Further clarification needed regarding Whole Woman posture

Body: 

This is JoMama51 asking about clarification on posture please. I am overweight, so my belly already extends out over my pubic bone. When I pull up my stomach, it gets firm, and is rounded out more from breastbone to pubic area, but sticks out even further over my pubic bone. Is this OK, or should I attempt to pull it in towards the public bone more? I am also noticing that when I perform this posture, it causes me to tighten my pelvic area and vagina muscles also - is this normal? Many thanks.

Hi JoMama,

In natural breathing, the lower belly moves out a bit as the lumbar spine is drawn forward. This is the movement that makes room for and pins the organs into position just behind the lower abdominal wall. When you pull your belly in you restrict this process to a greater or lesser extent.

The long vertical muscles of the abdomen (rectus abdominis) work in unison with the pelvic floor – when one contracts, the other contracts – when one lengthens, the other lengthens. The horizontal muscles of the belly (transversus abdominis) contract when we exhale. However, they also hold a sort of isometric contraction during inspiration so that our abdomen is protected and stabilized during the whole breath cycle.

The posture “winds up” the soft tissue structures of the pelvis. You feel this as a tightening of the pelvic floor, but it is opposite a kegel, where the tailbone moves closer to the pubic bone. Natural standing posture lengthens the pelvic floor and tightens across its middle. I believe you can relax your belly and shrink it with diet, exercise and the postural work.

Holding the belly this way is empowering, but certainly something women in our culture need to adjust to.

:-) Christine