:25:59,55.17 --> 00:26:01,575.17 The first one is that Kegels are the answer to everything. 269 00:26:01,575.17 --> 00:26:02,895.17 I think we already touched on that. 270 00:26:02,895.17 --> 00:26:04,395.17 That would be myth number one. 271 00:26:04,395.17 --> 00:26:16,185.17 I would say myth number two is that while something might be common, it might not be normal. 272 00:26:16,755.17 --> 00:26:18,945.17 And so pain just. 273 00:26:20,115.17 --> 00:26:23,925.17 Simply talking pain with menstruation. 274 00:26:23,925.17 --> 00:26:30,915.17 While it's common, it's not normal, we can have menstrual cycles without pain. 275 00:26:31,245.17 --> 00:26:33,315.17 We can, we don't have to. 276 00:26:33,315.17 --> 00:26:34,545.17 Another one that's big is. 277 00:26:35,280.17 --> 00:26:39,0.17 Urinary incontinence is part of the aging process and it's normal. 278 00:26:39,0.17 --> 00:26:40,710.17 No, it is not normal. 279 00:26:40,980.17 --> 00:26:42,780.17 No, it is not part of the process. 280 00:26:42,780.17 --> 00:26:49,30.17 While our hormones are changing, if we're paying attention to our bodies and we're doing the pelvic breath, you don't even have to see me. 281 00:26:49,30.17 --> 00:26:53,710.17 If you're doing that, you're just going to be able to see improvements just by doing the pelvic breath. 282 00:26:54,10.17 --> 00:26:56,170.17 So this is not something we have to live with. 283 00:26:56,560.17 --> 00:27:07,150.17 And I think so many of these myths come from us being disconnected from our bodies and us being too busy with life to pay attention to our bodies. 284 00:27:08,420.17 --> 00:27:17,970.17 What are some other ways that women can reconnect with their bodies again especially if they've experienced shame or trauma with their bodies. 285 00:27:18,910.17 --> 00:27:21,880.17 I think the first thing is, finding a way to honor your body. 286 00:27:22,250.17 --> 00:27:34,330.17 So if that's meditation and just placing your hands like, thumbs in the belly button, and then letting your hands go on that womb uterus area, if that's comfortable for you. 287 00:27:34,330.17 --> 00:27:36,370.17 If you can just lay your hands there. 288 00:27:37,75.17 --> 00:27:41,485.17 Rest for five minutes without, any stimulation. 289 00:27:41,535.17 --> 00:27:44,385.17 You can have music on or candle or something like that. 290 00:27:44,385.17 --> 00:27:46,305.17 Really tuning out from the world. 291 00:27:46,605.17 --> 00:27:51,225.17 No children wanting something from you, just five minutes that are your own, with your hands on your womb. 292 00:27:51,225.17 --> 00:27:56,305.17 I think that's another really simple, way to get to the pelvis. 293 00:27:56,615.17 --> 00:27:57,665.17 And I think that. 294 00:27:58,370.17 --> 00:28:01,760.17 Your body will talk to you like it will give you messages. 295 00:28:01,760.17 --> 00:28:03,830.17 It'll say something's not right. 296 00:28:04,190.17 --> 00:28:06,650.17 It will say, i'm out of alignment. 297 00:28:06,890.17 --> 00:28:10,280.17 It will say, I need your attention here if you're listening. 298 00:28:10,550.17 --> 00:28:15,770.17 I also really do love, like as far as an exercise goes, if someone can tolerate it, there's two that I love. 299 00:28:15,950.17 --> 00:28:19,70.17 The first one is just like laying with your legs up the wall. 300 00:28:19,280.17 --> 00:28:20,150.17 So either on your. 301 00:28:20,255.17 --> 00:28:25,45.17 On the floor or on the bed with your butt toward the headboard and your legs up the wall. 302 00:28:25,45.17 --> 00:28:27,565.17 I feel like that's a really nice way to end your day. 303 00:28:27,565.17 --> 00:28:30,235.17 It's really good for lymphatic flow circulation. 304 00:28:30,615.17 --> 00:28:38,515.17 And there's obviously, we have a lot of fluid right in the pelvic bowl area between blood and water. 305 00:28:38,650.17 --> 00:28:42,700.17 Alone, right? There's so much going on, and then there's all this energy and all this cheese. 306 00:28:42,700.17 --> 00:28:45,730.17 So I think that legs up the wall is great. 