Finding Your Room to Breathe: Why Ribcage Mobility is the Secret to Pelvic Health

PELVIC HEALTHWELLNESSSELF CAREMINDFUL MOVEMENT

Jodi Bremner PT, Founder of Hervana Women's Wellness

5 min read

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As the air in the Annapolis Valley begins to soften and the days stretch out with that golden, late-spring glow, I’ve found myself thinking a lot about space. Specifically, the space we often forget to claim for ourselves: both in our busy schedules and within our own bodies.

At Hervana Women’s Wellness, we’ve chosen a theme for this upcoming June: Spacious Breath.

It sounds lovely, doesn't it? Like a sigh of relief. But as a pelvic floor physiotherapist, I can tell you that "spacious breath" is so much more than just a vibe. It is a physical, mechanical necessity for your health. If you’ve been struggling with pelvic tension, leaking, or a sense of "heaviness," the missing piece of your puzzle might not be your pelvic floor at all: it might be your ribs.

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The Piston: How Your Ribcage and Pelvic Floor Dance Together

To understand why I’m so obsessed with your ribcage, we have to look at how the body manages pressure. Think of your torso as a canister. The top of that canister is your diaphragm (a large muscle tucked right up inside your lower ribs), and the bottom is your pelvic floor.

In a perfect world, these two move like a coordinated piston:

When you inhale: Your ribcage should expand in 360 degrees (front, sides, and back). As the ribs open, your diaphragm drops down. To make room for that internal pressure, your pelvic floor gently yields and lengthens.
When you exhale: Your ribs recoil, the diaphragm lifts, and your pelvic floor naturally rises back up.

It’s a beautiful, rhythmic dance that happens thousands of times a day. But here’s the catch: if your ribcage is "stiff" or "stuck": perhaps from years of "sucking it in," poor posture, or high stress: the diaphragm can't move properly.

When the diaphragm is stuck, that pressure has nowhere to go but down. Instead of a gentle massage, your pelvic floor gets a constant, heavy shove.

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Why Ribcage Mobility is a Secret Weapon

If your ribs are locked down, you likely rely on "shallow chest breathing." This keeps your body in a state of high alert, and it forces your pelvic floor to work overtime to manage the pressure of every breath.

This is why, in pelvic physiotherapy, we don't just look at the pelvis. We look at how you breathe. We look at whether your back ribs can expand when you inhale. We look at whether you can soften the tension in your jaw and your chest to allow that "spaciousness" to happen.

When we restore mobility to your ribcage, we:

Reduce Pelvic Pressure: We stop the "shove" and start the "massage."
Improve Core Function: Your deep core muscles work best when the ribs and pelvis are stacked and moving well.
Calm the Nervous System: Deep, 360-degree breathing is the fastest way to tell your brain you are safe.

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The Quiet Connection: Stress and Your Breath

We’ve talked before on the blog about The Quiet Connection and how your nervous system is the "remote control" for your pelvic floor.

When we are stressed, our bodies naturally move into a "fight or flight" pattern. We breathe high in the chest, our shoulders creep toward our ears, and our ribcages become rigid. This physical tension is a signal to the pelvic floor to "clench and protect."

By focusing on "Spacious Breath" this June, we aren't just moving our bodies; we are practicing the art of down-regulating our nervous systems. We are teaching our bodies that it is safe to let go, safe to expand, and safe to heal.

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Partnering with Our Wellness Community

One of the things that makes Hervana so special is our "Haven" concept. While I love seeing you 1-on-1 for clinical care, I also believe that healing happens in community and in beautiful, restorative spaces.

This June, we are taking the "Spacious Breath" theme on the road, partnering with some beautiful wellness spots in Nova Scotia.

Seasons of Self at Saltair Nordic Spa

On June 11th, I’ll be hosting our Seasons of Self: Spacious Breath event at Saltair Nordic Spa & Wellness.

We’ll be using the heat of the Sauna and the refreshing cold of the Nordic cycle to help us reconnect with our bodies. We will practice ribcage mobility exercises and mindful breathing in a space designed for deep rest. It’s a chance to experience Wellness Retreats-style luxury right here in our own backyard.

Rooted: A Women’s Pelvic & Nervous System Reset

I am also so excited to announce our partnership with The Loft Yoga Studio in Berwick for a brand-new workshop!

Rooted is not your typical yoga class. It is a clinically-informed, deeply restorative experience designed specifically for the female body. We’ll spend 90 minutes bridging the gap between evidence-based pelvic health and nervous system regulation.

The Education: We’ll talk about the jaw/core/pelvic floor connection and how to stop "gripping" through your midsection.
The Movement: Gentle, somatic Mindful Movement that focuses on opening the ribs and grounding the pelvis.
The Rest: A deep, supported "reset" with bolsters and blankets to let your system truly land.

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Creating Your Own Haven

Whether you join us for a Nordic event at Saltair, a workshop at The Loft, or a clinical visit, the goal is always the same: helping you find your way back to yourself.

While Hervana is growing and partnering with amazing local businesses, our clinical home for one-on-one pelvic floor physiotherapy remains at Berwick Chiropractic Health & Wellness. If you’ve been feeling "stuck": physically or emotionally: come see me there for a personalized assessment. We’ll look at your ribs, your breath, your pelvic floor, and more to build a path toward freedom and ease.

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Join the Circle

Are you ready to find your room to breathe?

Book a Clinical Session: Visit me at Berwick Chiropractic for 1-on-1 pelvic health support.
Join an Event: Check out our Seasonal Offerings for June dates at Saltair and The Loft.
Stay Connected: Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to hear about our upcoming Mindful Movement weekly Yoga Classes and the upcoming Perimenopause Reset.

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This June, let’s stop holding our breath. Let’s expand. Let’s make room for the light, the joy, and the healing that comes when we finally let ourselves be rooted and spacious all at once.