~ Look How Many Here Are **So Much Better!!!** =D

Submitted by QuestGirl on April 21, 2011 - 6:18pm
Body: 

Hello,
After trying to research testimonies here, I was surprised to find so few, but I "knew" they must be buried within other threads. I found this site after researching how to prevent prolapse and have since asked two other body alignment "pioneers" their take, and theirs align with Christine's... I know she's onto something! It's sad that the truth (in so many areas) is so often hidden in today's world.

Anyway, I decided to search "so much better" in the Whole Woman Forums with google's search feature. Page after page after page showed up... if you click where it says "cached," under each link, it will highlight the search term. Here are the search results in google: http://www.google.com/search?q=t-tapp%2C+site%3Awww.wholewoman.com&sourc...

By the way, if you'd like to search the forums, this is what you type into google search: "search word" site:www.wholewoman.com. You can search any forum like this, and it's so helpful.

Blessings to all here with POP, and I pray that each of you finds healing. :)

Forum:

QuestGirl

April 21, 2011 - 6:19pm

Oops! Sorry the link url turned out to be so long and messy! If someone knows how to condense it, let me know. :)

QuestGirl

April 21, 2011 - 6:56pm

Hope it's okay that I'm replying to my own thread here.... :-P

In looking at the threads under the link, I have come across several encouraging comments, but the one below really stood out, and I thought I'd share it here. I love the simplicity of Kiki's routine - walking (and want to add here that I know Christine likes "uphill" walking), and the exercises from the book and DVD, nauli, and firebreathing. If I'm able to continue reading, I will copy and paste others that stand out, along with the thread's subject name and url address. I encourage others to do the same! :)

February 1, 2011 - 11:31pm — kiki
YES!
"I have gotto run to work but a one second reply to say YES!!!
I had a severe bladder prolapse, grade 3, huge bulge, plus an equally bad recocele and mild uterine prolapse.
they started at week 3, and got worse till about 3 months which seems quite normal so don't be disheartened if things don't just get better right away.

with the fabulous help of WW the bladder prolapse is very mild, and the rectocele is as long as I eat well (like avoiding the cheese i ate yesterday!). by 2 years they were so much better, and last summer i went to see christine and it all got even better as i really improved my posture.
so things can get soooo much better!

i don't know about the particular machine you talk about. i love chrisitne's excercises and DVD and that is my excercise, plus walking a lot. nauli and firebreathing (on the dvd) are great, and really help lift things up so highly recommend that daily, plus the others when you can..."
Source: Questions about Postpartum Bladder Prolapse
http://www.wholewoman.com/forum/node/3638

April 11, 2010 - 9:52pm — Mamato2boys
"...The following ten weeks were tough. I was afraid to move, afraid to pick up my toddler, afraid to walk upstairs. And I did very little save Christine's DVD workout. I just read through my first few posts (30 weeks ago!) and I was so upset.

I feel better, much better..."
Source: Update -- 8 months PP
http://www.wholewoman.com/forum/node/3110

August 20, 2008 - 1:29am — Mummy_to_three
"...Basically I'm posting all this in the hope that someone, perhaps in the early/sometimes devasting times of prolapse, will know there is hope, your body is wonderful and capable of healing alot following birth/trauma.
I used to think there was no hope of a 'life' anymore, but these days, I feel there is hope!..."
Source: 8 months post partum, with cystocele and rectocele.
http://www.wholewoman.com/forum/node/2177

*** All of the above posts were found on the first search page alone!!! So many positive posts to read through! =D

September 4, 2009 - 9:16pm — luvmiboyz
"...you sound a lot like I did when I first came here...I was 22 when I found my cystocele grade 3 and rectocele grade? who knows but it was bad..i couldnt have a BM almost at all. So anyways it has been almost a year now and things are so much better I can barely see my cystocele and the rectocele doesnt bother me as long as I eat healthy and get plenty of fiber. Of course my period just came back and that hasnt been fun but other than that I feel pretty good. Walking in posture is when i really felt a change in my body..."
Source: Will it really get better?
http://www.wholewoman.com/forum/node/2823

csf

April 21, 2011 - 7:06pm

It is VERY uplifting to read those posts. Thank you!

