What's one thing you used to believe about the pelvic floor or core that you no longer believe?
These are some of your responses from a recent newsletter:
I used to believe the pelvic floor worked in isolation. Now I behold it as an integral part of a dynamic, whole-body system shaped by breathing, movement, pressure management, fascia, posture, as well as the nervous system.
I used to believe that the pelvic floor lived all by itself on an island and I had to work on strengthening just that area to recover and get stronger. I understand now that it connects to my entire body and my entire body connects to it. I no longer believe it’s alone on an island in my body, but the very strong base that works collaboratively with every part of me!
That it wasn’t connected to foot pain.
The pelvic floor is innervated by the same nerves as the sphincters.
I believe there must have been a time when I thought there were only Kegels. 😂
The tighter the better.
I always thought it (core and pelvic floor) needed to be very strong and therefore I got used to contracting it too much. Although I do have a strong core, I see the elasticity of contracting and releasing it is so much more important. Thank you, Lauren.
That it handles everything itself. It needs to be looked at like you are working out your calves or biceps. You have to focus on it. It is amazing!
A strong core meant that you had a visibly flat stomach.
I didn't feel the lengthening and activation of my pelvic floor and transversus muscle. Now I can appreciate them both!
As I aged, I expected to lose control of my bladder, but because of practicing breathing and soft somatic practices, that hasn’t held true.
That I don't need to accept pain or other issues as a "part of aging."
The pelvic floor is part of a whole system of muscles. They work together. When you learn "how" to do the breath, you find these muscles, allow them to work, and then you find out you don't want to grip the pelvic floor muscles alone, assuming that you engaged the core. You can engage the core while you maintain a good shape of the spine.
That they weren’t connected or related!
That it was 2D and the pelvic floor was front to back. I love educating my clients and showing them on my pelvic model how it stretches front to back and side to side like a sphere/dome.
That Kegels were the be all, end all to pelvic floor stability.
That my pelvic floor needs to get stronger in the sense of tightening the muscles. That the pelvic floor is the only body part to work on. Now I know it‘s the core and breathing just as much.
I used to believe that the tighter my pelvic floor and core were, the better. Now I understand that true strength comes from a pelvic floor that is relaxed, supple, and able to contract and release naturally. That shift in understanding has completely changed how I approach improving my pelvic floor function.
My weak pelvic floor and prolapse was from weak muscle tone/strength in the prolapse muscles only.
“If I do a million sit-ups, I have a strong core.” Unfortunately, I ended up with a grade 4 bladder prolapse and was shocked. How could this be when I have such a strong core? Of course, I was seriously wrong. It has been a two-year journey to figure out my body.
Started teaching fitness in the early 90’s. A cue we were taught, and I still hear today, was: “Hold your abs in nice and tight.”
That stretching can relieve pain. And that doing practices to strengthen are helpful when there is chronic pain. Both are counterproductive and worsen pain in my experience. The thing I do now is first to calm the nervous system by gentle belly massages, Qigong practices (with flowing and slow movements), and floating sessions. Only when the pain is gone does it make sense to start building up strength.
I could write an essay on this, but here's just one thing: I no longer believe that you can't feel the pelvic floor when it is "just being" as opposed to during a Kegel (which I don't do, you'll be pleased to know!).