Did you know that oxytocin is not only a cuddle hormone - it is also released during stress to help protect your heart.♥️

The Dance of the Rib Cage and Pelvis: How Breathing Shapes Pelvic Floor Health

The human body is an intricately connected system, where every movement, breath, and posture influences the rest of the structure. Two movers and groovers in this interconnected dance are the rib cage and the pelvis, particularly in the context of breathing. This relationship between these structures is super important  for optimal function and health—especially for the pelvic floor.

Connecting the Dots: Oestrogen and the Pelvic Floor

Oestrogen directly influences pelvic floor health by maintaining tissue elasticity, hydration, and strength. When levels dip due to stress, poor sleep, or the shift during menopause, the pelvic floor may weaken, leading to dysfunction. Elevated cortisol from adrenal fatigue can exacerbate these issues, creating a cycle of tension and reduced resilience.

Practices like Hypopressives, deep breathing, and mindful movement restore balance, supporting the pelvic floor and overall hormonal health. By addressing stress, sleep, and posture, clients can regain functional strength and confidence.

The Magic of Menopause: Embracing the Transformation to the Wise Woman Years

Did you know that women, orcas, and pilot whales are the only beings on Earth that go through menopause? This amazing transformation is an extraordinary reminder of our unique biology and the critical role we play in our communities.

In orca pods, post-menopausal females take on a vital leadership role. Known as matriarchs, they use their decades of experience to guide younger generations, ensuring the survival of the group. These wise female whales lead their pods to food sources and navigate challenges, demonstrating the huge value of life after childbearing.

Humans are no different. As we move through menopause, we enter a phase of deeper insight and leadership. Freed from the demands of childbearing and the intensity of hands-on parenting, we step into a time of clarity, wisdom, and purpose—a time to guide, inspire, and nurture not just our families but our broader communities.

The way we breathe can have a big impact on the health of the pelvic floor, and 360 breathing is a great technique for this. In 360 breathing, the ribs move outwards and upwards as we breathe in, and then back down and in as we breathe out. This movement helps the pelvic floor work as a team with the other parts of the body, moving through its full range in a way that supports healthy function.

Here’s how it works:

• When we inhale, the diaphragm (a dome-shaped muscle under the ribs) contracts and moves down. This creates more space for the lungs to fill with air. As the diaphragm moves, it gently presses on the abdominal organs, which in turn shift downward. This movement massages the pelvic organs, stimulates the lymphatic system, and even affects the adrenal glands. At the same time, the pelvic floor muscles respond by lengthening slightly (stretching) to manage the pressure. The sit bones (the bony bits you sit on) move slightly apart, and the tailbone (coccyx) tips back a little, creating even more space in the pelvis.

• When we exhale, the diaphragm relaxes and moves back up under the ribs. The pelvic floor muscles now contract slightly (shorten) to support the release of pressure. The sit bones move closer together, and the tailbone tips back in, helping to stabilise the pelvis and abdomen.

This coordinated movement of the ribs, diaphragm, and pelvic floor helps manage the internal pressure in our abdomen. It’s a gentle but effective way to train a healthy pelvic floor while keeping tissues strong and resilient.

The next time you feel stuck or overwhelmed, pause and take a conscious breath. Let that breath anchor you, expanding your ribs, lifting your heart, and settling your mind. Notice how it creates space—not just in your body but also in your life—for new ideas, possibilities, and a deeper sense of connection.

Through breath, we receive the world. Through inspiration, we shape it. Let’s breathe deeply, live fully, and remain open to the whispers of wonder all around us.

When we pause to observe nature, we often find striking parallels between the natural world and our own bodies. It’s almost as if nature has written its wisdom into both ecosystems and human anatomy, showing us that we are deeply connected to the world around us. One beautiful mirroring lies in the relationship between our lungs and nervous system and the way tree roots and mycelium network beneath the earth.

These systems share striking similarities: they are both intricate webs of connection, designed to sustain life, communicate, and maintain balance. What can this parallel teach us about our bodies, our health, and the environment?

The pelvic diaphragm is deeply influenced by what happens above and below it. Misalignments in the arches of the feet or tension in the thoracic diaphragm can place extra strain on the pelvic floor, while restricted movement in the cervical diaphragm or pharyngeal diaphragm can create compensatory patterns that ripple down the chain.

Scar tissue in the pelvic region—whether from cesarean births, episiotomies, or abdominal surgeries—adds another layer of complexity. It can limit the natural rise and fall of the pelvic diaphragm, leading to tightness, weakness, or pain.

Breathing mechanics also play a role. Many people with pelvic floor dysfunction unintentionally breathe in a way that increases intra-abdominal pressure, further straining the pelvic diaphragm.

Your pelvis is like the foundation of a house—it sets the stage for everything above it. When it’s in balance, your body works like a well-oiled machine. But if your pelvis tilts forward into an anterior position, it can throw off the entire system, leaving you with tight muscles, poor posture, and even breathing difficulties. Let’s unpack how this naughty tilt impacts your back, your psoas, and your breath—and, most importantly, what you can do about it.

If you’ve ever been told to “just do your Kegels” to fix pelvic floor issues, you’re not alone. Kegels are often hailed as the magic ticket for everything from incontinence to pelvic pain. But here’s the thing: they’re just one piece of the puzzle—and for some people, not even the right piece.

Enter holistic pelvic floor programmes, with Hypopressives leading the charge. These approaches aren’t just about clenching and hoping for the best; they’re about working with your body in a way that feels natural, restorative, and (dare I say it?) empowering. Let’s break it down.

When it comes to the pelvis, we often zero in on the heavy hitters—the bones, the muscles, the organs. But there’s this unsung hero quietly holding everything together: fascia. This stretchy, web-like tissue connects every part of your body, and in the pelvis, it’s working overtime to support, stabilise, and move with you.

So, let’s take a moment to give pelvic fascia the spotlight it deserves—because if you’re on a journey toward better pelvic health, this is a game-changer you absolutely need to know about.

What Even Is Fascia?

Fascia is like the body’s scaffolding, hugging muscles, wrapping organs, and keeping everything in place without being stiff or rigid. Imagine a spiderweb crossed with a super comfy hammock—it’s strong, flexible, and always adapting.

Not only do the mouth and pelvic floor have similar tissue types, but they also share the same embryological origin. That’s right—before we were fully formed, these two areas started from the same place during development. And this connection might explain why something as simple as a kiss can spark a cascade of sensations that lead to arousal—and why relaxing the jaw can help release tension in the pelvic floor.

The body is a beautifully interconnected system, and the adductors and pelvic floor are just one example of how no muscle works in isolation. If you’ve been struggling with pelvic floor dysfunction, don’t underestimate the power of your inner thighs! By bringing awareness to this connection and incorporating gentle, mindful practices, you can foster greater balance and support for your body.

Hypopressives work by using breath and posture patterns to first release the tension and get back a great resting tone and secondly by using our bodies own lift system via our diaphrams and fascia to create a deep lift inside our abdominals that create a traction upwards of our pelvic organs- reducing pressure and allowing our body breathing space to heal.

So, yes you can do traditional kegels again if you want to- but be mindful that you release fully after each squeeze - this can add a little help to creating more support from below the pelvic organs as we use Hypopressives to lift from above.