Healing At Your Core PodcastHealing at Your Core is a podcast for women seeking trusted answers about pelvic health, recovery, and whole-body wellness. Hosted by pelvic floor physical therapist Bree Allred, PT, the show helps women better understand their bodies, restore confidence, and discover that healing is possible at every stage of life.


Millions of women quietly live with symptoms they believe they simply have to accept. Leakage, pelvic pain, painful intimacy, postpartum recovery, and the physical changes of perimenopause and menopause are common, but they are not normal. Healing at Your Core creates a space for honest conversations that replace uncertainty with understanding and empower women to take the next step toward lasting healing.


At Aylara Pelvic Health, we believe every woman deserves answers, compassionate care, and a clear path forward. Healing begins with understanding your body, not accepting unnecessary suffering. Through evidence-based education and personalized care, we help women move beyond symptoms and reclaim comfort, confidence, and quality of life.


Hosted by BreeAnn Allred, PT, DPT, PRPC, founder of Aylara Pelvic Health and one of Utah's first pelvic floor physical therapists, this podcast is grounded in more than 20 years of clinical experience helping thousands of women restore their health through non-surgical, evidence-based care.


Each episode features conversations with pelvic health specialists, physicians, wellness professionals, and other trusted experts covering pelvic floor health, pregnancy and postpartum recovery, menopause, movement, whole-body wellness, and the latest evidence-based approaches to healing. Every discussion provides practical guidance you can apply to better understand your body, advocate for your health, and make informed decisions about your care.


Our mission is simple: to normalize conversations about pelvic health, eliminate the shame surrounding pelvic dysfunction, and help every woman know that healing is possible.


Subscribe to Healing at Your Core for trusted conversations, expert guidance, and practical insights that help you restore comfort, confidence, and connection, because healing starts at your core.

]]>en-usfalseBreeAnn AllredBreeAnn AllredBreeAllred@AylaraPelvicHealth.comepisodicCopyright 2026 | All Rights Reserved | BreeAnn AllredMy Breast Cancer Storywq1fiiME0Thu, 01 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT1773falseDr. Bree Allred shares her personal breast cancer story to encourage listeners to trust their instincts and listen to their bodies. Diagnosed at 28 in December 2011 after noticing a persistent lump post-weaning from pumping for twins, she describes imaging, biopsy results showing high-grade ductal carcinoma, and subsequent planning with surgeons and the Huntsman Cancer Institute, including MRI and lymph node biopsy (negative). She chose a right unilateral mastectomy with tissue expander and later silicone implant reconstruction, declined IVF embryo preservation before chemotherapy, and underwent ACMT chemotherapy with significant side effects, hair loss, and community support. She discusses survivorship anxiety, later having two more children and breastfeeding, chemo-induced temporary menopause, and eventually a prophylactic mastectomy and symmetry surgery on the left side, which was cancer-free, introducing a Breast Cancer Awareness Month series on breast cancer experiences and rehab.


00:00 Why This Matters

01:41 Finding a Lump Postpartum

03:20 Ultrasound and Biopsy

05:56 Reading the Diagnosis

08:07 Treatment Planning and Timeline

11:20 MRI Results and Surgery Choice

13:35 Mastectomy Recovery and Reconstruction Options

16:05 Fertility Decisions and Starting Chemo

18:22 Chemo Reality and Hair Loss

23:28 Reconstruction and Life After Cancer

25:17 Prophylactic Surgery and Looking Ahead


Thank you for listening to Healing at Your Core. If today's conversation resonated with you, please share this episode with someone who could benefit from it. Every share helps us reach more women who may be silently living with symptoms they think they have to accept, when healing is truly possible.


Have a wonderful day.


Bree Allred, PT, DPT, PRPC


"Common does not mean normal. Healing begins when we start the conversation."


CONNECT with Bree & Access Trusted Pelvic Health Resources


Discover expert education, practical tools, and evidence-based guidance designed to help you better understand your body and take the next step toward healing. You'll also gain access to valuable resources and become part of a supportive community of women who are restoring comfort, confidence, and quality of life through every season.


Join FREE at:

www.aylarapelvichealth.com


Follow Bree on Social Media:

Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn


Bonus Resource:

Schedule your FREE Discovery Call and learn how personalized pelvic floor physical therapy can help you restore movement, comfort, and confidence.

