Exploring the Pelvic Floor with Hopp Therapy
Welcome to the first edition of the HOPP Pelvic Floor Therapy newsletter.
I’m Maria, the owner and main practitioner at HOPP Pelvic Floor Therapy. I became a physical therapist in 2004, and I quickly came to understand how the pelvic floor remains largely overlooked. After giving birth to three children and researching the pelvic floor, I began to understand the inadequacy of traditional care and learned how pelvic floor therapy can treat a variety of issues in both men and women.
My first pelvic floor health course opened up new insights and treatment methods for the issues some of my patients complained of, including issues I experienced myself. It became an “Aha!” moment, and it changed my life both physically and professionally. My passion for raising awareness of the importance of pelvic health in women and men began that day. I have since completed numerous courses and certifications and been mentored by experienced pelvic floor therapists to learn how the pelvis interacts with the rest of the body. The majority of my practice was completed in the NYU Pelvic Health Department.
Now… what is the pelvic floor/Health?
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles, ligaments, and connective tissues that sit at the bottom of your pelvis. It stretches from your pubic bone in the front to your tailbone in the back and side-to-side between your sit bones. The pelvic floor acts like a supportive hammock for your organs, controlling continence, providing stability for the spine and pelvis, playing an important role in sexual function, and regulating pressure management and circulation.
Pelvic health encompasses the function and management of the bladder, bowel, and reproductive organs. It is not merely the absence of disease or weakness in these organs, but the physical, mental, social, and sexual well-being that stems from the muscles in the pelvis.
A strong pelvic floor is essential for health and well-being; it is the foundation of various bodily functions for both men and women, including urinary and bowel continence, sexual function, and stability of the pelvis and spine. You may not realize it, but daily symptoms like bladder issues, bowel pain, chronic back and hip pain, sexual frustration, and pain with sex can all be the result of a weakened pelvic floor.
Pelvic floor physical therapy is specific to your needs and goals. It is a specialty within physical therapy that evaluates and treats the muscles, nerves, and connective tissue of the pelvis.
In pelvic floor physical therapy, we explore how the pelvis integrates with the rest of the body to improve bladder and bowel function, sexual function, core stability, and ultimately, our quality of life. This includes breathwork, movement, nervous system regulation, strength training, and external and internal pelvic floor examination and treatment.
At HOPP, I aim to take a holistic approach to pelvic floor care. I know many of you may have been dismissed by medical practitioners, and unfortunately, this is common after pregnancy and when you reach a certain age. But part of what I love about PT is really listening, so we can work together to build a plan designed to help you heal on multiple levels. When you are treated as a whole being, rather than an assortment of symptoms, you will finally move past the discomfort.
Announcements
Unlocked Together Panel
On March 4th, join me and other local experts for an inspiring panel that explores why we feel stuck in our lives – physically, mentally, and professionally – and how to move forward. To attend, purchase a ticket here. All proceeds will support the Larchmont Friends of the Family.
Free Pelvic Floor Workshops at Studio50
Beginning on March 17, I will begin a series of monthly pelvic floor workshops at Studio50. I will cover pelvic floor anatomy, common issues and solutions, breathing and deep core activation, stretches for strength and relief, and Distasis Recti screening. The first free workshop will be held from 1:30-2:15 for a group of 10 people, with a Q&A at the end. Register here.
Pelvic Floor Therapy Package with REP Athletics
I’m excited to be offering a pelvic floor therapy package with REP Athletics. REP’s precise approach to exercise and stretching allows me to go deeper into the muscles and structures within the pelvic floor with myofascial release and diaphragmatic breathwork. When done in conjunction, the work at REP and HOPP enables clients to build an efficient and healthy environment around the pelvis and surrounding structures. This collaboration of approaches has had incredible results addressing constipation, incontinence, bladder/bowel dysfunction, digestive issues, nerve impingement, and pelvic and back pain.
February’s Featured Testimonial
“Maria is a caring, compassionate, and thorough practitioner who has been instrumental in helping me recover from a complex groin injury that was very hard to diagnose and treat. Like a lot of men, I was only vaguely aware of pelvic floor therapy, but in researching my symptoms, I realized that it might be what I needed to finally help me recover from a repetitive motion injury stemming from a lifetime of playing ice hockey.
Within just a few minutes of my initial consultation with Maria, I had a renewed sense of hope. Her communication is outstanding; she was extremely thorough in asking about my medical history and symptoms, and she spent 45 minutes on the phone with me trying to discern the root causes of my injury before even setting up an initial visit. This high level of communication has continued throughout the entire time I've been seeing her; she checks in often, and any time I have a question or issue, she is very quick with a thorough response.
Maria also considers herself a part of the overall treatment "team" and communicates regularly with the doctor at HSS who originally diagnosed my injury. If things aren't going well, she lets him know and suggests updated imaging or other treatments he could prescribe. She also works closely with other practitioners (acupuncturists, osteopaths, biomechanical therapists) who she thinks will help further the healing process.
I'm thankful that I found Maria, and I would encourage any other men with sports-related hip or groin injuries to see her, as well.”
Community Board
Begin your morning with a gentle stretch for your body and a grounding reset for your mind. These semi-private yoga classes at Hopp Therapy this April offer slow, intentional movement and nurturing hands-on assists in a supportive, beginner-friendly environment. Ideal for both new and seasoned yogis seeking balance and ease.
With 9 years of teaching experience, Ashley is a trauma-informed yoga teacher certified in Yin Yoga and Yoga & Art Therapy. She believes yoga is more than a workout—it’s a work in. Each class invites you to connect inward and leave with a deeper, more loving awareness of your body and self.
Click here to sign up for classes, and use the code “10off” for a discount if you register for all four classes in the series. To learn more about Ashley, visit www.livinglotusyoga.com.
Want to be featured in the April edition of the HOPP newsletter? Message me about being featured on the community board – a place where I share news from my incredible community of clients, practitioners, and friends.