Root & Ember Physical Therapy

04/27/2026

Kegels are often the first thing people are told to try for symptoms like bladder leaking, pelvic pressure, painful s*x, or postpartum core weakness.

But what I see clinically is that many people who do their Kegels consistently still don’t feel better.

I wrote a blog breaking down why this happens—and what your pelvic floor may actually need instead.

The short version?
It’s not always about weakness.

For a lot of people, the issue is coordination, pressure management, or an overactive pelvic floor that’s working too hard, not too little.

When that’s the case, more strengthening alone doesn’t solve the problem—because the system isn’t organized yet.

If you’ve been stuck doing Kegels without real change, this might help reframe what’s going on.

Read the full blog here:
👉 https://www.rootandemberpt.com/blog/why-kegels-arent-working-and-what-your-pelvic-floor-actually-needs-instead

If this sounds familiar, pelvic floor PT can help figure out what your body actually needs instead of guessing.

— Root & Ember Physical Therapy

Kegels not helping leaking, pressure, or pelvic pain? Learn why Kegels often fail and what your pelvic floor actually needs instead. Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy in Colorado Springs.

04/13/2026

Does your body feel stuck in fight-or-flight?

Have you ever been told to “just relax”… or to stretch more, foam roll, or get a massage — but your body still holds tension?

It’s not that those things are wrong. But sometimes they don’t work because your body isn’t doing something wrong in the first place — it’s trying to protect you.

Chronic tension, pain, jaw or pelvic clenching, shallow breathing, even digestive changes… these can all be signs that your system is holding patterns that haven’t had the chance to fully resolve.

If we only try to release the tension without understanding it, we can miss why it’s there.

In my work as a physical therapist, we take a different approach.
Instead of forcing the body to relax, I guide it into the patterns it’s organizing around — the ones it’s holding for a reason.

We slow down.

We listen.

We create space for the body to complete what it’s been trying to do.

And when the system feels safe enough, those patterns can begin to shift — often gently, and sometimes in surprising ways.

This is how we begin to befriend the nervous system — not as something to shut off, but something that needs support, expression, and completion.

That’s the heart behind Root & Ember Physical Therapy.

🌱 The root — grounding, safety, stability
🔥 The ember — the wisdom within you that wants to move and come alive

Sometimes healing looks like slowing down. 🌱

Sometimes it looks like supported movement so patterns can flow instead of staying stuck. 🔥

If you’ve been stuck in cycles of tension and told to “just relax”…
there may be another way.

You don’t have to figure it out alone.

I offer free 30-minute exploration calls if you’re curious 🤍
rootandemberpt.com

02/12/2026

Many women are told to ‘just be careful’ during pregnancy — but that advice isn’t actually helpful.

My goal is to help you understand what you can do to stay strong and healthy during pregnancy, how to do it safely, and when it’s important to seek extra support.

Check out our newest blog for evidence-based guidance and practical tips: https://www.rootandemberpt.com/blog/exercise-during-pregnancy

02/07/2026

What is the vagus nerve — and why does it matter?

The vagus nerve is a main communication pathway between the brain and the body. It helps coordinate breathing, heart rate, digestion, and how the nervous system shifts between activity and rest. It sends signals back and forth between your brain and organs, helping your body know when to relax, move, or respond to stress.

When this system is supported, movement often feels easier, tension in the body softens, and the pelvic floor and digestive system can respond naturally — instead of involuntarily bracing or holding.

When the system is under strain, tension can appear in different ways: jaw clenching, muscular tightness, shallow breathing, gut discomfort, or pelvic symptoms that don’t fully respond to exercises or hands-on work alone.

At Root & Ember Physical Therapy, we look at muscles, joints, and movement through the lens of the nervous system. Paying attention to subtle signals — breath, tension, or areas that feel stuck — can reveal patterns that keep pain or other symptoms chronic, instead of only addressing the surface.

If you notice tension, pain, or persistent pelvic or digestive symptoms, working with a physical therapist who considers the nervous system can help you explore what your body really needs — not just surface-level exercises.

02/02/2026

Something I’ve observed with clients: the jaw, diaphragm, and pelvic floor are constantly communicating — and sometimes one area can reveal what’s happening elsewhere.

The body isn’t a collection of isolated parts — it’s an integrated system linked through both the kinetic chain and the nervous system.

The jaw, respiratory diaphragm, and pelvic floor are three of the body’s major diaphragms. They work together to help regulate:

• abdominal pressure
• breathing mechanics
• postural support
• nervous system state
• tension patterns

When one area is holding excess tension or not functioning well, the others often compensate.

That’s why symptoms like:

• jaw pain or clenching
• headaches
• neck tension
• difficulty taking a full breath
• pelvic pain
• urinary leakage
• constipation
• painful intimacy

may be more connected than they seem.

At Root & Ember Physical Therapy, we take a whole-body approach — because treating symptoms in isolation often misses the root of what’s happening.

If you’ve noticed tension, discomfort, or symptoms in either area, an evaluation can help uncover what your body may be trying to communicate.

— Root & Ember Physical Therapy

12/31/2025

Did you know that how your nervous system adapts after birth directly affects your strength, coordination, and recovery postpartum?

The fourth trimester is a period of real physiological adaptation. Your body is recovering from pregnancy and birth while your nervous system adjusts to a whole new set of demands. Recovery happens best with knowledge, practical tools, and connection to others navigating the same changes.

If you’re within the first year postpartum, join our Postpartum Recovery Mini-Series—a 4-week, group educational series designed to help you understand your body, explore pelvic floor and core recovery, and connect with other postpartum moms.