]]>112Hormone Myths with Cassie MilliganOGg0bSgZpThu, 24 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT2157https://www.aylarapelvichealth.com/podcast/hormone-myths-with-cassie-milliganfalseThe episode continues the discussion between Dr Bree Allred speaking and Cassie Milligan, FNP on who may be a good candidate for hormone therapy, emphasizing individualized assessment beyond sex hormones and noting that many men and women—including some cancer survivors—may still be candidates with different approaches (e.g., estriol/bi-est, localized vaginal use). It reviews the Women’s Health Initiative, stating the black box warning stemmed from synthetic estrogen/progestin combinations and that later large-scale research and the FDA’s removal of the warning increased estrogen demand, contributing to patch shortages. The conversation compares delivery methods (patch, cream, pellet, troche, capsule, injections) and highlights why tablets are not preferred by the clinician. It covers when not to prescribe (e.g., high labs, recent cancer, estrogen blockers, prostate cancer) and stresses lab testing, conservative dosing, and monitoring. Hormone changes’ effects on vaginal dryness, atrophy, painful intercourse, GSM, UTIs/yeast infections, and pelvic floor issues are outlined, along with the role of probiotics and pelvic floor therapy.


00:00 Who Is a Candidate

01:58 Black Box Warning Explained

04:41 Estrogen Patch Shortage

10:44 Who Should Avoid HRT

15:17 Vaginal Health and Atrophy

16:55 Postpartum Pain and Pelvic Floor

19:55 Pelvic Pain and Prolapse

20:19 GSM and Bladder Symptoms

26:23 Rapid Fire Symptom Check

27:50 Perimenopause Myth Busting

28:57 Find the Right Practitioner

31:23 Whole Body Team Approach

33:35 Feeling Like Yourself Again


Thank you for listening to Healing at Your Core. If today's conversation resonated with you, please share this episode with someone who could benefit from it. Every share helps us reach more women who may be silently living with symptoms they think they have to accept, when healing is truly possible.


Have a wonderful day.


Bree Allred, PT, DPT, PRPC


"Common does not mean normal. Healing begins when we start the conversation."


CONNECT with Bree & Access Trusted Pelvic Health Resources


Discover expert education, practical tools, and evidence-based guidance designed to help you better understand your body and take the next step toward healing. You'll also gain access to valuable resources and become part of a supportive community of women who are restoring comfort, confidence, and quality of life through every season.


Join FREE at:

www.aylarapelvichealth.com


Follow Bree on Social Media:

Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn


Bonus Resource:

Schedule your FREE Discovery Call and learn how personalized pelvic floor physical therapy can help you restore movement, comfort, and confidence.


Links

Website: reviveutah.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/revivewellaesthetics

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revivewellnessaesthetics/

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/cassie-milligan-502aa0132


]]>111Why You Don’t Feel Like Yourself with Cassie Milligan47Um1VCd7Thu, 17 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT1900falseThe episode features Dr Bree Allred speaking with Cassie Milligan a family nurse practitioner and owner of Revive Wellness and Aesthetics, discussing why many women feel exhausted, anxious, overwhelmed, gain weight, and sleep poorly despite being told their labs are “normal.” She explains her functional, cash-based approach to hormone optimization that considers the whole body—sex hormones, thyroid, adrenals, gut health, iron/ferritin, and symptoms—rather than treating lab ranges alone.


00:00 Not Feeling Like Yourself

01:10 Meet Hormone Expert Cassie Milligan

05:23 Functional Whole Body Approach

08:16 What Optimal Really Means

10:56 When to Test Hormones

21:51 Adrenals And Cortisol Basics

24:03 Hormones In Plain English


Thank you for listening to Healing at Your Core. If today's conversation resonated with you, please share this episode with someone who could benefit from it. Every share helps us reach more women who may be silently living with symptoms they think they have to accept, when healing is truly possible.


Have a wonderful day.


Bree Allred, PT, DPT, PRPC


"Common does not mean normal. Healing begins when we start the conversation."


CONNECT with Bree & Access Trusted Pelvic Health Resources


Discover expert education, practical tools, and evidence-based guidance designed to help you better understand your body and take the next step toward healing. You'll also gain access to valuable resources and become part of a supportive community of women who are restoring comfort, confidence, and quality of life through every season.


Join FREE at:

www.aylarapelvichealth.com


Follow Bree on Social Media:

Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn


Bonus Resource:

Schedule your FREE Discovery Call and learn how personalized pelvic floor physical therapy can help you restore movement, comfort, and confidence.


