diaphragm function Archives - Pilates on George

Diastasis Recti: It’s Not About Closing the Gap

Movement Notes — Pilates on George — by Olya Kudryavtseva

QUICK ANSWER (TL;DR)

Diastasis recti is a separation of the rectus abdominis along the linea alba. It’s present in 60% of women at 6 weeks postpartum and around 33% at 12 months, meaning some persistence is normal. Recent research (Lee & Hodges) showed that linea alba function (its ability to generate tension) matters more than gap width. Crunches aren’t categorically forbidden. The entire system coordination is the goal.

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Rethinking Core Stability: Why Bracing Isn’t the Answer (and Breath Might Be)

Movement moment

Engage your core” might be the most overused—and underexplained—cue in modern movement.

It sounds powerful. It sounds scientific. But is it actually?

The idea that there is a group of muscles (the so-called “core”) that, when properly activated, will stabilise the spine, prevent injury, and cure low back pain is one of the most persistent myths in the rehab and fitness world. Read on to see what science has to say about this.

Breathing: The Missing Link in Movement

Movement moment

As a mum to a boy with asthma and a former yoga teacher, breath isn’t a novelty to me—it’s a necessity. I’ve spend countless visits to the emergency rooms with Neil since he was 3 yo using oxygen masks, steroids and all sorts of in-patient treatments.

I’ve taught people how to “just breathe” before I truly understood what that even meant. Now, after years in the health and fitness industry, and with the obsession with the science of movement, I’ve come to see breath as the quiet backbone of everything we do.

I also like to keep things simple. And breath is not simple. It’s layered, complex, and deeply tied into everything from spinal mechanics to emotional regulation. But if we can learn to understand it—not over-control it or mystify it—we can make our teaching more effective and our practice more sustainable.

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