Six vital habits to improve your pelvic floor health! I've had so many great discussions about pelvic floor health with practitioners and patients alike! One that comes up frequently is how to strengthen the pelvic floor, and what are the alternatives to Kegels (or Pelvic Floor Exercises - depending on where you call home!) when attempting to improve the health of the pelvic floor. First off, while Kegels have their place in pelvic floor health, building strength does not mea

Pregnancy and childbirth is such a unique time in a woman's life, there is nothing that comes to mind that is even comparable. Your body is changing in so many ways physically, emotionally, and even mentally it can be hard to keep up! However, its often something that you don't learn much about until you get there and experience it first hand. While the main focus during pregnancy for most mums-to-be is often on just THE BIRTH, everything you do during your pregnancy, and eve

Recently I shared a post on Instagram and Facebook that got such an amazing response, I just wanted to share it here too in case you didn't see it. I think it is such an important message, and although I touch on the topic in my eBook, there is so much left unsaid about the emotional and psychological challenges of letting go of your abdominal tension. Thanks to everyone for their feedback and for spreading the word on 'letting it go' and self-love by sharing it with their fr

I realise that I've been going on and on about tight and shortened pelvic floor muscles, but what does that really mean? Let me enlighten you! Muscles have a very specific length that allows them to function optimally according to a length-tension (strength) relationship. Length-Tension Relationship* This demonstrates that a muscle that is too short or too long has a decreased ability to contract compared to when it is within it's optimal range. Ever tried to do a pullup? I

Over the last few years, I've worked with hundreds of women at all stages of their lives and pregnancies and I've seen first-hand both the amazing joy and wonders it can bring, as well as the potential toll it can take on your body. This blog is in no way a judgement of anyone who has had pregnancy-related pain or issues. It has been an absolute privilege to work with so many women over the years and to be able to take what I have learned from their experiences, both good and

My approach to pelvic floor health (and the health of any body part for that matter) is a little different to most traditional physios, mostly due to my training as a Restorative Exercise Specialist (RES) through Nutritious Movement. Before becoming a RES, I had been finding that my approach to treatment was very localised to the specific area of dysfunction. I think that a lot of Physiotherapists and other health practitioners are very good at identifying the specific struct

"Kegel" is the term used in North America for a pelvic floor contraction, named after gynaecologist Dr. Arnold Kegel who coined it in 1948. I hadn't heard the term before I moved to Canada, but these exercises are given as a blanket prescription (world-wide) for strengthening during and after pregnancy, or for anybody who has a pelvic floor-related problem. Performing isolated “Kegels” (pelvic floor contractions) can be helpful in the short term, especially early postpartum (

Turns out that walking is a pretty big deal and is vital for the function of our pelvic floor muscles. Using your own two legs to get around also has unique and widespread benefits throughout the body compared to other forms of exercise such as cycling, swimming, running and even the elliptical or stair climber. Walking promotes: Bone Mineral Density (preventing osteoporosis) by repetitively loading the bones of the lower body and spine in a vertical manner with vibrations fr