It is no secret that Yoga is a great form of exercise to improve flexibility, strength, and overall well being. But how do you choose which class is right for you when there are so many options!? Restorative yoga, power yoga, hot yoga, vinyasa, chairs, goats…
At Peak Pelvic Health, it is our mission to raise the standard for pelvic health physical therapy. This includes one-on-one care, personalized exercise programs, and resources to take control of your own healing. We are excited to announce the addition of Pelvic Floor Yoga classes beginning in April of 2024! These classes will offer an integrative approach of strength, mobility, and breath work to empower you in your pelvic health journey.
Yoga is an ancient and proven practice that is well known for its holistic healing properties. There are numerous benefits to point out, but we would like to focus on a select few, and how they impact your pelvic health!
Breath
One of the most significant factors that we see contributing to pelvic health dysfunction is faulty breathing mechanics. The working relationship between the diaphragm, core, and pelvic floor is critical for proper bowel and bladder function, as well as restoring function following injuries, trauma, or surgery. Breathing abnormalities can also contribute to other issues such as poor sleep, migraines, and neck pain. Although breathing is a typical component of a yoga session, your pelvic floor yoga instructor will put a special emphasis on how to breathe when in various poses. The ultimate goal is better body awareness and a powerful tool in managing pelvic floor symptoms.
Mobility
This is another common term in the world of yoga, but as Physical Therapists, we see mobility as far more than how flexible you might be in bending towards the floor…
In order for you to experience full and pain free range of motion with daily activity, there are a few key components as far as mobility is concerned. The first is tissue extensibility. This is a muscle, ligament, or connective tissues' ability to stretch. The second component is strength. When we stretch a muscle to its capacity, it is also necessary to have the strength in a given muscle to prevent injury. The final component is called proprioceptive control. This is a fancy term for the mind’s connection with the body to know how far a joint has moved, and the coordination of multiple joints performing an action creates balance. When all three of these mobility components are combined, we can experience movement to our full potential. Your pelvic floor yoga instructor is an expert in identifying which of these components, if not all of them need to be addressed in your practice.
Nervous system regulation
One of the most powerful, but least understood benefits of yoga is the way our nervous system responds to intentional practice. The nervous system is typically balanced between sympathetic tone (fight or flight) and parasympathetic tone (rest and digest). In many of our clients with pelvic floor issues, their nervous systems are shifted toward the sympathetic side. This can be helpful if we are being chased by a bear, but not if you are trying to go to the bathroom at more regular intervals. The negative effects of being in fight or flight mode too long result in the body producing more cortisol, which is directly related to stress. Our goal with pelvic floor yoga is to allow our community to experience an environment and flow where the body steadily shifts back towards the parasympathetic side of the pendulum. By doing this, your stress levels will decrease, your pelvic floor will relax, and you will experience improvements in whole-body function.
Whether you are brand new to yoga, or an experienced yogie, we would love to have you join in one of our sessions!
We are thrilled to be partnering with Molly Sutherlin, a certified pelvic floor therapist and yoga instructor, to assist our patients in prioritizing their physical and mental health. Molly welcomes all bodies and ability levels into her studio. She is passionate about creating meaningful change for her clients, and does this by catering to each individual in a supportive environment.
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