Oils?

Hi Raspberry - not really part of the WW postural work, but if you put it in the search box, you will find some posts that might be of interest. - Surviving

Hi,
Welcome to the forum. Just a word of caution on the sponges. I used them for 5 weeks before I found this site and in that time I got a cyctocele (had rectocele already). I would try WW posture first and leave the sponges as while they are natural they do not allow your vagina to be an airless space and in my case I could feel them dragging my bladder down while wearing them (I was not in WW posture) and especially when taking them out. In fact I could get one out and I had to go into hospital in a small town while on holiday and have it taken out with forceps! Sorry to be so harsh in my comments on them but I may not be alone in my experience. Note - they did take away the bulgy feeling but in my case I am certain did more damage in the long-run.

Do you know the European doctor (beautiful slim women in her 30's) had nothing to say about it!!! I asked about prolapse to get another opinion (after a doctor, PT and gyno) and she said talk to your normal doctor and rushed off to the next person. Sigh...

I had cut the sponge into a ball (don't do that!) and while it sat in there beautifully it was impossible to get out - believe me I had my husband try and he really did not want to but after 8 hours I was getting worried. Oh I had my period too and a 14 month old with me and a 3 hour hospital wait. Ah, well I am laughing about it now as it seems better than crying or getting cross but then I am further down the road of prolapse.

If you want, you might as well try a sponge and then you can make your decision and feel comfortable with that. Of course WW is the way to go and sponges are not necessary but I say this only if you feel it is an avenue that you need to cross off your list. Caution - I always found them very hard to get out and would be on the bed or floor or hunched over trying to pull as hard as I could. I cringe at the thought but this was pre WW days.

Ironically it was the sponge website that got me on this site as they were selling 'Saving the Whole Women'. I bought it the moment I saw it as I knew it was for me and the rest is history.

I too think the book is such an amazing read and I could not put it down. Now I revisit sections and a few friends,usually yoga fans, have asked to look at the book they c on my shelf,they then say that they have already had an op and wished they had been advised of more facts. It is so sad that Euroean ,and probably other,doctors do not seem to have training regarding Pop and nutrition. I think the posture is the answer and leave the sponges in the ocean!

and how interesting that your yoga friends ask to see the book and then mention their op. This really is such a silent epidemic!

My book is not on the shelf in the lounge now but it was along with the videos. I just might put them back.

I have had the book about a year now and it is amazing how I understand different things in the book every time I revisit it. It all makes more and more sense ,there is just so much info there. The historical side is very interesting although in my initial panic I probably did not appreciate its relevance. Good luck on your journey. :)

I loved the reference to the proud chests of our forefathers. That had a lasting effect on me.

Yay for the chest. I just got the other day that my shoulders were back a little and since letting then fall naturally in position my chest can be even more proud without feeling over extended in my back/lumber.

I still feel like my shoulders are rounded but they look like Christine and others in the mirror and my back is flatter with my shoulder blades not so jutting out. Does this sound right with your anatomical knowledge S?

Just getting used to not having really sharp collar bones (I loved my sharp collar bones - sign another strike off Western posture and popular body images). I will change soon and see the sharpness as very masculine as I have done with protruding hip bones and a flat/concave belly :o) YuCK!!

I saw a very anorexic Asian girl in the mall yesterday and I was so sad. There was no WW about her and I longed for her to know the femininity and acceptance WW can give us and our bodies. There was no way I was going to feel that trying to fit into the Western ideal. How could I feel great about my body when it was being contorted into something unnatural. Getting my inner goddess going now :o)

AL,

P. 87 in the Hips book:

"Shoulders are kept down, not back, and the upper back is broad

Lift your chest, 'allowing the in-breath to expand your upper abdomen'

Relax your lower belly. the abdominal wall is pulled up, not in, by a lifted chest and strong shoulder girdle"

When I pull my shoulders down, lift from the crown and relax my lower belly, that in-breath expanding the upper abdomen really gets me where it feels good. For me it's the keeping the shoulders down, crown lifted and lower belly relaxed WHILE I take that in-breath that gives me the best proud chest without any tension. I can feel my ribcage expanding. It feels drastic but when I look in the mirror, it just looks like good, "proud chest" posture. It feels really strong! - Sierra

Got that but forgot the bit about the breath in the upper abdomen.

thanks as always for your input.

I so have to get off the computer now :o)
Enjoy your day or night :o)

I know, "breath into the upper abdomen" was what helped me too.

Headed out for a walk…

Enjoy

Hi,

Glad to hear on the hinging. It helped me too as I was having your problem until I made that adjustment.

The breathing in upper abdomen is helping heaps and explains some of the tribal women and female toddlers pictures Christine has a lot better. I was trying to get it down in my lower belly too much. I can also feel my tummy or something in my upper abdomen so it must have lots of space.

Allergies, gosh what is going on with us. SH and Sierra I have them too. Got almond and now possibly all nuts since my 2nd child. Very sensitive to almonds get terrible hives. Got intolerances to dairy and grains (bloating for grains and it seems constipation to dairy - not that I have much). My kids have intolerances and bad ezcema if we deviate from auto immune type diet. But I won't speak more on food suffice to say it's all good going back to whole foods, nature, more traditional ways like WW. Very time consuming though. I spent 3 years consumed by researching and trialing the food thing for my son (and me) and when I got that manageable it was straight into the WW work. That's partly why I could not commit as much earlier on. I've learnt a lot!! Gosh my 40s might be fun with all my knowledge and healthy ways.