307 00:28:45,730.17 --> 00:28:46,660.17 It's another simple one. 308 00:28:46,660.17 --> 00:28:51,250.17 You can actually do my little meditation hands on the womb with your legs up the wall at the same time. 309 00:28:51,250.17 --> 00:28:51,280.17 Okay. 310 00:28:51,460.17 --> 00:28:54,370.17 Another one I like is windshield wiper exercise with your legs. 311 00:28:54,500.17 --> 00:29:03,530.17 So you're laying either on the bed or the floor and you're just allowing With your knees bent, you're just allowing your legs, your hips to rotate to one side, allowing them to rotate to the other side. 312 00:29:03,530.17 --> 00:29:11,750.17 That's a nice way to lubricate the hip joints, and it helps to get some awareness into the pelvic floor and give you some insight. 313 00:29:11,750.17 --> 00:29:20,460.17 Am I tighter on one side? Is something gripping or uncomfortable? So those are my very basic, very simple ways to tune into the pelvis. 314 00:29:21,80.17 --> 00:29:25,10.17 All things that I'm visualizing as you were talking about it. 315 00:29:25,400.17 --> 00:29:31,40.17 And so I'm going to try to incorporate that this into my routine if possible. 316 00:29:31,230.17 --> 00:29:49,335.17 What is the thing that they get most surprised about during their sessions with you? I think that there is a natural anxiety around coming in for a pelvic health session. 317 00:29:49,735.17 --> 00:29:57,865.17 The female pelvic exam is according to research, and recent research is the most feared medical procedure. 318 00:29:58,465.17 --> 00:29:59,785.17 Just sit with that for a second. 319 00:29:59,785.17 --> 00:30:02,365.17 That's really big and that's really unfortunate. 320 00:30:02,365.17 --> 00:30:08,605.17 And if we look historically, there is so much data to back up the emotionality of why that is the case. 321 00:30:08,685.17 --> 00:30:10,905.17 But today that's still what's happening. 322 00:30:10,905.17 --> 00:30:15,300.17 And so there's a cellular response to simply saying pelvic. 323 00:30:16,65.17 --> 00:30:17,415.17 Or pelvic exam. 324 00:30:17,835.17 --> 00:30:34,535.17 And what people find when they come to me and when they come to the practitioners that I've trained, this is something that I try to work really hard on, is that we try to take the edge off of the fear and try to just be there to hold space. 325 00:30:34,535.17 --> 00:30:43,890.17 And so often what I hear is, oh my gosh, this was really liberating, or this was really freeing and I did feel safe to talk about this. 326 00:30:43,890.17 --> 00:30:46,620.17 I felt safe through the entire procedure. 327 00:30:46,620.17 --> 00:30:50,80.17 I felt nothing was painful and I thought it was going to be. 328 00:30:50,570.17 --> 00:30:55,850.17 So I think that the emotional hurdle. 329 00:30:56,345.17 --> 00:31:04,25.17 Is more challenging than what's there physically and as providers, and I know you have providers that listen to this podcast too. 330 00:31:04,175.17 --> 00:31:21,535.17 As providers, if we can just take a step back and take a breath to just listen to our clients for a short moment, they're going to be on board with what we're offering if we're a good fit because they want help. 331 00:31:22,45.17 --> 00:31:24,175.17 They're not in because they don't want help. 332 00:31:24,235.17 --> 00:31:25,165.17 They want help. 333 00:31:25,165.17 --> 00:31:25,675.17 They're there. 334 00:31:25,675.17 --> 00:31:26,635.17 They showed up. 335 00:31:26,885.17 --> 00:31:30,515.17 They were vulnerable enough to show up, which means they want this help. 336 00:31:30,665.17 --> 00:31:48,215.17 And if we can just be open-hearted, compassionate, listen, and then share our knowledge, then share exactly what we're gonna do in the way that we're going to do it, keep communicating with our clients and tell them they can revoke consent at any moment they feel safe. 337 00:31:48,770.17 --> 00:31:52,940.17 We've put them in the seat of being the authority of their healthcare. 338 00:31:53,450.17 --> 00:32:01,385.17 While we might be the expert, they are the authority and that is a game changer for working with pelvic health clients. 339 00:32:03,140.17 --> 00:32:05,660.17 I think that's all across medicine, honestly. 