Relaxed diaphragmatic breath with pelvic floor awareness

Today we present you with a short video of how to practise a relaxed diaphragmatic breath, with pelvic floor awareness. 

Why are relaxed diaphragmatic breaths important? Well … when we take a relaxed breath in, our thoracic diaphragm moves down and our pelvic floor lengthens and drops down slightly.  Then, when we breathe out, our thoracic diaphragm moves up and our pelvic floor shortens, as it contracts and lifts slightly.

This breathing allows our pelvic floor to lengthen and shorten in a natural physiological way, this action is vital for the optimal function of our pelvic floor.

At Eastern Osteopathy, we have noticed that many of our patients breathe using their upper chest, rather than allowing their breath to expand their lower ribs, belly and back. This upper chest breathing does not allow the pelvic floor muscles to lengthen and drop down when they breathe in. Over time, this type of breathing can cause the pelvic floor to shorten and may even cause issues with incontinence, urgency/frequency, or pelvic pain.

So it is definitely worth giving diaphragmatic breathing a go!