196- Not All Breathing Is the Same // The Difference Between Breathwork and Breathing for Core Strength

If you've ever been told to "just breathe" for your pelvic floor, core, stress, or recovery... you may have wondered: What kind of breathing are we actually talking about? Because not all breathing serves the same purpose. In this episode, Dr. Des breaks down the important difference between breathwork for nervous system regulation and relaxation versus breathing within a brace for core strength, stability, and pressure management. You'll learn why both are valuable, when to use each, and why understanding the difference can be a game changer for pelvic floor health, exercise performance, pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and everyday movement. If you've ever felt confused by conflicting advice around breathing, core engagement, or pelvic floor function, this episode will help connect the dots. In This Episode, We Explore: ✨ The difference between breathwork and breathing for stability ✨ How breathing affects the nervous system, stress, and muscle tension ✨ What "breathing within a brace" actually means ✨ Why relaxation and support are both important for pelvic floor health ✨ Common mistakes like breath holding, belly sucking, and over-bracing ✨ When to focus on nervous system regulation versus pressure management ✨ How breathing changes during exercise, lifting, running, and daily activities ✨ Why adaptability is the true goal for your core and pelvic floor Why This Matters One of the biggest misconceptions in pelvic floor rehab is that there is one "right" way to breathe. In reality, your body needs different breathing strategies for different situations. Sometimes your nervous system needs relaxation and recovery. Other times your body needs stability, pressure management, and support. Learning how to move between those states is often the missing piece for women dealing with leaking, pelvic pain, prolapse, core weakness, tension, or difficulty returning to exercise. The Big Takeaway The healthiest pelvic floor isn't always relaxed. And it isn't always braced. It's adaptable. Your body should be able to relax when it needs recovery and create support when life demands strength. That flexibility is what allows you to move, lift, exercise, parent, and live with confidence. Want to Learn How to Apply This? Inside the Pelvic Floor, Core & More App and RESTORE, you'll learn how to use breathwork, pressure management, mobility, and strength training together to create a core and pelvic floor that are strong, responsive, and resilient. ✨ Learn more here: https://balancedmomtality.com/the-app Want a Guided Healing and Rehab Program to Help You Reconnect and RESTORE? If you’re ready to rebuild your core and pelvic floor with a structured, step-by-step plan, check out RESTORE, my 12-week pelvic floor and core rehabilitation program inside the Pelvic Floor, Core & More App. Inside RESTORE you’ll learn how to: ✔ release tension and improve mobility ✔ reconnect breath and pelvic floor coordination ✔ strengthen your core safely ✔ progress back to lifting, running, and higher-impact activities All with guided lessons, workouts, and support from a pelvic floor physical therapist. Inside RESTORE you’ll get: ✔️ 12 weeks of progressive breathwork, mobility & strength ✔️ 5- and 20-minute workouts to fit your life ✔️ Deep pelvic floor education (with zero fluff) ✔️ Real-life tools to reduce pain, improve leaks, and feel like YOU again ✔️ Access to our private community and support Inside RESTORE, we cover: Breathwork + pelvic floor connection Mobility + posture Nervous system regulation Core control + strength building Real-life application to everyday movement And how to stop leaking, rushing to the bathroom, or feeling disconnected from your core You’ll walk away from RESTORE with clarity, confidence, and a body you trust again. JOIN RESTORE NOW FOR INSTANT ACCESS TO LESSONS AND EXERCISES!! JOIN NOW AND SAVE %50!! https://pelvic-floor-core-more.passion.io/checkout/86181d29-9811-4a33-80df-a82de21fa