Trista Zinn – The Power of Low Pressure Fitness

Trista Zinn – The Power of Low Pressure Fitness

For 27 years, I have been working in the fitness industry, YEP- started as an aerobic instructor back in University! Exercising has been part of my life style all through high school, although I never gravitated towards a particular team sport, it was more about looking good & feeling good about myself.

I will be 47 in Feb, and as a mother of 2 and now a new puppy owner, I have still managed to keep exercise as a priority- no harm in a little “me time”. Life is a fine balancing act, but if you have the desire to do something you have the power to make it happen.

I love all things outdoors such as running, cycling, x-country skiing, Hypopressive training, TRX training, walking and spending time with family and friends.

I am the founder of Coreset Fitness, and a personal trainer who specializes in pelvic health and core restoration, as well as Canada’s only Master Trainer & International Course Instructor for Low Pressure Fitness® – Hypopressives®. 

What adversity have you had to overcome as an athlete?

At age 42, I was diagnosed with Stage 2 bladder prolapse from which I was told there was little non-surgical chance of recovery. I had been told to stop running & strength training; two activities that would have helped me cope emotionally with the fact that my insides were falling out!! Pelvic organ prolapse wasn’t something I felt like chatting about back then…. it seemed a very private matter. Never the less, I was determined to find a non-invasive and less traditional treatment for what had become the most emotionally draining injury to date.

This led me to the Hypopressive technique.  I sought out the world’s only English-speaking certifying instructor at the time, who happened to be in Spain.  It was there where I was privately trained and received the Level 1 Accreditation.  I was so impressed with this unique style of training and my personal success at eliminating any signs of prolapse, that I made several return trips for more courses. Each trip brought me closer to achieving the first Canadian Master Level & International Course Instructor in Low Pressure Fitness® – Hypopressives®.  This technique changed my life, enabled me to return to exercising, improve my quality of life and now help others do the same.

Annual trips to Low Pressure Fitness® – Spain allows me the opportunity to stay current with this forever evolving technique. I am grateful to Tamara Rial my coach & creator who on my last trip taught me the latest Wall Series.

What is Hypopressive Exercise ?

Hypopressive – Low Pressure Fitness is a full body approach to core health, a postural and breathing technique that addresses the true essence of the ‘core’ so it will perform synergistically as intended.

Before I go into detail about the technique however,  I think it is important to understand and remember that our ‘core’ is responsible for posture, circulation, respiration, maintaining continence (prevention of urinary & fecal incontinence), support for our internal organs (prevention of pelvic organ prolapse or hernias), sexual function, stability, digestion, phonation all the while balancing and counterbalancing pressure changes from within. 

This complex core system is comprised of the respiratory diaphragm, pelvic floor, transverse abdominals and multifidus/muscles within the back and they all have a profound impact on our quality of life and athletic performance.

If one segment of the core is not functioning optimally, the core as a whole, will break down causing unwanted symptoms- symptoms we have come to accept as part of aging and in women, motherhood.

Traditional exercises, abdominal training, gravity, as well as the majority of our daily activities are HYPERpressive – they increase intra-abdominal pressure. 

This constant pressure can contribute to pelvic floor dysfunction and incontinence and in women, a hernia through the vaginal canal ( pelvic organ prolapse ). Abdominal hernias & vertebral hernias are more prevalent in men but can also develop in women.

It is not to say that doing these everyday activities and sports are bad for us, in fact most of what we do – even walking increases this internal pressure. What we need to address is how well are our bodies are able to manage these pressures. 

Imagine a tube of toothpaste that is under pressure, the preexisting weak spot or one that develops will eventually give way to the pressure and cause injury.

HYPOpressive’ is a term that refers to a decrease or reduction in pressure hence the term “Low Pressure Fitness.” This form of exercise reduces pressure and recruits the deep support system of the core with a unique breathing technique that instead of pushing our insides where they don’t belong, creates an upward suctioning, myofascial release and decongestion of organs from the pelvic cavity.

The breathing technique combined with a series of well thought out and detailed poses not only reduces pressure, but decompresses joints, eccentrically lengthens muscles and calls upon the muscle fibres responsible for postural tone & endurance.  There is an overall balance created throughout our fascial system allowing for better mobility, alignment, and respiration.

Hypopressives Low Pressure exercises are a perfect compliment to other forms of training where we contract muscles, compress joints and recruit abdominal muscles that can limit respiration, alignment and fluidity of movement.

Who can benefit from this form of training?

Everyone can benefit!

On a weekly basis I see a wide variety of clients. I see men and women who are looking to restore their core function with Hypopressive training.  I see male and female athletes who want to optimize performance and benefit from improvements in respiratory function, alignment and mobility. Men and women who want to improve abdominal resting tone and/or a diastasis recti (abdominal separation of abdominal muscles seen in men as well as women).

The majority of my clients, however, are those with pelvic floor dysfunction.  They range in age from mid 20s to older adult and are at their wits end with their symptoms and have come to realize that there truly is something they can do about it!

We brush our teeth daily to maintain our dental health, do cardio exercises to maintain cardiovascular health… there is now Hypopressive – Low Pressure Fitness that can help maintain our core health.

When you are not traveling or teaching courses where can we find you?

Russell Hill Chiropractic & Natural Health clinic, Toronto.

Contact Trista directly at tzinn@coresetfitness.com

Find out more about Trista Zinn & Hypopressive – Low Pressure Fitness at: www.coresetfitness.com 

Find a qualified trainer near you: www.hypopressivescanada.com

A global listing of instructors: www.lowpressurefitness.com  

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