Let’s get into the Specifics

The pelvic floor can be visualized as a bowl that holds all the pelvic organs and tissues. Imagine a bowl shape sitting between your hips, from your belly button to your spine, everything in that bowl is considered to be in your pelvic floor. 

The female pelvic floor includes but is not limited to:

• Lower belly, Lower back, Hip Bone, Sit Bone, Pubic Bone
• Genital organs : Vagina, Uterus, Ovaries, Fallopian Tubes, Bladder, Colon 
• External Genitalia: Mons Pubis, Vulva, Labias, Clitoris, Urethral Opening, Vaginal Opening, Perineum, Anus
• Muscles: Pubococcygeus, Iliococcygeus, Obturator Internus, Puborectalis, Coccygeus, Transverse Perineal

The main functions of the pelvic floor are:

•  Structural support and mobility
• Support the pelvic organs
• Contract and release the urethra, rectum, and vagina 
• Involuntarily contract at the moment of orgasm

Hypertonic muscles in the pelvic floor are muscles that are too tight. This can happen due to excessive workouts, holding the bladder or bowel movements for long periods of time, sucking in the belly, trauma, scar tissue, sitting for long periods of time, or stress to name a few. Hypertonic pelvic floor muscles can cause pain during intercourse, constipation causing hernia or hemorrhoids, weak orgasms or even pain while sitting. 

Hypotonic muscles are the opposite, they are pelvic floor muscles that have little strength. When the pelvic floor muscles are not strong enough, there can be sensation loss in the vagina, incontinence, prolapse, or difficulty keeping tampons/menstrual cups in.

The health of the pelvic floor plays a part in the way pleasure is experienced as well as overall wellbeing in the body. Some ways to work with the pelvic floor are:

• Belly Breathing (Pelvic floor breathing)
• Yoni Steaming
• Internal pelvic massage - Yoni Massage
• Exercise or Yoga for the Pelvic floor

Vaginal Steaming, or Yoni Steaming, is an ancient practice with roots in almost every culture. It has been found historically practiced in: Asia, Europe, Africa, the Pacific Islands, and the Americas. Women, midwifes, doulas, shaman, etc., have held the knowledge on ancient traditions, like steaming, since the beginning of time. Many modalities that were used in women health practices long ago have been lost due to colonization, people displacement, and prejudice against women. Records of ancient female sexual health practices have been difficult to recover, as they were held as secrets through generations of women. Folk Practitioners carry the cultural tradition of steaming through this lineage of ancestral knowledge. They are also referred to as Traditional Practitioners.

In the western world, Yoni Steaming falls into the category of alternative medicine, similar to herbalism or acupuncture. A few countries that currently continue to utilize steaming as integrative medicine are: South Korea, Suriname, Palau, and Eritrea. Historically, Yoni steaming was used for many ailments and supported women through the transition of the archetypes: Maiden, Mother, Crone. In modern time, Yoni Steaming has not been well researched or documented leaving it and its effects very unrecognized in western medicine. Although, there are Gynecologists and midwives that recognize and support Yoni Steaming due to its endless list of benefits. Think of Yoni Steaming as a steam room for the deepest and most intimate part of you.

Essentially, Yoni Steaming is brewing a pot of herbal infused water, covering it to trap the steam, letting it steep, and then sitting above the steam to reap the benefits. Steaming thrones/boxes are used to sit upon allowing the steam to travel up through a hole in the seat. Thrones are not necessary for steaming but can be used in place of squatting or hovering over the steaming pot. Steam alone is a powerful tool, it is able to permeate the skin and mucus membranes, it travels into the blood and organs non-invasively. When infused with the correct herbs for the users body, it can support overall health. Even without herbs added to a Yoni steam, steam by its self has potent effects. As steam travels it nourishes, cleanses, clears, moisturizes, and has been found to be beneficial for lymphatic drainage and respiratory relief. The steam should never burn or be too hot, it should feel relaxing and comfy.

Using the correct herbs for Yoni Steaming is highly important! Herbalism is the study or practice of the medicinal and therapeutic use of plants. Not every plant is good or okay to use for every body. Thus it is important to work with a professional when choosing herbs to steam with. Peristeam Hydrotherapy is a new field of discipline, created by Keli Garza a Yoni Steaming expert, containing the only research database of its kind regarding Yoni Steaming. More than seven hundred Peristeam cases have been recorded and studied thus allowing us to understand more about this Holistic healing modality. A Peristeam Hydrotherapist is a practitioner that has studied these cases and become certified to apply and facilitate this knowledge.

