Rediscovering Play: Why Your Inner Child is the Key to Pelvic Wellness

NERVOUS SYSTEM RESETPELVIC HEALTHSELF CAREWELLNESS

Jodi Bremner PT, Founder of Hervana Women's Wellness

5 min read

A smiling woman dancing in a sunlit field, illustrating inner child play and pelvic wellness.

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Welcome back to our July Joy Series. This month, we are leaning into the sunshine, not just the light that hits the earth, but the light that lives within us. Today, we’re exploring a topic that often gets tucked away in the "someday" folder of our adult lives: Play.

As women, we carry so much. We carry schedules, worries, groceries, and sometimes, the weight of others' expectations. We are master multitaskers, caretakers, and planners. But in the midst of all this "doing," we often forget how to simply be. We forget how to play.

You might be wondering: “Jodi, what does playing have to do with my pelvic health?”

As it turns out, everything.

In our sanctuary at Hervana, we don’t just look at muscles and ligaments. We look at the whole woman. And often, the key to unlocking chronic tension in the pelvic floor isn't another exercise, it's a return to the safety, curiosity, and lightness of your inner child.

The Pelvis: A Barometer for Safety

Think of your pelvic floor as a sensitive barometer. It is one of the first places in the body to react when we feel stressed, hurried, or "on guard." When we are stuck in a cycle of fight-or-flight, our nervous system sends a silent signal to our muscles to brace. We clench our jaws, we hike our shoulders, and we tuck our tailbones.

This chronic "guarding" is a protective mechanism. It’s your body’s way of trying to keep you safe in a world that feels demanding. But when we stay in this state for too long, it can lead to what we call non-relaxing pelvic floor dysfunction, a state where the muscles are too tight and have forgotten how to let go. This can manifest as pelvic pain, discomfort during intimacy, or even urinary urgency.

This is where pelvic floor physiotherapy comes in. But beyond the clinical techniques, we have to address the root: your nervous system needs to know it is safe to soften.

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Why Play is Medicine for Your Nervous System

When was the last time you did something just because it felt good? Not because it was a "workout" or because it was on your to-do list, but because it sparked a tiny flame of joy?

Play is the ultimate signal of safety to the brain. In the wild, animals only play when they are safe from predators. For us, play shifts the nervous system out of survival mode and into a state of "social engagement" and "rest and digest."

When we play, our breathing naturally deepens and slows. We move in ways that aren't linear or rigid. This shift is essential for healing. By inviting play back into our lives, we are telling our pelvic floor: “It’s okay. You can stop guarding now. We are safe.”

This connection between the mind and body is why we often suggest sauna as self-care, it’s about creating an environment where the nervous system can finally exhale.

Reconnecting with Your Inner Child

Your inner child is that part of you that still knows how to find wonder in the small things. She is the one who didn't care how she looked when she ran through the grass or how "correct" her form was when she danced.

Often, pelvic tension is tied to old stories of shame or the pressure to be "perfect" and "composed." Inner child work is about gently peeling back those layers of composition. It’s about giving yourself permission to be messy, loud, and uncurated.

When we reconnect with that version of ourselves, we often find that the physical tension we’ve been holding, sometimes for decades, starts to dissolve. We stop holding our breath and start finding our room to breathe.

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Three Playful Ways to Soften and Heal

You don't need a playground to start this work. You just need a little bit of curiosity. Here are three ways to weave play into your day to support your pelvic health:

1. The "Blowing Bubbles" Breath

In pediatric pelvic physiotherapy, we often use bubbles to help children learn to relax. You can do the same! Grab a bottle of bubbles or simply imagine you are blowing through a tiny straw.

The Practice: Take a soft breath in through your nose, letting your belly expand like a balloon. As you exhale slowly through pursed lips (as if blowing a bubble), feel your pelvic floor gently soften and drop. It’s a game of "how long can I make this bubble last?"
Why it works: This encourages the breath-pelvic floor connection without the pressure of "doing it right."

2. Mindful, Non-Linear Movement

Instead of a rigid gym routine, try "animal crawls" or simply rolling on a soft rug. Put on a song that makes you want to sway and let your hips lead the way.

The Practice: Get on all fours. Wiggle your hips. Reach your arms out. Roll over. There is no goal other than to feel the floor beneath you and the movement within you.
Why it works: This varied movement breaks the patterns of chronic guarding and helps your brain map your pelvic area in a positive, low-stress way.

3. Curiosity Over Judgment

Next time you feel a "ping" of tension or a moment of discomfort, instead of getting frustrated, ask: “What would my five-year-old self say about this?”

The Practice: Usually, she’d just be curious. “Oh, that’s an interesting feeling! I wonder why that’s there?” This shift from judgment to curiosity immediately lowers the "threat" level in your brain.

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A happy woman practicing modern dance in a bright living room filled with indoor plants.

Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy

Upcoming Experiences

Three happy female friends walking through a golden field at sunset with mountains in the background.

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How a Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist Can Help

Sometimes, the path back to play feels blocked by physical pain or a nervous system that has been "on" for too long. That is exactly why I do what I do.

As a pelvic floor physiotherapist, my role is to walk beside you as you rediscover this part of yourself. We use specialized techniques to help release the physical tension, but we also work on the "why." Whether it's through manual therapy, guided relaxation, or movement, our goal is to help you feel at home in your body again.

Healing isn't always a straight line, and it certainly shouldn't be a chore. It is a season of rediscovery. It is a return to your own inner haven.

Finding Your Tribe

There is something incredibly healing about playing in community. At Hervana, we believe in the power of sisterhood. Whether it’s through a wellness retreat or a small gathering, being seen and supported by other women allows us to drop our guards and let our inner children out to play.

When we share our stories and our laughter, we realize we aren't alone in our struggles. That collective "exhale" is one of the most powerful tools for pelvic healing.

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A smiling woman blowing bubbles in a sunlit living room with plants, creating a peaceful atmosphere.

A diverse group of women sitting in a circle sharing laughter during a supportive wellness retreat.

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As we move through this July Joy Series, I invite you to look for one small moment today where you can let go of the "adult" and embrace the "child." Skip to the mailbox. Sing loudly in the car. Blow bubbles in your tea.

Your pelvic floor: and your soul: will thank you for it.

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Take a moment today to do one thing purely for the sake of your own delight, and notice how your body breathes a little deeper because of it.