If you frequent social media as often as we do, then it’s likely you have come across those incredible videos of pregnant women with ‘disappearing’ bumps.
In them, the mums-to-be are initially seen sitting as normal, their fill and beautiful bumps on display. Then, they start to concentrate on their breathing, and before you know it, their bumps have ‘disappeared’ back in close to their bodies. It’s quite something to watch!
Well, if you have been wondering what this is all about, we’re here to clear it all up – it’s actually part of a new pre- and postnatal fitness trend that is taking over in the US.
Pregnancy and post-birth exercise specialist Brooke Cates is the founder of The Bloom Method, an exercise programme that ‘redefines and simplifies’ fitness for new mums and mums-to-be.
One practice that has garnered much attention is The Belly Pump, which is the official name of what’s going on in those trending social media videos.
The Belly Pump is based on the concept of taking breathing right back to the diaphragm, as was is the natural instinct of newborns.
Brooke explained to Babble that going back to this diaphragmatic breathing ‘helps to keep the body in a state of parasympathetic nervous system activation, which helps keep us calm and de-stress’.
As you can imagine, this – in conjunction with the many other aspects of The Bloom Method – has been helping new mums and expectant mums greatly with their health and fitness regimes.
Indeed, a recent report from one fan of The Bloom Method, Savannah Sheree, reads: “I’ve been not only able to keep up with my core work but increase frequency and see major improvement in strength, awareness and connection.
“Everything else in pregnancy is so humbling, it feels so empowering to have one (physical) thing that shows me progress.”
And Savannah is not the only who impressed with The Belly Pump. Many other mums have been happily sharing their own #bellypump videos and boasting of the results.
Well, mums – over to you. Firstly, do you have any experience with this ‘belly breathing’ phenomenon? Or if not, is it something you would be interested in trying? Be sure to let us know how you got on!