Another quick chill trick: left tragus stimulation. The tragus is that part of your ear that sticks out over the opening (in the pic) and tapping or gently rubbing this part of your LEFT ear for *30 seconds* stimulates the “rest and digest” part of the nervous system (parasympathetic, vagus nerve) and will bring you a needed chill out. DO NOT do the other side. LEFT SIDE only :)
Really, that’s it. Seems too simple? I know. But try it and see what you think. Sitting in traffic? Tap away. Kids screaming at you for the 18,472 time today? Tap tap tap. Sitting in a frustrating meeting? Tappity tap tap. Feeling pelvic floor heaviness more? All of the tapping! Watching/reading the news? Turn it off and tap the rest of the day! Kidding, but only a little. As a member of the hypertonic (tight) pelvic floor group it is especially important to continue to add to my relaxation skillset and find ways to make it happen regularly so that I can decrease symptoms. I love this trick for its simplicity and ability to do it anywhere. Unnecessary stress can lead to all sorts of damage and our pelvic floor is one area particularly vulnerable to stress. Tension in your face? Shoulders? Neck? Very likely the same thing is happening down below. Go try it and show that vagus nerve some love!
0 Comments
We all need to take a chill pill, multiple times daily. Especially if you are a parent. Or a human. Try this one out for size and see what you think. No side effects, just straight relaxation. The hardest part is remembering to take a step back when you need it.
Did you know that your pelvic floor also responds to your perceived stress? For me, it tenses up and the symptoms can flood in (hello leaking, hello pelvic floor heaviness, hello frustration!). Having awareness helps to keep those things at bay. Luckily, the pelvic floor also responds well to our ability to chill out. And, just because you've had a bad pelvic floor day it does not mean you are ruined for life. Nope. Stop your pity party and start taking care of yourself again. There is not better time to start than now! We all have setbacks, but we all have the power to move past it and improve a little more each time. What is your favorite quick chill movement or stillness? Henry Ford gets credit for this one (though it is a shortened version of the original). And it is completely true. Don’t forget about the ‘mind’ part of the mind-body connection. They work in tandem. You train your body to do all sorts of things but if you don’t mentally buy-in then stop wasting your time. So which will it be today?
I often find that the right track can be the hardest to commit to mentally. Maybe it seems to easy, too tedious, too boring, too hard, too annoying, too whatever! No one can make you do the thing, only you can decide to do it, whatever it is. When I was told I was going to have to start from even before square one (square 1/2?) I felt mentally crushed and was almost tempted to try something way "easier" (but ultimately would have been a short term boost with very long term negative consequences). But then the rational mind took over thankfully and I decided to buy in. I could do this, I will do this. And so, I started to rebuild my body and my mind and started down the path that has ultimately led me here, to The Pelvic Underground. Maybe today isn't your day, and that is totally fine, normal in fact. But the key is believing that maybe it will be tomorrow and trying again. Believe in yourself, believe in the process, then so it shall be. Postpartum rehab is hard when you want to do it the right way. I guarantee is is worth every single tear, expletive, setback, crappy day, and boring workout at the beginning (because, seriously, it can be SO BORING, but SO WORTH IT!). So, again, which will it be today? I can or I can't? Every happy pelvic floor starts with good breathing habits. If you aren’t being chased by a lion then you don’t need to be stress-breathing into your chest and shoulders. Breathe deeply and slowly into your belly, back, and sides 3-5 times as often as you think of it. Reconnect that diaphragm with your pelvic floor. This goes for men, too. Are you a runner? Try this out on your next run. It is magical!
|
PaigeRunner, lifter of children, PTA, CPT, PCES, pelvic health zealot Archives
August 2020
Categories
All
Archives
August 2020
|