14/08/2026
We see this constantly, especially with women who've done Pilates: pulling the stomach in and holding it there through every exercise.
It feels like control. But your diaphragm and pelvic floor are meant to move together with every breath — and if your abs are pulled in the whole time, that movement has nowhere to go.
You're fighting your own anatomy and that can cause dysfunction.
Next time you're doing core work, try letting your belly move with your breath instead of holding it in. See how different it feels.