When I first started working as a women’s personal trainer in Leamington Spa, I didn’t foresee myself specialising in pelvic health.
I did however see that women were being trained the same as men. Without reference to their pelvic health, menstrual cycle, nutritional needs or relationship with food and their body.
As my business has evolved, I’ve been fortunate to work with so many amazing women. What they’ve had in common (aside from pelvic floor issues) is that they don’t want their pelvic health to be an obstacle to their training.
For some of my personal training clients, training a particular way has been an important part of their mental health. Or maybe it’s abou spending time with a partner or fitness community. For others, being able to run after kids or jump at a trampoline party has been the goal of creating a well-functioning pelvic floor.
Here’s how I can help:
Knowledge of female anatomy
A huge part of becoming a personal trainer was learning anatomy. The body isn’t just a series of muscles, joints, and bones! The body is a system of other systems, all of which can influence each other. What can affect the pelvic floor can be driven by something happening elsewhere. What is happening with the pelvic floor may have a knock-on effect on other muscles and systems.
However, there was not much training on pelvic floor anatomy which is why I’ve taken other courses to help join the dots! Some of my favorites have been:
Brianna Battles Pregnancy and Postpartum Athleticism
Pop up Pro (working with clients who have pelvic organ prolapse)
Physiodetective – The Female Athlete
Burrell education – various courses
Progressive Overload
Progressive overload is the foundation of getting stronger and being able to do more. I often refer to it as building capacity for a client. I talk about this more in my free download, 3C’s for a more Athletic Pelvic Floor
As a personal trainer in Leamington spa, working with awesome females, I use progressive overload ALL the time!
Progressive overload doesn’t have to be adding weights such as dumbells, barbells, or kettlebells.
It may also include the following
– Reduced rest in between sets
– Different positions
– Faster tempo (speed things up)
– Slower tempo – more time under tension
– Creating less stability
– Higher volume of training
– More challenging exercises
Variation in Exercise
When you are working through a rehab programme for pelvic floor muscles, the exercises can feel (dare I say it!) a bit repetitive or boring…!
Creating variety in any programme can keep you interested (therefore adhere better to your rehab) and yield better results. We don’t just move in one way so variety can help mirror training for life. Training for life helps make doing life easier!
Strategies (breathing, positioning etc)
Being able to combine my pelvic health and personal training knowledge means I have a bunch of strategies that I can use with clients. Whether that’s breathing strategies (there are more than simply exhaling on exertion!) looking at how we can change loading (in the pelvic floor and body) or helping a client reduce tension when they exercise.
Pressure Management
One of the most challenging aspects of my personal training qualification was revisiting physics (deep groan!). I didn’t like it at school and then suddenly it was here again! BUT super useful in helping to understand so many aspects that apply to the pelvic floor. Such as load management and pressure management.
Building an exercise programme for the pelvic floor
I love problem solving!! With clients with pelvic health issues, it’s often the question of
“I have a prolapse, how can I run”
“I leak during deadlifts, how do I stay dry”
“I’m a year post-baby and still leak”
I love solving specific problems for my clients. It makes my brain work. HARD! It’s challenging and rewarding. Clients may have done another pelvic floor exercise programme. Or working with another coach. But working 1:1 with my personal training clients is how I work out what’s going on and then build a training plan which helps them reach their goals.
Coaching skills
I remember an instructor on my personal training course saying,
“Do exercises your clients need you for and they’ll buy more sessions”
This did not sit well with me!!
I don’t work long term with my 1:1 personal training clients in Leamington Spa and online. I want my clients to learn everything they need, apply it to their own body and situation and then no longer need me. I love it when clients feel educated and safe enough to make decisions about their training. Or feel strong enough or for their next logical step be exactly the training they want to do.
Personal trainer provides support and celebration
My personal training clients have access to me during my working hours. If they want to check-in or ask questions or have a rant, they can! My aim is to create a space where they feel comfortable sharing some very personal details.
I am here to celebrate all your wins! Whether that’s because you’re leaking less. Or your prolapse symptoms feel better. Perhaps you’ve done your first dry run. Maybe a heavy deadlift post prolapse diagnosis. It could be building a habit around pelvic floor exercises or thinking less about your prolapse.
If you are experiencing pelvic floor issues and would like to get back to the exercise you love without leaking or worrying about making your prolapse worse, book a call here
Not ready to chat quite yet, that’s totally fine, check out my services page and see if it sounds like the help you need
Online and in-person personal training in Leamington Spa
Postnatal or pelvic health rehab
You can find all of my FREE resources here