Links

Website: reviveutah.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/revivewellaesthetics

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revivewellnessaesthetics/

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/cassie-milligan-502aa0132

]]>110Why I Created Aylara Pelvic Health9Em2BKeR5Thu, 10 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT1255https://www.aylarapelvichealth.com/podcast/why-i-created-aylara-pelvic-healthfalseDr. Bree Allred explains why she created Aylara Pelvic Health, citing that women have been underserved by a medical system historically based on male biology and siloed specialties, leaving many pelvic health concerns dismissed or normalized. She describes common issues women bring—painful periods, painful intercourse, infertility challenges, postpartum dysfunction, bladder and bowel problems, exercise-related leaking, pelvic organ prolapse symptoms, and perimenopause/menopause changes—and her goal of being a last stop for answers through evidence-based care, transparent guidance, and appropriate referrals (e.g., endometriosis specialists, colorectal surgeons, OBGYNs, urogynecologists). Aylara’s values emphasize safety, love, growth, collaboration, and hope, with care across life stages and outside an insurance-driven model. She shares the name’s origin: from “Ayla” (Turkish for moonlight) and “Ara,” meaning outer light meeting inner light to create wholeness.


00:00 Purpose of Aylara

01:25 Stories That Sparked Aylara

02:57 Being Heard and Believed

04:32 Education Options Collaboration

06:21 Clinic Values Safety Love

08:47 Care Across Life Stages

11:23 Changing Healthcare Culture

14:28 A Different Kind of Clinic

16:31 Why Join the Movement

17:10 Meaning Behind Aylara



Thank you for listening to Healing at Your Core. If today's conversation resonated with you, please share this episode with someone who could benefit from it. Every share helps us reach more women who may be silently living with symptoms they think they have to accept, when healing is truly possible.


Have a wonderful day.


Bree Allred, PT, DPT, PRPC


"Common does not mean normal. Healing begins when we start the conversation."


CONNECT with Bree & Access Trusted Pelvic Health Resources


Discover expert education, practical tools, and evidence-based guidance designed to help you better understand your body and take the next step toward healing. You'll also gain access to valuable resources and become part of a supportive community of women who are restoring comfort, confidence, and quality of life through every season.


Join FREE at:

www.aylarapelvichealth.com


Follow Bree on Social Media:

Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn


Bonus Resource:

Schedule your FREE Discovery Call and learn how personalized pelvic floor physical therapy can help you restore movement, comfort, and confidence.

]]>19Nervous System Regulation and Chiropractic Care with Dr. Tyler Shearer3szfa-sV8Thu, 03 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT2096https://www.aylarapelvichealth.com/podcast/nervous-system-regulation-and-chiropractic-care-with-dr-tyler-shearerfalseDr. Bree Allred hosts Dr. Tyler Shearer of Ideal Family Chiropractic to discuss nervous system regulation and how stress affects pain, muscle tension, sleep, digestion, pelvic health, and well-being. Shearer explains sympathetic (fight/flight/freeze) versus parasympathetic (rest/digest) function, emphasizing the vagus nerve’s role in returning the body to rest, and notes dysregulation can be measured via heart rate variability, surface EMG, and a rolling thermal scan. They review common sympathetic-dominance symptoms (sleep issues, jaw/neck tension, headaches, bowel changes, fatigue, increased pain sensitivity, pelvic floor tension) and mention dysautonomia/POTS. Shearer describes how stress can increase pain through reduced proprioception and increased nociception, and how chiropractic adjustments may restore proprioceptive input, reduce pain signals, and support various adult and pediatric concerns. They advocate multimodal care, practical tools beyond “relax” (breathing, massage, walks, quiet time), and evaluating the nervous system for adults and kids.


00:00 Welcome and Episode Focus

01:19 Tyler’s Chiropractic Journey

02:35 Why the Nervous System Matters

03:18 Regulation and the Vagus Nerve

03:59 Measuring Dysregulation

06:11 Sympathetic vs Parasympathetic

07:24 What Stress Should Do

08:31 Signs You’re Stuck On

11:05 Why Stress Hits Differently

13:29 Stress and the Pain Cycle

16:31 Feeling Safe to Move Again

18:40 Why Relax Isn’t Helpful

20:57 Where Chiropractic Fits In

22:20 Evidence and Research Reality

25:31 Lifestyle Tools That Support Care

27:50 Practical Regulation Tips

30:05 Daily Habits and Final Takeaways


Thank you for listening to Healing at Your Core. If today's conversation resonated with you, please share this episode with someone who could benefit from it. Every share helps us reach more women who may be silently living with symptoms they think they have to accept, when healing is truly possible.


Have a wonderful day.


Bree Allred, PT, DPT, PRPC


"Common does not mean normal. Healing begins when we start the conversation."


