What exactly are Low Pressure Fitness and Hypopressives?
Low Pressure Fitness is a comprehensive movement system that targets the core and pelvic floor muscles (coordinating and toning the muscles), restores posture and myo-fascial mobility and helps to improve breathing by focusing on diaphragm and lateral rib cage movement and position.
A hypopressive or abdominal vacuum is often used while performing the technical poses and movements within Low Pressure Fitness, creating reduced pressure throughout the abdomen and pelvic girdle.
READ MORE BELOW
|
LPF BENEFITS
LPF BENEFITS
Who can benefit from Low Pressure Fitness and Hypopressives?
(with some modifications if you have certain underlying health conditions)
Well, actually just about anyone! LPF will help to improve
-
✺
Postpartum Rehab
Retrain your core muscles after having a baby and heal a Diastasis Recti (abdominal muscle separation)
-
✺
Prevent Leakage
Helps those with urinary incontinence (uncontrollable leakage) and other forms of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
-
✺
Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Symptoms of POP can be improved with this revolutionary system to lift the organs, decongest the pelvis and adapt to rises of Intra-abdominal pressure.
-
✺
Slim the Waistline
Coordinate the abdominal wall and train the inner muscular corset to flatten the belly.
-
✺
Athletic Performance
Enhance breathing and balance over and undertrained muscles that can occur with focused sport training.
-
✺
Sexual Dysfunction
Improve certain types of sexual dysfunction by improving pelvic muscle tone, pain and nervous system state.
Hypopressives have been used in certain yoga practices for hundreds of years.
The use of the "vacuum" technique in hypopressives training has dated back to ancient practice of yoga and pranayama, it is known as Uddiyana Bhanda and has been performed for many health and energy benefits. As well, the stomach vacuum was used in the early days of body building to accentuate the waistline and physique. During the 1980s in Europe, Dr. Marcel Caufriez started researching the use of hypopressives for women to help improve pelvic floor dysfunction such as pelvic organ prolapse. By 2006, Dr. Tamara Rial and Piti Pinsach, began researching and developing a comprehensive exercise, fascial approach, and postural training system built on the hypopressive techniques, and by 2014, a revolutionary movement system... Low Pressure Fitness was created. The goal was to create a mind-body-breathwork practice and routine that was easily accessible for the general public to help improve pelvic floor dysfunction and combat some of the negative effects traditional sports can cause. Low Pressure Fitness continues to grow, evolve and train fitness professionals from around the world. What started in Spain has now grown to become an Internationally recognized training system, with over 10,000 trainers representing health and fitness professions. With increased awareness, the prevalence of Pelvic Floor dysfunction (according to the NIH, 1 in 3 women experience some form of pelvic floor dysfunction), and education availability more practitioners including Pelvic Health Physical Therapists are incorporating the techniques into their treatment plans. Low Pressure Fitness, continues to be on the pulse of hypopressives and fascial research, consistently updating, developing and mentoring it's master coaches and instructors to offer the highest quality of instructor and training. Learn from the experts and original in hypopressives training. To become Low Pressure Fitness certified, you need to complete all 3 levels of training, student teaching as well as take a competency exam.
Hypopressives means reduced pressure.
The Vacuum Technique
Check out this video example of performing Diaphragmatic/rib cage breathing, and then performing the Hypopressive or abdominal vacuum technique.
Limited Enrollment
Limited Enrollment
Register for LPF
Professional Courses
Virtual Classes
1 on 1 Training
Courses & Training
✺ Frequently Asked Questions ✺
-
Low Pressure Fitness hypopressives has a learning curve and initially needs some instruction in order to understand and perform the breath sequence and the fundamentals of the alignment and postures. It is advised to join an instructional session, either a private 1-1 or the INTRO workshops to learn first, then you can jump into a beginner Flow or Hypo & Stretch class.
-
All are welcome in our Intro Workshops, whether you are looking to become an LPF trainer, you are curious about the method, or you want to start the practice for your own benefit, this is a great place to start. Our Intro Workshops are virtual, typically held monthly, approximately 2 hours in length as we cover some theory, background, and give instruction and practice on the hypopressives breathing and a few Goddess Poses. Intro workshops can be found on our Professional Courses page.
-
The answer is Yes to the postures, poses, breathwork and exercises, but do not perform the abdominal vacuum (apnea) during pregnancy. Working with an LPF trainer can help you to modify and develop an LPF sequence and program that will help fit your needs during all stages of your pregnancy.
-
Our LPF Professional Courses are for clinicians to fitness professionals including yoga and pilates teachers, and body-work professionals. LPF can be adapted and utilized in many professionals from the Physical therapist as a rehab tool, to the personal trainer teaching fitness and wellness classes, a broad spectrum of professionals can reap the benefits of this training system.
-
Low Pressure Fitness is a respiratory, postural and movement practice. If you are able to exercise, have no restrictions from your physician to perform exercise then you can perform the movements of Low Pressure Fitness. You should not experience any pain or discomfort, numbness or tingling while performing the LPF exercises, if you do, notify your LPF trainer and they can safely modify your movements or program. The only precautions are to the "Apnea" or "vacuum" maneuver of LPF. The vacuum should not be performed if you are pregnant, have uncontrolled Blood pressure and should wait about 12 weeks for healing after major surgery including abdominal and gynecological surgeries. If there are additional questions, always seek guidance from your physician and to discuss with a trained LPF provider so they can tailor and modify an LPF program fit for you.
-
In order to be recognized as an international LPF-CT trainer, you need to complete all 3 levels of the LPF main (mat) series and successfully pass the didactic written exam administered through Low Pressure Fitness (International Hypopressive and Physical Therapy Institute). After completing the certification criteria, you will receive the LPF Certified logo. For more information on the certification and to access the LPF exam in English, please contact info@lowpressurefitness.com
-
Based on the level of training you have completed, you are authorized to represent yourself as Low Pressure Fitness Level 1, 2 or 3 trained. If you have passed the LPF certification exam then you can represent yourself as Low Pressure Fitness Certified or LPF-CT after your name. You may use the Low Pressure Fitness certified logo once you have been passed and been awarded the certification.
-
Cancellations 3 weeks prior to course will receive a refund less $100 administrative fee. Late cancellations will be credited to attend a future course. If course is cancelled, tuition will be refunded in full
-
Low Pressure Fitness has been trademarked since 2014. The name Low Pressure Fitness, related names, and logos are trademarks and should only be used to indicate the source of our related training programs and products and not to refer to any other program, service, or product. All Intellectual property of Low Pressure Fitness including training materials is copyrighted and unauthorized to use, or re-use without written expressed consent. Only the company, it's partners, and authorized distributors may use the Low Pressure Fitness trademark and logo.
-
LPF courses are typically 14-15 hours in length (pre-recorded and weekend course work) and currently approved for 12-14 CEUs (depending on the course) from the NJBPTE for New Jersey Physical Therapists and PTAs. Many other states or accrediting agencies reciprocate for credits. Upon request, additional information can be supplied on course criteria if you need to submit in your state or your training accreditation board.