3 tips for looking after your pelvic floor after birth
For some women, it can be tempting to do more in the early stages after baby because they feel better than they thought they would! But whether you end up having a caesarian or vaginal delivery - your pelvic floor goes through some stuff! Not only does it have to...
Did you know there are 7 different ways to be fatigued?
Have you ever had a full 8 hours of sleep at night but still woken up feeling exhausted? Of course there are lots of reasons this might happen (sickness, hormones etc) but have you ever considered there might be more to 'resting' than just sleeping? People often ask...
Why an early postnatal physio assessment is a great idea
This is something I see time and time again. ▶️ Mamas who are afraid they’ll make their abdominal separation worse▶️ Mamas who are afraid they’ll give themselves a prolapse▶️ Mamas who are afraid they’ll injure themselves All feelings are valid. And sure, sometimes...
Why Being Motivated Isn’t Enough
If you've ever seen a physio, I'm sure you've been asked "Have you been doing your exercises?" I have been a physio for 18 years and I must admit, I do still ask this question...but my reasons for asking it have definitely...
5 Ways to check if you’re contracting your pelvic floor properly
How do you know if you’re doing your pelvic floor exercises (aka kegels) properly? There are many wild and wonderful things women do when they think they’re contracting their pelvic floor! You might think this isn’t an issue for you because you haven’t got...
Top tips for starting a new exercise habit
Starting a new exercise habit can be so tough. I mean, you KNOW it’s good for you. you WANT to be that person. You might have even gone out and bought new workout gear to get you motivated! But then it doesn’t happen… Or you start off well, but it just doesn’t last....
5 different breathing techniques (and when and how to use them)
Breathing is a bit of a ‘buzz’ topic at the moment, don’t you think? But is there is a right way to breathe and wrong way? Are we ‘supposed’ to breathe in and out through our nose or mouth? Into our belly? What about alternate nostrils; are we supposed to be doing...
Can you improve your balance?
. We often think of good balance as one skill - something we either have or we don’t! I often hear in consults or classes when I ask someone to do an activity that requires a bit of balance: “Sorry, my balance is terrible”! So what is balance? Balance is your body’s...
Should Pregnant Women Lift Weights?
We know it’s important to exercise during pregnancy, but can you lift weights when you’re pregnant? Or is it too much for your body to add weight when you’re already carrying around a weight of your own? This is a question I come across quite a bit in my group...
Wearing Tubigrip during or after Pregnancy
Tubigrip is a compression garment that can be worn on your tummy either during pregnancy, or after you have had your baby. It is of most benefit when you are active, either carrying out day to day tasks or walking, and should be removed overnight or if you sleep...
Exercising with your Menstrual Cycle
If you are a woman who has a menstrual cycle, have you ever noticed or considered that the type of exercise your body craves varies through the month? Last week, I pulled the pin on TWO gym classes - one of my main forms of exercise during the week! I love these...
3 reasons you should practise breathing
Breathing. We do it every day, multiple times a day in fact… so why should we practise something that comes naturally to us? Surely we just instinctively know how to breathe, right? Well the truth is, certain events in our lives such as pregnancy & birth, injuries...
I’ve had a baby. When can I start running again?
When I was pregnant with my first baby, I used to get so jealous whenever I would see someone running! It’s not that I was a big runner before pregnancy, but for some reason watching someone do something that I couldn’t turned me into…well, an angry 3 year old....
Understanding and Managing Anxiety
*GUEST POST* This article has been written by Imogen Furner for GLOW Physio. Imogen is a Registered Psychologist based on the Gold Coast Anxiety... it is unfortunately a buzz word at the moment. Not the kind of buzz word we were hoping for I’m guessing! Anxiety may be...
Exercise in Pregnancy – What is Safe and What You Should Avoid
The word has spread that exercising during pregnancy is not only safe but beneficial for both mum and bub. This is great news! Many of us know exercising in pregnancy keeps us fit and stops us from putting on more weight than we need to, but the research tells us that...
Micro-breaks – my top tip for desk workers!
I harp on about this a lot! Especially to anyone I treat for pain aggravated by desk/computer work! #sorrynotsorry Microbreaks are tiny little breaks you take regularly throughout the day to mix up your position/posture. They can be very short (even 30seconds can...
What is TENS and how can it help in labour?
I clearly remember a point in my first pregnancy when I looked down at my growing belly and had a sudden (and quite shocking) realisation that I was only going to get bigger and that this baby had to come out somehow! I know this sounds crazy, especially for a woman...
When should I see a Physio after Birth?
This is a common question I get asked by the clients I see for group exercise or Physio during pregnancy. It seems many think they need to wait to see a physio until 6 weeks after birth or when they get the ‘all clear’ from their doctor (I’ll save my thoughts on the...
Mastitis – 3 Myths and how you can Manage it Better
Did you know up to 1 in 3 women suffer from mastitis at some stage in their breastfeeding journey? If you have not suffered from mastitis yourself, you most likely know someone who has, which means you also know how awful it can be! Often women have pain, feel unwell...
3 Exercises to Prepare Your Body for Birth
Late-stage pregnancy is such a unique time for many women. Discomfort is starting to set in (for some much earlier than others!) and there is often this weird tug of war between the you who is just sick of being pregnant and the you who is nervous and maybe a bit...