On Thursday, November 7 at 7:05 PM Aerial Dance Appleton will be hosting a special presentation on Pelvic Floor Health. Ladies this is very important: important for normal physical activities, important during pregnancy and childbirth, important as you age. Kegel exercises can prevent or control urinary incontinence and other pelvic floor problems. Simply stated it is squeezing the pelvic floor muscles; squeezing and contracting about ten times each day. The presentation on Thursday will give you specifics on how this is done.
My first exposure to the pelvic floor was in my high school gym class. I had two sport-active women team teach this class and in addition to the anatomy, their major emphasis was on an exercise called a Kegel. (K for short.) They were adamant that it was something high school girls should do every single day for the rest of their lives.
My gym teachers said find a time when you’re in private and not doing anything. Where could that be? Everyone’s place was different. My time was when I’m driving and stopped at a red light. There isn’t much you can do when you’re waiting for a red light to turn green. It’s the perfect time to perform a set of Kegels. (Be sure you keep your foot on the brake.) Plus no-one suspects you are doing it. As busy young adults you are probably traveling in a vehicle a lot. Try the Stop-Light-Kegel and pretty soon the Stop-light-Kegel will become second nature.
I can attest that the maneuver has helped me. At the age of 72 I developed spinal problems. The surgery requires that they cut a huge incision on your tummy from your pubic hair to your navel and then one doctor moves your internal organs holding them back while a second doctor works on your spine. I asked the doctor before the surgery “then what happens” and he said that we just gently let go and hope the organs fall back in the right spot. You can see how that might be cause for concern but apparently after 56 years of practicing the Kegel maneuver I have a strong pelvic floor and no bladder control problems. Just getting old as a female poses problems for that area of the body. That’s why you see so many commercials for bladder control panties. It is much easier to keep the pelvic floor firm than it is to allow it to become weak and then try to build it back up. Come to the November 7 presentation on Pelvic Floor Health and learn more. You will be glad someone taught you about the Kegel, I am. – Owner Cay