That was great. I was hoping that someone would ask the question "should we be doing some kegals every day?" x

Really looking forward to your classes on this topic. You bring so much to the table on this subject and so much more. I go so much out of this talk not just on the subject but on “earthing” and your point about bringing stuff to the surface so we can deal with it. Really, really interesting talk on this subject and beyond. Thank you.

Thanks so much for this discussion. I had a prolapsed bowel right after my hysterectomy and used a vaginismus treatment kit. About the same time, I started doing Pilates. This helped tremendously with my bowel issue and also helped me to understand my pelvic diaphragm. It didn't happen overnight but don't have the bladder issue anymore. Thanks again, look forward to the exercises and part 2. Great discussion.

Hey Christi!
Thank you for tackling such a sensitive -- and oddly shaming--topic. How much of a roll do you think pelvic floor dysfunction plays in issues like IBS and Crohn's? Just curious.

So much great information! Thank you so much!

Relax, trust yourself, stop trying so hard. I absolutely love it!

Thanks so much for the encouragement ladies! To answer the question about daily Kegals; it's not so much that the exercise is an issue, as much as the fact that if we don't first slow down and engage in observation to heighten our awareness, we really don't know what tissues we are engaging. Dr. Brent Anderson's research shows that over 50% of the seasoned Pilates instructors in his study were not actually doing what they thought they were doing when asked to lift their pelvic floor or do a Kegals. The idea is that if we focus on the bones and breath and move in ways that promote elasticity the tissues will respond and be efficient.

To Kim's question on IBS and Crohn's, pelvic floor dysfunction plays a roll, and I think it is like the chicken or the egg...hard to tell which came first. I do feel that when our lifestyles include moving in all ranges and relationships to gravity illness occurs less frequently and we are more resilient. It's out of my scope of practice to speak to conditions like these, but we do know that movement heals!

Thanks again ladies, and thank you Pilates Anytime for opening up to this very large topic!

Wonderful discussion, thank you! I’m inspired to incorporate more jumping, squatting and playfulness into my teaching. I find that after a lot of Pilates or teaching I need to go to the park and have a good swing on the swing set. The big balls are great for bouncing, too. I love the ones with handles!

Can you post a link to the study Brent Anderson conducted

Thank you so much for these talks. They are wonderful. In the course of discussion you refer to movements that you will be demonstrating. I am very eager to see these. Will there be videos forthcoming, of your teaching the exercises to which you refer? And if so, when will they be released. Thank you so much. Roya