“The Dilating Ball”

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There is a new use for the exercise ball or GYM BALL, which has been discovered the Spanish Physiotherapist, Isabel Carandini, Graduate of the University of Barcelona, Spain; co-creator with Rosemarie Meiners- Kessel, Health and Fitness Professional; of the Prestigious method and DVD: “PRE & POST NATAL EXERCISE PROGRAM AT CANADIANA LE SPA”. This method is the key of the Natural Birth Training Program at Canadiana Le Spa in Lima, Peru and is over 15 years in practice with more than 3,000 happy moms and first class doctors and OBgyn Clinics that recommend it.

It is used in the prenatal training classes, as well as in the dilating room to aid the expectant mother during the contractions, helping her to relax her pelvic zone while sitting and doing rhythmic movements on the ball, therefore minimizing the pain that each contraction produces and preparing her for the next step during labor.

The ball and the sitting posture of the expectant mother over it, favor the flexibility of the pelvic muscles relaxing them and making the time of the dilation process much shorter, due the posture that the mother assumes on the ball, which is in favor of gravity, being this issue favorable for the “vertical delivery birth” making us take a good look at the ancient Peruvian cultural traditions. They can be observed in ancient original pottery found in different museums, which tell us about the birth process in the ancient Peru civilizations.

The “Dilating Ball” is not used during the actual expulsion face of delivery but in the labor part, which can be difficult, long and painful.

These balls were brought to Peru by Isabel from Germany 15 years ago, for the prenatal exercise program at CANADIANA LE SPA, the 1st. Spa in Perú, and now so well known in every gym as: “GYM BALLS” and used to do complete workouts with them
to exercise different groups of muscles. Now, after so many years used in pre and post natal exercise, they are being used in a very new and original way, moreover in a very useful way, thanks to Isabel’s discovery.

It is important to know that, using gym balls as a means to help the dilating process in expecting mothers, it is a “MUST” to have previous practice with them directed by a professionally trained instructor and with lots of experience like Isabel, with her CANADIANA LE SPA method, otherwise it is considered contraindicated and risky to use it doing the movements and postures as indicated, during labor.

The end of the dilation process with the ball will be concluded when the mother’s pelvic muscles are ready for the next step which is delivery which should be done in the most vertical posture as possible to make this final moment of childbirth easier, for the mother as well as for the baby.

Lima, Peru – Febraury, 2007