In these cases, Yoni Steaming has been found to have positive and profound effects on (but not limited to):

• Menstrual Cycle Imbalances: Stagnation, Dryness, Dampness, Excess Heat, Uterine Fatigue
• Menstrual Cycle Symptoms: cramps, headaches, clots
• Cysts, Bumps, Fibroids
• Prolapse
• Scar tissue
• Intercourse
• Trauma
• Fertility
• Pregnancy, Labor, Postpartum
• Menopause

Yoni Steaming can be used as sexual self care to nourish and connect with sacred sexuality. Steaming can be done by both Men and Women as it is not limited to a specific gender. Steaming can also be practiced even if the user no longer has the anatomical organs mentioned. We are intuitive and energetic beings, and can connect to our bodies regardless of physical attributes.

This practice originated in Asia about 5,000 years ago. The royal empress and concubines of ancient China used jade eggs to cultivate their sexual energy, maintain health, vitality, and radiance into their old age. Up until recently, this practice was secret and only available to members of the royal family and select Taoist practitioners.

Yoni Eggs come in different sizes and can be carved from different kinds of gemstones. When first beginning to use a Yoni Egg, it is best to start with the medium size.  The smaller the egg, the stronger the pelvic floor muscles  need to be to hold the egg in.

Each gemstone resonates with different properties and intentions. One of the oldest gemstones used as a Yoni Egg is Jade. Another that is very common with self love and healing properties is Rose Quartz. Depending on the intentions of the user, a certain gemstone may be more beneficial than another. By researching and intuitively connecting with different gemstones, the seeker can find the stone that is most aligned. Not all Yoni Eggs are made of real gemstones, thus it is important to check the authenticity of the egg as well as make sure there are no cracks or sharp edges on its surface,

Yoni Eggs are worn inside the vagina as a toning weight. They typically will have a stringing hole for unscented unbleached string, which helps with retrieval when its time to take it out. Yoni Eggs may be worn during yoga, during breath work, or other light excursion activities. The weight of the egg causes the muscles in the pelvic floor to tighten and release around it, thus toning and interacting with the glands and muscles inside the vaginal canal.

Working with a yoni egg has many benefits on the physical, emotional, and spiritual levels such as:

•  Improve Pelvic Floor Health by building strong and supples muscles
• Increase sensitivity by stimulating nerve endings
• Intensify sensation and unlock deeper pleasure
• Activate sexual energy and increases libido
• Increase natural lubrication by stimulating glands
• Reduce cramps
• Cultivate a deeper connection to the self

Gemstones used or worn in the body should always be cleansed before and after use with body safe methods. Never boil a Yoni Egg, it may crack.

Using a Yoni Egg as a sexual self care practice can bring awareness to how pleasure feels in your body, deepen the capacity for sensation, and help as a preventative technique for hypotonic pelvic floor muscles.

The longest nerve in the body is called the vagus nerve. It begins by the jaw and continues down the body to the pelvic floor. It is understood that the vagus nerve connects to the uterus in females and to the prostate in men. This nerve sends vibrations from the root to the crown of the body, and back down again creating a feedback loop. Sound, vibration, and trauma are a few things that travel through this nerve. 

When we experience tension in the jaw, it can be assumed that there is equal tension in the pelvic floor. When we suck in our bellies or find we are clenching in the pelvic floor, this can create knots in the muscles, similar to a knot in our shoulder. Tight vaginal muscles are a misconception for a healthy pelvic floor. The tighter the vagina, the more opportunity there is for pain or discomfort during sex. By learning to relax these muscles via massage or sound, we can support the pelvic floor to relax and let go of tension stored in the body.  When the pelvic floor muscles are relaxed and supple, the body is more receptive and adaptive to pleasure.

Eastern sexual self care practices have included breast and internal muscle massage for thousands of years. In many Eastern countries, these kinds of massages are made available by massage therapists and are recognized as important to the woman’s overall health. Yoni Massage can be found in ancient Tantric texts, seen as yoga for the Yoni. By massaging the internal muscles of the body, the body is then supported to release on a deeper level. The majority of tension and trauma in the human body is held in the pelvic floor, for all genders. Purple pushing when delivering a baby is a visualization of Bracing, or clenching these muscles. The opposite is the goal when learning muscle elasticity.

