What is the CORE?

I want to give you a brief introduction into what the core actually is, and how it's affected by pregnancy (and birth!) - it's important to have a basic understanding of the anatomy so that we know what to do and why we're doing it.

Read the following text (or watch the video below!)

The core is made up of your diaphragm at the top, your pelvic floor at the bottom and your abdominal muscles that wrap all the way around like a corset. It is a PRESSURE SYSTEM and is shaped like a coke can. It looks like this:

These muscles are involved in 3 functions:

1. Breathing
2. Alignment
3. Movement

All of which we are going to cover here in core basics - not just for the sake of knowing, but for the sake of maintaining a strong and healthy core during pregnancy.

These muscles undergo many changes during pregnancy. The abdominal muscles get stretched out, the pelvic floor has to carry a lot of heavy weight and keep all your organs inside, and when it comes to birth - a vaginal birth will stretch out and possibly tear the muscles of your pelvic floor, while a c-section will involve cutting through the connective tissue between the two sides of your abdominal muscles.

There is a lot we can do during pregnancy to safeguard our abdominal muscles and pelvic floor - not ONLY keeping them strong, but avoiding unnecessary load on them. That's what this Core Basics is all about - many of you will care about doing what you can to avoid pelvic floor dysfunction (like leaking or Pelvic Organ Prolaspe) as well as preventing Diastasis Recti.

It's not JUST about keeping them strong - it's also about keeping them supple, being able to RELAX them. Keeping them responsive to the changing demands throughout this chapter of our lives.

Keeping the abdominal wall strong will help prevent too much stretching of the abdominal muscles and will be less strain on your back. Keeping the pelvic floor muscles strong will help prevent pelvic floor dysfunction... BUUUUT....

... don't forget your BACK - it's not JUST about your abdominal muscles, you also need a strong back - this is the scaffolding that keeps everything upright! This programme will focus a lot on keeping your back strong and supple.