Whole Woman® Health Approach to the Pelvic "Wall" - An Intro
Christine Kent, Whole Woman Health - rehabilitated herself from uterine prolapse with education, movement, and a whole body, self help approach
Whole Woman’s Health - A Self Help Approach to Preventing Prolapse, Back Pain, and More
Stand Like a 9 Year Old for Better Gynecological and Orthopedic Health
I recently attended a “Whole Woman Health” introductory workshop taught by Ruth Ever, Certified Whole Woman Health Consultant, and Fritha Pengelly, certified EFT and Feldenkrais practitioner.. They presented a slightly different take on pelvic floor awareness - in the context of urinary, uterine and colon prolapse.
The focus of the session was on aligning the pelvis a bit forward to prevent the lower pelvic organs from dropping backwards and downward, i.e. prolapsing.
When the bladder drops backwards, urine can get stuck in the dropped section and fail to eliminate during urination. But it’s still there and can squeeze out with a cough. With a prolapsed uterus, the organ also drops backwards and downward when it isn’t supported by the public bone in front. A dropped colon, unsupported by the public bone, will form a pocket and get in the way of healthy elimination.
Top left - healthy pelvic area. Top Right: prolapsed bladder.
Bottom left: prolapsed colon. Bottom Right: prolapsed uterus
Standing like a 9-year old girl is, according to the Whole Woman approach, the optimal posture for pelvic health. The slight forward ‘pouch’ of the belly allows the organs to rest comfortably against the support of the public bone.
Ruth suggests (re)thinking about the pelvic floor as a pelvic “wall.” The 9-year old’s stance tips the public bone forward, tipping the pelvic floor backwards and up. A different image from that of the pelvic floor as a ‘trampoline.’ Another image I found intriguing is that of the centaur - where the entire pelvis extends back like the centaur’s horsey part.
“Since 2003 Whole Woman® has been helping women overcome the fear and anxiety that often accompany common symptoms, while also giving them tools and resources to help stabilize and reverse their conditions.
At Whole Woman, we understand that the body is a self-organizing, self-healing organism when aligned with the laws of nature. We also acknowledge that gynecology, urology, oncology, and orthopedics are rife with anatomical misunderstanding, misguided practices, and harmful treatments.
Whole Woman follows the principles of self-care, which are inextricably connected with caring for others and caring for the planet.”
While this stance isn’t in contrast to the pelvic health work developed by Deborah Bowes, the focus on managing prolapsed organs and associated orthopedic symptoms is a bit different. We will explore some of these concepts in the upcoming pelvic floor series.
For students interested in a program focused on dealing with prolapses, the Whole Woman health web site offers articles, training videos, support groups and more. Firtha Pengelly offers pelvic health online and live classes and workshops from her studio in Northampton, MA. Ruth Ever co-teaches these classes.