In this series, we’ll cover:
• How the core and pelvic floor heal and adapt postpartum
• Posture, movement, and body awareness for daily life
• How pregnancy and delivery affect the nervous system
• Practical regulation strategies you can start using right away
• Learning and discussion in a small, supportive group

Details:
Thursdays, every other week
Four 60-minute sessions
Jan 15 – Feb 26
$100 for the full series or $35 per drop-in

Led by Rachael Gossett, PT, DPT, SEP, PCES—this series is educational and exploratory—designed to help you understand your recovery and next-step options.

Space is limited to keep the group small and focused.

Learn more and register here:
www.rootandemberpt.com/events

11/07/2025

❄️🍂 Cold weather making old injuries or aches feel louder?

You’re not alone.

Here in Colorado, the constant changes in barometric pressure and temperature can really impact the way our bodies feel — and I see it in my clinic every single day. Pain can flare seemingly out of nowhere, and it can feel discouraging or even frustrating.

The good news? While your nervous system naturally responds to these shifts, people can develop resilience to these flare-ups when given the right tools and guidance. With gentle, nervous system–focused physical therapy, your body can learn to move more freely, regulate protective responses, and feel safer — even as the weather changes.

If you want education, tips, and tangible strategies to help your body adapt to cold and pressure changes, check out our latest blog:

👉https://www.rootandemberpt.com/blog/when-the-cold-weather-makes-pain-louder

💬 Curious if this approach could be right for your body? We offer free exploration calls to see if Root & Ember Physical Therapy is a good fit. Schedule yours today!

10/29/2025

Ever notice how your baby seems calmer when you feel grounded?

That’s your nervous system helping both of you feel regulated — which supports bonding, recovery, and confidence after birth.

Birth and adjusting to life with a new baby bring big changes to your body and nervous system. If you’re feeling tension, aches, fatigue, or stress, your body may just need a little extra support to feel grounded and strong again.

As a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist, I use a gentle, mind–body–gut approach to help your nervous system settle, your body move comfortably, and your confidence in movement and play return.

When your body feels supported, interactions with your baby may feel calmer and more connected — and daily life often starts to flow more smoothly again.

💛 Ready to explore what healing could look like for you?
Book a free 30-minute exploration call with Root & Ember Physical Therapy. rootandemberpt.com

10/22/2025

Ready to tackle ski season or just feel confident in your body again?

Whether you’re recovering postpartum, rehabbing an injury, or just want to feel stronger and more confident, now’s the time to build the strength, stability, and mobility your body needs — for skiing, snowboarding, or any winter activity.

As an orthopedic physical therapist with additional pelvic floor and nervous-system-informed expertise, I help people address common challenges like knee or hip instability, lower back tightness, core or pelvic floor weakness, and overall endurance. Together, we’ll create a personalized 1:1 plan to help you move safely, confidently, and with trust in your body.

🌟 Curious if this is the right fit for you? Schedule a free 30-minute exploration call to chat about your goals and see how we can help you move stronger this winter. rootandemberpt.com

📍 Root & Ember Physical Therapy — Colorado Springs, CO

10/19/2025

If pelvic exams, tampons, or intimacy feel uncomfortable, your body may be protecting itself.

Many people notice tension, pain, or anxiety in these moments — especially after childbirth, injury, or experiences that felt physically or emotionally overwhelming. That doesn’t mean anything is wrong with your body — it may just need gentle support to re-coordinate and release protective tension.

As a pelvic floor physical therapist, I use movement, hands-on techniques, and nervous system–informed care to help the body restore coordination, ease, and trust — with an emphasis on body-level healing and restoration.

📩 Curious what your body might be communicating?
🌼 Schedule a free 30-minute Exploration Call at Root & Ember Physical Therapy to see if this approach feels right for you. rootandemberpt.com

10/11/2025

Pain is Real. So is your bodies capacity to heal.

I had a conversation recently that reminded me why I do the work I do.

A friend shared how hard it’s been not knowing if her pain is coming from her tissues, hormones, or “just in her head.” Her pain wraps around her right pelvis, back, and hip, beginning two weeks before her period. After years of difficult cycles, it’s not just the pain — it’s the anticipation of it: the dread, the memories of how bad it’s been, the worry about what she’ll have to cancel when it hits.

This story is so common. Many people live in the in-between space — where biomechanics, hormones, emotions, and the nervous system overlap.

This is why, as a Doctor of Physical Therapy, I pursued Somatic Experiencing® training: to better understand how the nervous system and body interact. Pain often becomes layered — physical strain, protective patterns, and emotional responses all woven together. It can be hard to know what came first or how to begin untangling it.

At Root & Ember Physical Therapy, I bridge that gap — combining nervous system-informed care with individualized movement assessment to help people reconnect with their bodies. Through gentle, hands-on techniques, movement re-education, and nervous system regulation, we work toward easing protection, restoring coordination, and helping the body remember what safety feels like again.

Pain is complex — but it’s not all in your head.
Your body and your nervous system both have stories to tell.

www.rootandemberpt.com

10/02/2025

🌿 Root & Ember Physical Therapy is now open in Colorado Springs! 🌿

We’re here to help you reconnect with your body, ease pain, and restore strength and vitality — whether you’re recovering from injury, navigating postpartum changes, or simply looking to move with more ease.

Come see our beautiful clinic and learn how our hands-on, holistic approach can support your journey. We can’t wait to meet you! rootandemberpt.com