Though you may not be interested in buying a wearable device to get better
at Kegels, there are a few perks to strengthening your pelvic floor:
If this describes you, discontinue any attempts
at kegels.
Not exact matches
Instead, Gunter writes, women should use evidence - backed
Kegel exercises, either with a less expensive vaginal weight, a tampon, a finger, or nothing
at all — equipment is not required.
Start doing
Kegel exercises
Kegels can help prevent urine leaks during and after pregnancy, keep hemorrhoids
at bay, and improve the muscle tone of your vagina, making sex more enjoyable.
If you're still not sure you've found the right muscles, put a clean finger in your vagina: If you're doing a
Kegel correctly, the vagina should contract around your finger (try not to hold your breath, and avoid clenching your thighs, stomach or butt muscles
at the same time).
You can do
Kegels anywhere — sitting
at your computer, watching TV, even standing in line
at the supermarket.
«I'm
at the vagina spa VSpot and I'm sitting on the
kegel throne,» she says.
According to Mayo Clinic's «A Guide to
Kegel Exercises for Women», you work toward holding contractions for 10 seconds
at a time and relaxing the pelvic floor muscles for 10 seconds between each contractions.
If you are new to
Kegel, start holding for 4 - 5 seconds
at a time, and work your way up to 10 seconds as your pelvic floor muscles get stronger.
According to an expert
at Greatist,
kegel exercises strengthen all of the important muscles that surround the urethra, vagina, anus, middle of the vaginal walls, and base of the bladder and cervix — the muscles that matter the most during sexual activity.
At some point in the history of «kegeling,» word got out that a good time to do
kegels is while urinating (spoiler alert... This is NOT TRUE!).
If we look
at your upper traps being just like the pelvic floor, tight and weak through a full range of motion, I could theorize that doing a
kegel or two could potentially lend a realization that you're holding tightness in this area.
Kathy Smith: Of course, we're taught
at every Lamaze class, every Bradly Cat class that you go to and every workout that you go to now about
Kegels.
Your assignment this week, should you choose to accept it, is to practice the pelvic brace technique
at least three times this week to help create an automatic response of doing a
kegel as soon as you feel a sneeze or cough come on.
Definitely do your
kegels lying down (
at least initially)-- possibly even with a pillow / cushion under your bottom.
My rehabilitation recommendation for advanced PF strengthening is to perform 6 core and PF stabilization exercises each day, including your
Kegel exercise (both quick flicks and long holds) and exercises aimed
at strengthening inner thighs, low back, transversus abdominus, and hip rotators (you can find four physical therapist - guided workouts on the Hab It: Pelvic Floor DVD).
It's worth the effort and yes, sometimes
kegels can help, but
at the very most, they are a good STARTING point.
Kegels did not help
at all.
While you're
at the gallery, don't miss the two member shows opening
at Pirate on the same night: Night Falls, by Lisa Kerns, and Koti, by Heather
Kegel.