Hypopressives for Sport & Performance
Experience the Power of Your Full Potential
Hypopressives are a powerful training method for people who want to move better, perform better, and protect their bodies long-term.
They build deep core strength, pelvic floor support, postural control, and nervous system regulation – all essential for sport, yet often overlooked in traditional training.
This is not about doing more reps.
It’s about creating intelligent, reflexive support from the inside out.
Ideal for;
• Runners
• Walkers & hikers
• Gym-goers
• Cyclists
• Swimmers
• Paddle boarders / kayakers
• Skiers
• Field sport players
• Dancers
• Yoga / Pilates practitioners
• Anyone who trains and wants to protect their body long-term
Stronger From the Inside Out
At Hypopressives North Wales, hypopressives are used to:
• Build deep, intelligent strength
• Support pelvic health in active women
• Improve movement quality and confidence
• And help you train with less strain and more control
This is performance with protection.
Power with calm.
Strength with longevity.
Why Hypopressives Are a Game-Changer for Active Bodies
Most sports place repeated pressure on the body:
• Running
• Jumping
• Lifting
• Twisting
• Impact
• Speed
Without deep internal support, this pressure goes somewhere – often into:
• The pelvic floor
• The lower back
• The hips
• The neck and shoulders
Hypopressives train the body to manage pressure efficiently, reducing strain and improving control.
Key benefits for sport and physical performance
1. Deep Core Strength Without Bracing
Hypopressives activate the transversus abdominis – the body’s natural corset.
This improves:
• Trunk stability
• Power transfer between upper and lower body
• Balance and coordination
• Control during fast or unpredictable movement
Unlike surface “six-pack” work, this creates functional strength that supports movement, not restricts it.
2. Pelvic Floor Protection for High-Impact Sport
For runners, jumpers, lifters, and field sport players, pelvic floor pressure is real – especially for women.
Hypopressives:
• Reduce downward pressure in the abdomen
• Encourage a reflex lift of the pelvic floor
• Improve coordination between breath, core, and movement
This helps prevent:
• Leaking during sport
• Heaviness or prolapse symptoms
• Long-term pelvic floor overload
So you can train hard without sacrificing pelvic health.
3. Improved Posture & Alignment
Hypopressives restore:
• Ribcage position
• Spinal length
• Shoulder alignment
• Head and neck positioning
This improves:
• Running efficiency
• Breathing capacity
• Power output
• Injury resilience
Better alignment means:
Less energy wasted, more power available.
4. Breathing Efficiency & Endurance
Hypopressives retrain the diaphragm and ribcage.
This leads to:
• Deeper, more efficient breathing
• Better oxygen uptake
• Reduced breath-holding under stress
• Improved endurance and pacing
Many athletes discover they’ve been:
Over-bracing and under-breathing.
Hypopressives reverse this pattern.
5. Nervous System Regulation & Performance Under Pressure
Performance is not just physical – it’s neurological.
Hypopressives calm the nervous system by stimulating the parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) response.
This helps with:
• Pre-competition nerves
• Overthinking
• Tension and tightness
• Fear-based holding patterns
A calmer nervous system allows:
Cleaner movement, better timing, and more confidence.
6. Injury Prevention & Recovery
By improving:
• Core coordination
• Pressure management
• Posture
• Tissue loading patterns
Hypopressives reduce strain on:
• Lower back
• Hips
• Hamstrings
• Pelvic floor
• Shoulders
They are especially useful for:
• Recurring injuries
• Post-injury return to sport
• Overuse patterns
This is protective training, not just performance training.
7. Power, Control & Movement Quality
When the deep core and pelvic floor are working reflexively, the body becomes:
• More responsive
• More controlled
• More powerful
• More efficient
This improves:
• Change of direction
• Acceleration and deceleration
• Lifting mechanics
• Agility and balance
In simple terms:
You move better because your centre is supported.
How Hypopressives Achieve These Effects
Hypopressives combine:
• Specific postural positions
• Slow, controlled breathing
• Gentle breath holds (apnoea)
• Active ribcage expansion
This creates a negative pressure effect inside the abdomen, which:
• Lifts the diaphragm
• Reflexively activates the pelvic floor
• Engages the deep core
• Reduces internal pressure on joints and tissues
Instead of forcing muscles to work, the body learns to:
Activate support automatically.
This is why the benefits transfer so well into sport.
Why athletes love Hypopressives
Because they:
• Improve performance without impact
• Build strength without bulk
• Protect the pelvic floor
• Reduce injury risk
• Enhance breathing and endurance
• Improve mental focus and calm
And because they work with the nervous system, not against it.