Over 16 years of pain and many attempts (voluntary and forced) at physio and hydrotherapy, with 6 different physios and every single time they tried the SAME exercises that reduced function and shot pain through the roof. Yep, everyone starting with engaging the pelvic floor. And that is before all the GPs and consultants saying I had to do that too. None of them believe I had tried and ended up worse, every single NHS therapist gave me to the same set of exercises all with the same result = severe pain. The first one's response to my getting home to then being sofa bound with pain for a week was to say I should double the reps on all 10 exercises!, well that left me housebound and barely able to walk for a month. I am so relieved to see this, I feel I can engage with Jeannie's program now I've seen this, to be honest I was so worried that the core stability program was more of the same I signed up but didn't start it. I am not scared of exercise, I'm just not up for the insanity of doing the same thing time and time again and ending in uncontrollable pain. Phew. This is like someone has opened a locked door. Thank you, THANK YOU.
I never understood the "core engagement" thing during Pilates. It didn't make any sense as I can barely breath or move if I do that. Now it makes sense why! thanks a lot for your videos!
Your videos always blow my mind. All of the things that I’ve been told to do, that don’t work for me and cause me pain makes sense when you explain it.
I found you through my LongCovid research on neck issues. I am not hypermobile -- in anything, I am hypomobile ;-). Despite a life of sports, stretching, etc I have never been able to touch my toes... not even close ;-). My core has always been my weak point. My spine does not have enough curvature, there is some degeneration that comes with aging and a doctor told my mom that I was born with "lazy abdominal muscles". Even after a year of Pilates, I struggled with core strength. Abdominal muscle exercises lead to neck tension as well. That seems impossible to fix. Maybe my back/neck have learned over the almost 5 decades to compensate for the core and neurologically they are wired together? I don't know. Your point about not engaging the core and then consciously relaxing the core makes a lot of sense from the breathing part of the exercise. My breathing was "reversed" for most of my life because of "sucking in the belly and pushing out the chest". It took years of conscious practice to breathe right, but I can still slip into bad habits. Your technique of consciously feeling how the body naturally moves reminds me of the Feldenkrais method. Hopefully, these two points will help me improve my core. I might try different kinds of core exercises (standing, hanging?) to see if I can do them without neck strain (while keeping your tips in mind). Thanks!
Great explanation and tips to not stress the core/pelvic floor. I was taught to keep the large core loose and engage softly the small pelvic muscles. Hard to do at first with hands on feedback to confirm. This explanation is a natural gentle way to achieve that for the cat exercise.
If I consciously engage my pelvic floor & abs, the pelvic floor releases as my abs take over, I can’t seem to do both at the same time. Same if I consciously engage core and glutes to work together either, it’s one or the other! I did your example cat above and without consciously engaging anything I could feel the pelvic floor and lower abdominal muscles do their thing.
I need more help this is a challenge daily, i don’t do purposely, it is more relieving, too, and yes my challenges of strain ,,ribs, wais shoulderst oblique’,s ,hips ,shoulders
Having an Inguinal Hernia, they told me it is important to position my abs, breath, pelvic floor.. I get crazy tensioned when I try to think of that in every squat.. but having Hernias changes the approach and it is important to hold?
Yess!!!! I was watching ur shoulder stability videos for shoulder hypermobility and this pops in my recommendation! "Engaging ur core" This term i have listened in so many fitness influencers video with about millions of subs!! And i never got it, i just don't understand how will i breathe if i tight my core as our abdomen expand when we inhale! I have been struggling in doing so for such a long time in gym! Btw can u tell me plzzz that many " Fitness youtubers " Say to engage ur core and keep breathing too while doing exercises like pull ups, shoulder press etc. to keep our body stable and prevent lower back arching, so they are right or wrong??!! Plzz reply!!
Over 16 years of pain and many attempts (voluntary and forced) at physio and hydrotherapy, with 6 different physios and every single time they tried the SAME exercises that reduced function and shot pain through the roof. Yep, everyone starting with engaging the pelvic floor. And that is before all the GPs and consultants saying I had to do that too. None of them believe I had tried and ended up worse, every single NHS therapist gave me to the same set of exercises all with the same result = severe pain. The first one's response to my getting home to then being sofa bound with pain for a week was to say I should double the reps on all 10 exercises!, well that left me housebound and barely able to walk for a month.
