Why maintaining a healthy pelvic floor is important for women
The benefits of having a balanced pelvic floor
Most women know about their pelvic floor, but until you’ve experienced issues with the balance of your pelvic floor muscles you may not have thought too much about what having a healthy pelvic floor means. The pelvic floor muscles support our organs such as the bladder, bowel, uterus, and vagina. They stabilize our lower back, hips, and spine and play an important role in sex, pregnancy, and childbirth. It is safe to say that the health of our pelvic floor is an empirical part of our physical, mental, and emotional well-being as women. Understanding the pelvic floor, the benefits of having a toned pelvic floor and how to keep your pelvic floor muscles healthy can help us to lead a normal life as we move through the seasons of life as women. The best time to start giving your pelvic floor some love and attention is before you notice any symptoms of an imbalance. This will help prevent problems associated with your pelvic floor as you start having children and/or aging. In this post we are sharing important information to help you understand the anatomy of your pelvic floor and why is it so important to have a healthy one. Discover the benefits of making sure this part of your body is toned and balanced. Continue reading to learn more!
What is the pelvic floor made up of?
Our pelvic floor is like a web of muscles, ligaments, and connective tissue that acts like a bowl or sling within the boney structure of the pelvis. This holds up many of our vital organs in the lower abdomen.
When our pelvic floor is healthy and balanced it allows for normal muscle relaxation and contraction. This allows us to have healthy urination, bowel movements, pain-free sex, and better orgasms.
The pelvic floor is made up of 2 layers. The first is a layer of superficial and mid-layer muscles around the urethra, vaginal & anal openings (the ones we can feel the most). These control the flow of urine, gas & bowel movements. The second deeper layer of muscles (that can be felt internally) provides lift and support to our organs and support our abdominals and spine. When the pelvic floor muscles become weak or too tight, they can’t support these organs as they should. This can lead to health complications such as a loss of bladder and bowel control and an increased risk of ureteral or rectal prolapse (things that none of us want to experience!). Having imbalanced pelvic floor muscles also puts strain on other muscle groups (as they are connected to many other muscles in the body). This causes other muscles to overcompensate for what is lacking in pelvic floor strength. When muscles interact in this way it creates an imbalance that contributes to pain in other parts of the body such as the hips and low back.
When it comes to pelvic floor health knowledge is power!
The more women learn and understand about their pelvic floor, the way it works, what can weaken it, and how we can strengthen it, the more empowered we become.
By taking the time to learn about this vital area of our body, the more we can do to ensure we are keeping it in optimal health for our own personal well-being.
What causes our pelvic floor to become imbalanced?
When the pelvic floor is toned and balanced, the muscles and connective tissue of the pelvic floor support the stability of the hips, lower back, and Sacroiliac joints. Tone refers to strength, flexibility, and the pelvic floor’s ability to be resilient when we suddenly cough or sneeze. The pelvic floor becomes out of balance when it is too tight, too weak, or isn’t resilient to sudden changes in pressure. This leads to knock-on effects on the structure of our bones and other muscles which leads to discomfort and functional issues. When our pelvic floor loses tone, the muscles weaken or the connective tissue may even tear. Things that can cause our pelvic floor muscles to become imbalanced include childbirth, consistent heaving lifting, and chronic coughing. Anything that puts downward pressure on the pelvic floor can weaken it.
Here is a list of common causes of weak pelvic floor muscles:
Childbirth: Caused by the spreading of abdominal muscles for the baby and opening of the pelvis to prepare for labor
Aging & Menopause: As we age our connective tissues become stiffer and weaker. Women also experience declining estrogen levels at menopause which can contribute to drier, thinner tissue in the pelvis.
Reduced sexual intercourse: Sex increases pelvic floor strength and can help produce hormones that help maintain healthy muscles.
Obesity: Puts more weight and pressure on the pelvic floor
Persistent straining during bowel movements: Puts more weight and pressure on the pelvic floor
Heavy weight lifting: Puts more weight and pressure on the pelvic floor
Pelvic surgery
Chronic coughing
Traumatic injury to the pelvic region
Benefits of having a strong and balanced pelvic floor
Maintain continence
Alleviate or prevent pelvic organ (rectal & ureteral) prolapse
Reduce lower back pain through the stabilization of the hips, spine, and Sacroiliac joints
Increase pleasure & orgasms and reduce pain during sex
Help to support the extra pressure of a baby during pregnancy
Can help improve your power during labor
Reduce chances of incontinence after childbirth and menopause
Maintain healthy bowel control
Keep your dignity intact!
Core & Floor Foundations Workshop
Are you ready to learn more about your pelvic floor and exercises to keep it balanced and strong? Flourish’s self-paced online workshop, Core & Floor, may be exactly what you need! Over 100 women have been through this workshop. Learn how about the pelvic floor, how it works, the issues we have with an imbalanced pelvic floor and to improve your pelvic floor health, the anatomy of your pelvic floor as well as many breathing and yoga exercises to bring your pelvic floor back into balance (there is so much more to pelvic floor health that keels!).
Receive access to all of this for 90 days for just $225:
Two 90-minute workshops on anatomy, breathwork & simple techniques to improve function
Four Home Practice Exercises from Sessions 1 and 2: a comprehensive handout plus several short & full-length videos
Breathwork, meditation and more bonus videos of Core & Floor exercises
You’ll have access to these videos for 90 days after purchase with the ability to download the 2 workshop recordings
