Simply put, better breath, better sex!
The pelvic floor muscles specifically are responsible for sex. Your ability to desire, find pleasure, become aroused, have an erection, reach orgasm, conceive, and create, all comes from the balance of your breath, the PFM and your nervous system.
Sex may hurt so good sometimes, but unmanaged pressure overtime increases tension, which can lead to pain with sex, lack of desire or libido, inability to orgasm and painful orgasm, even fertility issues.
And I want to be careful here because some of these symptoms fall under perimenopause. However studies have confirmed that hormones will fluctuate, and pelvic floor dysfunction can present anywhere from 0-7 years after your last birth. In other words, (and I think you'll be happy to know) this is your body’s natural response to having a baby. Medication may lessen symptoms, but it would be in every mother’s best interest to not overlook the function, strength and support the pelvic floor muscles can provide at this time.
Kegels will not save you. That’s just creating more tension...and remember too much tension limits pleasure in every capacity.
Like any muscle in the body, the PFM need to lengthen and contract to provide support and for you to give and receive...and actually enjoy it. When the pelvic floor muscles are strong, they provide blood flow, and communications to and from the brain, encouraging hormones necessary for support, sex, continence control, peak performance, and the desire for more.
That part about communication is especially important for trying to conceive women. Your labs might come back normal, but if your PFM are not communicating with your brain, your brain won’t tell your hypothalamus and pituitary glands to tell your ovaries to produce hormones necessary for reproduction. Rather, they might continue to produce androgrens, like testosterone, throwing your hormones off balance, increasing tension, and mind-body stress.
Your breath and connection to your sex muscles stabilizes and regulates your nervous system. Meaning the PFM help rid the body of unnecessary energy and tension. When your NS is stable, your brain receives an important message: You are safe.
The truth is we can be so thirsty, and yet so depleted (or tense), we don't reach for a glass of water...or allow anyone to pass one over.
Only when your mind and body feel safe does your capacity to receive, conceive, and create increase.
Strength is up next 💪