Kegels vs. Holistic Pelvic Floor Care: Why Hypopressives Are the Breath of Fresh Air Your Pelvis Needs

If you’ve ever been told to “just do your Kegels” to fix pelvic floor issues, you’re not alone. Kegels are often hailed as the magic ticket for everything from incontinence to pelvic pain. But here’s the thing: they’re just one piece of the puzzle—and for some people, not even the right piece.

Enter holistic pelvic floor programmes, with Hypopressives leading the charge. These approaches aren’t just about clenching and hoping for the best; they’re about working with your body in a way that feels natural, restorative, and (dare I say it?) empowering. Let’s break it down.

Kegels: The Good, The Bad, and The Overrated

The Good

Kegels are like strength training for your pelvic floor muscles. When done right, they can help tighten and tone those muscles, giving you more control over things like bladder leaks or that “heavy” feeling in the pelvis.

The Bad

But here’s the catch: not everyone needs a stronger pelvic floor. Some people already have tight, overactive muscles, and adding more tension with Kegels is like trying to fix a charley horse by flexing harder. which unfortunately doesn’t work.

The Overrated

Even if Kegels are what your pelvic floor needs, they only focus on isolated muscle contractions. Your pelvic floor doesn’t exist in a vacuum—it’s part of a whole-body system that includes your breathing, posture, core, and even your mental state. That’s where holistic approaches shine.

Why Holistic Pelvic Floor Care Can Work Magic

Holistic pelvic floor programmes don’t just focus on the muscles—they take into account how your whole body works together. They recognise that your pelvic floor doesn’t act alone, and neither should your recovery or wellness plan.

This is what makes Hypopressives such an amazing way to holistically work with your body and your pelvic floor.

What Are Hypopressives?

Hypopressives combine breathing, posture, and active stretching to create a functional pelvic floor and during the apnoea breath a natural lift and activation of the pelvic floor and core. Think of it as the opposite of a Kegel—it’s less about clenching and more about creating space.

How Hypopressives Work

Breathing Is Key: By using specific breathing techniques, Hypopressives help you activate your diaphragm, via your ribs and this creates a mirroring movement pattern in your pelvic floor. Not only that but during the breath pause and active rib stretch a vacuum-like effect is generated that gently lifts your pelvic organs and relaxes your pelvic floor.

Posture Matters: Hypopressives align your body to take pressure off your pelvis and core, so everything works together harmoniously. And often times this is the piece of the puzzle that makes the biggest difference.

Relaxation and Connection: Instead of brute-force strengthening, you’re building awareness and balance, which can help resolve overactivity, tension and encourage engagement in an underachieve pelvic floor.

Kegels vs. Hypopressives: The Low Down

| Kegels | Hypopressives |

|---------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|

| Focus on contraction | Focus on relaxation and natural activation |

| Isolated pelvic floor work| Whole-body integration |

| Helpful for weakness | Helpful for weakness and overactivity |

| Can feel repetitive | Feels restorative and meditative |

Who Benefits Most from Hypopressives?

While Hypopressives can be beneficial for everyone, they’re particularly game-changing if you:

- Struggle with pelvic organ prolapse.

- Have an overactive pelvic floor (tight muscles).

- Feel disconnected from your core or breathing.

- Want a gentler, more sustainable approach to pelvic health.

Why Holistic Matters

Your body isn’t just a collection of parts—it’s an intricate, connected system. A holistic pelvic floor programme with Hypopressives respects that, addressing not just the symptoms but the actual causes of dysfunction.

When we step back and see the bigger picture, we realise pelvic health isn’t about doing 3 or 100 Kegels a day. It’s about finding balance, building connection, and giving your body what it truly needs.

Ready to Breathe Life into Your Pelvic Floor?

If you’re curious about ditching the Kegel-only approach and diving into something that feels more intuitive and supportive, Hypopressives might be your new best friend.

I’d love to show you how this technique can work for you. Join me for a workshop or one-on-one session where we’ll explore how to integrate Hypopressives into your routine.

Because when it comes to pelvic health, it’s not just about clenching—it’s about connecting.

To book a workshop space - online via zoom - Click here