Why Your Pelvic Floor Needs Calm, Not Just Strength with Jana Shirley

Take A Breath

June 16, 2026 ∙ 47 mins
Episode 42

About

Pelvic floor issues are often seen as an inevitable part of getting older, having children, or going through menopause. But what if many of the symptoms women experience are actually signs that the body is asking for support rather than something we simply have to accept?

In this episode, I chat to Jana Shirley, a pelvic floor and women's health specialist, Pilates practitioner and founder of The Vitality Method. With more than 21 years of experience helping women overcome chronic pain, pelvic floor dysfunction and movement challenges, Jana brings both professional expertise and personal insight to this conversation.

Together, we explore the often-overlooked connection between the pelvic floor, breathing patterns, nervous system regulation and overall wellbeing. Jana explains why leaking, prolapse symptoms and back pain aren't always caused by weakness, why chronic tension can sometimes be the hidden issue, and how creating safety in the body is often a crucial first step towards healing.

In this episode you'll learn:

  • Why leaking when you cough, sneeze, laugh or exercise doesn't always mean your pelvic floor is weak
  • The difference between a weak pelvic floor and a chronically tight pelvic floor, and why it matters
  • How your breathing patterns influence pelvic floor function, posture and core stability
  • Why activating the parasympathetic nervous system can support healing, recovery and strength
  • Simple exercises and practical tools you can use to begin supporting your pelvic floor and reconnecting with your body

If you've ever felt confused about pelvic floor health, frustrated by symptoms, or curious about how breath, movement and nervous system regulation work together, this episode offers a compassionate and empowering place to start.

To find out more about Jana:

https://www.instagram.com/vitality_method/

https://pilateshuddersfield.co.uk/

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Email me at:  info@pollywarren.com
https://www.pollywarren.com/
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Information

Podcast

Take A Breath

Episode

42

Date

June 16, 2026

Length

47 mins
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    Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “Maybe my body just won’t lose weight anymore”? If you’re a woman in midlife struggling to lose weight, feeling discouraged by the scale, or wondering why your efforts aren’t producing the results they used to, this episode is for you. Today, we’re talking about something that may be impacting […]

  • Midlife Gets a Bad Rap: Margie Lachman on How Midlife is Your Primetime

    This week we are discovering a fresh perspective on midlife with psychologist Dr. Margie Lachman, author of Primetime. Drawing on more than 30 years of research, Dr. Lachman challenges common myths about the so called “midlife crisis,” revealing that middle adulthood is often a period of peak well-being, personal growth, resilience, and life satisfaction. She […]

  • The Menopause Information Gap: Susan Dominus, New York Times

    The NYT journalist who broke open the menopause conversation — on hormones, risk, and what we’re still learning. Susan Dominus wrote what many call the defining article of the modern menopause conversation. In Part 1 of this two-part episode, she and Stacy go deep: the cultural bias baked into “significant symptoms,” how to actually think […]

  • Episode 221 – Who controls what happens between women’s legs after menopause

    Who controls what happens between women’s legs after menopause? It’s a confronting question, but one that sits at the heart of this episode. In this short, powerful conversation, I am joined by menopause specialist and sexologist Dr Angela Wright to explore why so many women — particularly those who have had cancer — are still […]

  • Behind the Scenes of the Forever Young Documentary

    This episode is sponsored by Bluesky CBD, Timeline and AquaTru Shower. Bluesky CBD: Get to sleep faster, experience more restorative sleep and save 30% with code FLIPPING50 at https://www.bluesky-cbd.com/discount/Flipping50. Timeline – Timeline’s clinically proven formula is now available at a new, lower price. Mitopure now starts at $99, with the exact same science and formula. […]

  • image of woman with dark hair named Mary Claire Haver

    The Truth About Your Biological Clock: Egg Quality, AMH and Fertility with Dr. Natalie Crawford

    In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Dr. Natalie Crawford, a double board certified obstetrician, gynecologist, and reproductive endocrinologist, and author of the new book The Fertility Formula. Both physicians open by sharing their own fertility journeys, including pregnancy losses and dismissal from the medical system, before turning to the […]

  • Ep. 222 – Protein, Aminos, and Creatine for Midlife with Liz Baker Plosser

    If you have ever stood in front of your refrigerator wondering how on earth you are supposed to eat 100 grams of protein a day without turning mealtime into a second job, this episode is for you. In this conversation, Dr. Fiona Lovely welcomes Liz Baker Plosser, former Editor-in-Chief of Women’s Health magazine and author […]

  • Ep 531: The Power of Saying Yes to Yourself in Menopause

    You know what you need to do, but something keeps stopping you from taking action.   In this episode, I share two client stories that reminded me how powerful it is when women finally trust their own inner knowing. One client described her experience as moving from black and white to Technicolor. Another came to […]

  • My Secret Weapon for Anxiety, ADHD and Life's Biggest Challenges with Lisa Clarke

    In this week's episode of Take a Breath, I'm joined by chef and chocolatier Lisa Clarke, a member of my breathwork community, who shares her honest and inspiring story of how breathwork helped her through one of the most difficult periods of her life. Within the space of just six days, Lisa experienced a series […]

  • 73 – Hormone treatments after 70: why you don’t need to stop

    So many women are wrongly told they need to stop taking hormone treatments when they reach a certain age, yet there is no evidence-based age limit for natural hormone treatments. In this episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by Paula Keats, who has been taking hormone treatments for 33 years and is still benefiting from […]

Take A Breath

A podcast for creating practical calm in the messy middle of midlife. This is your space to pause.  Because life in midlife is full-on. Between work, family, menopause, and the mental load, your nervous system can easily end up in constant overdrive — leaving you feeling exhausted, reactive, and overwhelmed by even the smallest things.  […]

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