Stop sucking in your pansa (belly)

Mete la pansa (suck it in) is something I heard often as a teenager and growing up. I grew up with the idea that having a pansa (belly) was a no no so like many, I sucked it in to make it appear smaller. During pictures, while wearing a bikini, and as much as I could to keep my pansa from “hangin out”

Honestly, I didn’t stop sucking my pansa up until a few years ago when I started learning about my core and what that actually did to my pelvic floor. 

You see anytime you suck it in your pelvic floor will naturally contract. Now, if you’re sucking it in on a daily (like I was) the pelvic floor muscles tense up. 

This creates dysfunction and eliminates the natural rhythm of what the pelvic floor is meant to do, which is relax & contract. 

This can lead to mismanaged pressure and an overactive pelvic floor that is not able to support you resulting in leaking when you cough, sneeze, and exercise. This can also lead to painful intercourse, because you’re not able to relax down there. 

✨The first step in getting out of this cycle myself,was acknowledging why I was doing? Why do I feel the need to look smaller? How do I feel about my body? This was probably the hardest step for me and still is sometimes. 

✨Second step is to retrain your body on how to breathe. Start implementing diaphragmatic breathing daily. 

✨Third step, check in with yourself throughout your day to see if you’re holding.

✨And fourth release, let go and be your beautiful, strong self. ❤️

XO, Leslie