Fringe Benefits

Submitted by Bonne Maman on January 6, 2014 - 2:04pm
Body: 

I have been deepening into this posture work for about a year now, and I can honestly say that it has changed my whole life for the better. Aside from my prolapse symptoms, adopting Whole Woman posture has resolved/is resolving the following physical complaints that plagued me for years:

1. Big toe bunion/flat arch in left foot
2. Chronic tension in glutes/hips
3. Chronic constipation
4. Recurrent acute neck pain
5. Chronic TMJ tension

The posture has psychological/emotional ramifications for me also. My old posture (buttocks clenched, shoulders hunched, head bowed) felt so negative compared to this new way of standing, which makes me feel regal and relaxed. Also, as a singer, I have found a new relationship to my singing voice as a result of my throat opening and elongating, and greater freedom for my diaphragm and belly.

It's all pretty incredible. Thank you Christine! When I really think about it, I am amazed at the road you have walked to bring us these teachings!

Forum:

Aging gracefully

January 6, 2014 - 5:10pm

Great post!!! Goes to show whole woman really does cover more than just prolapse! A wonderful fringe benefit to practicing it diligently.

Surviving60

January 6, 2014 - 5:13pm

Wow, excellent post. Thanks Maman. We try to keep promoting the "big picture" whenever we can - how this posture thing is about so much more than just prolapse. It's for all parts of the body, and the mind and heart and soul as well. Love what you have written and hope everyone (especially newbies and those who may be plateauing and feeling discouraged) will take note. - Surviving

Christine

January 6, 2014 - 6:24pm

Hi Bonne,

This is music to my ears! My resolved-list was very similar to yours and I too, feel the postural work has changed my entire being. Another singer! I love when I get calls from singers because the WW posture is just made for them - for you! You don't mention your age, but I learned about a year ago that singers going through menopause often lose the range and quality of their voice. I put two and two together that perhaps a bit of daily honey could help attract lactobacilli, and therefore normalize tissue in the voice box. Sure enough, several singers who have tried it have experienced noticeable improvement.

Thank you so much for the feedback. I always say I could never have done this alone - it takes all of us!

Proud of you, Bonne!

Christine

Bonne Maman

January 6, 2014 - 10:01pm

Forgot to mention how my shoulders were totally screwed up for years too, and now they are starting to strengthen and realign with the FAFP advanced workout. Feel the burn!

Thanks for the honey tip, Christine. I'm 34, so I'll tuck that away for a little while. I'm a honey addict anyways :)

Christine

January 7, 2014 - 8:49pm

I have caused enormous shoulder pain by using my laptop in bed. Yes, I agree that it resolves very quickly with this natural alignment. I am so happy you are here with us!

Bonne Maman

January 7, 2014 - 11:36pm

Yes I'm happy to be here! The Whole Woman work has been an ideal program for my post-partum recovery. I shudder now to think about the exercise dvd I looked at while still pregnant that was for post-partum moms. It talked about correcting the "lordosis" of the lower back that occurs during pregnancy. It involved a lot of pilates and stomach crunches. So glad I didn't go down that road! I'm thankful for all the support I have received on this forum that has helped me to find my way through those dark days after discovering my prolapse. It's amazing to think that something that initially seemed so full of doom has actually helped me to better health. I wish the same for each woman doing this work, and those who have not yet found us.

Surviving60

January 8, 2014 - 4:40am

Yes Christine, I believe the laptop-in-the-bed thing is becoming my undoing. I seem to be doing more and more of it all the time, and the more I do, the harder it is for my body to compensate for this throughout the day. I'm hating winter, too lazy to get on my treadmill, can't walk outside, and opportunities to work out are just not presenting themselves. There are things I can do to loosen up more during the day......I know what I need to do, and just have to make it happen!

On a more positive note, I have recently achieved another "upgrade" in my office chair. I was OK with the previous one, but it was getting older and older and would no longer hold a position at a good height for me (it was one of those chairs that you raise and lower by spinning it around, and I think that the mechanism finally became too "stripped" to do its job, and I was habitually sitting too low, and this was really affecting my arms and shoulders). My "new" chair is yet another cast-off but seems to be adjustable as to both height and angle of sitting. So we'll see. - Surviving

Surviving60

January 8, 2014 - 4:47am

Thank you Maman, you have expressed so well what is felt by so many of us here. New moms especially, need to hear this from other new moms. We post-menopausal types can preach all we want, hoping to get through to the younger ones who have so very much to gain by embracing this work now, not later. Many thanks for this great post. - Surviving

mimiree

January 8, 2014 - 1:20pm

I, too, at 65 have recently learned how I have contributed to my own 'issues' by using that flat stomach, tucked pelvis and tighten, tighten, tighten the abs over my lifetime. I received good info by a Pilates coach to realign and return to the curved spine, lowered shoulders and relaxed abs. These practices helped my hips tremendously. Now that I am dealing with some cystocele symptoms, I'm looking forward to making more corrections. I am so happy that I found the Whole Woman community. I have been spreading the word to my yoga instructors, my gynecologist and all of my friends. Happy to be hear, mimiree

Surviving60

January 8, 2014 - 5:20pm

Wow Mimiree, that Pilates coach of yours is one in a million! Most of Pilates and yoga has accentuated the suck-and-tuck posture and the whole abdominal core tight abs concept which is so very damaging to pelvic organ support in women. Your coach must be a real maverick in the field! Dare we suppose that the world may someday come around to seeing the truth? Thank you for helping spread the word and welcome to the Forum. - Surviving