IPR work
Internal Pelvic Release Work
This therapy is aimed at women who:
Have persistent pain or discomfort in the pelvic region
Have painful scars in their pelvic region, from birth or surgery
Experience painful sex
Are healing from birth
Feel their pelvic floor is weak
Feel their pelvic floor is tight
Who have persistent hip or back pain that other therapies just can’t quite fix
A woman’s pelvic floor is often only talked about after childbirth, but its role and importance goes far beyond this. From an anatomy perspective, the pelvis is a series of ligaments, muscles and fascia that surround and support the bladder, womb, cervix, vagina and bowel. The purpose of the pelvic fibres is to hold these organs in a balanced, suspensory fashion. The central role the pelvis plays in stabilising the body can’t be underestimated.
Tension in this area can, therefore, severely restrict movement and flow throughout the entire body. Beyond this, soft issues can hold memories and emotions – essentially we can hold “issues in the tissues” stemming from grief, tenderness, frustration, pain, shame, confusion and regret.
Internal pelvic release work allows gentle and deliberate touch to support a softening in these issues, allowing blood, hormones and energy to flow in the ligaments, muscle and fascia as they should. This gentle, holistic approach allows pelvic tissues to relax and improve overall body movement and comfort in a way that has probably never been experienced before. Often tightness in the pelvic area can also be linked to emotional stress or trauma. Releasing this tension can lead to emotional healing, which may also alleviate physical pain.
The first time you meet with Gayle for your pelvic release work session will begin with a relaxed, caring conversation involving listening, shared wisdoms and detailed information on the practice.
Internal pelvic release work enters through your vagina, always with you in control, with your consent and shared information. External and internal touch work is always kind, respectful and present.
This treatment may feel different to the external touch you have experienced with regular massage, as that goes through the deep outside layers of skin and fat. Internal release work should never feel painful and your feedback is continually sought to guide the session.
Sessions end with a cuppa and a sweet treat and guidance on how to continue with self care. This may include further sessions, or home exercises that support mobilisation and movement.
The simple answer is “no”. No preparation is necessary, just bring yourself along for care.
It is preferable to have a session when you are not bleeding, as many women feel too vulnerable or tender during the bleeding phase. However, when bleeding is light or at the ‘tail end’ you may wish to still proceed – do what feels right for you.
Internal pelvic floor work is gentle but deliberate. The touch pressure will align with your preferences and your feedback will be continually sought throughout the session.
Women are usually only familiar with vaginal examinations that explore the top wall, such as a pap smear. While internal pelvic floor work enters through the vagina, the contact is made
with the soft tissue connections that stabilise the bones and organs, so the sensation is much different. The treatment may feel ‘weird’ or ‘different’ to anything you’ve experience before, as you’re not working through skin and fat like external bodywork (massage) does, but it should not feel painful. Internal work is always slow, kind, gentle and respectful and always with you in control.
Everything goes at your pace and with your consent. You can choose to pause or stop the session at anytime.
It’s natural to want to know about treatments that affect you in such a personal way. Gayle has worked closely with clients for 30 years and is happy to answer any questions you may have and discuss the treatment in more detail to see if it’s the right fit for you.
Feel free to get in contact here.