Living Well with Multiple Sclerosis

In this episode of Living Well with MS -- where we explore topics relating to living a full and healthy life with multiple sclerosis -- we are pleased to welcome Healther O’Neil and Lyndsey Housden as our guests! Heather and Lyndsey live with MS and are program facilitators for the Overcoming MS charity.

Keep reading for the key episode takeaways and Dr Brayer’s bio.

00:55 Understanding MS and Its Impact on Physical Activity

06:18 Physical Activity's Impact on Brain Health

08:36 Exercise as a Disease Modifying Intervention

15:36 Benefits of Regular Physical Activity

18:29 Practical Guidelines for Exercise

24:57 Tailoring Exercise for MS: Personalization is Key

25:50 Balance Training: Tools and Techniques

32:22 Assistive Devices for Exercise: What Works?

34:42 Increasing Heart Rate with Limited Mobility

Learn more about exercise and MS

View all our past webinars

New to Overcoming MS? Visit our introductory page

Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub

Visit the Overcoming MS website

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Support us:
If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, you can leave a donation here.

Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing podcast@overcomingms.org.

If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.

In this episode of Living Well with MS -- where we explore topics relating to living a full and healthy life with multiple sclerosis -- we are pleased to welcome Zillah Smart as our guest! Zillah is a nutritional therapist and trainee facilitator for Overcoming MS who lives with MS and follows the program.

Watch this episode on YouTube. Keep reading for the topics, timestamps, and our guest’s bio.

00:58 Introduction to Zilla Smart and Her Journey

04:04 Zilla's Diagnosis and Initial Reactions

08:30 Discovering Lifestyle Changes and Overcoming MS

13:43 Implementing Lifestyle Changes: Diet, Stress, and Exercise

17:16 Balancing Family Life with Overcoming MS

21:12 Encouraging Healthy Choices in Children

26:03 Adapting Lifestyle Changes Through Life Stages

30:07 The Importance of Sleep for MS Management

38:18 Final Tips for Sustainable Lifestyle Changes

zillahsmartnutrition.com

New to Overcoming MS? Learn why lifestyle matters in MS - begin your journey at our 'Get started' page

Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub

Visit the Overcoming MS website

Follow us on social media:

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Don’t miss out:

Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS here.

Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS.

Support us:
If you enjoy this podcast and want to help us continue creating future podcasts, please leave a donation here.

Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing podcast@overcomingms.org.

If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.

Welcome to the Living Well with MS podcast, where we are joined by Rachel Changer. Rachel is a Pilates instructor and neurological physiotherapist with a master’s diploma in neurological rehabilitation. 

Originally broadcast in 2020, this episode has been edited to remove out-of-date content and reuploaded in 2026 to ensure it remains relevant and useful.

01:05 Can you tell us a little bit about yourself, your background, and your experience working with people with MS? 

03:03 What is Pilates? And what are the differences between Pilates and other practices? 

08:49 What are the benefits of Pilates for people with MS? 

13:11 What are the downsides? 

14:17 How do you choose the right Pilates instructor or class? Can you do it on your own? 

17:17 How can you modify Pilates for all levels of ability? 

20:23 Does Pilates work as an online activity? Can you do it without much equipment? 

29:35 Do you have any other thoughts to encourage or inspire people for their fitness and exercise regime for people with MS? 

32:04 When following an exercise regime, when do you think that you should also check in with a medical provider, if you've got any symptoms that might be exercise related? 

34:32 Can you share a final thought with our audience on what motivates or inspires you as a human being?

In this episode of Living Well with MS -- where we explore topics relating to living a full and healthy life with multiple sclerosis -- we are pleased to welcome Kebba Jow as our guest! Kebba is an author and motivational speaker with MS who uses Overcoming MS pillars to live will.

Watch this episode on YouTube. Keep reading for the topics, timestamps, and our guest’s bio.

00:00 Introduction to Keba Jow's Journey

06:09 Living Well with MS: A New Perspective

07:42 The Overlooked Mental Health Aspect of MS

11:44 Cultural Beliefs and the Struggle with Western Medicine

14:13 The Role of Faith in Overcoming Challenges

17:08 Finding Purpose Through Speaking and Writing

21:19 Facing Life's Challenges with MS

23:29 The Importance of Community Support

26:41 Reaching Out: Overcoming Isolation

27:50 Finding Hope and Positivity

30:04 Advice for the Newly Diagnosed

Learn more about Kebba’s work

Follow Kebba on TikTok

Follow Kebba on Instagram

New to Overcoming MS? Learn why lifestyle matters in MS - begin your journey at our 'Get started' page

Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub

Visit the Overcoming MS website

Follow us on social media:

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

Pinterest

Don’t miss out:

Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS here.

Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS.

Support us:
If you enjoy this podcast and want to help us continue creating future podcasts, please leave a donation here.

Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing podcast@overcomingms.org.

If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.

In this episode of Living Well with MS -- where we explore topics relating to living a full and healthy life with multiple sclerosis -- we are pleased to welcome Dr Jonny White as our guest! Jonny lives with MS and is an Overcoming MS Facilitator and the charity’s medical advisor.

Watch this episode on YouTube. Keep reading for the topics, timestamps, and our guest’s bio.

01:13 Understanding Steroids and Their Role in MS Relapses

03:55 Disease Modifying Therapies: An Overview

05:51 First Generation DMTs: Interferons and Copaxone

09:49 Second Generation DMTs: Advancements and Efficacy

15:34 High Efficacy DMTs: Tysabri and Beyond

20:15 Emerging Treatments and Their Implications

25:37 Symptom Management: Addressing Fatigue and Spasticity

29:48 The Role of Lifestyle in MS Management

34:45 Future Directions in MS Treatment

36:11 Understanding Myelination and Remyelination

41:11 Exploring the Role of Epstein-Barr Virus in MS

44:02 Navigating Treatment Options and Clinical Trials

51:29 Making Informed Decisions Post-Diagnosis

New to Overcoming MS? Visit our introductory page

Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub

New to Overcoming MS? Learn why lifestyle matters in MS - begin your journey at our 'Get started' page

Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub

Visit the Overcoming MS website

Follow us on social media:

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

Pinterest

Don’t miss out:

Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS here.

Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS.

Support us:
If you enjoy this podcast and want to help us continue creating future podcasts, please leave a donation here.

Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing podcast@overcomingms.org.

If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.