Christine

April 21, 2011 - 7:10pm

What a wonderful thing you have done! Thank you with all my heart. None of us here have time to do this kind of busywork and I cannot tell you how much we appreciate it.

Yes...we will turn gynecology on its head regarding prolapse and incontinence. Let them deal with birth defects and rare diseases. We will bring women back to health.

You are like a kind stranger passing by and lending a helping hand. Thank you!

♥ Christine

QuestGirl

April 21, 2011 - 7:35pm

Christine,
Your words made me tear up!! Thank you so much for your kindness and appreciation. It makes me happy to know this will bless and help others... volunteer work via the web! :) I will definitely try to keep reading and posting more comments I come across that stand out... I wish I could post them all, but there are so many! :)

Csf,
You are very, very welcome!! Happy to help! :)

QuestGirl

April 22, 2011 - 1:27am

January 13, 2005 - 5:44am — jankoni
"...my prolapse has been so much better since I started the exercises a month ago. I have the video and the book. I still have a lot of work to do with both conditions but I feel optimistic."
Source: Bleeding and uterine prolapse
http://www.wholewoman.com/forum/node/263

February 28, 2008 - 6:12pm — alemama
"...You new mamas rest. Give it a year. It gets so much better..."
Source: Bladder prolapse at 8 weeks pp
http://www.wholewoman.com/forum/node/1876

April 20, 2007 - 2:59pm — callie
"...I just joined this site about a week and a half ago.
I too have just been told I have rectocele - grade 2. I was in a lot of pain when making love so I went to the doctor and that is what he found.
Since being on this site ( which is a very short time) I have had MAJOR improvements. ( I can make love with no pain and that's amazing cause there was a LOT of pain before)

I was so scared that there was nothing to be done but alas as you will learn on here there is much that can be done. Christine has outlined a lot of the posture techniques under FAQ. This posture has been unbelievably helpful! I bought her book and I have been following the exercises and the posture and I am so much better. Also she has great tips for a healthy way of eating that is really important..."
Source: colonic and rectocele prolapse
http://www.wholewoman.com/forum/node/1237

August 13, 2009 - 11:32pm — kiki
"...I kept having huge improvements until about 2 years. Then I got the DVD and they started again. Then I changed my diet and wow!!! I can't believe how good my POPs feel with the diet changes. I want to stand on a roof and shout out about it (but ours is really slopey, so I won't...). Seriously, so much more can change!...

I will say that I do think I will always have to manage my POP. I will at the least always have to ensure I eat so I'm not constipated, not lift insanely heavy things, and stay in posture. But, I don't feel it day in and day out anymore... so yes, you may need to be mindful always, but that's different to feeling it all the time..."
Source: Postpartum prolapse??
http://www.wholewoman.com/forum/node/2792

October 3, 2010 - 3:50pm — melhop
"...You will be so much better when you can begin the exercises. Just start at the beginning of the dvd and do as much as you can, trying to do more each day. I wasn't perfect in the beginning, but I worked my way up to the first 20 minutes each day before I go to work, and the entire workout on the weekends. I try to walk every evening. As I said in a response to another thread about food allergies, I have many health issues as well.
I am 56 years old with thyroid deficiency, diabetes, back issues from broken and misaligned tailbone, diverticulitis, high cholesterol, 3rd degree cystocele
rectocele, urethracele. My urethra is being pulled backward sometimes painfully with a kink. I realized when I found my prolapse eighteen months ago, I needed to address all of these issues to give myself the best chance of permanent improvement. Trying to fix only prolapse would not give me the quality of life I want. I decided fixing me was going to be my first priority.
I began with Whole Woman posture and exercise. I improved my diet and addressed by food and inhalant allergies. I saw a chiropractor and fixed my back pain and pampered myself with message to relieve stress. I found a homeopathic MD and began supplements to help address my adrenal fatigue, hypothyroidism and insulin resistance.
To date, I have lost almost 30 pounds, take less glucophage, less armour thyroid, no back pain (unless I overdo it), and my doctor at my last pap smear said my pop is mild now.
I guess I discovered its easy to take our health for granted when we are young, and it takes great effort on our part to regain and keep our good health as we age. I feel great. The journey back took much effort. I feel very empowered by the work and the whole women who helped me..."
Source:Not Sure What I Did Right Or Wrong???
http://www.wholewoman.com/forum/node/3431

