Many people are of the mistaken belief that incontinence is something that is inevitable with aging.
The true fact of the matter is that incontinence is the result of a weakening of certain muscles.
These muscles become weakened due to misuse and they can be strengthened by using various different exercises thereby reducing the problem of incontinence.
Yoga is particularly good at strengthening muscles throughout the body and in doing so it is a very effective way of reducing and eliminating incontinence for many people.
The yoga exercises that help with this problem are those that focus on the strengthening of the pelvic and abdominal muscles.
These exercises need to be done on a regular basis to ensure that you maintain good strength in those areas and thereby avoid becoming incontinent.
These exercises combined with good breathing techniques can have a rapid and dramatic effect on those who are suffering from incontinence whereby they regain their strength very quickly and gain back some of the freedom in their life that they have lost to this problem.
Even people who are confined to bed can use these muscle strengthening techniques on a regular basis, preferably a couple of times a day, until they have eliminated the problem.
The best exercise for this is in fact one that is done while lying on your back.
For a brief explanation;
Lie flat on your back with your legs bent and your feet flat on the floor.
Your arms should be stretched out by your side as you begin breathing in and out several times.
Next you will breathe out completely and then take a deep breath in through your nose and hold that breath for the count of three.
Finally breathe out completely as hard as you can and eliminating all the air and tightening your stomach muscles as you do so.
With all of the air expelled, suck in your stomach, pelvis and buttock muscles as hard as you can and once again hold for the count of three.
Release your muscles and repeat the exercise several times before having a rest.
This will help you to have more control and reduce the chance of becoming incontinent.
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