CONNECT with Bree & Access Trusted Pelvic Health Resources


Discover expert education, practical tools, and evidence-based guidance designed to help you better understand your body and take the next step toward healing. You'll also gain access to valuable resources and become part of a supportive community of women who are restoring comfort, confidence, and quality of life through every season.


Join FREE at:

www.aylarapelvichealth.com


Follow Bree on Social Media:

Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn


Bonus Resource:

Schedule your FREE Discovery Call and learn how personalized pelvic floor physical therapy can help you restore movement, comfort, and confidence.


Guest Links

Website: https://idealfamilychiro.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPorBo_pVU3p7qPmrB1CBuA/videos

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IdealFamilyChiropractic

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/idealfamilychiropractic/

]]>18How Chinese Medicine Can Help Resolve Pain and Fertility Issues with Danielle Dickshinski_xVSVPTTqThu, 27 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT3192https://www.aylarapelvichealth.com/podcast/how-chinese-medicine-can-help-resolve-pain-and-fertility-issues-with-danielle-dickshinskifalse

Dr. Bree Allred interviews licensed acupuncturist and Chinese medicine practitioner Danielle Dickshinski about managing endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain with acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, lifestyle, and collaboration with pelvic floor physical therapy and surgical specialists. Danielle explains acupuncture’s local and systemic effects on pain via immune and nervous system regulation, fascia and trigger point work, and cycle-based treatment planning, noting improvements often require weekly care over several months, with earlier intervention responding faster. They discuss inflammation-focused nutrition (whole foods, anti-inflammatory choices, warm foods), safe and informed herb use and medication interactions, and fertility optimization including recommended preconception labs and semen analysis.


00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

01:48 Can Acupuncture Help Endo Pain

02:37 How Acupuncture Modulates Pain

05:35 Meridians and Nervous System

06:59 Local Tissue and Fascia Effects

09:01 Dry Needling vs Acupuncture

10:26 Timing Treatments With Cycle

11:46 How Fast Results Happen

13:42 Central Sensitization and Trauma

16:34 Lifestyle and Anti Inflammatory Eating

21:37 Signs of Inflammation Patterns

24:23 Herbal Training and Credentials

26:04 Herbs Safety Tiers

27:43 Testing Herbs Slowly

28:48 Tell Your Providers

30:21 Acupuncture for Fertility

32:09 Preconception Lab Checklist

35:27 Supplements and Overload

35:53 Adenomyosis Support

36:59 When Surgery Is Needed

39:44 Post Surgery Recovery

40:55 Scar Tissue Needling

45:10 PT and Acupuncture Teamwork

47:11 Painful Intercourse Help

48:37 Hope and Next Steps


Thank you for listening to Healing at Your Core. If today's conversation resonated with you, please share this episode with someone who could benefit from it. Every share helps us reach more women who may be silently living with symptoms they think they have to accept, when healing is truly possible.


Have a wonderful day.


Bree Allred, PT, DPT, PRPC


"Common does not mean normal. Healing begins when we start the conversation."


CONNECT with Bree & Access Trusted Pelvic Health Resources


Discover expert education, practical tools, and evidence-based guidance designed to help you better understand your body and take the next step toward healing. You'll also gain access to valuable resources and become part of a supportive community of women who are restoring comfort, confidence, and quality of life through every season.


Join FREE at:

www.aylarapelvichealth.com


Follow Bree on Social Media:

Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn


Bonus Resource:

Schedule your FREE Discovery Call and learn how personalized pelvic floor physical therapy can help you restore movement, comfort, and confidence.


Guest Bio

Danielle Dickshinski, L.Ac., RMT, is the owner of Thriving with Eastern Medicine & Acupuncture located in Logan, Utah. Danielle is a Licensed Acupuncturist in Utah, Nationally certified at N.C.B.A.H.M., certified Reiki Master & Teacher, & Herbalist, and Trauma Support Specialist. She holds a B.A. in Biology and Master in Science in Acupuncture. Danielle is passionate in helping others regain their power whether it is harmonizing hormones, regulating digestion, or integrating wellness and empowerment after an experience of trauma. She specializes in Women’s Medicine for Reproductive Health, Autoimmunity, Chronic Pain, and Emotional Well-being. Within her practice, she combines the tools of Chinese Medicine such as Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, Reiki, Chinese nutrition, Tui Na, Cupping, and Functional Medicine to customize a plan to help others learn how to thrive!


