Check Yourself (for Diastisis Recti) before You Wreck Yourself

We’re highlighting Diastasis Recti for July’s Tuesday Tips. Can’t pronounce it? Don’t worry, it gives us a hard time too! Diastasis Recti is more commonly called abdominal separation. While it is most common from pregnancy, men & women can experience abdominal separation from incorrectly engaging their core (or not engaging it all) through strenuous workouts, excessive weight gain, & more. Moves like pushups, plank, sit-ups, boat & even simply lying down and getting up can magnify the abdominal separation.

So what’s the problem with abdominal separation? The separation & weakness of the abdominal wall can lead to pelvic floor instability such as lower back pain, sacroiliac joint pain, & urinary incontinence. And nobody wants any of that!

It’s important to check yourself so that you know what workouts work for you & how to modify various poses you may find in any given yoga class. There are tons of resources available online to help guide you in checking yourself. Our favorite is by Body Fit by Amy & we’ve included a link to her YouTube video here.

It’s always good to check with your doctor, midwife, or a physical therapist for a reliable diagnosis. Lucky for me, my mom is a PT & helped me triple check post-pregnancy (our friend Nina at Seas the Yoga helped too & lit a fire in us to better understand Diastasis Recti & core engagement!). My results: mild abdominal separation.

Stay tuned this month as we share moves to help strengthen your core in a safe way.