September 24, 2009 - 12:22am — clavicula
"...Your story is very similar to mine except my OB did not notice my cystocele (which I assume is also a grade 2). But I was in denial for months (!), and when I finally came here @5 months PP, I was very desperate and depressed. The WW posture and the additional lifestyle changes helped me a LOT! I do not have this constant urge to pee anymore, so that is great, right? It took months for me to start to feel changes though. I am 11 months PP and feel so much better these days.
I just want to encourage you, it will get better! Hang in there!..."
Source: Cystocele and urgency to urinate
http://www.wholewoman.com/forum/node/2864

December 1, 2004 - 7:19pm — JulieJ
"...I was so scared when I first noticed my prolapse too, about a month and a half ago now. Let me just encourage you that there is hope and that these exercises and posture DO help! Unfortunately, most doctors are not aware of the true causes of prolapse or how to treat them without surgery.

I would encourage you to get Christine's video and book and start doing the posture and exercises as soon as you can. Just from doing them the last 5-6 weeks I am so much better!..."
Source: New to this forum and scared
http://www.wholewoman.com/forum/node/239

lanny

April 21, 2011 - 8:33pm

questgirl,

thank you so much for pulling these out of the tens of thousands of posts. i'm going to put them up in the library testimonials page. bless you for your support.

lanny (christine's DH)

QuestGirl

April 21, 2011 - 8:48pm

You're welcome!! I'm having fun reading through inspirational posts, and I'm happy this thread will hopefully be seen by many others!! I really admire Christine and the strength and courage it must take on her part, as a true pioneer, to get this message out amongst a world that really isn't all that open to hearing it. It's sad that for hundreds of years, the truth, if different from present opinion, is often horribly shunned. Hopefully one day, the knowledge here will become commonplace.

QuestGirl

April 21, 2011 - 9:53pm

Thought it might be easier to read if I divide the testimonies into separate, shorter posts.... :)

September 24, 2006 - 2:02pm — Rosebud
"...I found this website, and the posture information while researching, and within a few days of making posture corrections, the pain is mostly gone, AND my rectocele and cystocele have both gone from Grade 2 to Grade 1. I know this, as I have been seeing a wonderful and, I think, intuitive, physical therapist (Jodi) who did evaluations before and after I discovered my new posture. I did do some physical therapy (usually just once a week for an hour), but not enough to make a dramatic difference, in my opinion. I had been exercising, going to Pilates, doing so many different things that weren't working.

My new posture feels good. It feels like energy whirling around in me.

Is every day perfect? No. I still have occasional back pain, but it isn't daily anymore. Is my posture perfect yet? No.

Thank you Christine for helping us find the information to take care of ourselves. I really do appreciate it..."
Source: Thank you, Christine!
http://www.wholewoman.com/forum/node/885

November 26, 2008 - 2:57pm — karrymae
"...I can tell you that I feel so much better today (physically and emotionally) than I did back in January. I feel that I have healed so much since then. I am making sure that I have 20-25 grams a fiber a day, drinking 8-12 glasses of water, keeping the whole woman posture, use Christine's balms on a daily basis, trying to do Nauli and fire-breathing exercies daily, eating Activia yogurt, using the tampon ideas as a pessary when I need to, and now I am trying the Vit C idea to help generate tissue. These women on this forum have much wisdom and have provided many great suggestions..."
Source: I'm new
http://www.wholewoman.com/forum/node/2302

September 1, 2009 - 10:02pm — lyricmama
"...I am really starting to believe that the only women who don't have postpartum prolapses are the smart ladies who don't take a peek(LOL)!
I promise that it will get so much better you wont think about it. I only think about mine if I'm ging to lift something heavy, and even that is more of a "check your posture..."
Source: New and soooo confused...
http://www.wholewoman.com/forum/node/2818

