“May your coffee, pelvic floor, and intuition be strong.” -Unknown
The Cauldron of Desire, more commonly referred to as the pelvis, pelvic girdle or pelvic bowl, is an incredibly powerful and important region of the body when it comes to our physical, emotional, sexual and spiritual health.
Made up of four bones: the sacrum, two illia, and the coccyx, the pelvis is supported by countless muscles that control movements of the lower body, providing overall stabilization and balance. The pelvic floor contains muscles that are responsible for the flow of urine, bowel movement, sex and birth. Having a strong but supple pelvic region is vital for our bodies to perform these essential functions, and can even strengthen orgasms and increase creativity. When there are problems with the pelvis, a whole slew of health issues arise, everything from incontinence and sexual disfunction to lethargy, back pain and even depression. It’s no wonder that this region has been the center of ancient wellness practices, from Kundalini to Taoism, and continues to be a hot topic in medical and health research today:
The Source of All Life-Giving Energy
The ancient discipline of Kundalini says that a powerful, feminine pranic energy sits at the base of our spines, where our pelvis is located. Through intentional breathing and meditation exercises, called kriyas, practitioners can harness this powerful energy, activating the chakra energy system. When all seven chakras are activated and balanced, the body, spirit and sexuality of the human system is said to be in harmony.
Similarly, in Taoism, life-giving Qi energy flows from specific points of the pelvis. This ancient Chinese tradition encourages the training of the pelvic muscles to harness this energy, promote stability and strengthen sexual function through awareness practices like tai chi and qigong. In Taoism and the ancient Chinese tradition, blocked energy is considered to be the root of all disease, pain and bodily dysfunction, so pelvic health is essential to well-being.
Birth, Trauma and Beyond
In addition to being an energetic center, the pelvis is the superhero of the birthing process. Throughout the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, the hormone relaxin actually promotes the muscles and bones of the pelvis to widen in anticipation for labor. When the pelvic muscles are relaxed and lengthened during labor, the baby’s descent from womb to world is smoother, faster and mama is less likely to experience tearing.
Current research has found that trauma to the pelvic floor muscles– from birth, medical emergencies, or otherwise, can heavily impact a person’s ability to hold urine, engage in bowel movements, stand balanced, participate in sexual activity and more. After an impactful event in this region, it is vital to seek support from a pelvic floor therapist or engage in practices to strengthen and heal the pelvic floor to prevent these issues from taking hold in the body.
Show Some Love to the MVPelvis
Pelvic health understandably is a priority, as it relates to so many essential physical, spiritual and energetic functions performing optimally. So, what are some ways we can best show some love to this MVP (most valuable pelvis) and prevent pelvic-related problems down the line?
Bellydancing, Gaga or any kind of hip-moving and grooving, to activate the root chakra, bringing increased blood flow to the pelvis.
Kegels! These simple, quick exercises can be practiced whenever, wherever you are, especially on the toilet.
Root Chakra (Muladhara) Meditation Meditation to balance and nourish the energy center at the base of your spine
Shraddha’s Hips Don’t Lie class with Brielle, which focuses on releasing tension in the hips and pelvic region, while regaining mobility and flexibility
Tai chi and qigong, focusing on awareness of the pelvic region and harnessing the energy stored there to the rest of the body
Grounding Vinyasa Flow class for a more dynamic class focused around poses to support and activate your root chakra and pelvic area
Check out these and many other wellness offerings with a 7-day free trial at PracticeShraddha.
Photograph by Hannah Thornhill
