My Biggest Issues with Waist Trainers
Nov 15, 2023
Waist trainers. You know, those trendy contraptions that promise an instant hourglass figure? Yeah, those. Have you ever been tempted to use one?
I've come across a few things about waist trainers that concern me. So, grab your herbal tea, get comfy, and let's dive into why I'm not the biggest fan of these tight squeezers.
1. Breathing Woes: One of the cornerstones of our holistic well-being is proper breathing.
Most people in the western world don't breathe properly. They use the secondary respitatory muscles rather than the primary ones.
Over 30 diseases and symptoms have been linked to improper breathing. It messes with your nervous system and blood gases.
One of the reasons we often breathe poorly is due to sucking in our stomach. A lot of us do this as we are self concous of our waist line. Or we often do this sub-consciously when we are tense.
Please note this is different from proper activation of the core.
Waist trainers, unfortunately, can cramp our style – literally. They restrict the natural movement of our diaphragm. Making it challenging to take those nourishing breaths we all need. Proper breathing helps create calm and happy minds. That's something we all strive for, right?
2. Digestive Drama: Good digestion is key to feeling light and vibrant. Waist trainers, can throw a curveball into our digestive system. They may contribute or cause issues like acid reflux and other tummy troubles. This alone is detrimental to mental health.
3. Organ Squeeze: Our organs need space to do their thing – digest, filter, detoxify. Waist trainers, unfortunately, didn't get this memo. They can compress organs. Let's keep our internal buddies happy and give them the room they deserve.
4. Body Love Matters: Waist trainers can foster a negative relationship with our bodies. Instead of embracing self-compassion and acceptance, they might fuel feelings of inadequacy. Our bodies are incredible vessels that deserve love and kindness. Not tight constraints that make us feel less-than-amazing.
All of this goes against Ahimsa. Ahimsa is the first ethical guideline of yoga. It means non-violence or non-harm to ourself and others. Ahimsa is a foundation in yoga. It was emphasised so much in my first 500 hours training that some of us made a fun YouTube video about it!
Do you follow people on social media that make you feel inadequate? If so, I encourage you to unfollow them for your own self preservation. Or, if you can't unfollow mute them!
Social media detoxes are an important part of your self care plan.
So, please steer clear of the waist trainer craze. Embrace your beautiful bodies. Nourish them with movement. Celebrate the unique journey you are on.
You deserve to:
✅ Love your body
✅ Be compassionate towards yourself
✅ Practice gratitude towards your body for what is has gone and continues to do for you.
✅ Love your body
✅ Be compassionate towards yourself
✅ Practice gratitude towards your body for what is has gone and continues to do for you.
✅ Be comfortable in your own skin
✅ Develop efficient breathing patterns and oxygenate your body properly by balancing your blood gases.
✅ Develop efficient breathing patterns and oxygenate your body properly by balancing your blood gases.
Sending you all the positive vibes and open hearts!
Liz
