Episode 41: What do digestion, sex, and incontinence have to do with improving your relationship with food and your body? Three words. Pelvic floor health.
Your pelvic floor sits at the base of your core muscles, your internal organs, and between your hips. In a sense, it’s the foundation your entire body is built upon.
I took more than a few classes in anatomy and physiology to become a dietitian. But I never learned about the pelvic floor or even knew it was a thing until a handful of years ago. Why?
Maybe because I haven’t had kids or because my anatomy courses focused more on the digestive tract.
Apparently, dietitians only need to care about the digestive tract because that’s where the food goes. Except when I’m working with women in midlife – the pelvic floor is everything!
I know about the importance of core strength and I’ve had my fair share of physical therapy as a former athlete. But it wasn’t until I saw my primary care provider, expressing my concern about having pain during sex, that I heard about the pelvic floor. My doc recommended that I see a pelvic floor physical therapist to explore how the muscles of my pelvic floor function
It was another handful of months before my guest on this Savor Food and Body Podcast episode walked into my life.
Sherryl DeVries is a pelvic floor physical therapist. As a former professional dancer, and avid yoga and pilates student, Sherryl takes a dynamic approach to help women in midlife actively age with vibrancy through functional body movement.
She also believes in mentoring women to lead physically healthy lives through yoga, weight training, bodywork, or whatever movement makes their body sing!
After an initial Zoom date, Sherryl generously invited me to her therapy office to give me a crash course on pelvic floor physical therapy. I was curious not only for myself but for many of my clients who struggle with constipation and sexual trauma. I wanted to understand firsthand how this type of physical therapy could help a woman in midlife improve her digestion, sex life, and incontinence.
In our conversation, you’ll hear…
- Sherryl’s definition of active aging for women in midlife – in other words how to improve digestion and your sex life while also staying out of diapers later in life
- How pelvic floor physical therapy helps you to connect with your body in a deeper, more mindful way.
- The role trauma plays in not only pelvic floor health but also in your ability to stay connected to your body.
- Finally, Sherryl offers strategies you can use to help your pelvic floor stay strong and supportive. for life
Sherryl has advanced training in a variety of therapeutic techniques including Pelvic Health courses in Pediatric Pelvic Health, Pregnancy & Postpartum Therapy, Pelvic Floor Intervention Strategies for Urogenital & Breast Cancer Rehabilitation, Transgender Health, Gender Affirming Care, and Trauma-Informed Awareness.
At home, Sherryl enjoys ballet dancing, mountain biking, reading, knitting, yoga, pilates, kickboxing, traveling, and spending time with her community and family.
Learn more about Sherryl’s work on her website
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