Links

Website: https://www.temacupuncture.com/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/temacupuncture

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrivingwithacuut/

]]>17Exploring the Jaw-Pelvic Floor Link with Michael BennettLQWneoDK1Thu, 20 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT2793https://www.aylarapelvichealth.com/podcast/exploring-the-jaw-pelvic-floor-link-with-michael-bennettfalsePelvic floor physical therapist Bree Allred interviews dentist and dental sleep medicine specialist Dr. Mike Bennett about connections between the jaw, airway, sleep quality, nervous system regulation, and pelvic floor function. Bennett explains how sleep-related breathing disorders and sympathetic “fight or flight” activation can drive bruxism and chronic jaw pain, and how pelvic injuries or inflammation can also contribute to clenching, making care bidirectional and team-based. They discuss evaluating airway obstruction with imaging and sleep testing, alternatives and challenges to CPAP, myofunctional therapy, nasal breathing benefits, posture and trauma influences, and simple lifestyle supports like hydration and whole foods. They note improvements in children’s issues (bedwetting, constipation, ADHD-like symptoms) and emphasize root-cause, interprofessional care focused on optimizing sleep as a foundation for healing.


00:00 Sleep and Bedwetting Link

00:34 Show Intro and Mission

00:58 Meet Dr Mike Bennett

01:58 Root Causes Behind TMJ

04:43 Why the Jaw Drives Survival

06:19 Pelvic Floor Connection

08:35 Sleep Pain and Fertility

09:52 Airway Evaluation and Treatment

12:16 Why Devices Fail and Body Triggers

14:36 Nervous System Breathing Basics

16:26 Nose Breathing and Nitric Oxide

18:22 Team Based Care and Referrals

21:15 Practice Location and Next Steps

21:47 Pediatric Sleep Screening

23:31 Why Jaws Are Shrinking

25:01 Treating Kids Without Surgery

26:03 Posture and Nervous System

28:34 Simple Lifestyle Upgrades

31:40 Women and TMJ Patterns

34:38 Sleep as the Healer

38:41 Mouth Taping Safely

41:11 Where to Start Care

44:19 Rapid Fire Wrap Up

45:40 Final Takeaways


Thank you for listening to Healing at Your Core. If today's conversation resonated with you, please share this episode with someone who could benefit from it. Every share helps us reach more women who may be silently living with symptoms they think they have to accept, when healing is truly possible.


Have a wonderful day.


Bree Allred, PT, DPT, PRPC


"Common does not mean normal. Healing begins when we start the conversation."


CONNECT with Bree & Access Trusted Pelvic Health Resources


Discover expert education, practical tools, and evidence-based guidance designed to help you better understand your body and take the next step toward healing. You'll also gain access to valuable resources and become part of a supportive community of women who are restoring comfort, confidence, and quality of life through every season.


Join FREE at:

www.aylarapelvichealth.com


Follow Bree on Social Media:

Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn


Bonus Resource:

Schedule your FREE Discovery Call and learn how personalized pelvic floor physical therapy can help you restore movement, comfort, and confidence.


About Guest

Mike Bennett, DDS, PhD, is a board certified dentist and educator passionate about helping people breathe, sleep, and heal through airway focused care. With a PhD in Healthcare Professions Education, he empowers both dentists and the general public to understand the critical link between oral health and whole body wellness. His mission is to transform lives by making dentistry about more than teeth — it's about total health.


Links

Podcast: https://morethanteeth.com

Website: https://www.advanced-dentalcare.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-bennett-54a7b859/

]]>16Pregnancy and Chiropractic Care with Steph DennistonqFy7N6f19Thu, 13 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT2240https://www.aylarapelvichealth.com/podcast/pregnancy-and-chiropractic-care-with-steph-dennistonfalsePelvic floor physical therapist Bree Allred hosts Dr. Steph Denniston of Active Family Chiropractic to discuss pregnancy changes, common myths, and when to seek care. Denniston shares how her own difficult pregnancies led her to specialize in pregnancy chiropractic and challenges the idea that pain is “normal,” emphasizing that sciatica, pubic symphysis pain (“lightning crotch”), and low back pain are common but avoidable with pelvic and sacral balance, ligament support, and posture. They distinguish normal adaptations (pelvic widening, ribcage expansion, spinal curvature and center-of-gravity shifts) from misalignments that can be addressed. Denniston outlines what an initial chiropractic visit includes, describes care as symptom-based maintenance through pregnancy and postpartum, and explains how chiropractic can support breech situations by optimizing maternal pelvic balance rather than turning the baby. They compare chiropractic’s structural focus with pelvic floor PT’s muscle and incontinence expertise and highlight postpartum recovery beyond the six-week mark.


