Hypopressive exercise classes
Hypopressives should be famous!
“Just seen my client. You’ve done amazing work! Moving with so much more confidence and breathing with such ease. Must book myself in with you!” H.H. Women’s Health Physiotherapist
The exercises use a particular breathing technique with a series of different postures to regain core strength from the inside out. They support incontinence, prolapse (cystocele, rectocele, uterine prolapse), diastasis recti (aka tummy gap or abdominal separation), and back pain.
The word 'hypopressive' means to reduce pressure and this is what the exercises do: reduce pressure on the pelvic floor or abdominal muscles that are not functioning optimally. This might be as a result of physical or hormonal changes through pregnancy, birth or menopause.
The exercises work through supporting the respiratory diaphragm and the pelvic diaphragm to work together in an integrated way. Rather than focusing on the pelvic floor through target kegels, it's a whole body approach.
The other benefits of the hypopressive exercises are that you breathe more effectively (and deeper breaths support immunity) and improve your posture.
I also tailor yoga practices to support your hypopressive practice where needed, with individual exercises to reach your goals. We'll also consider your overall movement habits.
Usually, I teach the sequence 121 over two one-hour sessions, with a half hour follow up session to check your technique is good and you're experiencing an improvement in your symptoms. I can teach you in Caversham or online.
Small group sessions are also possible if you have friends that also want to learn this life skill!
What to expect.
Once you learn the sequence, it takes only 8 minutes each day to do your hypopressives practice. I like to do mine in the morning so it reminds me to have better posture all day.
You will have a video as part of the session to remind you of the different instructions to get the best results. It's ideal to practice daily at the beginning, but we can be realistic about what is possible for you.
You do not need any previous experience of hypopressives, yoga, pilates or anything else in order to learn. We practice in comfortable clothes, without shoes.
I invite you to get in touch to share what your symptoms are and to discuss if hypopressives training with me will improve your quality of life and overall wellness.
“I loved learning the hypopressives sequence and have found it nice and easy to actually incorporate into my daily routines (something I always struggle with!)
I felt the benefits after just a couple of weeks and can really feel my core and pelvic floor getting stronger which is great. I’ve also noticed a difference in my breathing.”
“I know Tessa from when I was pregnant with my second child, I did pregnancy yoga and then mum and baby yoga, both of which were lovely. When I saw that Tessa also trained in hypopressives I knew she was the person I wanted to see to help me.
I had 1:1 hypopressive sessions with Tessa which really worked for me The movements she showed me was something I could fit into my daily life, around work and being a mum.
Tessa has a wealth of knowledge and is very understanding. I am so pleased I got in touch with Tessa to help me”