Massing the vaginal canal encourages hypertonic muscles to release and relax. This is also known as de-armoring. Yoni Massage is a practice to release the muscles while also visualizing the internal map of the vagina. This kind of massage is a practice as well as an invitation to become familiar with ones own internal anatomy. When Yoni Massage is done regularly, it is easier to located the exact place of discomfort.

Yoni Massage can be done by professional Yoni Masseuse, Pelvic Floor Therapists, or by ones self or ones partner. It’s very much an exploration and need not be pleasure oriented unless that is desired.

Some Yoni Massage benefits are, but not limited to:

• No longer experiencing pain during intercourse
• Deep relaxation from base to head of body
• Deeper night sleep
• Relief from constipation, regular bowel movements 
• Increased sensitivity 
• Increased Natural lubrication
• Increased Libido
• Deeper Orgasms

Yoni Massage can be done using the fingers or a tool. Using a tool such as a Yoni Wand allows one to massage on a deeper level with less effort or stretch. When receiving/experiencing a Yoni Massage it is key to go as slow as the body asks. 

Some tools that help expand the experience are:

• Private space with no worry of interuption
• Deep Pelvic floor breathing - Yoni Breathing
• Vocalizing whatever wants to comes out. Remember, the Yoni is connected to the vocal chords via the Vagus Nerve. Stimulating the vocal chords stimulates the Yoni
• Using extra lubrication/massage oil
• Using long strokes and changing pressure to find what feels best

Using sacred stones for health, beauty, and rituals is as old as time. Although Gus Sha and face rollers may seem new due to trends and social media, but their use can been traced back to ancient royals and common folk alike. Gemstones hold frequency, and metaphysical properties  affecting the user/owner. These properties are believed to radiate from the stones and interact with the energetic centers in the body.

Gua Sha massage is a technique of scraping away disease, fever or some type of sickness from the body. It is a healing tool from traditional East Asian medicine. It is used to be a natural holistic therapy, utilizing a “spatula” made from buffalo horn to massage the skin.

The first recordings of using a Gua Sha date back to about 700 years ago during the era of the Ming Dynasty, although it is very likely to be used before any records of it in traditional Chinese medicine. Ancient priestesses used tools like the Gua Sha to promote and sustain their beauty, aid in rituals, and as offerings to spirits/gods/goddesses.

The massage techniques used with these tools help unblock and restore the flow of Qi. Some of these benefits are:

• Movement and drainage of lymphatic fluids, breaking down tension
• Reduction of facial lines by strengthening fascia elasticity
• Blood Circulation: Because it may decrease inflammation on the skin, it is frequently used to treat sicknesses that cause chronic pains like arthritis and fibromyalgia, as well as those that trigger muscle and joint pains.
• Reducing Side effects and symptoms such as Migraine headaches, Neck pain, Perimenopausal syndrome, Hepatitis B, Breast engorgement, Tourette syndrome, etc.

Face rollers are a similar tool and can be used in combination or in place of a Gua Sha. Either of these tools can be used all over the body, they are not only for the face and neck. A Gua Sha can be very beneficial for targeting knots in the shoulders, back, and shins. Both tools have endless possible uses. It helps to use a massage oil or serum to reduce pulling on the skin when massaging with gemstones. Most gemstones are safe to use with water or oils, but it is better to research if the gemstone you are using is water soluble. Some crystals and stones breakdown when exposed to certain liquids.

Every gemstone is different, resonating with different characteristics and practices. Picking out which gemstones you would like to use helps when you know each of their properties. You can pick out a gemstone by which chakra it resonates with, a color you like, or one that feels right. Most gemstones used for bodily massage have properties that are overall beneficial for self love and healing. 

The most common gemstones you will find Gua Sha or face rollers carved from are: 

• Rose Quartz : opens the heart center, represents self love, and has soft feminine energetics
• Jade : calming & soothing, promotes healing in the organs and release of excess fluids in the body, also has protecting energetics
• Clear Quartz : known as the good for everything crytal, it is very much a blank slate to help amplify intention

In ancient times, massage tools were carved of animal bones, Amethyst and other Gemstones, Seashells, and Petrified wood. In modern day many massage and self care tools are made from plastic. It is not recommended to use plastic tools because of the transfer of micro plastics to the bloodstream as well as the lack of energetic frequency plastic holds.