Well-Adjusted Mama: Holistic Support for Mamas and Mamas-To-Be

In this episode, I'm joined by Vidhi Shastri, PT, MS, CFMT, a gifted bodyworker and holistic physical therapist who blends advanced manual therapy with intuitive, energetic healing. Vidhi shares how deep, integrative bodywork can support new moms in their postpartum recovery—helping the body heal from pregnancy and birth, regulating the nervous system, and supporting the emotional and energetic layers of early motherhood. If you're in the 4th trimester, working with postpartum clients, or simply curious about how the body holds and releases physical and emotional stories, this conversation is both grounding and transformative. Key Takeaways from This Episode Why postpartum healing requires more than standard rehab—and what holistic physical therapy adds How the belly, pelvis, diaphragm, and nervous system work together in the 4th trimester The role of craniosacral therapy, visceral manipulation, and neural manipulation in postpartum recovery How emotional memory and stored tension show up physically after pregnancy and birth Why deep, intuitive bodywork can help regulate the nervous system and support new moms' mental/emotional health How Functional Manual Therapy (FMT) addresses structural, visceral, and neurovascular imbalances What new moms can do to reconnect with their bodies and rebuild from the inside out About Vidhi Shastri, PT, MS, CFMT Vidhi Shastri is a holistic physical therapist devoted to whole-person healing. With roots in evidence-based physical therapy and extensive training in advanced manual and energetic therapies, she bridges science and intuition to support transformation on the physical, emotional, and energetic levels. Originally trained in India, Vidhi earned her Bachelor's in Physical Therapy in 2009 and her Master's in Exercise Science and Kinesiology from California Baptist University in 2012. Over more than a decade of practice, her work has expanded beyond traditional rehab to address the deeper stories held within the body. Vidhi is a Certified Functional Manual Therapist (CFMT), integrating Functional Manual Therapy with Craniosacral Therapy, Visceral Manipulation, and Neural Manipulation. Her approach is inspired by the biodynamic teachings of Dr. John Upledger and rests on the belief that the body is a conscious, self-regulating system capable of profound healing. Through her practice, Retrain Physical Therapy, Vidhi offers a deeply integrative, intuitive, and grounded style of care—supporting clients with chronic pain, trauma, nervous system dysregulation, and postpartum healing. Her work guides patients toward embodiment, awareness, and lasting transformation. Connect with Vidhi: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrainptandwellness/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/retrainphysicaltherapy/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/retrain-physical-therapy/ Website: https://www.retrainphysicaltherapy.net/ Please click the button to subscribe so you don't miss any episodes! Help more people find our show - leave a rating and review by simply clicking on http://ratethispodcast.com/welladjustedmama. © 2014 - 2025 Dr. Laura Brayton

In this episode, I explore why so many couples are struggling with fertility today and why natural solutions are often overlooked. I speak with Mike Ye, founder of Project Life, whose work is rooted in his father's 40-year legacy as a traditional Chinese medicine fertility expert. I love this conversation because it reinforces what I share so often in my practice: fertility is never just about reproductive organs. It's a whole-body reflection of hormonal balance, stress levels, lifestyle, sleep patterns, and the environment we live in. Mike shares how natural formulations, personalized herbs, and a holistic approach can help both partners restore balance and improve fertility outcomes, even when previous IVF cycles haven't worked. We also discuss the importance of reducing stress, supporting the nervous system, improving sleep, building healthy habits, and involving both partners in the preconception journey. When we address the root cause, we set the stage for a healthier conception, pregnancy, and baby. Takeaways: Fertility is a whole-body issue, not a single system problem Both partners impact the health of the future baby Lifestyle changes amplify the benefits of natural formulations Safety, balance, and nervous system regulation matter deeply INFO ABOUT MIKE Mike Ye is the founder and CEO of Project Life, a modern fertility company rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). After witnessing firsthand the limitations of conventional fertility treatments, Mike set out to make his father, Dr. Ye's, 40-year legacy in natural fertility care accessible to the world. Based on his formulations Mike launched Project Life—a personalized, science-backed herbal system that helps women and men restore balance, improve fertility, and conceive naturally. MIKE'S LINKS: Website: https://getprojectlife.com/ Email: [email protected] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getprojectlife/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Project-Life-100090161040616/ If you're ready for personalized support with fertility, preconception, and women's health, reach out — I'm here to help. MORE FROM DR. BRAYTON: Main Website: https://drlaurabrayton.com/ Functional Medicine Practice Website: https://drlaurabrayton.com/virtual-functional-medicine/ Podcast: http://drlaurabrayton.com/podcasts/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drlaurabrayton Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlaurabrayton YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrLauraBrayton/featured Please click the button to subscribe so you don't miss any episodes! Help more people find our show - leave a rating and review by simply clicking on http://ratethispodcast.com/welladjustedmama. © 2014 - 2025 Dr. Laura Brayton

