A practice for reconnecting to your nervous system and pelvis.

Hey friends! This week has been a doozy out there in the world.

I’ve been exploring ways to care for both myself and my clients in the most nourishing ways possible. To me, there is a lot to be said about simply being and connecting with oneself. To respond to your body’s requests instead of follow a script of “have to’s”.

Recently, I spoke with the amazing Anna Maltby, author of How to Move. We had a fantastic conversation about kegels in the culture, but here’s the part of our conversation I keep coming back to:

Anna: …If you had to zoom out and examine WHY you think kegels still have such a hold (heh) on us as a society, what would you say? When I first started rant-writing about this, I was like, no need for a content warning here, it doesn't have anything to do with diet culture but now I'm like… maybe it actually does??

Cait: To me, it feels less strictly diet culture per se and more centering around the concept of patriarchy and the myth of the perfect woman. That, and bounce back culture (which is, of course, diet culture!). It's this idea that this space in our bodies must be coifed, tight, exercised, and on a regimen for performative purposes. When, in reality (or my opinion of reality) — it is the most vulnerable, private space in the body; a place to build sovereignty. Kegels are just muscle contractions -- they really aren't bad or good, but rather a tool for specific circumstances. But I would love for the cultural focus on the pelvic floor to shift from one of control for performance to accessibility and awareness for embodiment.

I have to tell y’all, I honestly kind of surprised myself as these words spilled out of me and I realized it was one of the more true things I had ever said.

So. Here is a tiny, accessible practice from me focusing on reflexive movement, nervous system integration, and coming home to your body. I hope you love it.