New routes to a stronger you

They say in Canada there's two seasons: winter and construction.

In winter the snowstorms, icy highways, and uncleared roads might have you needing to find detours.

In summer, well, construction. You get it.

One of my kiddos has taken diving (and now coaches) for the past few years, which means a couple days a week I'm driving her to the pool.

I've driven her there through every type of weather and necessary detour. I could actually map out at least 5 different routes in my head right now if weather or construction or an accident or heavier traffic is delaying us.

I have options.

Right about now you might be wondering why you should care about how my kid gets to the pool.

Options. It's all about options.

Say you're someone who lives in a tucked pelvis or clenched glutes.

If you're not aware of it or not conscious about how you're moving, that pattern is going to show up everywhere.

You'll squat, hinge, and walk in a tuck.

You'll pick up your toddler or groceries in a tuck.

All your core work will be done in a tuck.

You'll sit at your desk, then car, then couch in a tuck.

There's nothing wrong with your pelvis having the ability to tuck. It's a necessary action.

The problem is, if this is the only way your pelvis knows how to be, your pelvic floor is constantly being shortened and tightened (Reminder: tight pelvic floor isn't good!!). It never gets to lengthen and contract. It can't actually anticipate or react to your daily movements, and then you get symptoms like leaking or prolapse or pain.

What your pelvic floor needs is options. It needs to have as many available ways to move as possible so that it has the opportunity to choose the most functional way to respond. There isn't one right way to be. You want your pelvic floor to have as many routes to it's own metaphorical pool as possible.

That's when the leaking, pain, heaviness, prolapse start to feel better.

You could apply the tucked pelvis analogy to so many other patterns in your body. Breathing patterns, rounded shoulders, tight hips, and more can also be contributing factors in overall pelvic floor function.

This is why in my Core Confidence program, we work through full body movement patterns and compensations. The program helps you recognize the way your body prefers to move, and then we slowly teach it how to have more options so that you can get stronger functionally and supportively.

More options= more support 🩷