April 21, 2006 - 8:06am — UKmummy
"...I do do kegels too though I focus on length and strength rather
than frequency. I do approximately four to six sets of ten holding each squeeze for ten seconds and sometimes longer each day. I have also had PT which has strengthened everything pelvic floor wise too I think. I am careful to brace my pelvic floor when lifting anything as well. I really feel so much better as I have said. I also maintain the posture as it just seems to make sense to me to put the organs back in place and to reinstate the lumbar curve which Christine says is lost in late pregnancy and this also makes perfect sense to me!..."
Source: Front Vag. Wall Prolapse vs. Cystocele?
http://www.wholewoman.com/forum/node/617

February 17, 2007 - 12:48am — rosewood
"...I have been doing the dvd excercises at night, pretty much every night, after I put the kids to bed. Do i always feel like doing it? NO! But, I think of it as part of my spiritual practice -- that is not optional. This is because I feel so much better when I do it.

Now, the new workout is considerably longer than the dvd. It takes about 45 minutes. It's 45 minutes of pure thrill for me, as I love the exercises and the music...

So, I am thinking I will alternate evenings -- new workout one, old workout the next. I'm going to try this because I really still love the other workout, too, and feel great after doing those exercises. I also still do pelvic floor contractions, and incorporate these into my routine..."
Source: how does everyone incorporate the exercise into their lives?
http://www.wholewoman.com/forum/node/1112

QuestGirl

April 21, 2011 - 9:53pm

December 9, 2009 - 4:54am — luvmiboyz
"...I hope the "newbies" will not feel discouraged although they may be incredibly uncomfortable right now and afraid things are going to get worse. My prolapse was pretty severe and has gotten a whole lot better with alittle help from me just being gentle with my body and using a lot of the advice and techniques I have gotten here..."
Source: update 15months PP
http://www.wholewoman.com/forum/node/2993

September 16, 2005 - 9:12am — Heather_H
"...I just turned 33 and first found out about my cystocele, rectocele and endrocele when I was 32, too (5 months after the birth of my first (and only, so far) baby). I think the psychological impact is just as bad, if not worse, than the physical. I have to agree with all the other ladies here - this group and Christine have really changed my attitude about my prolapses. I feel so positive and "normal" now. I found out about this site and ordered the book and DVD a couple of months ago and I feel so much better physically already . . . I have to wonder if how this site affected me mentally is partly responsible for my physical changes!..."
Source: intro
http://www.wholewoman.com/forum/node/386

November 19, 2005 - 3:04am — MeMyselfAndI
"...I overdid kegel realllllll bad and found things felt ten times worse - Was told to do less and things have 'raised' a bit and are now much lesser of a problem

So please do not do hundreds and hundreds a day - Less is more so to speak - I was doing 300+ a day and now i do *thinks* between 50 and 80 and i feel so much better :) ..."
Source: Different pelvic excercises
http://www.wholewoman.com/forum/node/436

April 10, 2006 - 3:00pm — rosewood
"...I was so glad to find Christine's site. I ordered the book and dvd immediately, and upon beginning the basic postures, found relief! This was about 6 weeks ago. I think it's a work in process. I've had some back and forth, but overall, feel so much better than I did for months. I reread the book (differnt sections) during the week, and there's always a new emphasis that strikes me to try. I've also incorporated Christine's suggestions about the sitting on heels pose with breathing and the lying on back with legs up against the wall exercise (in previous threads). These also have helped..."
Source: Who can say a few words about how they've progressed?
http://www.wholewoman.com/forum/node/597

March 7, 2006 - 8:12am — KathyG
"...I have bladder, rectal and uterine prolapse.... I will say (although I am hesitant to jinx myself) that I feel so much better it's unbelievable. My back pain is almost gone. I can pick up my children without feeling like I am doing irreparable damage. So the posture definately works!..."
Source: A question about expectations
http://www.wholewoman.com/forum/node/529

