Exercise question

Body: 

Are all abdominal strengthening exercises discouraged? If we are in ww posture then are they okay ? What about planks? Any information is much appreciated !! Love this forum!

Forum:

Hi Karono,
Walking in Whole woman Posture,
lower belly relaxed, chest lifted up,
natural lower back spinal curve in place,
head lifted as if balancing a book with chin tucked back slightly,
shoulders down not back, & upper back flat.
Walk with feet straight pointing frontwards.
When you walk like this you are exercising the abdominal muscles which are lengthened & close in the middle like a lift door, to the middle of your tummy, and down. Your pelvic organs are positioned in the relaxed lower belly & protected by the pubic bone. Any ab exercise that pulls your them in like belly button to spine has the effect of pulling your pelvic organs back & down. These exercises are for men. Planks will do the same - we are not meant to have the flat 6pack, rather a gentle feminine curve & graceful stance.
(((hugs))) & Best Wishes
Aussie Soul Sister

Great explanation by Soul Sis. Check out Christine's Third Wheel yoga dvd - this one focuses on lengthening the abdominal wall, for true strength and pelvic organ support. Traditional male exercises shorten and tighten it, compromising pelvic organ support. - Surviving

I plan on ordering the third wheel hoping it helps my prolapse while toning my abs.

I think most of us ladies aren't looking to have a six pack but hope to avoid a pooch. I personally have always had a flat lower belly and really don't want to have to forsake it. It makes me feel fit. Are you saying we all must have a pooching out lower belly for our organs to hang out in in order to survive prolapse? Is it just women with prolapse that must do this?

I think most of us ladies aren't looking to have a six pack but hope to avoid a pooch. I personally have always had a flat lower belly and really don't want to have to forsake it. It makes me feel fit. Are you saying we all must have a pooching out lower belly for our organs to hang out in in order to survive prolapse? Is it just women with prolapse that must do this?

Think little girls before they are convinced to tummy tuck or go six pack and male stance: if they are a little plump they will have a little pooch (not unattractive), if they are thin they have a nice soft curve.

Fab is right, and I find posture actually improves the look of a chubby belly. I have one, in addition to having lumpy appendix scars. Pulling up in excellent WW posture makes for a smoother line, where sucking and tucking just makes everything lumpier. You can lose some body fat through healthy eating and exercise; but don't suck and tuck, thinking it makes you look better. It doesn't, and it's not worth compromising pelvic organ support and hip and spine health. - Surviving

hi optimistic. if your lower abdomen is flat when its perfectly relaxed then thats fine as long as your abdomen is completely relaxed and u are in correct whole woman posture. but for some of us when our abdomen is completely relaxed we have a beautiful soft feminine curve to our abdomen. the posture teaches us to accept our bodies the way nature intended n to not worry about whether we have a pooch as long as we r in beautiful amazing n gorgeous whole woman posture.

I wanted to add that the theory that women should have flat stomachs is a modern obsession that is so counterproductive to our health over all! If you look at the Greek goddess statues all the women have a soft curved abdomen! We are built different from men! It's so important for the future of our female race that we get rid of this obsession over flat tummies!! My daughters are 7 n 4 and I am already teaching them to stand in Whole Woman posture w their tummies out!! They are fabulously beautiful! My 7 yr old actually had a group of girls try to tell her that girls are supposed to suck in!! At 7 yrs old!! She knew they were wrong because she sees how i carry myself!! We set the tone for those following us n my babies are going to know that God made us the way he did NOT for us to hide it but to be proud of the beautiful feminine curves we are blessed with!! Yay for Whole Woman and WW posture!!

I believe it, WMLB. Check out the first two photographs in this blog article from last year:
http://wholewoman.com/blog/?p=1145

First pic shows little girls dancing in lovely, natural posture. Next pic shows little girls learning to "suck and tuck" at the ballet barre. I get uncomfortable just looking at that one. - Surviving

Sooooooo upsetting!!!! I couldn't figure out how to use the address u gave me so I went thru the blog articles one by one till I found it!! I felt so sorry for those little girls in the second pic!! They looked weird! The pose of tucking tummy n tail looks unnatural uncomfortable n to be honest completely REDICULOUS!! The girls and women who were dancing in WW posture were stunning and breathtakingly beautiful!! I am proud to be a posture example for my 2 girls!! My son will also benefit bc he will know from seeing me n his sisters that a beautiful woman accepts the magnificent curves she was blessed with!!

I'd like to add here that even housekeeping and everyday activities can be good 'exercise' when done in ww posture.

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been sweeping, cleaning floors, gardening, lifting as well as walking, standing and sitting in ww posture. My back is strengthening amazingly and I am finding that I can accomplish much more than I was able to before I started ww posture.

Today, while helping a friend move (from one home to another), we found ourselves without a table to eat lunch at. What was more natural than sitting down cross-legged on the floor, in whole woman posture, eating our lunch??!!

It HAS to become second-nature. We HAVE to overcome the stereotype of 'sucking and tucking'.

Interestingly enough, my friend's daughter, who is in her late twenties, has never lost the ww posture that God gave her. Her natural, comfortable method of sitting on a chair is sitting with her legs crossed, in ww posture. I pointed out to them how good her posture was and explained some of the ww teaching.

I was just looking at the short video-clip, posted somewhere here, about singing the scale in ww posture. What great breathing exercises!!! You gals are the greatest!!

In case any of you are interested, I found the scale video clip 'way down below the photos of the little girls dancing that Surviving directed us to in a post here.

I will certainly be practicing ww breathing exercises as I sing -- not only the scale (but that's a good start)

I totally agree w you w2k about doing everyday things in posture being exercise!! I have been LIVING in WW posture like you 100%! Everyday I tone muscles I didn't even know I had!! When I do housework n yard work n go walking w my kids I feel EVERY muscle in my body getting toned!! I used to have a weak back n a saggy belly flab n now after being in WW posture every second of every day for a month n a half I am seeing beautiful feminine muscle tone in my back that feels great!! And my saggy tummy is tight and has a soft feminine curve!! I will stand by whole woman for the rest of my life! Christine is a genius and I am more healthy AND beautiful AND femininely fit than ever before in my life!!