Stop Saying “Just Relax!” To Your Pelvic Floor With Dr. Valerie Brown

What if the key to healing your pelvic floor, calming your nervous system, and reconnecting with your body was already inside you — and you just needed someone to help you access it?In this episode, Emily sits down with Dr. Valerie Brown, PT — a pelvic floor physical therapist, embodiment educator, and creator of the Vital Access Program — for a conversation that goes far beyond kegels. Val blends pelvic floor awareness, nervous system regulation, somatic movement, and trauma-informed care into a holistic approach that meets women exactly where they are.In this episode, we cover:What "embodiment" actually means — and why it's a felt experience, not a conceptWhy telling someone to "just relax" almost always backfires, and what to do insteadThe overlooked connection between hypermobility, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), and pelvic floor dysfunctionWhy a hypermobile body can still have a hypertonic (overly gripped) pelvic floorHow pregnancy's relaxin hormone can unmask hypermobility that's been hiding in plain sightThe often-missed role of the feet in pelvic floor healthWhy generic "strengthen your core" advice can backfire for hypermobile bodiesSimple, accessible nervous system tools you can use in the car, in two minutes, or while brushing your teethHow imagination and visualization support better birth and recovery outcomesAbout Dr. Valerie Brown: Dr. Valerie Brown is a pelvic floor physical therapist and embodiment educator based in Troutdale, Oregon, serving clients locally, online, and through workshops across California, Colorado, and the Pacific Northwest. Learn more about the Vital Axis Method.Connect with Val and learn about her program! Website: www.vitalaxispt.comInstagram: @vital.axis.methodVal now offers home visits through Be Well Baby! Book a session with her at 971-351-2714.