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Jul 8, 2024 | 
experiencelife.lifetime.life | Jon Spayde |Gina Wagner |Elizabeth Millard |Jennifer Blake
We all exist within a body we did not choose for ourselves. And though we may appreciate many aspects of our physical selves, we may dislike or resent features that don’t align with our expectations or desires. Similarly, our bodies evolve with time and use, in ways that we like — as well as in ways that we don’t. These perceived shortcomings or undesirable changes can stir up a complex of fraught emotions. Those feelings have a name: body grief.
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Feb 9, 2024 | 
experiencelife.lifetime.life | Sarah Tuff |Jennifer Blake |Gina Wagner |Lauren Bedosky
Yoga and Pilates are often conflated or considered two sides of the same coin, yet they are quite different. Yoga is an ancient, multipronged spiritual practice that includes physical elements but was not meant to be a form of physical exercise. Pilates, on the other hand, was developed in the 20th century as a mode of rehabilitation focused on core stability, efficiency of movement, postural alignment, and balance. But they do have things in common.
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Feb 6, 2024 | 
experiencelife.lifetime.life | Sarah Tuff |Jennifer Blake |Gina Wagner |Andrew Heffernan
For years, supine exercises — like crunches and sit-ups — were considered the optimal way to train abs. Then came a rise in popularity of prone moves like planks and mountain climbers, which were considered more functional and less likely to cause neck or back pain. Now, the trend is standing abs routines, which include standing crunches, wood chops, and marching in place.
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Oct 26, 2023 | 
experiencelife.lifetime.life | Lauren Bedosky |Jennifer Blake |Nicole Radziszewski
Lifestyle, age, and major life events like surgery and childbirth can affect pelvic-floor function. These are a few of the factors to consider as you strive to keep these muscles working properly. Stress. “People inadvertently hold tension and tightness in their pelvic-floor muscles,” says pelvic-floor physical therapist Riva Preil, PT, DPT, author of The Inside Story: The Woman’s Guide to Lifelong Pelvic Health.
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Oct 23, 2023 | 
experiencelife.lifetime.life | Lauren Bedosky |Andrew Heffernan |Jennifer Blake
Support: The sling of muscles, fascia, and ligaments supports the organs inside the abdominal cavity and the pelvis, which include the sexual organs, bladder, and intestines. Sphincter: The pelvic-floor muscles allow for the appropriate opening and closing of the urethral and anal sphincters, ensuring successful urination and bowel movements while simultaneously preventing leakage of urine and fecal matter.
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Oct 19, 2023 | 
experiencelife.lifetime.life | Andrew Heffernan |Jennifer Blake |Lauren Bedosky |At-Home Workouts
What’s a workout that works your entire body, uses little space, challenges your heart and lungs, and requires just one piece of equipment? The answer is simple: a complex. A complex is a circuit of exercises, all performed using the same implement, without stopping between moves. It allows you to complete a ton of work almost anywhere in a short time.
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Oct 18, 2023 | 
experiencelife.lifetime.life | Lauren Bedosky |Laine Bergeson Becco |Jennifer Blake |Matt Fitzgerald
With so many factors affecting a naturally complex region of the body, it’s little surprise that pelvic-floor dysfunction doesn’t look the same for everybody. In fact, says pelvic-floor physical therapist Riva Preil, PT, DPT, author of The Inside Story: The Woman’s Guide to Lifelong Pelvic Health, there are two broad categories of dysfunction: At one end of the spectrum is pelvic-floor tightness, or overactivity; at the other end is pelvic-floor weakness, or underactivity.
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Oct 11, 2023 | 
experiencelife.lifetime.life | Lauren Bedosky |Jennifer Blake |Wendy Watkins
There are myriad factors that can compromise the health of your pelvic floor, but there are just as many approaches you can take to lower the probability of experiencing issues. Use the following three strategies to keep these muscles healthy and functional for life. A simple way to improve pelvic-floor mobility and function is to shift to diaphragmatic breathing.
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Oct 6, 2023 | 
experiencelife.lifetime.life | Lauren Bedosky |Jennifer Blake |Wendy Watkins
The pelvic floor is where your abdominals and legs converge, and where ground-reaction forces are absorbed with each step you take, says Preil. It’s a group of muscles that form a sort of hammock or sling. Sitting at the bottom of the core (which includes the abdominal, back, and diaphragm muscles), these muscles are supported by bones, connective tissue, and fascia. The levator ani forms the bulk of your pelvic-floor muscles.
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Oct 2, 2023 | 
experiencelife.lifetime.life | Lauren Bedosky |Jennifer Blake |Wendy Watkins
Your pelvic-floor muscles are like any other muscles in your body: They benefit from being strengthened and stretched often through regular movement and function. But it’s not enough to focus only on the pelvic-floor muscles — you also must train the abdominal and diaphragmatic muscles surrounding the pelvic floor.