February 2, 2007 - 5:28am — howdidthishappen
"...I look better than i have in a long time because of the care i'm giving myself (my skin is fantastic these days! sorry to be so superficial but screw it! there it is!) and, most importanly, the prolapses are feeling -- and ARE -- so so much better -- my pt shifted my recotcele grade yesterday from 1.5 to a 1. i chalk that up mostly to the diet shift and critical postural work which is becoming more and more comfortable to me. it's working for me and i know it will work for you..."
Source: CONSTIPATION! ACK!
http://www.wholewoman.com/forum/node/1022

January 23, 2008 - 11:45pm — Zelda
"...My MIL's sister has major POP issues and two other friends of friends.
All three have had surgery - none consider themselves fixed...The more time goes on, the more certain I am that I will Not seek surgery.
ALL I do is posture. Maybe some version of fire-breathing (after peeing). That's it. And I'm doing So much better..."
Source: Just had an ....
http://www.wholewoman.com/forum/node/1788

July 26, 2008 - 7:50am — ChannelD
"...I am a red-headed, Caucasian woman, post menopausal, with POP and I am here to tell you quality of life can be drastically improved. Since I first logged onto this group and sent out my initial cry for help I have received much advice and have tried every bit and I am doing so much better I can't say enough for Whole Woman. Here are the things that worked for me... [please see actual post]"
Source: Emotional trip-ups
http://www.wholewoman.com/forum/node/2156

clavicula

April 22, 2011 - 12:25am

Wow, nice job, QuestGirl!
I remember in my early months I did the same thing, I printed out threads I found useful or encouraging or just gave me traces of hope. I carried around these sheets everywhere with me and when I felt sad or discouraged, I re-read them.
Thanks!

Liv

louiseds

April 22, 2011 - 5:34am

I am going to paste your instructions into the Housekeeping Forum, if you don't mind. That way, we can find them easily. I have known about Google searching of a particular site for a long time. In fact I explained it just the other day to one of my students in the computer course I am currently running.

It never occurred to me that it was relevant to searching Wholewoman Forums. Derrr! (Bangs head on floor, then goes to the freezer for an icepack).

louiseds

April 22, 2011 - 5:36am

Questgirl, Who were the two you found, whose ideas aligned with Christine's?

Louise

csf

April 22, 2011 - 8:29am

Hi, Louise,

I saw a you tube video on pelvic floor exercise and the person who did it (don't know if Christine would approve of the exercises or not, it's just someone I noted when I was researching) with an explanation that the pelvic floor is not actually a floor and that the hip's on tilt when standing.

Looking her up again just now I saw an AWFULL u tube video of a Dr Siegel who actually shows a skeleton of the hips, holding it up to show it as if it's like a basketball hoop angle. I looked and thought is he thinking at all when he shows that to people? Even a lay person can see, um, no that is NOT the angle. lol

I'm so tempted to contact him and say, uh, why don't you look up THIS site and then re-think your video~. lol

csf

April 22, 2011 - 9:25am

micelle kenway is the name of the person who talks about pelvis not being a pelvic "floor" at all. she demonstrates w a skeleton that it's angled. she does u tube examples of pelvic floor ex. would b interested in christine's opinion.

Christine

April 22, 2011 - 9:54am

I just sifted through several of her videos. Like this one, they all seem to be very conventional.

QuestGirl

April 24, 2011 - 11:12pm

Clavicula,
You are welcome! :)

Louiseds,
haha! Too funny about the google search feature, and it's funny how our brains sometimes don't apply an idea to something else just as useful... definitely happens to me as well! I am happy to have you paste the instructions anywhere you please! :)

The other two practitioners are Lisa Ann McCall and John Patterson of Waco, TX. Lisa Ann (http://www.mccallmethod.com/index.php) adopts a similar posture and also believes in relaxing the abs. She, just like John Patterson (http://synergyreleasetherapy.com/index.html), acknowledge POP and also that many ab exercises aren't good for women. Lisa Ann enthusiastically, and with a sigh of relief, said, "Thank you!" when I mentioned that sit-ups are bad for women! She very much agreed!

A therapist at John's taught me a safe ab exercise (lay on stomach across bed, let head and shoulders hang off bed, cross arms and slowly lift up head and shoulders, keeping head in alignment with neck and back... what do you think Christine? He said this will tone the abs "much" faster than sit-ups).