I am so relieved to see this, I feel I can engage with Jeannie's program now I've seen this, to be honest I was so worried that the core stability program was more of the same I signed up but didn't start it. I am not scared of exercise, I'm just not up for the insanity of doing the same thing time and time again and ending in uncontrollable pain. Phew.
This is like someone has opened a locked door. Thank you, THANK YOU.
Thank you. So glad to hear.
Fantastic. So glad I found you through the EDS Society. I love how you teach through ease, not tension.
Amanda Woodrum thank you 🙏🏻.
Easier i am sure with less tension.🙃😉
I never understood the "core engagement" thing during Pilates. It didn't make any sense as I can barely breath or move if I do that. Now it makes sense why! thanks a lot for your videos!
Virginia Silio so glad this helped.
Your videos always blow my mind. All of the things that I’ve been told to do, that don’t work for me and cause me pain makes sense when you explain it.
Thank you 🙏🏻
Thank you Jeannie. Such good advice!!!
I found you through my LongCovid research on neck issues. I am not hypermobile -- in anything, I am hypomobile ;-). Despite a life of sports, stretching, etc I have never been able to touch my toes... not even close ;-).
My core has always been my weak point. My spine does not have enough curvature, there is some degeneration that comes with aging and a doctor told my mom that I was born with "lazy abdominal muscles". Even after a year of Pilates, I struggled with core strength. Abdominal muscle exercises lead to neck tension as well. That seems impossible to fix. Maybe my back/neck have learned over the almost 5 decades to compensate for the core and neurologically they are wired together? I don't know.
Your point about not engaging the core and then consciously relaxing the core makes a lot of sense from the breathing part of the exercise. My breathing was "reversed" for most of my life because of "sucking in the belly and pushing out the chest". It took years of conscious practice to breathe right, but I can still slip into bad habits.
Your technique of consciously feeling how the body naturally moves reminds me of the Feldenkrais method. Hopefully, these two points will help me improve my core. I might try different kinds of core exercises (standing, hanging?) to see if I can do them without neck strain (while keeping your tips in mind).
Thanks!
Thank you. Glad it was helpful.
Great explanation and tips to not stress the core/pelvic floor. I was taught to keep the large core loose and engage softly the small pelvic muscles. Hard to do at first with hands on feedback to confirm. This explanation is a natural gentle way to achieve that for the cat exercise.
Lory Owens thank you. Glad it helped.
I swear my stomach muscles engaged more by not “engaging them” than they have prior to this 😮
Jen Fieldman yes exactly. They work normally.
(2:50) Hyper-tonic pelvic floor. So good to know what to name it!
🙌
If I consciously engage my pelvic floor & abs, the pelvic floor releases as my abs take over, I can’t seem to do both at the same time. Same if I consciously engage core and glutes to work together either, it’s one or the other! I did your example cat above and without consciously engaging anything I could feel the pelvic floor and lower abdominal muscles do their thing.
P Taylor that’s great progress.
Oh wow! Thank youuuu. This explains why my back hurts when I engage my core lol
Glad this helped 👌
I need more help this is a challenge daily, i don’t do purposely, it is more relieving, too, and yes my challenges of strain ,,ribs, wais shoulderst oblique’,s ,hips ,shoulders
How does this make sense to you Jennie
How can I stop that tension?
So if we’re doing an exercise we just exhale on the movement and the muscles work naturally,is that right?
Yes in essence, we want the body to respond naturally to the load being put through it. Exhale causes muscle contraction in abs.
@@JeannieDiBonHypermobility thanks so much this makes perfect sense and I’m going to try it with my next workout👍
Having an Inguinal Hernia, they told me it is important to position my abs, breath, pelvic floor.. I get crazy tensioned when I try to think of that in every squat.. but having Hernias changes the approach and it is important to hold?
Hard to give personal advice but follow advice of your particular medical professional.
Yess!!!! I was watching ur shoulder stability videos for shoulder hypermobility and this pops in my recommendation!
"Engaging ur core" This term i have listened in so many fitness influencers video with about millions of subs!!
And i never got it, i just don't understand how will i breathe if i tight my core as our abdomen expand when we inhale! I have been struggling in doing so for such a long time in gym!
Btw can u tell me plzzz that many " Fitness youtubers " Say to engage ur core and keep breathing too while doing exercises like pull ups, shoulder press etc. to keep our body stable and prevent lower back arching, so they are right or wrong??!! Plzz reply!!
Thank you. It is not something I advocate doing. I explain why in my book Hypermobility Without Tears. Also on my blogs.