00:00 Pain Is Not Normal

00:26 Meet Dr Steph Denniston

01:02 Why Pregnancy Chiropractic

02:16 Debunking Pregnancy Pain

04:38 Common Pregnancy Complaints

05:29 Alignment Changes Explained

07:33 Normal Body Adaptations

11:53 When To Seek Help

15:09 What A Visit Looks Like

17:13 Care Plans And Maintenance

20:20 Breech Baby Support

22:16 Chiro vs Pelvic PT

23:54 Where Care Overlaps

27:42 Team Based Pregnancy Care

28:42 Postpartum Recovery Timeline

31:32 Why Six Weeks Is Myth

34:05 Rapid Fire Questions

36:14 Find Dr Steph Online



Thank you for listening to Healing at Your Core. If today's conversation resonated with you, please share this episode with someone who could benefit from it. Every share helps us reach more women who may be silently living with symptoms they think they have to accept, when healing is truly possible.


Have a wonderful day.


Bree Allred, PT, DPT, PRPC


"Common does not mean normal. Healing begins when we start the conversation."


CONNECT with Bree & Access Trusted Pelvic Health Resources


Discover expert education, practical tools, and evidence-based guidance designed to help you better understand your body and take the next step toward healing. You'll also gain access to valuable resources and become part of a supportive community of women who are restoring comfort, confidence, and quality of life through every season.


Join FREE at:

www.aylarapelvichealth.com


Follow Bree on Social Media:

Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn


Bonus Resource:

Schedule your FREE Discovery Call and learn how personalized pelvic floor physical therapy can help you restore movement, comfort, and confidence.


Link

Website: activefamchiro.com

]]>15Overcoming Painful Intimacy with Leilani VolkmanNcpM7VUF-Thu, 06 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT3133https://www.aylarapelvichealth.com/podcast/overcoming-painful-intimacy-with-leilani-volkmanfalseLeilani Volkmann, 37, a realtor and mom of three, joins pelvic floor physical therapist Bree Allred on Healing at Your Core to share how she experienced painful sex for 13 years after marrying at 19 and was told by an OB it was “all in her head.” After learning about pelvic floor PT through social media and meeting Bree via Bree’s husband, she sought help when symptoms worsened after her third C-section and found significant relief in about eight sessions, though anxiety around sex persisted for months. They discuss how nervous system “caveman brain/scary movie mode” responses drive protective pelvic floor tightening, why learning to relax (the opposite of Kegels) and using graded dilators/manual therapy can help, and how arousal, anatomy, vibrators, and individualized lubricants relate to pain and orgasm.


00:00 Painful Sex for 13 Years

01:09 Podcast Intro and Mission

01:36 Meet Leilani Volkmann

03:06 Why She Shares Openly

05:55 Dismissed by Doctors

07:18 Finding Pelvic Floor PT

08:12 Desperation and Supportive Husband

11:06 Pain Patterns and Vibrator Breakthrough

13:28 Emotional Toll and Desire Mismatch

17:09 Dilators and Caveman Brain

20:14 Learning to Release Not Kegels

22:39 Safety Trust and Rewriting the Story

25:27 Aftereffects Energy and Body Memory

28:32 First Visit Fears

30:35 What Pelvic PT Looks Like

32:05 Dilators And Nervous System

34:23 G Spot And Anatomy

35:37 Orgasm Stats And Norms

37:00 Arousal Changes Pain

39:19 Lube Choices And Sensitivities

40:32 Early Help For Tampon Pain

42:56 Advice And Support

48:29 Therapy Can Still Hurt

49:14 Rapid Fire Questions


Thank you for listening to Healing at Your Core. If today's conversation resonated with you, please share this episode with someone who could benefit from it. Every share helps us reach more women who may be silently living with symptoms they think they have to accept, when healing is truly possible.


Have a wonderful day.


Bree Allred, PT, DPT, PRPC


"Common does not mean normal. Healing begins when we start the conversation."


CONNECT with Bree & Access Trusted Pelvic Health Resources


Discover expert education, practical tools, and evidence-based guidance designed to help you better understand your body and take the next step toward healing. You'll also gain access to valuable resources and become part of a supportive community of women who are restoring comfort, confidence, and quality of life through every season.


Join FREE at:

www.aylarapelvichealth.com


Follow Bree on Social Media:

Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn


Bonus Resource:

Schedule your FREE Discovery Call and learn how personalized pelvic floor physical therapy can help you restore movement, comfort, and confidence.

