modern
Kegels
Definition
Kegels are exercises targeting the pelvic floor musculature, named after Dr Arnold Kegel who developed and published the protocol in the late 1940s and early 1950s. The basic exercise involves voluntary contraction and relaxation of the pelvic floor muscles — the same muscles used to stop urination midstream. Standard protocols involve holding contractions for several seconds and then fully releasing, repeated across multiple sets per day.
The clinical evidence for Kegel exercises is strong for urinary stress incontinence (particularly post-natal and post-prostatectomy) and moderate-to-good for improving sexual function in both women and men. Benefits include stronger orgasmic contraction, improved ejaculatory control in men, and increased sensation and lubrication. However, Kegels are contraindicated or need modification when the presenting issue is pelvic floor hypertonicity, pelvic pain, or vaginismus — in these cases, release and relaxation work is the priority.
Where the word comes from
Named for Dr Arnold Kegel (1894–1981), an American gynaecologist who developed the exercise protocol as a non-surgical treatment for post-natal urinary stress incontinence. Kegel published his key papers in 1948 and 1952 in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He also developed the perineometer, a biofeedback device for measuring pelvic floor contraction strength, making his protocol one of the earliest uses of biofeedback in clinical practice.
In Tantra Clinic practice
Tantra Clinic teaches Kegel exercises alongside tantric pelvic practice (mula bandha), but we are careful to screen for hypertonicity first. Clients who report pelvic pain, burning, or tightness are directed to seek pelvic physiotherapy assessment before starting a strengthening protocol. For clients with normal tone, we integrate Kegels into breath-led sequences where the contraction and release is coordinated with the exhale and inhale, which appears to improve proprioceptive awareness as well as strengthening.