When I first “cracked the code” on stabilizing and reversing prolapse, and wrote and published Saving the Whole Woman, I set up this forum. While I had finally gotten my own severe uterine prolapse under control with the knowledge I had gained, I didn’t actually know if I could teach other women to do for themselves what I had done for my condition.
So I just started teaching women on this forum. Within weeks, the women started writing back, “It’s working! I can feel the difference!”
From that moment on, the forum became the hub of the Whole Woman Community. Unfortunately, spammers also discovered the forum, along with the thousands of women we had been helping. The level of spamming became so intolerable and time-consuming, we regretfully took the forum down.
Technology never sleeps, however, and we have better tools today for controlling spam than we did just a few years ago. So I am very excited and pleased to bring the forum back online.
If you are already a registered user you may now log in and post. If you have lost your password, just click the request new password tab and follow the directions.
Please review and agree to the disclaimer and the forum rules. Our moderators will remove any posts that are promotional or otherwise fail to meet our guidelines and will block repeat offenders.
Remember, the forum is here for two reasons. First, to get your questions answered by other women who have knowledge and experience to share. Second, it is the place to share your results and successes. Your stories will help other women learn that Whole Woman is what they need.
Whether you’re an old friend or a new acquaintance, welcome! The Whole Woman forum is a place where you can make a difference in your own life and the lives of thousands of women around the world!
Best wishes,
Christine Kent
Founder
Whole Woman
louiseds
October 3, 2011 - 7:43am
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toning lower abdominals
Hi Sahara
just wondering what you are hoping to achieve by toning your lower abdominal muscles? However, as you say many exercises for lower abs do not feel good with POP, and can increase symptoms.
Leg raises are very good for POP, but not from a lying down position. Do them sitting or standing or hanging from your arms, or using a Captain's Chair at the gym,so you are using your muscles in the direction that gravity intended that you do them. Stay in Wholewoman posture and they will reinforce the positions of your pelvic organs, rather than blowing them out of your body.
You will find that in WW posture your abdominal muscles are stretched out to their functional length, in slight tension, so they are not floppy, so you do not need to hold them in. As you walk you will be exercising them with every stride. Walking with long relaxed strides in WW posture is the best ever exercise for your abdominal muscles, but also for the other muscles inside the pelvis which are responsibility for the stability of the hip joints, the sacroiliac joints and the positioning of the pelvis.
You can tell for yourself whether or not an exercise will be damaging for POP by building your awareness of the sensations you experience in your vulva when you do it. Any pressure at all means to stop and reassess how you do this exercise, or ditch it in favour of one that uses the same muscles, but without the vulval symptoms.
Louise
doglovertoronto
October 4, 2011 - 2:51pm
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re firming up abs
I was adviced to try pilates, that this helped alot in firming up the lower abdominal muscles and pelvic floor
I have had alot of success with doing yoga moves and pelvic exercises and have improved 75% in the past yr.
It did take me almost 8 mos to see any improvement so dont' despair and keep working at it.
wholewomanUK
October 22, 2011 - 5:26am
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toned abs
Hi Sahara,
Your story brought back memories; I was very upset when I was daignosed with a uterine prolapse when I felt I was pretty fit and healthy. However if it hadn't been for that experience I wouldn't be on the journey of discovery that I am on now.
One aspect of whole woman work that I've personally found difficult is trying to let go of the firm flat tummy and allowing my abdomen muscles to relax and therefore appear more prominant. Part of this work is embracing the natural female form which is probably more curvacious than the current Western ideal of feminine beauty. The difference is subtle but significant.
My experience has been the a regular (most days) WW practice, keeps me well toned from top to toe. My abdominal muscles feel nice and firm, however using WW posture I look more curvy. (I'm also really delighted that my vaginal passage is a significantly more toned and 'tighter' than before. I think because the WW exercises are holistic and exercise all the muscles involved whereas Kegels use a limited range of pelvic diaphragm muscles.)
Buy the book and dvd asap and you'll find you'll learn from your own body what works.
Good luck and happy practicing.
wholewomanuk
louiseds
October 22, 2011 - 9:22pm
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Your vagina doesn't 'seem' tighter. It *is* tighter.
Hi wholewomanUK
I agree with you, and it is not your imagination at work. Wholewoman posture literally tightens your pelvic floor by increasing the distance between the two halves of the pelvis at the back of the body and increasing the distance between pubic symphysis and coccyx. It is like stretching the same size drum skin over the surface of a drum which is both wider and longer. The drum skin just has to be stretched tighter!
We also need to be aware that if we do Kegels in WW posture we will never get the same amount of movement out of the pelvic floor muscles, simply because they are already stretched, and not floppy, when we start. They just don't have much stretch left, so they cannot move much.
Also, your pelvic organs are not leaning on it as much because they are further forward, leaning on the lower abdominal wall more, underpinned by the pubic bones from the bottom.
Of course it feels better!
Louise