In this episode, I welcome back registered nurse, childbirth educator, and fitness professional Julie Tupler, founder of the Tupler Technique. Together, we explore how diastasis recti affects children — a condition commonly associated with pregnancy but often overlooked in kids. Julie shares how her evidence-based Tupler Technique can help strengthen the core, improve posture, and support healthy development from an early age. We discuss why some children develop diastasis recti, the link to digestive issues and poor posture, and how proper breathing and alignment can improve energy, growth, and even nervous-system function. Julie's new children's book Will You Be My Belly Buddy and companion video Belly Button Boogie make core healing fun for the whole family — encouraging parents and children to work together. Takeaways: Kids can also experience diastasis recti, not just adults. Strengthening the core improves posture, energy, and breathing. Family-based rehab can be fun, interactive, and effective. Early awareness can prevent long-term spinal and abdominal issues. INFO ABOUT JULIE Julie Tupler is a Registered Nurse, Certified Childbirth Educator and Certified Personal Trainer. She developed the Tupler Technique® Program in 1990 and for over 30 years has been treating diastasis recti for women, men and children. Dr. Oz, calls Julie an "expert" on diastasis recti and Elle Macpherson credits the Tupler Technique® for a 20 minute delivery and her fast recovery. The Tupler Technique®, a research and evidenced based program has now been translated into six different languages. Julie trains medical and fitness professionals all over the world in her proprietary program. Her program is designed for women during and after pregnancy, men, and children. Julie has written three bestselling books-- Maternal Fitness (Simon & Schuster) and Lose Your Mummy Tummy (DaCapo) and Together Tummy (Mascot 2018) and now her children's book called Will You Be My Belly Buddy. Julie has produced five videos on diastasis including Belly Button Boogie for children, and she invented the Diastasis Rehab Splint®, Diastometer™ for measuring a diastasis, Corrective Connective Tissue Cream and TogetherTape™. Her program works the best when moms do the program with their child. Julie has also developed an 18-week ongoing online support program for her clients all over the world. She is on the advisory board of Fit Pregnancy, Women's Health Foundation and the Women's Sports Foundation and Medical Fitness Network. She is a frequent speaker at medical and fitness conferences including the American Hernia Society where she spoke in 2015 (Milan) and 2019 (Hamburg) on Preparation Before Abdominal Surgery to Prevent Incisional Hernia. JULIE'S LINKS: Website: https://diastasisrehab.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diastasisrehab Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TuplerTechnique Be sure to go to Julie's website and use the discount codes kidsbook50% and kidsvideo50%. MORE FROM DR. BRAYTON: Main Website: https://drlaurabrayton.com/ Functional Medicine Practice Website: https://drlaurabrayton.com/virtual-functional-medicine/ Podcast: http://drlaurabrayton.com/podcasts/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drlaurabrayton Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlaurabrayton YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrLauraBrayton/featured Please click the button to subscribe so you don't miss any episodes! Help more people find our show - leave a rating and review by simply clicking on http://ratethispodcast.com/welladjustedmama. © 2014 - 2025 Dr. Laura Brayton

In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Marlene Siegel, an integrative veterinarian and passionate advocate for transforming the way we care for our pets. We dive deep into the powerful connection between pet health, environmental toxins, and family wellness — and why what we feed and expose our animals to matters just as much as what we do for ourselves. Dr. Siegel shares her personal story of how a crisis with her daughter's horse became the turning point that led her from traditional veterinary medicine to a holistic, root-cause approach. She outlines a clear six-step framework for creating a healthy environment for pets, from proper nutrition and clean water to detoxification, emotional health, and mitochondrial support. If you've ever wondered how your pet's health impacts your household or how to give them the best chance at a long, vibrant life, this conversation is packed with insight, tools, and hope. Key Takeaways: Why environmental toxins affect both pets and people. How raw, species-appropriate diets support longevity. The six-step process to reduce toxins and support healing. How emotional energy impacts your pet's health. INFO ABOUT DR. MARLENE SIEGEL Dr. Marlene Siegel helps pet parents and veterinarians find solutions when traditional medicine has nothing more to offer their patients. Committed to always offering solutions when others have given up has led Dr. Siegel to be an international lecturer, researcher for integrative veterinary technologies and a consultant. In addition to her full-time clinical practice, Dr. Siegel contributes her wealth of knowledge writing journal articles and participating in webinars and podcasts. She is a true pioneer with a special expertise in Ozone Therapy, Photodynamic Therapy, Detoxification, Lymphatic, Fascia, Hyperbaric and Energy Medicine. Her success in treating complex chronic dis-ease is attributed to her focus on BioRegulatory Medicine-identifying the root cause of disease and establishing safe and effective solutions. Dr. Siegel has developed online courses for pet parents and veterinarians. For pet parents, her course enables them to learn how to integrate a holistic lifestyle and therapies for their fur babies. Her online courses for veterinarians are focused on supporting vets who want to learn more about integrating alternative services into their mainstream practices. When she was unable to find proper diets and supplements to meet her patient needs, she developed her own raw food and essential supplements company and is preparing to launch S'Paws Family Wellness Centers which are detox centers for pets and their human parents. DR. MARLENE SIEGEL INFO: Website: https://drmarlenesiegel.com/ Website: https://courses.transformingvetmedicine.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drmarlenesiegel/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrMarleneSiegelHolisticVet Free E-Book - 6 Keys to Health and Healing Pets Holistically: https://courses.transformingvetmedicine.com/free-ebook-1143 Ready to learn more or get support for your family's wellness journey? Book your free 15-minute discovery call with Dr. Brayton today! https://calendly.com/drbrayton/15min?month=2025-10 MORE FROM DR. BRAYTON: Main Website: https://drlaurabrayton.com/ Functional Medicine Practice Website: https://drlaurabrayton.com/virtual-functional-medicine/ Podcast: http://drlaurabrayton.com/podcasts/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drlaurabrayton Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlaurabrayton YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrLauraBrayton/featured Help more people find our show - leave a rating and review by simply clicking on http://ratethispodcast.com/welladjustedmama. © 2014 - 2025 Dr. Laura Brayton

As women, we often prioritize everyone else's health before our own—especially during pregnancy and early motherhood. But our eyes are windows to our overall well-being, and how we care for them directly impacts how we show up for our families. In this episode, I talk with Dr. Pam Theriot, an optometrist passionate about empowering women to protect and support their vision at every stage. We cover how hormonal shifts affect eye health during pregnancy, why eye dryness is so common, and how small daily habits—like hydration, clean beauty choices, blinking more, and nighttime routines—can make a big difference. Dr. Pam also shares practical tools to reduce digital eye strain, care for your eyes postpartum, and help kids develop lifelong healthy screen habits. Takeaways: Hormonal changes during pregnancy can affect vision and dryness. Clean beauty products can reduce toxin exposure near the eyes. Hydration, blinking, and warm compresses help maintain healthy tears. Postpartum eye care matters—especially with interrupted sleep. Supporting nasal breathing can improve tear production. INFO ABOUT DR. PAM THERIOT Dr. Pam Theriot is an optometrist, author and dry eye specialist based in Louisiana. With over 20 years of experience in eye care, she leads the Dry Eye Relief Center at Lusk Eye Specialists, where she helps patients find personalized, long-term solutions to chronic eye irritation. Her own journey with dry eye began early in her career, when symptoms like dryness and discomfort began affecting her ability to wear contacts, enjoy running, or even apply makeup before work. That frustration turned into a deep, professional mission: to help others feel at ease in their own eyes again. Dr. Theriot now shares her most effective tools and strategies through her book "Alleviate Dry Eye," online courses, a weekly blog and her Editor's Pick Award-Winning TEDx talk. Her work reaches people who struggle with red, irritated eyes and fluctuating vision. Dr. Theriot is on a mission to help 1 million people learn to care for their eyes as routinely as they care for their teeth by building simple everyday habits. DR. PAM THERIOT CONTACT INFO: Website: https://www.pamtheriot.com/ Makeup remover list freebie: https://www.pamtheriot.com/remover Digital eye strain guide freebie: https://www.pamtheriot.com/tedx Ready to learn more or get support for your family's wellness journey? Book your free 15-minute discovery call with Dr. Brayton today! https://calendly.com/drbrayton/15min?month=2025-10 MORE FROM DR. BRAYTON: Main Website: https://drlaurabrayton.com/ Functional Medicine Practice Website: https://drlaurabrayton.com/virtual-functional-medicine/ Podcast: http://drlaurabrayton.com/podcasts/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drlaurabrayton Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlaurabrayton YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrLauraBrayton/featured Help more people find our show - leave a rating and review by simply clicking on http://ratethispodcast.com/welladjustedmama. © 2014 - 2025 Dr. Laura Brayton