My recent PT experience

Caring for ourselves can be so challenging—between guilt, busy schedules, caring for others in our lives, and the ever-present female/mom guilt—when are we fitting in what we need to optimize our own mental and physical health?

Even as someone with a doctorate and multiple certifications, I still deal with chronic little niggles that sometimes flare into not-so-little ones. (Something about the roofer’s roof always leaking comes to mind.)

Oh, and speaking of leaking—
I found my pelvic-floor-PT-self leaking drops of urine when I would cough really hard.

So… I decided to take this PT to some PT.

Here’s what I learned:

🔍 Having someone watch you move is incredibly powerful.
Something I teach every single day—the TA (deep ab) contraction —I was not doing very well! This was contributing to my dribbling with coughing and likely some barriers I’ve felt in the gym. My pelvic floor was not the issue! It all works together, friends! I even went and did barbell squats right after my appointment, and they felt way more stable!

💬 The personal experience matters.
This is more of a business lesson for me, I suppose but, in the days after my appointment, I wanted to text my PT-- “My squats felt amazing today!” or “I felt my glutes in a great way!” But I could not do that with this particular PT/clinic (and let's be honest, most healthcare providers). It reminded me why I’ll continue giving out my number and staying accessible to my people. Y'all, I love getting these messages! Keep 'em coming!!!

🤝 We get better together.
Seeking help for my body—or mentorship around skills and client cases—keeps me growing. Getting off my one-clinician island helps me learn new cues, new perspectives, and new tools and helps me help myself and you better! 

So, even when we think we know and we are mostly fine, there might be more help out there that gets us even closer to optimal!!

Hope y'all are well, friends!! 

xoxo,

Natasha