hi I recently went on a course on pelvic floor and it had me questioning many of the abdominal exercises that we do in Pilates! I learned that 2/3 people have pelvic floor dysfunction. We were also taught that many abdominal exercises compound the pelvic floor. So now what do I teach...I have to admit it was a course where for me the lightbulbs went on! I have had pelvic floor dysfunction for years. The course was delivered by physiotherapists. the website is PelvicFloorFirst.org.au. Would love to hear a Pilates perspective...HELP

The way I as an instructor was taught pilates is that with activation of the PF the TA and other deep muscles will fire too. The other way around, by activating the TA it doesn't always work like that. Especially if there's a dysfuntion. In my classes I cue a 20% activation of the PF for most exercises. However during the exercises it's fine when that changes. For Chest Lifts you need less activation then for Teaser. Another strategy I use is lengthening through the midline of the body. Good alignment accomodates proper function of deep muscles. "Bellybutton to spine" I don't use a lot because of the PF/TA-thing I mentioned and also because people that will draw in their stomach in like crazy will most likely push their PF out as opposed to the PF coming in.

That said, I do feel that in the pilates world there is a very strong emphasis on 'activating' the PF, whereas for some people the PF is too active. Learning to relax the PF should definitely get attention as well.