The Optimal Body

Can essential oils help digestion, detoxification, and recovery? We have Jodi Cohen, functional practitioner, author, and and founder of Vibrant Blue Oils, on to discuss the science and research behind essential oils. After Jodi unveils her journey through her passion for essential oil, she discusses how impactful essential oils can be on the vagus nerve, and therefore the rest, digest, and recover parasympathetic nervous system. She provides research on its effects on anxiety, depression and migraines, and how it plays a role in combatting mental health issues. Furthermore, she shares her oil blends: parasympathetic, lymphatic, circulation, and histamine balance, and the most optimal way of using essential oils. Finally, Jodi describes how oil pulling can be beneficial in preventing infections. Learn more about effective use of essential oil! Join the Barefoot Mini Course! Have you trained your feet? DocJen is introducing her brand new 14-day barefoot mini course that comprises 10 minute videos that assess the foot and ankle complex, how it works together and why you might be falling into specific pain patterns. Each week will end with a solid flow of exercises to help understand your bare feet and get them working and moving again. Our feet are our foundation, affecting the achilles, knee, hips, and lower back. Join us and strengthen those feet! You can even grab a speicial discount using code OPTIMAL10 at checkout! What You Will Learn in this Interview with Jodi Cohen: 2:47 - Why did Jodi get involved with essential oils? 5:08 - How does oil help high cortisol levels 7:56 - How essential oils help mental health 13:00 - Vagus nerve stimulation for epilepsy, migraines, depression 16:25 - Prescription model for vagus nerve stimulation 17:59 - Oil combinations for morning vs night 18:51 - Circulation Oils 24:30 - Is topically applying essential oils better? 25:51 - Marketing for essential oils 29:09 - What is oil pulling? 31:00 - Essential oils for allergies 32:53 - Learn more about Jodi Items mentioned: Boost Your Brain Mini Course Joden's Book: Essential Oils to Boost the Brain and Heal the Body Vibrant Blue Oils To learn more about Jodi and view full show notes, please visit the full website here: https://jen.health/podcast/211 Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Optimal Body Podcast. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute to subscribe and leave a quick rating and review of the show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Got tingling hands? DocJen & Dr. Dom discuss the Cubital Tunnel diagnosis including the anatomy of what could be contributing to the tingling symptoms and potential causes. Furthermore, they present risk factors and the few tests that contribute to the nerve compression associated with the tingling sensation. Then, they dive into more optimal positioning for the elbow and how you can introduce activate modification to ease symptoms. Finally, they provide insight on their top exercises, specifically focussing on nerve tensioning and shoulder blade awareness. Let’s dive in! Join the Barefoot Mini Course! Have you trained your feet? DocJen is introducing her brand new 14-day barefoot mini course that comprises 10 minute videos that assess the foot and ankle complex, how it works together and why you might be falling into specific pain patterns. Each week will end with a solid flow of exercises to help understand your bare feet and get them working and moving again. Our feet are our foundation, affecting the achilles, knee, hips, and lower back. Join us and strengthen those feet! You can even grab a speicial discount using code OPTIMAL10 at checkout! What You Will Learn In This PT Pearl: 02:25 - Where cubital tunnel stems from. 03:41 - What is causing your nerve compression? 05:45 - Risk factors for nerve compression. 06:52 - Tests for nerve compression. 08:05  - More optimal positioning for elbow. 09:06 - Activity modification for nerve compression. 10:28 - What to do for your nerve compression. 14:59 - Shoulder blade awareness can help. Watch Episode 210 on Youtube For research and full show notes, visit the full website at: https://jen.health/podcast/210 Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Optimal Body Podcast. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute to subscribe and leave a quick rating and review of the show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Is posture linked to your pain? We have Lara Heimann, founder of the LYT method and physical therapist, to discuss whether or not posture matters. Lara provides insight on how posture is multifaceted and how it relates to energy, mood, movement efficiency, biomechanics, and pain! Debunking myths around how posture is the cause of all pain, Lara briefly discusses the neurology surrounding pain. Furthermore, Lara explains the research on the biochemical effects of posture and how it affects efficiency in different aspects of life, providing an awareness tool to become more aware of your posture. Let’s dive into all things posture! Naboso Foot Health Discount: Can your toes spread? Ideally, your toes should be able to move and splay with freedom as your fingers do. Naboso has the Toe Splay tool that will change your feet game! Grab your 15% discount using code ‘OPTIMAL‘ at checkout! What You Will Learn in this Interview with : 3:36 - Does posture matter? 6:55 - Is your posture the cause of your pain? 11:20 - Can posture impact your efficiency? 15:36 - A trick to optimizing your posture right now! 27:01 - Multifaceted perspective on posture 36:56 - How posture relates to the pelvic system 38:49 - Learn more with Lara Items mentioned: Lara Heimann's Website Lara Heimann's Podcast To learn more about Lara and view full show notes, please visit the full website here: https://jen.health/podcast/209 Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Optimal Body Podcast. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute to subscribe and leave a quick rating and review of the show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Knee pain from running or jumping? Perhaps a knee tendonitis diagnosis? DocJen & Dr. Dom present current perspectives on understandings surrounding tendonitis and tendonopathy. As they describe the anatomy of the patella tendon, they dive into potential risk factors for tendonitis, stages of tendonopathy, and stages of rehabilitation for tendon re-modelling, Theu provide insight on whether or not ice is beneficial, the importance of activity modification, and the most optimal progressions to progressively loading the patella tendon. Learn how you can optimize your knees! What You Will Learn In This PT Pearl: 02:25 - Anatomy of patella tendon 03:58 - Tendonitis vs Tendonosis 07:07 - Risk Factors for tendonitis 08:44 - Stages of tendonopathy 09:46  - Should you ice? 10:36 - The key is Activity Modification 12:53 - What to do for tendon remodelling? 15:27 -Adding load over time 16:38 - High repetition vs load & plyometrics 17:49 - Mobility & activations Watch Episode 208 on Youtube For research and full show notes, visit the full website at: https://jen.health/podcast/208 Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Optimal Body Podcast. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute to subscribe and leave a quick rating and review of the show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Struggling with painful sex? Leaking issues? This podcast episode is for you! We have Dr. Sneha Gazi on to educate you and provide insight on how you can begin to take ownership of your health issues through simple steps. Using her approach that combines Eastern and western schools of thought to health, she speaks about how she navigates patient issues. With body awareness being a necessary first step to treating pain, she offers a simple tool you can use to develop body and pelvic floor awareness. Furthermore, the explains how associated the diaphragm is with the pelvic floor and the importance of diaphragmatic breathing in pelvic floor health. Then, she uses relevant analogies to explain the factors that could be contributing to painful sex and incontinence, diving into the nuances of tightness and whether or not it is a strength issue. Finally, she unveils her passion for her non-profit organization and her own health journey. Tune in! What You Will Learn in this interview with Dr. Sneha Gazi 4:17 - Eastern vs Western approaches to managing pain 6:58 - How you can develop body awareness & why its important 9:58 - How the diaphragm is linked to the pelvic floor 14:20 - What is causing your stress incontinence? 17:13 - Why do you have painful sex 20:33 - Step 1 to combating painful sex 24:26 - Step 2 to combatting painful sex 27:18 - Dr. Gazi’s Non-profit organization 34:22 - How does Dr. Gazi come back to herself being in so many realms? 42:07 - Learn more from Dr. Gazi Items mentioned: Dr. Gazi's Website Physical Therapy International Service Foundation To learn more about Dr. Gazi and view full show notes, please visit the full website here: https://jen.health/podcast/207 Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Optimal Body Podcast. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute to subscribe and leave a quick rating and review of the show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Got corns? DocJen & Dr. Dom have got you covered with everything you need to know about corns. They explain what corns , how they develop, and how they differ from calluses. Then, they describe the differences between the 5 types of corns and how your footwear could be contorting majorly to the development of corn in your feet! Finally, they touch base with movement and how movement biases could be contributing to corns on your feet. Let's dive in! What You Will Learn In This PT Pearl: 0:55 - What are corns? 01:55 - How does corn develop? 04:13 - Calluses vs Corn 05:05 - Types of corn 08:25  - Combatting Corn! 12:58 - Could movement biases be contributing to corn? Watch Episode 206 on Youtube For research and full show notes, visit the full website at: https://jen.health/podcast/206 Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Optimal Body Podcast. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute to subscribe and leave a quick rating and review of the show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Is Bison more nutritious than Beef? What labels should you look out for? We're re-discovering the meat industry, deciphering the nuances in labels and how you can get the most ethically and nutritious sourced meats. Sean dives into what brought him to the Bison business, explains what ruminants are, and why grass-fed is important. Furthermore, he unveils the truths about buying meat by the weight and how organs meats can be a naturally sourced multivitamin. Let's dive into the perks of Bison meat & how you can optimize your meat purchases. Optimal Body Therapy Kit: Wondering what equipment we use? We love our resistance bands, sliders, jump ropes, and towels! That's why we decided to create our own Therapy Kit! Grab a special discount using code "OPTIMAL25" at checkout! Along with your therapy kit, you will get a complementary 7-day low back plan. Click here! What You Will Learn in this Interview with :  3:30 - Why the bison business? 10:08 - Simplifying labels on the packaging for meat 16:33 - What are ruminants? 18:23 - Grass-finished vs 100% Grass-fed 20:56 - How does eating grass make the meat healthier? 30:49 - Why eat organ meats? 43:47 -  Best Place to learn more about & purchase 100% grass-fed meat Items mentioned: Free Ib of 100% Grass-fed Bison - code 'OPTIMAL' To learn more about Sean and view full show notes, please visit the full website here: https://jen.health/podcast/205 Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Optimal Body Podcast. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute to subscribe and leave a quick rating and review of the show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Whether marriage is around the corner or you're in a marriage currently, this podcast provides insight into relationships and maintaining an optimal relationship. Through examples, DocJen & Dr. Dom explore the topics of scheduling, awareness for your partner, communication, and goal-setting, and how these topics create harmony in a relationship!  Let's dive in! What You Will Learn In This PT Pearl: 03:24 - Importance of Scheduling 09:54 - Awareness for partner 16:23 - Power of Communication 22:19 - Setting up goals and intentions! Watch Episode 204 on Youtube For research and full show notes, visit the full website at: https://jen.health/podcast/204 Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Optimal Body Podcast. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute to subscribe and leave a quick rating and review of the show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mindfulness vs meditation - what's the difference? Dr. Sharuna Shapiro unveils the science behind meditation and mindfulness. As she dives into her journey to finding truths within research on mindfulness, she discusses the beauty in patience, presence, and calmness that comes with meditation and how you can overcome "failing" at meditation. She uncovers how mindfulness can change your pain experience and how your relationship with pain can become more purposeful and functional. She provides a look into the physiological effects of meditation and her 4 secrets to starting and optimizing your mindfulness through meditation. As she deciphers her secrets, she speaks to neuroplasticity and the neural effects of self-compassion compared to self-shame. Finally, she explains how meditation in the morning and evening can be most optimal and how you can truly cultivate mindfulness from a place of grace and compassion. FREE KNEE MASTERCLASS: Downloadable PDF e-books, Understand Knee Pain & Diagnoses & Learn What Truly Helps to Relieve Knee Pain! What You Will Learn in this Interview with : 3:10 - How did Dr. Shapiro get involved with research? 5:52 - Can you fail at mindfulness? 8:30 - Did Dr. Shapiro practice mindfulness for pain? 10:52 - How can we break the cycle of pain with mindfulness? 14:11 - Shifts in hormones when practicing mindfulness 16:08 - How to start mindfulness & how long to practice to see benefits 19:11 -  Mindfulness vs meditation 21:10 - How to navigate self-shame during meditation 24:28 - Neuroplasticity of mindfulness 27:43 - Science behind practicing meditation in the morning or evening? 30:20 - Where the title “Good morning I love you” came from 35:10 - How to introduce meditation when you don’t have time 37:28 - Learn more with Dr. Shapiro Items mentioned: Dr. Shapiro's Journal Dr. Shapiro's Book Dr. Shapiro's Website - Free Meditations Dr. Shapiro's Instagram To learn more about Dr. Shapiro and view full show notes, please visit the full website here: https://jen.health/podcast/203 Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Optimal Body Podcast. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute to subscribe and leave a quick rating and review of the show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Is your child complaining of pain with a bump on the front of their knee? It could be Osgood Schlatter. DocJen & Dr. Dom explain what Osgood Schlatter is and how it is a progressive injury, classified as an overuse injury. They address the research and how physical therapy can be up to 90% effective when addressing Osgood Schlatter. They hone in on how you can modulate activity, which exercises you could implement into your warm-ups and cool-downs that might be effective, and how a progression to single-leg dynamic work and explosive movement may be the journey to optimal rehabilitation! Let’s dive into Osgood Schlatter rehabilitation! FREE KNEE MASTERCLASS: Downloadable PDF e-books, Understand Knee Pain & Diagnoses & Learn What Truly Helps to Relieve Knee Pain! What You Will Learn In This PT Pearl: 0:45 - What is Osgood Schlatter? 03:47 - It’s an overuse, chronic injury. 05:35 - What the research says 07:32 - Activity modulation 08:01 -  Importance of warm ups and cool downs + exercises‌‌ 11:57 - Specificity of physical therapy 1‌‌‌‌3:44 - Single leg dynamic work 14:40 - Explosive Movement & the extension mechanism Watch Episode 202 on Youtube For research and full show notes, visit the full website at: https://jen.health/podcast/202 Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Optimal Body Podcast. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute to subscribe and leave a quick rating and review of the show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.