In this conversation, Jessica Valant and Dr. Nidhi Sharma, physical therapist, delve into the intricacies of pelvic floor health, exercise and postpartum care for women. You'll learn: ⚫︎ The personal experience that led Nidhi to specialize in women's health ⚫︎ The importance of strength in the postpartum period ⚫︎ How to create a sustainable exercise plan with pelvic floor dysfunction ⚫︎ Common myths around exercise and pelvic floor health, including why you can and should do squats even with pelvic floor issues Join us for this extremely empowering and informational discussion around pelvic floor health and exercise. Dr. Nidhi Sharma is a pelvic health physical therapist with over 15 years of experience in helping people recover from injuries and regain function. She is double board certified in orthopedics and pelvic health through the American Physical Therapy Association. Her passion is to help women overcome pelvic health challenges in pregnancy, post-partum and beyond. Her goal for her patients is for them to understand their body and take ownership of their health. When not treating patients, she'll often be found speaking at local support groups and community events, or teaching in childbirth education classes to raise awareness about pelvic health. She is also involved in teaching physical therapists and fitness professionals in the specialty of pelvic health. Resources mentioned in this episode: ⚫︎ Dr. Nidhi Sharma on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pelvicharmony.pt/ ⚫︎ Free prolapse resource guide: https://jessicavalant.com/prolapse-safe-exercise-program ⚫︎ Four Week Prolapse Workout Plan: https://payhip.com/b/04F6H ⚫︎ Prolapse podcast series: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-your-body/id1649561552?i=1000627755982 ⚫︎ Jessica’s website, resources, services & more:http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com ⚫︎ Jessica’s UNLIMITED community and app with daily workouts for muscle strength:http://www.jessicavalantpilates.com/unlimited ⚫︎Watch our podcast episodes on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@meetyourbodypodcast  ⚫︎ YouTube workouts: https://www.youtube.com/c/JessicaValantPilates  ⚫︎ Follow Jessica on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/jessicavalantpilates Chapters00:00 Introduction to Pelvic Floor Health02:37 Nidhi's Journey into Pelvic Health05:31 Understanding Pelvic Floor and Pain Connections08:29 Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: Weakness vs. Tightness10:53 Symptoms of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction13:56 Movement and Pelvic Floor Health18:14 Philosophy of Safe Movement with Dysfunction21:23 Empowering Movement: Overcoming Fears in Health22:38 Gradual Exposure: The Key to Strength and Resilience23:26 Squats and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: Finding the Right Approach27:03 Running: Earning Your Stride33:06 The Importance of Weight Lifting for Everyone36:53 Movement as Medicine: The Fallacy of Waiting for Pain to Disappear Jessica Valant and Jessica Valant Pilates, LLC, recommend you consult with a physician before starting any new exercise program. The information given here is not meant to treat or diagnose any medical condition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices