In this episode of The Align Podcast, we talk all things pelvis. From why certain people experience leaking to how we can improve our pelvic mobility. We discuss how we don’t move enough in our day-to-day life, what effects that may have on our health and what exercises we can try to strengthen our pelvic floor muscles. We also explore the relationship between the pelvic floor and the respiratory diaphragm and how regularly shifting resting positions can highly benefit us. Sara then tells us about the connection between sexual trauma and the pelvic floor as well as what it means if you have painful sexual intercourse. If you also want to find out what we think about our current way of dealing with bowel movements, take a listen!

Dr. Sara Reardon PT, DPT, WCS is a doctor of physical therapy and board-certified pelvic floor physical therapist specializing in the treatment of bowel and bladder issues, painful intercourse, pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and menopause. Motion is motion, how are we supposed to function? 

She is the founder of The Vagina Whisperer, an online platform with pelvic floor and core exercise programs for pregnancy, postpartum, painful sex and pelvic floor strengthening.  Sara is passionate about normalizing the conversation around pelvic floor health and increasing awareness of pelvic floor physical therapy as a treatment option to prevent and overcome pelvic health issues.

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In this episode of The Align Podcast, Louisa Nicola and I go deep into how we can enhance our cognitive function, our life longevity and the overall regulation of our nervous system. We discuss how important the mind-body connection is and how this can be strengthened through movement and other practices. We then tap into loneliness, how it plays a vital role in our emotional health and whether it could be the primary factor contributing to human happiness. Louisa also discusses the dangers of alcohol addiction, the concept of dopamine fasting and the benefits of journaling. 

Neurophysiologist and human performance coach, Louisa Nicola is the founder and head performance advisor of Neuro Athletics - a consulting firm that boasts the best athletes in the world. By using science-driven data from EEG scans, lab tests and cognitive assessments, Louisa has a first-class ticket inside the brain of elite NBA and MLB stars. Louisa graduated from the University of Sydney medical school with a major in neurophysiology and is currently completing her doctorate studying the effects of resistance exercise on the brain. Louisa serves on the board of Momentous, Tonal, and Klora.

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In this episode of The Align Podcast, we talk about all things nutrition and the connection between our psychological state and our physiology. Chris tells us about the psychosomatic relationships of our cultures, our minds, and our biology. We debate whether everything we know about nutrition is actually true and discuss the importance of human connection and touch on our health, especially after the pandemic. We go over how to live a healthy life, why we exercise and how how to mix ancestral wisdom with modern technology.

Chris Kresser M.S., L.Ac. is the co-founder of the California Center for Functional Medicine, the founder of Kresser Institute, the host of the top-ranked health podcast Revolution Health Radio, the creator of ChrisKresser.com, and the New York Times best-selling author of The Paleo Cure and Unconventional Medicine. He is one of the most respected clinicians and educators in the fields of Functional Medicine and ancestral health and has trained over 2,000 clinicians and health coaches from >50 countries in his unique approach. Chris was named one of the 100 most influential people in health and fitness by Greatist.com and has appeared as a featured guest on Dr. Oz, Time, The Atlantic, NPR, Fox & Friends, and other national media outlets. He lives in Park City, UT, with his wife and daughter.

Thank you to our sponsors:

Athletic Greens: For a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase go to: athleticgreens.com/align

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In this episode of The Align Podcast, human behaviour expert John Demartini tells us all about emotional intimacy and how to open up your heart to love. We also discuss what it really means to live a good life and how comparison can cause imbalances in our perception. We talk about the differences between love, infatuation and grief and what it really is we miss after losing someone or something in our lives. John also reveals how to define your personal values and how to truly find purpose in your life.

Dr. John Demartini is a polymath and a world-renowned human behaviour expert. He has five decades of research across multiple disciplines. His work has been described by students as the "most comprehensive body of work," and "an extensive library of wisdom," as well as "wisdom of the highest and most valuable order."

Dr. Demartini's mission and vision is to share knowledge and wisdom that empowers you to become a master of your own life and destiny.

His education curriculum ranges from personal growth seminars to corporate empowerment programs. He shares life, business, financial, relationship and leadership empowerment strategies and empowerment tools that have stood the test of time.

To learn more visit, www.drdemartini.com.

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In this episode of The Align Podcast, we talk all about intimacy, opening up to love and the fears that may block us from doing so. We also discuss what it really means to heal our emotional wounds and whether our partners should be responsible for holding our childhood trauma. John tells us all about the masculine and feminine essence and how everybody needs an integration of both to reach the perfect balance. We also touch upon sex, healthy communication and navigating grief.

John Wineland is an author, teacher and speaker who has been guiding both men and women in the realms of life purpose, relational communication, spiritual intimacy, sexual intimacy and embodiment.

John brings a multi-faceted approach, which is both energetic and highly practical, to his workshops and experiential coaching sessions. John's embodiment-driven teaching draws from not only over 30 years experience of his own Buddhist meditative practice, but from 13 years of intensive study and practice in Yogic Intimacy. Drawing from the deep lineages of Vajrayana, Tantra, Kundalini yoga, Taoist and Iron Shirt Qigong traditions, John seeks to create a profound experience for men and women longing to express their deepest desires with open, fierce and loving hearts.

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In this episode of The Align Podcast, we talk about all things sex and most importantly, pleasure. Dr Laurie Mintz explains what an orgasm actually is, why it’s so important and how it differentiates between men and women. We then go on to discuss the orgasm gap and why it’s so prominent within our society. We debate how the patriarchy, body image issues, sexual trauma and cultural pressures ultimately play an important part in our sex lives.

Dr. Laurie is the author of two popular and highly acclaimed books on sexual pleasure, Becoming Cliterate: Why Orgasm Equality Matters and How to Get it and A Tired Woman’s Guide to Passionate Sex: Reclaim Your Desire and Reignite Your Relationship.

She wrote her books to empower women sexually, and thousands of women who have read them have regained their sexual desire, as well as improved their sexual satisfaction, arousal, lubrication, and rates of orgasm. Men who have read the books have also learned how to pleasure women and become better sexual communicators. Becoming Cliterate has been recognized by Men’s Health as one of the best books for improving your sex life, and it won the 2019 Society for Sex Therapy and Research Consumer Book Award. She is also a tenured Professor at the University of Florida, where she teaches the Psychology of Human Sexuality to hundreds of undergraduate students each year and has won many professional awards, including being named one of 50 Sexual Health Revolutionaries by the University of Minnesota Program in Sexual Health.

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This episode of the Align Podcast is a little different. Scott Berman and I talk all things ‘Darkness Retreat’. We discuss what it is, its origin and why people, including myself, decide to take part. We go over all the mental and physical benefits of a darkness retreat as well as the struggles and fears it might bring up. I share my personal experience, how I wish I prepared and why it was unlike anything I could have ever imagined.

Scott Berman is the founder of Sky Cave Retreats - the first darkness retreat center in the US. Throughout the last decade, he has spent over two years in self-guided solo retreats in remote wilderness. He did his first darkness retreat in 2012 and has spent over 70 days in multiple darkness retreats and has also done a couple with his wife Jill. Over the last few years, he has supported hundreds of people in their dark retreats and has been pioneering the darkness therapy movement at his center in Ashland, Oregon.

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The Align Method Program is launching January 15th!

Now is the time to move better and feel better.

Head to alignpodcast.com/amp to join the waitlist to be notified when enrollment opens!

Try the first week for free.

A couple of months ago I attended a darkness retreat and shortly after, some life events catalyzed me to embark on a journey of somatically based therapy which has turned into one of the most impactful shifts of my life. This episode provides my personal experience with therapy as well as an overview of different approaches and suggestions on how and why to begin the process of unpacking stored trauma within the body. 

And, BIG NEWS: we're are doing a MASSIVE GIVEAWAY!!🚨 ($10,000 value)

Enter to win a NEW Cold Plunge ($6000 value) simply by starting the FREE trial of The Align Method online program at alignpodcast.com/amp

We’ll also be giving away $4000 in other prizes simply for starting the AMP free week trial!! 🎉

During the first week of the program you will receive:

1. An easy-to-follow movement assessment to establish your functional movement baseline.

2. Top 5 Mobility Fundamental Techniques to improve every form of soft tissue work or self-care practice you take part in. They are ALL simple and highly impactful techniques I utilize in my practice daily and will change the way you train immediately.

3. LIVE Q&A with ME and the rest of the Align Community each week!!

Click the link in my bio to learn more about the program launching January 15th and for a chance to win!

Good luck!

Enter here: Alignpodcast.com/amp

In this episode of the Align podcast, Psychology expert Gabor Maté tells us all about trauma, how we can define it and how we can solve our internal psychological wounds. We explore the relationship we have with ourselves and others and what it truly means to be vulnerable. We also speak about the repression of our emotions, the essence of human nature and whether evil really exists within people or in the nature of their actions.

A renowned speaker and bestselling author, Dr. Gabor Maté is highly sought after for his expertise on a range of topics including addiction, stress, and childhood development. Dr. Maté has written several bestselling books, including the award-winning In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction, When the Body Says No: Exploring the Stress-Disease Connection, and Scattered: How Attention Deficit Disorder Originates and What You Can Do About It, and has coauthored Hold On to Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More Than Peers. His works have been published internationally in nearly thirty languages.

Thank you to our sponsors:

LifeForce: Use code ALIGN for 15% off at: mylifeforce.com

HVMN: Use code ALIGN-20 for 20% off at: https://hvmn.com

The Align Method Program is launching January 15th!

Now is the time to move better and feel better.

Head to alignpodcast.com/amp to join the waitlist to be notified when enrollment opens!

Try the first week for free.