What health problems can be traced back to our gut? It would be quicker to list the conditions that are NOT related to gut health. From digestive issues (which may seem obvious) to our mood and mental health, allergies, fatigue, and even autoimmune conditions, a healthy body and mind rely on a healthy gut. That’s why it’s good to take a step back once in a while for a literal ‘gut check.’ All of our biological systems are impacted by the 100 million neurons inside what some people refer to as our ‘second brain’.

It’s ok to feel your feelings, they are yours and they are real. As a society, we have not always done the best job of attending to our emotional intelligence. For some, it seems to come naturally that they are always in tune with what they feel. Others are at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to understanding the emotions they experience or that their loved ones experience. It can create a real barrier between you and the people you love if you cannot authentically share your emotions.

When we’re pregnant we are constantly preparing for the baby, but the baby isn’t the only thing we should focus on. I have yet to meet a woman who stops to think about “what do I need?” and when we miss this step, we begin to tumble down a rabbit hole. Once we hit the postpartum stage, our entire focus is on this beautiful little human we carried in our womb for nine months and we just naturally allow ourselves to fade.

When imbalances occur in your body, like chronic pain or disease, it can be the result of many factors. Genetics clearly play a role, as can lifestyle choices like inactivity, poor nutrition, smoking, or overindulging in alcohol. Yet, there is a third factor that is less obvious and potentially far more impactful: stress.

As many as one in ten women are affected by endometriosis. It causes pelvic pain – often severe – and discomfort and can impact sexual activity and fertility. Unfortunately, one of the biggest barriers to finding relief for endometriosis symptoms is that, all too often, it goes undiagnosed, misdiagnosed, or mistreated.

Self love is so important and something that we should always be working on.

One way to show ourselves self love is through movement.

Movement is about observing and listening to your body.

Have you ever had a sore back, hip pain or pelvic girdle pain the day after you have been strength training, running or participating in an activity? But you feel like you have a great movement pattern and great technique. Have you experienced incontinence, prolapse or rectus diastasis that did not rehab fully post-partum? What you may not be activating or utilizing properly is your Inner Core!

In this blog Kim Deschamps summarizes a very powerful and healing self-care treatment to empower women and teach them how to read the physical patterns held in the pelvic muscles and alleviate patterns that inhibit energy flow.

When you google pelvic pain the list is long, like really long! This makes sense because yes, there are many reasons one might experience pelvic pain! And sometimes there are multiple reasons combined that can result in chronic pelvic pain. SO, let’s dive into it!

Danielle shares on her recent health journey and the incredible adversity that she overcame. Being diagnosed with a brain tumor in May 2020, to surgery 8 days later, and an incredible healing journey all through a global pandemic, her courage, strength, and optimism is truly inspirational. ‘I think it would be easy to look back on the last year and say, “I never want to remember that year” or “that was the worst year ever”, but instead I choose to celebrate the positives, even amongst all the negatives. I now know more than ever that I am a strong, resilient and very grateful woman, wife, mother, sister, sister-in-law, daughter, daughter-in-law, granddaughter, aunt, cousin, friend, and therapist.’ Thank you for letting me share my story, Danielle Bararuk.

We are seeing more and more evidence stating the more supported Mom is, physically, emotionally, and spiritually through pregnancy, has direct benefits to baby. This isn’t new information, but the amount of evidence is quite significant (1-4). Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist Lindsey Tasker Cole provides education on prenatal exercise, the benefits and what is safe to partake in with this blog post. Take a read!

In Kim’s recent blog she is writing to all of the moms out there, to the moms who have had a baby during the covid-19 global pandemic and to those moms who are expecting a little one any day. ‘Moms I feel you so very hard and I desperately want you to know that you are most certainly not alone. The year 2020 has been very hard. I am leaning into the uncomfortable and sharing my story. Thank you for the safe place to do so.’

Physiotherapist Danielle Bararuk explains what chronic pain is and how pain is produced within our nervous system. This fantastic blog provides insight on how important it is to use a holistic approach to treating chronic pain and how we use the biopsychosocial model at Holistic Physiotherapy & Wellness to provide care to our patients.

The act of being pregnant and supporting a new life is truly remarkable. With this great task on our bodies, there are many physical (and hormonal) changes that can create challenges. Most women at some point through pregnancy experience some discomfort through their low back, hips, pubic symphysis, neck/shoulder pain, etc. And this is just to name a few! Lindsey Tasker Cole, Physiotherapist and Pelvic Health Therapist provides us with reasons why pelvic girdle pain can be common during pregnancy and how pelvic floor physiotherapy can help!

“Understanding how your pelvis works before having baby can help women feel in control and more empowered going into labor and delivery”. Physiotherapist Lindsey Tasker Cole talks about the importance of preparing your pelvic floor before birth, and how including a pelvic floor therapist in your postpartum journey can help women reach more positive outcomes when baby arrives.

When we talk about pelvic health, more often than not our focus shifts towards women. Lindsey Tasker Cole touches on the importance of including men in the talk when it comes to pelvic health. “With much of the focus on women, it can cast a shadow on male pelvic health, and make it difficult for men to recognize the need for, and/or seek out treatment”.

“Urinary incontinence, or the loss of bladder control, is most common in women after childbirth and during menopause or thereafter. That does not mean it should be considered normal or has to be accepted as a part of aging.” Physiotherapist Danielle Bararuk discusses urinary incontinence and how the support of a pelvic health physiotherapist can help you get back to the activities you enjoy!

Lindsey Tasker Cole describes her passion behind being a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist- “Helping men and women with their most intimate concerns and showing them new ways to manage or alleviate their symptoms, gives me the most joy.”