Embrace Journey
WITH TENAE
As an 8+ year pelvic floor specialist, I was shocked that not a single medical professional acknowledged that being post-TFMR IS postpartum. This is a postpartum experience since the body carried a pregnancy, endured a procedure or delivery, and experienced hormonal fluctuations – all while coping with grief and loss.
Enduring a TFMR/pregnancy loss is complex. It’s not just physical or emotional – it’s both of these elements being interconnected throughout the entire process. The Embrace Journey heavily considers how the emotional aspects of a TFMR or pregnancy loss affect the entire body from the pelvic floor to the nervous system. This journey addresses both of these elements together through releasing techniques, breath work and intentional movement.
I want to bridge this gap in women’s health and care for TFMR and Loss moms. Navigating the loss of our very wanted pregnancy and baby is hard enough, but to compound this issue further with a lack of resources and referrals for physical rehabilitation adds another layer of challenge, confusion, frustration and isolation.
Pelvic floor care is not commonly discussed or mentioned after enduring this unfortunate chapter, but I’m here to shed light on the matter and be a pillar of support during this time.
Please take your time. You can go at your own pace and move in your own time.
PART 1
The first part of the Embrace Journey can help you begin addressing pelvic floor health gently and slowly. I’ll guide you through releasing techniques and breathwork. We’ll begin by releasing the overly tense areas in the body to address how the body harbors grief and trauma after a TFMR (termination for medical reasons). Our nervous system is in protective mode after enduring trauma, loss and grief, and this protective mechanism can affect the nature of our posture and muscular tissue. If our nervous system is heightened or stressed, it can cause physical guarding, tension and constriction, which directly impact the pelvic floor. After opening up and releasing tense areas, we’ll walk through breathwork techniques to continue to regulate the nervous system and encourage the pelvic floor to soften and relax. This is a tender time in your life, and I want you to be tender and loving towards your body.
I programmed this part of the Embrace Journey with the heavy and unbearable emotions in mind. Grief has no timeline, and everyone has a different experience with it. I want you to honor your body and consider your tender heart. Please be kind and gentle to yourself during this process. This portion of the Embrace Journey can be returned to when TFMR anniversaries or triggers are approaching or happening. All of these techniques can help reduce a heightened nervous system and the pelvic floor’s reaction to tighten up without having to physically touch the pelvic or pelvic floor region.
I genuinely hope this information helps bring you relief and softening during this incredibly hard time in your life.
Thank you for allowing me to be part of this journey with you. May you embrace each day and moment ♥️
PART 2
The second part of the Embrace Journey involves returning to the pelvic floor and pelvic region. As a TFMR mom myself, I fully understand and empathize with how difficult and emotional it is returning to this space.
This place carried a multitude of emotions for all of us – hope, happiness, excitement and nervousness followed by grief, devastation, longing, depression, emptiness, anxiety and so much more. Touching this area, or being aware of it, can cause all of these emotions to return instantly. The mere thought of it can make your jaw clench or make you hold your breath.
My honest and pure intention with creating this part is to encourage you to slowly reconnect to the pelvic floor in your own time. I’ll guide you through 6 restorative poses that have been proven to release a tense pelvic floor.
As an 8+ year pelvic floor specialist, I highly suggest practicing the Releasing Techniques and Breathwork in Part 1 before stepping into Part 2 so you have the resources to reconnect to the pelvic floor. Reconnecting to the pelvic floor can provide us with information about our bodies and what we may want or need to work on before returning to life’s demands, a workout program or a sub-pregnancy.
Please move at your own pace and honor your body. I truly hope all of this information can help you address any pelvic floor issues.
PART 3
The last portion of the Embrace Journey is dynamic and strength based. This portion of the journey was created for women who find solace in movement, crave a return to their original workouts, desire to become pregnant in the future or simply want to improve their overall strength.
I’ll guide you through mobility, core connection and strength training fundamentals throughout this part of the Embrace Journey. I’m shifting the focus towards progressive strength training while considering the pelvic floor’s functionality. We’ll synchronize the pelvic floor with the rest of the deep core musculature to improve strength, stability and overall function.
This section of the Embrace Journey is inspired by all of the women I’ve trained and worked with over the years. This is dedicated to all women who enjoy any form of movement – lifting, running, dancing, swimming, playing sports, etc.
I hope you enjoy carving out time for yourself, prioritizing your pelvic floor and core health while moving with intention.
Thank you for allowing me to be part of this journey with you. May you embrace each day and moment ♥️