five (less obvious) ways to improve your pelvic health
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Pelvic wellness is often simplified down to Kegels…and I get it, for years that is all anyone ever thought about when thinking of the pelvic floor. But what we know now is that pelvic health is actually a huge part of our overall health, and includes so much more than just contracting the pelvic floor muscles. The shifts I have seen in my clients, and experienced in my own body when using my pelvic health practices and tools, have been transformational. So here are 5 (less obvious) ways to care for and improve your pelvic health.
Sleep Hygiene
Sleep needs can be different for everyone, but it’s important to understand what helps and what hinders your own personal sleep. Our bodies heal when we’re sleeping and our nervous system is more equipped to handle stressors after a good nights sleep. It is one window into our health and can often be a missing link for healing.
Stress Management
Our pelvic floor is connected with our autonomic nervous system, meaning that when we are in our sympathetic state (fight or flight), our pelvic floor muscles can tense or tighten up…think about it as the same thing that happens with our neck and shoulders under stress. And of course, stress is inevitable and not all of it is bad. But we need to be able to recognize that tension and let it go when and where we can. Find the practices that work for you (walking, meditation, journaling, massage, etc…) and make them part of your routine.
Social Connection
Having connections with others outside of yourself that are healthy and reciprocal, do wonders for our overall health and wellness. Surround yourself with people that light up when they see you and vice versa. Our pelvic floor is part of our root chakra, feeling grounded and safe is a huge part of that. Having connections that feel this way will in turn allow you to connect more deeply with your pelvic floor.
Boundaries
I used to always think of boundaries as rigid and sometimes even mean. But my view on them (with help and guidance from many others in my life) has changed dramatically over the years. Rather than thinking of boundaries as pushing others away, I now think of them as protecting myself (my energy, my family, my well being). They can shift whenever you want them to, because they are yours of course. But using them to protect you will keep your nervous system at ease, and like the other ideas listed here, allow you to remain more grounded, less anxiety filled and more centered. All of which optimizes healing and connection.
Gut Health
What doesn’t the gut relate to??? This is a big one, and I could never cover all the layers to gut health and its relationship to pelvic health here. But what I will say, is that supporting your microbiome (nutrition, stress management, digestion, exercise) improves your nervous system, inflammation, lymphatic flow and so much more that impacts your pelvic health. Constipation is one example, which overtime can lead to pelvic floor tension/pain, hemorrhoids and more.