Well, that got your attention! OK, a little word association game for you, you know the one, I say something and you tell me the first thing that comes into your head….. you ready? Pelvic Floor……….. yes I know, you immediately engaged in that well know activity where you stop breathing as you try to locate the said muscles, imagining being in a lift going up floor by floor, remember the postnatal physio giving you those to do?! Stopping mid pee as you rush to the phone? Remember that one? Could you ever do that one?! And for any guys reading this my physio painted a wonderful picture for you chaps to locate your pelvic floor was to imagine slowly walking into the freezing sea wearing nothing but your Speedos, the water rising steadily up your legs and boy are you determined not to let those testicles anywhere near the freezing water!! OK so pelvic floor located everyone?! And why is it we (well speaking personally here) only remember to do these clearly vital exercises when instructed to or reminded either during Pilates, Yoga or whatever exercise is your tipple or when someone says the words Pelvic Floor? Would we perhaps make more of an effort is they were visible muscles like stomach muscles?!
Well ladies there is excellent news, the Italian urologist and lover of heels Dr Maria Cerruto decided to undertake some clinical research with over 60 women under the age of 50. She found that those wearing heels of around 2 inches (their foot being held at a 15 degree from the ground!) not only had as good a posture as those wearing flats but more importantly showed less electrical activity in their pelvic floor muscles. This means that the angle at which the women were standing puts their pelvic floor muscles in a perfect position to improve their strength and their ability to contract. OH YES!!
Dr Cerruto of the University of Verona said “Women often have difficulty in carrying out the right exercises for the pelvic zone and wearing heels could be the solution. Like many women, I like high-heeled shoes,” she added. “It’s good to know they have potential health benefits.”
Reading the above made my day!
Now let’s not get carried away ladies, we’re not talking about your skyscraper heels here, although I’m sure once in a while won’t do any harm! Well, that’s the advice I’m giving myself.
Are you a heels or a flats woman?
I love both. There is something about wearing heels though that makes me feel quite different. I read an article in Psychologies Magazine some years ago about the psychology of the heel which made fascinating reading and to me complete sense.
What makes you chose heels over pumps? Who are you in heels? In which shoes do you feel at your most powerful as a woman? What is the reaction of people around when wearing heels?
Who do you become in your heels?
I am more confident. I am taller and more elegant. I walk slower. I see eye to eye with men which makes me feel much more able to take them on. I am more aware of my sexuality and all of these statements make me feel more powerful as a woman.
Imagine for one moment walking into a meeting in pumps how do you feel? This could be a meeting with your child’s head teacher or a board meeting or a meeting with a client. Now run the same story in heels? What’s the difference? In which do you have most ‘power’ as a woman? In which do you feel most authentic?
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