New studio focuses on pelvic floor health
A new yoga, fitness and pilates studio specializing in core and pelvic floor health has opened in the west end.
The Willow Studio opened in Kawartha Heights Business and Professional Centre earlier this month. It’s the only studio in Ontario focusing on pelvic floor exercises.
Stephanie Reynolds opened the studio after several years of teaching yoga in the city.
She said the pelvic floor is an internal muscle that’s often forgotten or overlooked.
It can either be too tight or too weak, causing incontinence (peeing when you sneeze or jump or laugh), an urgency to pee, pain during sex, or prolapse (the muscle can’t support organs so they start to sag down), for example.
About 50 per cent of women in Canada struggle with the dysfunction, which is often caused by childbirth or aging, Reynolds said. Symptoms can range from mildly irritating to completely debilitating.
“There are some women that can’t even leave the house because they’re afraid they’ll pee their pants,” she said.
Typically, women are prescribed surgery or Kegels for pelvic floor dysfunction.
But Kegels aren’t always done properly, Reynolds said, and won’t help if the pelvic floor is already tight.
Reynolds came across pelvic floor dysfunction exercises after having her first child. She used to run regularly until she gave birth.
Afterwards, she couldn’t run around the block without peeing her pants.
Within a few weeks of exercising her pelvic floor, Reynolds was back at it – though she points out that everyone heals at different rates.
The Peterborough resident had always dreamed of opening her own studio and decided to focus on core and pelvic floor health to help empower women and raise awareness of the dysfunction.
Willow also a pelvic floor physio therapist on site.
Reynolds recommends an assessment by the physio therapist, or taking one of her workshops to better understand the pelvic floor before starting classes.
She also encourages women to sign up for seven classes, so they’re able to see results. It’s $96 for a package of seven.
The Willow Studio took over Curves’ former spot in the westend plaza.
Reynolds just finished renovating the 2,150 square-foot space into a modern, sleek studio with a spacious lounge, showers and private treatment rooms.
She secured some funding for her business through Community Futures Peterborough through the Eastern Ontario Development Program grant and the Peterborough Economic Development’s Starter Company Plus grant.
A grand opening was held May 4.
Reynolds offers regular yoga, fitness and pilates classes as well.
For more information, go to www.willowptbo.com