]]>14Understanding Postpartum Mental Health with Hannah SawitskyzL4Pwq-NvThu, 30 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT3398https://www.aylarapelvichealth.com/podcast/understanding-postpartum-mental-health-with-hannah-sawitskyfalsePelvic floor physical therapist Bree Allred hosts mental health counselor and doula Hannah Sawitzke of Nova Therapy to discuss the “fourth trimester” (the first three months postpartum, with impacts lasting far beyond) and why parents should speak up and seek help. Sawitzke shares that Nova was inspired by her own postpartum anxiety and explains the inadequacy of the typical six-week postpartum checkup, emphasizing multimodal care, self-advocacy, and postpartum planning. They clarify differences between baby blues (first 2–3 weeks) and postpartum mood and anxiety disorders, outline symptoms of depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, and intrusive thoughts, and describe risk factors including complicated pregnancy, NICU stays, feeding challenges, perfectionism, and limited support. They highlight Utah’s higher reported rates and resources like Postpartum Support International and Nova (thrivewithnova.com).


00:00 Reaching Out Matters

00:22 Show Intro and Guest

01:19 Hannah and Nova Therapy

02:16 Why She Started Nova

04:19 What Is Fourth Trimester

05:28 Beyond Three Months

06:40 Six Week Checkup Debate

10:57 Advocacy and Postpartum Plan

13:07 Baby Blues vs PMADs

15:44 When to Seek Help

18:12 Finding Postpartum Resources

19:44 Depression Anxiety OCD Explained

22:03 Intrusive Thoughts Defined

26:07 Stigma and Speaking Up

27:01 Risk Factors and Triggers

28:16 Complications Feeding Perfectionism

30:08 Utah Rates and Gaps

32:15 Spotting Symptoms Together

32:52 Motherhood Identity Shift

36:22 Twins and NICU Story

39:22 Support Without Diagnosis

39:56 Understanding Birth Trauma

43:46 Postpartum Disorders Overview

45:15 Brain Body Connection

50:00 Breaking Fear Pain Cycle

51:07 Advice and Self Care

55:01 Closing Resources and Where to Find


Thank you for listening to Healing at Your Core. If today's conversation resonated with you, please share this episode with someone who could benefit from it. Every share helps us reach more women who may be silently living with symptoms they think they have to accept, when healing is truly possible.


Have a wonderful day.


Bree Allred, PT, DPT, PRPC


"Common does not mean normal. Healing begins when we start the conversation."


CONNECT with Bree & Access Trusted Pelvic Health Resources


Discover expert education, practical tools, and evidence-based guidance designed to help you better understand your body and take the next step toward healing. You'll also gain access to valuable resources and become part of a supportive community of women who are restoring comfort, confidence, and quality of life through every season.


Join FREE at:

www.aylarapelvichealth.com


Follow Bree on Social Media:

Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn


Bonus Resource:

Schedule your FREE Discovery Call and learn how personalized pelvic floor physical therapy can help you restore movement, comfort, and confidence.


About Guest

Hannah Sawitsky, CMHC, is a licensed therapist, certified doula, and maternal mental health specialist based in Logan, Utah. She is the founder of Nova Therapy and Doula Services, where she helps individuals and families navigate pregnancy, postpartum, birth trauma, anxiety, and the transition to parenthood. Hannah is passionate about creating supportive, evidence-based spaces where parents can feel less alone and more connected to themselves, their relationships, and their communities.


Guest LInks

Website: ThriveWithNova.com

LInkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahsawitsky/

Facebook:facebook.com/thrivewithnova

Instagram: instagram.com/thrivewithnova

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]]>13Pelvic Floor-Friendly Strength Training with Alicia WoodbnrXbhqB3Thu, 23 Jul 2026 10:00:00 GMT2364https://www.aylarapelvichealth.com/podcast/pelvic-floor-friendly-strength-training-with-alicia-woodfalsePelvic floor physical therapist Bree Allred hosts Healing at Your Core with guest Alicia Wood, a certified personal trainer specializing in pregnancy/postpartum fitness and menopause coaching at Aylara Pelvic Health, discussing pelvic floor-friendly strength training and the clinic’s PT–trainer collaboration. Alicia shares her own history of leakage and urgency, common workout mistakes such as normalizing exercise leakage and excessive glute clenching during lifts, and emphasizes that “common is not normal.” They critique diet culture, “bounce back” messaging, and extreme training that can raise stress and lead to burnout, advocating sustainable routines (often 2–3 days/week, even 30 minutes). They cover menstrual-cycle-informed training, beginner programming (breathwork, mobility, activation, power, strength, conditioning, cooldown), postpartum return-to-exercise guidance with gradual progression and symptom monitoring, myths about pregnancy strength training, and when to see pelvic floor PT versus a trainer; Bree notes a symptom quiz and virtual services at https://aylarapelvichealth.com/