John has a daily stretch that he recommends for general alignment (I've seen it work wonders) called The Chair Stretch, and I was also told there that this stretch is great for POP. Perhaps with his permission, I can post it here.

Both Lisa Ann and John have built up quite a reputation, and both are in high demand and have worked with famous athletes. I'd love to get Christine, Lisa Ann and John all in one room together!! Imagine what they could do! :)

Christine

April 25, 2011 - 1:24am

Oh geez...it's very late here and I had to get out of bed to delete my original reply, QuestGirl, and write another.

I was wondering why Lisa suggests placing the weight on the big toe and inner aspect of the heel, which encourages pronation. Then it occurred to me that bum-up-the-wall should be done with the heels up against the wall, so the normal flow of gravity is maintained as it is when standing upright. The only way to do this is to bend at the hips, keeping the weight evenly distributed between three points on the soles of the feet: below the big toe, below the little toe, and in the center of the heel.

In all WW forward bending, we bend from the hips *without* allowing the bum to fall backwards. This alignment channels gravity normally through the hips, legs, and feet, building strength in back and abdominal muscles in the process. When the hips fall back behind the thighs, the normal line of gravity is disrupted, load bearing joints (hips and knees) are no longer stacked one atop the other, and undue stress is placed on the legs and feet. This is the very same misalignment as standing away from a wall and then letting your bum fall back against the wall.

Unless you are from a traditional culture where bending at the hips is common, learning to bend forward in proper alignment takes practice. But it pays great dividends because little energy is required to balance all the way forward on a stable platform of the normal hip to feet axis. It is a basic rule of biomechanics that load-bearing joints should always be in the same line through space, or axis.

She has some good suggestions, though, like leading with the belly while swinging a golf club.

Christine

louiseds

April 25, 2011 - 4:24am

Hi Questgirl

I just tried this exercise, and checked again that I had done it right. I wouldn't do it again, as i felt my bladder in my vulva as soon as I did it the first time. It was a more pronounced sensation by the third raise.

Then I did a similar exercise lying on the floor on my tummy with arms above my head, ie on the floor in front of me, lifting my legs and feet just off the floor, and my arms and chin just off the floor, and did not feel any vulva pressure at all. It seemed to be a different mechanism at work.

Maybe the squashy (bit firm) mattress created the difference? Maybe I lifted too far? I just went outside for a lie on our long outdoor table. Same result, but I think it was less vulval pressure than on the mattress, especially if I only lifted slightly. At least you don't get a face full of floor fluff doing it on a table ;-) I still think it is better on the floor. There is the added advantage of using the lattimus dorsi to their best extent by raising the arms.

I think I will stick to doing my version, and leg lifts while standing, when I think i need some ab exercises.

louiseds

April 25, 2011 - 6:04am

Hi Christine

I don't agree with you about putting your heels against the wall, because when you bend you tip over because your centre of gravity moves forward of your feet. The only way to be balanced is to move your hip joints backwards so the moments (force times distance from fulcrum) are equal. As you move your hip joints backwards, and move your torso forwards, your knees also move backwards as your torso folds over the upper legs, depending on how bent your knees remain at the end of the manoeuvre.

I have never agreed with the law about having all the load-bearing joints in a vertical line. Who invented that rule? And what was their proof. I realise that it is a basic asumption in all the models of posture I have ever seen, but I have never seen any proof of why it is. In any position with slightly-flexed knees, the knees are automatically out of line anyway.

The load bearing joints do not carry point loads. They are the place where bones meet up in compression and that compression is spread over the cartilage lining of the joints, usually at a variable angle. The vertical plane is not God. The human body is a 3D structure that is constantly moving in all three dimensions. What about the other two dimensions, which are equally important?

Joints are tensegrity structures where the forces around the joints are resolved above and below the joint in stable triangles, where the tendons join onto the main bones in tension, a small distance away from the joint itself, balanced against its antagonist muscle(s) which is also in tension in a different place. They are very complicated load-bearing structures.

