Exercises with muscles contraction

Body: 

Hello,

I am confused with Kegels. I have a 2003 edition of Christine’s book and most exercises from this book involve contraction of the muscles of the pelvic floor. But according to this website, kegels don’t work. Should I continue to do these exercises (I am working on my posture too and have a DVD)? Does 2009 edition have different exercises?

Thanks a lot.
Katya

Hi Katya. Yes, everyone should really have the 2nd edition of the book if possible. Christine has explained that her recommendations for exercise moves have evolved over time and no longer include these muscle contractions. I don't like to speak for her, and there is a post somewhere on this forum where she explains it better, in her own words. - Surviving

Hi katya,
I haven't seen the first edition so I'm not in a position to comment on that. However I think you'll find the answers to your questions in the WW blog:

The New Kegels – The Effective Way to Manage Pelvic Organ Prolapse, by Christine Kent on October 23, 2012
This a great article which clearly explains the old and the new WW kegels. There's also a great little video at the bottom which visually demonstrates the new kegels.

Hope you get on fine with the new kegels.
Best wishes,
xwholewomanuk

Hello everybody,

Thank you very much for your reply. I checked Christine's article and video “New Kegels” and now I have a question: are New Kegels the same as Firebreathing?

Thanks,
Katya

Hi Katya,
I'm glad you found the link. The new kegels are similar to WW fire-breathing but a bit different. WW fire-breathing is performed either in cat position or in standing position as instructed in the 'Saving the WW' book and the dvd's. In fire-breathing you inhale through the nose and allow the abdomen to relax, expand and move towards the ground as you increase the curvature of the lower lumbar and lift the tail bone up. Then as you round the back and contract the abdomen, you exhale through your mouth. In doing this sequence, the pelvic organs are moved forward on the inhale and sucked up and forwards on the exhale. Seeing the visuals on the dvd's makes this much clearer for me.

The new kegels are similar; you relax and expand the abdomen on the inhale and move the abdomen forward as you increase the curvature of the lowe lumbar. As you move into the exhale, you maintain an upright posture but the lower lumbar curve is flattened and the abdomen is contracted. However you don't breathe through the mouth at all and you don't 'suck up' the pelvic organs in the same way on the exhale, as you do in Fire breathing. They both have the effect of encouraging the pelvic organs forwards.

The New Kegels and Fire-breathing are amongst the most influential postures for effective pelvic organd prolapse relief, recovery &/or maintenance.

It's actually quite hard to describe things in text alone - I really recommend anyone with pop to see the visuals.

Wishing you all the best.
xwholewomanuk