Beyond Kegels: Pelvic Floor Health for Every Season of Life ft. Dr. Mae Hughes

Welcome back to the EMPWR Podcast! Today, I’m joined by the incredible Dr. Mae Hughes; Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist, mom of two, and an absolute wealth of knowledge when it comes to all things pelvic health. Whether you're a parent, hoping to be one someday, or just want to better understand your body, this one's for everyone. We chat about what the pelvic floor actually is, how it connects to your core, and why it matters way more than most of us realize, even outside of pregnancy or postpartum (spoiler alert: it’s so much more than just doing kegels!) Dr. Mae shares her personal story, how she got into this work, and the mission behind her app and growing online community. She breaks down signs of both a weak or overly tight pelvic floor, how to train smarter (not harder), and the impact things like strength training can have on your core and recovery. This one is packed with practical takeaways, myth-busting moments, and a whole lot of empowerment around a topic that deserves way more air time. __________________________________ THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS This episode is brought to you by “Dream Recovery” URL: https://dreamrecovery.io/ This episode is brought to you by Blokes + Joi Wellness https://blokes.co/samcfitpod https://choosejoi.co/samcfitpod CODE: SAMCFITPOD 50% off all labs on both sites 1 Time Macro Count + Macro Guide: https://samcfit.com/macro-count Macro Must-Haves: https://www.shopltk.com/explore/Samcfit/posts/14292987-0f1c-11f0-accc-0242ac110007 Hume Health Scale | code SAMCFIT: https://humehealth.com/pages/hume-body-pod?utm_source=fbig&utm_medium=influencer&utm_campaign=SAMCFIT Protein Powder | code SAM: https://promixnutrition.com/?dt_id=1140742 EMPWR by Sam App: https://www.empwrbysam.com/ Running Programs: https://www.samcfit.com/running-programs 1:1 Coaching: https://www.samcfit.com/coaching-details-1 FOLLOW US Follow Samantha Christine! Insta: @samcfit_ Follow Dr. Mae Hughes! Insta: @dr.maehughes https://drmaehughes.com/ Produced and Edited by "The Cast Collective" in Nashville, TN! Visit us today at https://www.thecastcollective.com Email: info@thecastcollective.com Follow The Cast Collective! Instagram: @TheCastCollective Twitter: @TheCastCollective About Dr. Mae Hughes: I’ve been passionate about physical therapy for as long as I can remember, but helping moms feel capable and strong in their own bodies is truly the job of my dreams. After completing my undergraduate and doctorate degrees at Vanderbilt and Belmont, I began to work with female athletes in my sports residency program. There, I started to understand that pelvic floor issues are common — but so are the misconceptions about them. Now, with my doctorate in physical therapy, I’m committed to educating as many women as I can about how strong they truly are. Our bodies were designed to grow and birth babies. But bringing a new life into the world doesn’t have to mean the end of our own body as we know it. Pelvic floor issues during pregnancy and postpartum are absolutely treatable – even preventable. With the right care, you can regain the strength and control you need to enjoy all of your favorite workouts (yes, even running and jumping). Pelvic floor physical therapy is not included in most standard care here in the US, but I’m doing everything I can to change that, because I want women everywhere to see their strength and find their confidence again. Better yet, I hope they never lose it in the first place. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices