Traditional physical therapy often doesn't work as well for common hypermobility challenges and comorbidities, such as POTS / dysautonomia, chronic fatigue, pain, and joint instability. However, physical therapy is important for symptom management and improving quality of life.

In this episode, Nikki is joined by physical therapist Dr. Morgan who specializes in a whole-body approach for treating hypermobility related challenges and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS).

Topics covered:

• What is POTS and how it relates to symptomatic hypermobility and hEDS.

• Different physical therapy interventions for POTS and dysautonomia.

• How the thoracic spine and rib cage connect to the autonomic nervous system and may influence POTS symptoms.

• Why standard physical therapy protocols sometimes fail POTS patients and alternative approaches if these protocols don't work well for you.

Connect with Morgan Groover

• Instagram: @morgan.groover.dpt

• Website: https://app.movement-x.com/physical-therapists/morgan-groover

Connect with Nikki

• Instagram: @naablevyfitness

• Website: naablevy.com

• Get your FREE personalized strength plan! Naablevynaablevy.com/free-strength-plan

• Get your free macros and calories calculator + guide: NaablevyMacros Made Simple - NaabLevy

00:00 Introduction and defining POTS and dysautonomia

15:07 | Why traditional physical therapy may not work as well for people with symptomatic hypermobility and hEDS

19:15 | The relationship between the thoracic spine (mid and upper back), nervous system, and POTS or dysautonomia symptoms

28:49 | Navigating the mental and physical challenges that come with flare-ups

39:35 | Why we need to focus on more than the rib flare if we're having pain or symptoms

43:10 | The vestibular system and how it relates to dizziness and migraines

50:34 | Customizing recovery protocols Like CHOP

In this episode, Nikki is joined by financial therapist and yoga teacher Tammy Shweiger to talk about why money is so emotional and the surprising overlap between improving your relationship with money, movement, and behavior change.

Topics covered:

• Why struggling with money doesn't mean you're bad at math or lack discipline

• How small steps and self-compassion can make your finances feel less overwhelming.

• How slowing down before an impulse purchase and paying attention to your values can help you make more supportive financial decisions.

• How our early experiences, relationships, comparison and the financial rules we've internalized may influence how we spend or save money without us realizing it.

• Why the numbers only tell part of the story and how understanding the emotions behind your financial choices can help you change your behavior with less shame and rigidity.

• Instagram: @moneycoachtammy

• Website: tammyshweiger.com

• Instagram: @naablevyfitness

• Website: naablevy.com

• Get your FREE personalized strength plan! naablevy.com/free-strength-plan

• Get your free macros and calories calculator + guide: naablevy.com/macro-guide

03:16 | Why we avoid looking at our finances and how to make getting started less overwhelming.

06:37 | How to manage impulse spending without cutting out everything you enjoy.

09:46 | Why changing your financial habits takes time and what to do when you have a setback.

16:46 | Why your budget needs to reflect your priorities, values and life.

22:15 | Why changing your money habits can feel uncomfortable, even when the change is good for you.

25:42 | How comparison and the money beliefs you learned growing up can influence your spending in the present.

32:24 | How your partner, family and friends can influence the way you spend money.

34:38 | Why understanding your finances requires looking at more than just the numbers.

In this episode, Nikki is joined by Nutrition & Behavior Change Coach Greg Sutton to talk about discipline, why the fitness industry's "no excuses" version of it can backfire, and the psychological skills that actually help us reach our long term goals.

Topics covered:

• Why discipline isn't a well-defined construct in psychology and why this matters when we apply it to our own lives.

• Why pushing through pain, injury, burnout or flare-ups isn't actually discipline, even when fitness culture tells us it is.

• How all-or-nothing thinking can lead to overdoing it, pain, injury and burn out.

• Why self-regulation matters if you want to make progress while dealing with injuries, chronic illness, pain or a body that doesn't always cooperate.

• The role of acceptance in making progress and why acceptance isn't the same thing as giving up.

Connect with Greg Sutton

• Greg's Instagram: @coach.greg.sutton

• Evolve to Excel Instagram: @evolvetoexcel

• Website: evolvetoexcel.com

Connect with Nikki

• Instagram: @naablevyfitness

• Website: naablevy.com

• Get your FREE personalized strength plan! Naablevynaablevy.com/free-strength-plan

• Get your free macros and calories calculator + guide: NaablevyMacros Made Simple - NaabLevy

02:00 | What does discipline actually mean?

05:34 | Why the "all gas, no brakes" approach isn't discipline.

09:20 | When pushing through leads to injury, burnout and worse long-term outcomes.

15:42 | The role of cognitive flexibility in being disciplined.

17:30 | Doing less when you're dealing with chronic illness, pain or flare-ups.

18:40 | How all-or-nothing thinking and rigidity affect our approach to fitness.

25:26 | Why adapting, resting and accepting where you are can move you toward your goals.