The treasure that lies between your legs… Your Precious Pelvic floor

The treasure that lies between your legs…

Your Precious Pelvic floor

“I have muscles down there?!” is a phrase I often hear from new clients; with my internal dialogue being a high pitched “Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!” yet again…. I am always shocked!

In my 12 years of experience teaching pilates and pelvic floor contraction. I am continuously surprised and increasingly worried to see how little awareness or understanding of our bodies both men and women in western society have. Considering these muscles play the BIGGEST roll in holding our spine, belly and organs together; it seems a grim future for the rest who don’t practice pilates …….

Leaving the massive anatomical and physiological benefits aside for a moment, this muscle group plays huge role in sexual sensation and function in both men and women therefore increasing happiness within your own body and relationships.

For the Women:

Pelvic floor exersizes within pilates have had a tremendous effect eradicating endometriosis, fibroids, lazy bowel & haemorrhoids without the need for surgery. These disorders are at present epidemic in Western Cultures. In fact I have taught many women who have undergone repeated surgical procedures to assist pelvic organ prolapse and when they come to me they still aren’t performing even the most elementary exercise properly.

I am continuously dismayed that certain Asian women forced to whore for a living can lift up to 20 kilos of weight with their vaginal muscles alone and we western women, who are in complete control of our lives are wetting ourselves and have our organs falling out of our body, what a dichotomy!. That is why I bravely & passionately yell out names of anatomy parts that would make an old man blush during our classes. We need to alleviate the unnecessary and silent suffering of so many women of their embarrassing unspoken disorders.

For the Men:

OOOO errrr and you thought pelvic floor exersizes were only for women!

Over the last 6 years GPs have now started referring males with impotency to physiotherapists and pilates teachers. Researchers have found pelvic floor exercises (especially whilst standing in a stance similar the men doing the Haka) can be just as effective as viagra in curing male impotence.

The exercises often work within weeks, bringing many mens sex lives was back to normal. Erectile dysfunction is a common problem, affecting around two million men in Australia alone.

Whatever the cause, there has been one overwhelmingly successful solution – boosting blood supply through muscle contraction. Pelvic floor exercises can also help men with incontinence, rectal prolapse and benefit those suffering from impotence and incontinence following surgery for prostate, rectal and bowel cancer. This is being tested in a major trials launched in 30 centres across the UK.

Where & what is it?

The Pelvic floor is the base of the group of muscles referred to as your ‘core’. These muscles are located in your pelvis, and stretch like a hammock from the pubic bone (at the front) to the coccyx or tail-bone (at the back) and from side to side.

The pelvic floor muscles work with your deep abdominal (tummy) and deep back muscles and diaphragm to stabilize and support your spine pelvis and ribcage. They also help control the pressure inside your abdomen to deal with the pushing down force when you lift or strain – such as during exercise.

How do pelvic floor problems occur? ?Pelvic floor problems can occur when the pelvic floor muscles are stretched, weakened or too tight.

Who’s at risk?

Anyone with:

• A history of back pain
• Heavy lifting on a regular basis – either at work or at the gym.
• Previous trauma to the pelvic region such as a fall or pelvic radiotherapy
• Ongoing constipation (i.e., regularly straining to empty your bowels)
• Chronic cough or sneeze (e.g. due to asthma, smoking or hayfever)
• Overweight, or having a body mass index above 25
• Of and above the age above 30

Some people are even MORE at risk of developing pelvic floor problems than others.

These include:

• Athletes or exercisers such as runners, gymnasts and any high impact sports.
• Women who are pregnant or have had a baby
• Men who have had prostate or bowel surgery.
• Women who are going through, or have been through, menopause
• Women who have had gynaecological surgery (e.g. hysterectomy)