My #1 Tip for ALL Pelvic Floor Issues 🥁

(Drumroll, please…)

BREATHE.

I know, I know — you’re already breathing. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be reading this 😄
But I’m talking about intentional, deep breathing into your ribcage, as often as you can throughout the day.

Not the quick, shallow kind.
Not the “holding your breath while doing everything” kind (we’re all guilty).
But slow, expansive breathing.

What Is Ribcage Breathing Anyway?

Ribcage breathing means breathing in a way that makes your ribs expand in all directions — side to side, front to back, and even slightly upward.

Your belly might move a little too, and that’s okay — but the focus is the ribcage, not pushing the belly out.

Why does that matter?
For some people — especially those with diastasis recti or pelvic organ prolapse — traditional belly breathing can actually increase pressure where we don’t want it. Ribcage breathing helps manage pressure more safely and effectively.

Why Ribcage Breathing Is a Game-Changer ✨

This simple habit can:
🌟 Increase oxygen flow (hello, tissue healing)
🌟 Calm your nervous system (less stress, less pain)
🌟 Help move fluid and reduce swelling
🌟 Decrease leaking and heaviness during exercise

Not bad for something you can do anytime, anywhere.

“But This Feels Hard…”

That’s common! Ribcage breathing can feel tricky if you have stiffness or tightness in your:

• Mid-back

• Neck

• Ribcage

• Breathing diaphragm

That’s why when I work with pelvic floor issues, I rarely treat just the pelvic floor. The body is connected — and everything from your ribs to your spine to your breathing patterns matters.

Bottom Line 💛

If you only do one thing for your pelvic floor today…
Take a deep breath.
Then another.
And another.

Your pelvic floor will thank you — quietly, of course 😉

Mia Dang, PT, is a pelvic physiotherapist with extensive supplementary training in pelvic floor physiotherapy and perinatal care