Tao-Yoga

According to the ancient yoga teachings a residual energy called Kundalini lies dormant within us in the sacrum bone (part of the pelvic girdle). From an anatomical perspective, the sacrum along with the coccyx, ilium, ischium and pubis form the bony pelvis. The pelvic floor muscles attach to these bones and the muscle fascia. For many centuries the importance of this area has been known not only in yoga but also in different traditions, cultures and medical systems. The ancient Greeks knew about the importance of the sacrum bone and that’s why they called it sacrum which means sacred.

In the 1940’s, Dr. Kegel suggested that women need to exercise their pelvic floors. So, he instructed pelvic floor muscle contractions – Kegel exercises (named after him). However, pelvic floor muscle training was known millenniums before Dr. Kegel.

In the Yoga tradition this exercise is known as Mula bandha. It is part of pranayama (breathing exercises) and it is performed to control the flow of prana (vital energy). The word “bandha” in Sanskrit means binding, catching, closing, stopping or joining together. A bandha can be initiated in various yoga postures so that certain organs in the body are contracted in order to free or to unlock energy.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the energy known as Qi flows at the front part of the body through the conception vessel (Ren Mai) and in the back part through the governing vessel (Du Mai). There is an energy gap between the first point of the conception vessel – CV1 and the first point of the governing vessel – GV1 at the level of the anal sphincter. While performing a pelvic floor muscle contraction or squeezing the anal sphincter, we are actually closing the energy gap between the conception vessel and the governing vessel causing Qi to flow smoothly throughout the body. In TCM this exercise is used as a routine practice for health benefits and disease prevention. This also explains the high success rate of PH physiotherapy.

Any dysfunction in the pelvis or in the pelvic organs: the large intestine, the bladder and the uterus, may affect the pelvic floor muscles and may cause significant discomfort and/or pain in the whole body; as well, a general decrease to one’s vital energy. That’s why it is important to maintain good homeostasis, muscle strength and tonus in the pelvic floor muscles. Best strategy to prevent pelvic dysfunctions is through regular practice of certain yoga postures and Taoist techniques or so-called Tao-Yoga for the Pelvic Floor.

Our Tao-Yoga classes for Pelvic Health:

During the last decade yoga has become more and more popular in North America and around the world. The emerging awareness of the body-mind connection is actually a rediscovery of what has been the basis of practice of tao, yoga and meditation for thousands of years. The aim of our classes is to promote your innate awareness and open the energy network of chakras and meridians. By gentle guiding through different stretching, balance and breathing exercises, we will facilitate the achievement of a state of meditation where you will be alert and aware about your inner-self. The practice of Tao-Yoga and Meditation will activate your parasympathetic nervous system and help you achieve a state of thoughtless awareness and relaxation.