340 00:32:05,660.17 --> 00:32:18,440.17 And I think right now, the way the state of medicine is that there isn't enough time because of the volume of patients that we're seeing the crunch, getting the note done and dealing with. 341 00:32:19,30.17 --> 00:32:32,370.17 God knows how many other issues when it comes to a medical practice, your practice itself, do you accept insurance? Are you cash based only? How do you work and why? Yeah. 342 00:32:32,670.17 --> 00:32:33,30.17 Yeah. 343 00:32:33,30.17 --> 00:32:34,140.17 So I think you're right. 344 00:32:34,140.17 --> 00:32:37,560.17 I do think this would be a great way to just approach every client. 345 00:32:37,890.17 --> 00:32:40,50.17 Yeah, so I'm a boutique practice. 346 00:32:40,110.17 --> 00:32:42,340.17 So I am a cash-based practice. 347 00:32:42,340.17 --> 00:32:43,960.17 I do not take insurance. 348 00:32:44,20.17 --> 00:32:52,480.17 I did, and I found that when I took insurance, it was really hard for myself and my staff to be. 349 00:32:53,20.17 --> 00:33:03,580.17 In alignment and the medicine that I practice in a cash-based practice is superior to what I could practice in an insurance-based practice. 350 00:33:04,210.17 --> 00:33:05,350.17 And that's unfortunate. 351 00:33:05,350.17 --> 00:33:11,110.17 I hate to say that, but the regulations are such that it makes it really difficult when. 352 00:33:12,215.17 --> 00:33:13,295.17 You're not getting paid. 353 00:33:13,325.17 --> 00:33:23,325.17 'cause insurance is, holding this up for whatever reason, or they're putting this regulation in where you can't treat their spine and their pelvis concomitantly, and it's but. 354 00:33:24,95.17 --> 00:33:35,55.17 Actually, and this is a good point for your clients, if you have back pain and your back pain is not getting resolved and you've done everything you can for your back, it actually might be coming from your pelvis, right? But back to the actual question, there's too many restrictions. 355 00:33:35,115.17 --> 00:33:46,365.17 And so I just found that to help people and to provide this service in the best way possible. 356 00:33:47,695.17 --> 00:33:50,845.17 Insurance didn't make sense for me at that time. 357 00:33:50,905.17 --> 00:33:54,25.17 Maybe it will in the future, but for now it doesn't. 358 00:33:54,145.17 --> 00:33:55,285.17 And that does make me sad. 359 00:33:55,615.17 --> 00:33:56,5.17 Yeah. 360 00:33:56,225.17 --> 00:34:03,175.17 Then you get, patients who obviously are able to, pay you out of pocket. 361 00:34:03,475.17 --> 00:34:13,295.17 But it gives them, the ability to have that time with you that they otherwise wouldn't have if they were using insurance. 362 00:34:13,295.17 --> 00:34:15,865.17 And I think that's spread across all of medicine. 363 00:34:16,295.17 --> 00:34:25,805.17 What are some of the other things that you see besides pelvic floor issues? Are there other, conditions that you treat that you have a specialty in. 364 00:34:27,155.17 --> 00:34:28,175.17 Yeah, for sure. 365 00:34:28,235.17 --> 00:34:30,315.17 I guess I wanna just add a caveat. 366 00:34:30,315.17 --> 00:34:31,395.17 So I do see women, sure. 367 00:34:31,725.17 --> 00:34:35,325.17 I also see men, for pelvic health and all really all genders. 368 00:34:35,385.17 --> 00:34:35,475.17 But. 369 00:34:36,840.17 --> 00:34:47,760.17 I think that while, for the most part, there's a lot of research that's done in men's health and men have been the forefront of everything, and women are trying to take power back in so many ways and we absolutely need to. 370 00:34:48,90.17 --> 00:34:49,230.17 One area where. 371 00:34:50,25.17 --> 00:34:55,675.17 It's even less talked about than it is for women is, men's pelvic health dysfunction. 372 00:34:55,955.17 --> 00:35:01,565.17 And so I actually do see a lot of men as well that have a variety of pelvic health dysfunction. 373 00:35:01,935.17 --> 00:35:02,205.17 Okay. 374 00:35:02,205.17 --> 00:35:07,55.17 I also see, both, women's health, men's health fertility. 375 00:35:07,535.17 --> 00:35:16,875.17 And I still see, because this is where I started in, orthopedics and sports medicine, I do still see a lot of orthopedic clients that are coming in. 376 00:35:17,335.17 --> 00:35:18,355.17 For different things. 377 00:35:18,355.17 --> 00:35:20,445.17 And I like to treat that. 378 00:35:20,445.17 --> 00:35:21,875.17 I hate to niche down. 379 00:35:21,875.17 --> 00:35:25,565.17 I feel like my niche is pelvic health, and if you're coming to see me for that's awesome. 