The foot bone is connected to the...... HIP bone???! Wait...What?! (Or why it helps to learn to "connect" to heal pelvic floor issues).

The foot is connected to the ... Hip bone??

In an age of increasing medical specialization, diet plans and core exercises designed to "spot reduce" (think "snatched" waists), and fitness and yoga plans designed to "spot grow" (think of all the booty workouts) or "spot strengthen" (are these even real expressions??) and you will understand why it is so easy to discount the connectedness of our anatomy, function, tissues - not to mention the disconnect from our physical bodies in terms of pain or discomfort, our difficult emotions, from real contact and human connection. We are suffering from a connection deficiency. Yup, I said it. I may even have coined that expression. But it needs to be addressed in our current cultural environment more than probably any time in history. And when it comes to any kind of health challenges or discomfort in our core and pelvic regions (or, quite frankly, in any space in our bodies - be it physical, emotional, psychological, or spiritual), that is a biiiiig mistake.

Also, core strengthening should not be all sit-ups, crunches, and planks, and pelvic floor disorders should not all be treated with Kegels. In fact, these approaches may just exacerbate the symptoms you are experiencing or lead to further dysfunction not only in your core and pelvis but in other "upstream" or "downstream" parts as well. There are many areas of the body (your back, your feet, your jaw, just to mention a few) that impact your pelvic floor and core health, or become symptomatic due to pelvic floor dysfunction. The solution starts with developing a good amount of connection to your body, your breath, and your habits of movement (and thinking). After all, we can't change what we aren't aware of. It also helps if we learn how to reconnect to our pelvic floor, something many of us have been taught to ignore.

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If you are struggling with any of the following symptoms, or currently have any of the following challenges, such as:

• URINARY:  urinary hesitancy, urgency, frequency; repeated UTI (urinary tract infections), weak stream, bladder leakage (urge incontinence, stress incontinence); 

• BOWEL:  Sudden urge, inability to control passing wind, etc. Straining or constipation;

• VAGINAL: Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP):  Heaviness or dragging sensation in the saddle area, Feeling a bulge or like a tampon is still in or at the opening, lack of sensation with intercourse, or painful intercourse.

• PAIN: in back, SI joint, buttocks, hips or pelvis,  painful menstruation, repeated infections; Often pain in neck, jaw (TMJ) or feet (plantar fasciitis);

• PROSTATE:  Pain, repeated infections, and impacts on erectile function and urination;

• ABDOMINAL:  Diastasis Recti, hernia, former C-section or surgery, Recent or current childbirth or pregnancy;

You are (or have been):

• A heavy lifter in your occupation or activities (Cross fit, bodybuilding, etc).

• a frequent runner or do repeated high-impact activities;

• You are (or have been) a Smoker

• You are overweight or obese
  

Or, are affected by:

• Diabetes

• Connective tissue disorders (Ehler Danlos)

• Increasing Age

• Genetics

• Trauma

• MENOPAUSE.

THEN.... you might want to keep an eye out here for future posts for tips to bring you some relief or register for the upcoming Yoga Therapy for Preventing & Healing Pelvic Floor Issues workshops (on my website or through my app), to assist you in building those vital connections. Join us for an in-depth dive designed to educate, enlighten, increase awareness, correct or improve dysfunctional habits of breathing and movement, and bring healing to your symptoms while building a connection to your body, your breath, to a community, and to a happy, healthy, and FUNCTIONAL core and pelvis!

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Oh, and that foot and hip connection? Although they may seem to be non-related, the pelvic floor and feet share fascial connective tissue and neurological connections where nerves travel down the leg and affect function at our feet, as well as a biomechanical connection transferring loads up through the knee, hip, pelvis, and spine. Since the pelvic floor is at the center, if there are problems in the foot (excessive pronation/supination, pain, dysfunction or excessive force) it is transmitted right on up, and may affect the functioning of your pelvic floor. That's why my yoga therapy program for Pelvic Floor Health looks at the body not just as separate parts or conditions, but from an entirely holistic perspective....after all it is ALL about connection!

#pelvicfloor #yogatherapy #pelvicfloorhealth #incontinence #menopause #connectiondeficiency #pregnancy #diastasisrecti #coreexercises #hypotonic #hypertonic #yoga #pelvicorganprolapse #connecttoyourpelvicfloor #connecttoyourbreath