"Load bearing joints in a vertical plane" is a general rule at best, a good way to stack a set of wooden blocks, but the human body is not a set of blocks! The joints of the spine are load bearing joints! Even the 'best' anatomy book shows the spine with an s bend. the joint between the sacrum and spine carries the most weight of all these joints, yet it is almost vertical! the magic is the way the muscles work together with the bones to resolve loads.

If a woman has large breasts or a man has a large tummy, the relationship between load bearing joints will be different from thin people, because of where the different loads are carried, and where the moments equalise around the centre of gravity. Their centre of gravity is in a different position in their body. The fulcrum literally shifts, just as it does when we bend a la Wholewoman or a la Lisa McCall.

Think about carrying a heavy bucket of water with one hand. You brace your abdominal muscles to stabilise your pelvis and hips, carry the bucket hanging as close to your centre of gravity as possible, leaning away from the bucket , with your free arm out as far on the other side as possible, to maximise its moment (large distance x small load) , and balance the moment of the bucket (large load x small distance). This is a stable way to walk along with the heavy bucket for some distance, but the knees will be bent (out of vertical alignment), and the hips will be either back (to protect POP), or forward, allowing the intraabdominal pressure to act straight down the vagina, depending on the shape of the spine hidden inside her body. (The hip joints are actually in constantly changing, independent 3D motion during walking gait.)

This is also why women who have no car carry water pots on the shoulder or head, which is much more inherently stable and takes less energy.;-)

I don't like the way Lisa McCall handles her laundry basket when she does her initial lift. She has it way too far from her body. She wouldn't lift it like that if it was really full! She would half squat over it. I think that is why those old cane laundry baskets were bowl shaped, and small, to balance on one hip. No human is really designed to carry a load of washing that is 6.5kg or more (dry), when it is sopping wet. What are we? Slaves of our washing machines? The bigger the machine capacity gets, the bigger the laundry basket becomes! The old washing baskets were probably designed for the contents of one copper, maybe a couple of double sheets?

All the same, Lisa McCall seems to understand a lot of things well. I bet she knows all about you and Esther Gokhale too! Let's hope more practitioners move in her direction.

Louise

Christine

April 25, 2011 - 12:40pm

Well...if I was going to get out of bed in the middle of the night to respond, at least I could’ve tried the exercise! You are right, Louise. It is impossible to bend forward with heels against the wall. The heels must be out as far as the buttocks are from the hip joints. However, I stand by all other aspects of my description.

Hm-m-m...load-bearing joints in a line. That would’ve come from Newtonian mechanical law, which applies perfectly to columns and beams. Yes, the tensegrity model is the only one found to operate uniformly throughout biological structures. However, it is also widely observed that when the body is aligned in a certain way, it reaches ultimate stability within movement. Mammals brought their knees and ankles underneath their hip joints to become much more efficient runners than reptiles. I agree that “load-bearing” is an outdated term that should be discarded, as it is now generally accepted that even the sacrum suspends from the ilia by its ligaments.

It may be a coincidence that the SIJs are over the hips, which are over the knees, which are over the ankles. Btw, the sacroiliac joint is not conventionally considered in line with the hip joint, which it most certainly is when rotated forward into its actual anatomic position. It is a basic law of geometry that only triangulated structures are stable (readers search Louise’s brilliant posts on icosahedrons). In the classic tensegrity model, the geodesic dome, the center of gravity is right in the middle where nothing exists at all. If we pull our vision back, perhaps this “line” of joints is the middle of an icosahedron, a completely gravity-free, empty space. These joints are not load bearing in the sense of compression, but rather an axis from where forces are transferred diffusely throughout the rest of the system.

The wonder of the human spine is that it can cantilever all the way forward, abolishing the mechanical law of “force times distance from fulcrum.” Its essential horizontal nature (yes, we have a horizontal spine) provides the hub of a wheel around which forces are diffused throughout the system.

You can let your bum fall way back as you forward bend, but this places more stress on the knee joints than simply bending forward while keeping the hips stationary. We can strengthen the system by adding more length to the cantilever through holding the baton above our head, during which we would fall right over were it not for the inherent stability of our triangulated structure.