380 00:35:25,565.17 --> 00:35:29,140.17 And otherwise, if we're a good fit, I'll treat, most things that I have at. 381 00:35:30,170.17 --> 00:35:34,850.17 Knowledge in, and I would say they live in the realm of women's health, men's health and ortho. 382 00:35:35,0.17 --> 00:35:45,510.17 And most of your clients, are they, is it a 50 50 practice where it's men and women? Or do you see more women versus men? Yeah, I would say it's probably like a. 383 00:35:47,445.17 --> 00:35:49,5.17 70 30 women. 384 00:35:49,275.17 --> 00:35:49,305.17 Okay. 385 00:35:49,355.17 --> 00:35:49,655.17 Yeah. 386 00:35:49,705.17 --> 00:35:56,925.17 I think it takes a lot for a male to come in to see a woman for their pelvic health dysfunction. 387 00:35:56,925.17 --> 00:35:56,985.17 Yeah. 388 00:35:57,415.17 --> 00:35:58,375.17 But they do. 389 00:35:58,375.17 --> 00:35:58,885.17 And. 390 00:35:59,935.17 --> 00:36:00,985.17 I love all my clients. 391 00:36:01,15.17 --> 00:36:07,795.17 That's the great thing about the way that I practice, is having that time and space to make sure that we're a good fit. 392 00:36:07,795.17 --> 00:36:11,215.17 Make sure that I'm the practitioner that's gonna help get you as far as I can. 393 00:36:11,615.17 --> 00:36:14,255.17 And so it, it works really well. 394 00:36:14,290.17 --> 00:36:15,690.17 I just I love the mix. 395 00:36:15,720.17 --> 00:36:27,680.17 I love the nature of it, and it's very fulfilling, crystal, Where can we find your practice and then on social media, your website, how can people look for you? Yeah, sure. 396 00:36:27,680.17 --> 00:36:33,650.17 So my website is K Crystal, K-R-Y-S-T-A-L dash couture um.com. 397 00:36:35,60.17 --> 00:36:36,920.17 On Instagram, I am Dr. 398 00:36:36,920.17 --> 00:36:38,0.17 Crystal Couture. 399 00:36:38,340.17 --> 00:36:41,220.17 So I'm pretty easy to find by name. 400 00:36:41,500.17 --> 00:36:49,635.17 My teaching website if there is a provider that's listening that wants to learn more I have a lot of free resources out there for providers as well. 401 00:36:49,915.17 --> 00:36:51,475.17 And then of course, my classes. 402 00:36:51,475.17 --> 00:36:57,65.17 So I am the pelvic acu dot com or the pelvic ACU on Instagram. 403 00:36:57,455.17 --> 00:36:58,145.17 Awesome. 404 00:36:58,625.17 --> 00:37:13,760.17 And as we wrap up, I wanted to know if your pelvic floor health philosophy was a mantra, what would it be? I think it's that the pelvis is the root of our being. 405 00:37:19,205.17 --> 00:37:21,875.17 Definitely is, especially for women, I think. 406 00:37:22,805.17 --> 00:37:38,135.17 Yeah, it's not something that I necessarily appreciated prior to motherhood and then, going through other things related to women's health issues, Especially in your twenties you think that, you're invincible when it comes to these things, that's true. 407 00:37:39,640.17 --> 00:37:50,670.17 But with aging, then these things subtly start appearing and you don't really even necessarily know what's happening until it's there in full force. 408 00:37:51,370.17 --> 00:38:02,410.17 you are always welcome back on our podcast to talk about not just pelvic floor issues, but anything else that you would love to talk about when it comes to women's health. 409 00:38:03,40.17 --> 00:38:04,420.17 Thank you so much for your time. 410 00:38:05,620.17 --> 00:38:06,340.17 Thank you so much. 411 00:38:06,340.17 --> 00:38:15,890.17 I really appreciate how you shared questions that were, close to your own health and also close to the health that you are seeing in women on a daily basis. 412 00:38:16,0.17 --> 00:38:21,380.17 Because that's the perfect platform for us to talk so openly and so intimately. 413 00:38:21,380.17 --> 00:38:25,335.17 So thank you so much for having me, and I really appreciate the work you're doing in the world. 414 00:38:25,335.17 --> 00:38:29,435.17 And don't forget to like, share and review my podcast. 415 00:38:29,985.17 --> 00:38:33,775.17 Remember, it's always ladies first on Soma Says. 416 00:38:34,75.17 --> 00:38:37,735.17 Let's make a difference one conversation at a time.