00:00 Fitness Junk Trends

00:28 Podcast Intro

00:53 Meet Alicia Wood

03:24 Why She Specialized

04:50 Workout Mistakes

07:36 Healthy Routine Basics

09:21 Ditch Diet Culture

13:01 Cycle Based Training

15:03 Beginner Strength Plan

19:11 Postpartum Return Tips

21:33 Ease Back In

22:21 Personalized Postpartum Plans

23:55 Strength Training Benefits

25:18 Pregnancy Training Myths

26:45 Trainer vs Pelvic PT

28:35 Pressure Management Basics

30:29 Rehab to Wellness Handoff

32:55 Finding the Right Provider

35:39 Safe Space and Symptom Talk

38:03 Mission and Next Steps


Thank you for listening to Healing at Your Core. If today's conversation resonated with you, please share this episode with someone who could benefit from it. Every share helps us reach more women who may be silently living with symptoms they think they have to accept, when healing is truly possible.


Have a wonderful day.


Bree Allred, PT, DPT, PRPC


"Common does not mean normal. Healing begins when we start the conversation."


CONNECT with Bree & Access Trusted Pelvic Health Resources


Discover expert education, practical tools, and evidence-based guidance designed to help you better understand your body and take the next step toward healing. You'll also gain access to valuable resources and become part of a supportive community of women who are restoring comfort, confidence, and quality of life through every season.


Join FREE at:

www.aylarapelvichealth.com


Follow Bree on Social Media:

Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn


Bonus Resource:

Schedule your FREE Discovery Call and learn how personalized pelvic floor physical therapy can help you restore movement, comfort, and confidence.


About Guest

Alicia is a Certified Personal Trainer, Pregnancy & Postpartum Fitness Specialist, and Certified Menopause Coaching Specialist. She is passionate about helping women build strength, confidence, and resilience through every stage of life. Her approach emphasizes safe, effective strength training that supports long-term health, empowers women to trust their bodies, and makes fitness both practical and sustainable. Whether clients are preparing for pregnancy, recovering postpartum, navigating menopause, or simply striving to become stronger, Alicia is dedicated to helping them achieve their goals with confidence.


Links

Website https://alyarapelvichealth.com

]]>12Common Doesn't Mean Normal with BreeAnn Allred9jLq2ws8FThu, 16 Jul 2026 17:14:00 GMT1262https://www.aylarapelvichealth.com/podcast/common-doesnt-mean-normal-with-breeann-allredfalseIn this episode of Healing at Your Core, host Bree Allred, PT, DPT, PRPC introduces listeners to the often overlooked world of pelvic health and explains why pelvic floor dysfunction should never be accepted as a normal part of life.


Drawing from more than 20 years of clinical experience, Bree shares her personal journey into pelvic floor physical therapy and explains how pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, aging, and everyday life can affect the pelvic floor. She also discusses the many symptoms connected to pelvic dysfunction, including bladder issues, bowel dysfunction, pelvic pain, painful intimacy, prolapse, and core weakness.


Throughout the episode, Bree breaks down pelvic floor anatomy in simple, easy-to-understand language while emphasizing one powerful message: common does not mean normal. She explains how pelvic floor physical therapy provides evidence-based, non-surgical solutions that help women regain comfort, confidence, and quality of life.


Timestamps:

00:00 — Welcome and why pelvic health conversations matter

01:02 — Bree's journey into pelvic floor physical therapy

02:28 — Why women experience pelvic floor dysfunction throughout life

04:14 — Understanding pelvic floor anatomy and its role in the body

10:26 — Common symptoms and conditions treated with pelvic floor therapy

16:00 — Pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum recovery, and prolapse

20:20 — Final thoughts and how to determine if pelvic floor therapy is right for you


Thank you for listening to Healing at Your Core. If today's conversation resonated with you, please share this episode with someone who could benefit from it. Every share helps us reach more women who may be silently living with symptoms they think they have to accept, when healing is truly possible.


Have a wonderful day.


Bree Allred, PT, DPT, PRPC


"Common does not mean normal. Healing begins when we start the conversation."


CONNECT with Bree & Access Trusted Pelvic Health Resources


Discover expert education, practical tools, and evidence-based guidance designed to help you better understand your body and take the next step toward healing. You'll also gain access to valuable resources and become part of a supportive community of women who are restoring comfort, confidence, and quality of life through every season.


Join FREE at:

www.aylarapelvichealth.com


Follow Bree on Social Media:

Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn


Bonus Resource:

Schedule your FREE Discovery Call and learn how personalized pelvic floor physical therapy can help you restore movement, comfort, and confidence.

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