Think of bending forward to pick something up off the floor a thousand times over the next ten years. Each time you allow your bum to fall way back, you are stressing your knees in the process. If each time you bend forward keeping your hips stationary, your joints will be protected in the gravity-free emptiness of sacred geometric space.

Christine

Grandma Joy

April 26, 2011 - 4:51pm

Christine,

Just as soon as I looked at the ab exercise mentioned below, I knew better than to even try it. I could tell it would stress my neck area and also not be good for the cycstocele. Ditto for the standing against the wall thing. Didn't bother to try that either, BTDT, didn't work.

As a point of interest, I have been known to lay on my back on the floor, butt up against the wall, legs straight up the wall and practice the wide scissors exercise. The wall and floor gives support to the hips and lower back and helps one to be able to strengthen those areas before trying it freestyle.

I must say what I think here --- all the therapists I've met, be they physical, occupational or massage have NO clue when it comes to prolapse. If they haven't experienced it, they really don't know what they are talking about and ultimately (when you can't do their exercises because of it putting pressure on the prolapse) will ask you "why don't you go get that fixed?" BTDT, too!

That won't keep me from maybe trying something new, but I will certainly be very careful about it.

I'm sticking with you, Christine, because I firmly believe you know what you are talking about.

Blessings,
Grandma Joy

QuestGirl

May 3, 2011 - 8:14pm

***Hello All,
I apologize to all for any confusion or trouble caused. In first mentioning these other therapists, I merely wanted to point out that there are other highly regarded experts in human physiology that highly respected and seemed to understand and agree with some of Christine's concepts that I shared with them in regards to POP. However, POP is "not" their specialty.

I am thankful to those that have commented with their thoughts regarding the advice given concerning these other therapists and am thankful that caution and personal experience is being taken and considered by all. Christine is most certainly the expert here regarding POP, and I definitely agree that her advice takes precedence! :)

***Louise and Grandma Joy,
Thank you so much for commenting about the ab exercise involving lying on one's tummy! I do not have POP and am thankful to be warned that this exercise might cause an issue despite being told it was safe for women to do with regards to POP.

I found the bed not so great either, as mine is also very soft and squishy, haha. I have a mat that, when folded up, is about 5 inches high. I had been laying on that and doing the exercise that way. It's very firm, so I found this to work well.

However, I'm going to listen to you all in this area! I just got both of Christine's DVDs and am definitely going to check out how she recommends working the abs! Think I'll just stick to those! I have read here in the past that firebreathing, nauli and the basic exercises here are amazing for ab work, so really, who needs anything else? I need to take the time to learn these exercises and start incorporating all of this into a daily routine!

I'm happy to be here among such smart and wise ladies and am happy I can learn from all of you. :)

granolamom

May 4, 2011 - 8:17pm

just kidding....I tried SO hard to understand all that when louise first posted it, and succeeded only in giving myself a headache. probably would've understood it back in my college days but my brain hurts just thinking about it.
that said, I think the line-up of the joints is not meant to be static. I think when you average out where everything is during gait you should find a pretty much vertical line for optimal stability/mobility. but since the body doesnt move in linear direction only (more of spirals and figure-8's, which probably consistent with the triangle stuff louise talks about regarding tendon insertion around joints) we dont stack all the bones one ontop of the other, there's bends in the system so we can absorb shock and gain leverage during movement.
at least that's my take.
will continue reading this with interest, but will skip any mention of the icosahedrons, I've given up on them!

Surviving60

December 8, 2014 - 5:07am

I came across this thread where one of our members compiled lots of great success stories. I thought I'd bring it back up to the top. I am continuing to work backwards in time to clean out the Longstanding Members Success Stories forum and move other types of posts to the correct category. Many posts go under that category because the writer did not choose anything else (it happens all the time, so please folks, when you start a new topic please go down to the bottom and choose an appropriate forum category.) What I want is for newbies who come here to search, to be able to go to the success stories category and actually find what they are looking for! I mention this because moving old posts makes them appear to have been updated, even if they haven't been. So bear with me. - Surviving