Licensee for Month of May: Cheryl Williams Bjornson

I met Cheryl when I was at the hernia conference in California several years ago. I knew immediately that I wanted her to become a licensee!  This is Cheryl’s story. You can contact Cheryl at cheryl@abseparationrehab.com.

My name is Cheryl Williams Bjornson . I am a stay at home Orinda mom of 3 young kids (7, 5 & 3), a former Division I athlete, and a personal trainer.  I am also someone who has suffered from an extreme diastasis recti (10 fingers wide!) as a result of giving birth to 3 large babies and due to performing exercises and activities of daily living (ADL’s) incorrectly.  Fitness and health professionals repeatedly told me that surgery was the only option. I refused to accept this commonly held misconception and after investing a lot of money in products and programs that claimed to treat diastasis recti, I finally found The Tupler Technique ®.

There are 4 things that attracted me to this program: First, an award winning study was done through the Columbia University School of Physical Therapy on a group of pregnant women, and it found that those who did the Tupler Technique® while pregnant had a smaller diastasis than the control group who did not do these exercises.   Second, the program not only taught me proper “core” exercises but also provided me with the tools to apply those skills when performing other types of exercise and basic ADL’s.  Third, the program has a splint you are required to wear while doing the Tupler Technique® exercises (this is not a compression binder that can weaken the muscles). This splint approximates the separated muscles, making the exercises more effective and puts the connective tissue in a better position to heal (healing a diastasis is all about healing the connective tissue).   Finally, it offers a clear-cut set of exercises and activities to be performed daily in a 6-18 week program. It can be done on your own or with the help of a licensed professional in a group, semi-private or private setting.

I saw immediate results! My belly button finally went back to being an innie only after a week and a half and I took 1½ inches off my waist in 3 weeks.

I am such a strong believer in the program that I ultimately trained to become the 1st official Licensee of the Tupler Technique® in California and launched Ab Separation Rehab.  Frankly, I had no intention of going back to work.  My life was busy enough with 3 young children.  However, I felt it was necessary for people like me to know that there was an option for them to heal their diastasis without surgery.

My only regret is not knowing about this program sooner as I would have done the Tupler Technique® before, during and after all of my pregnancies.  Not only would it have salvaged my belly but it also can dramatically help with other issues like low back pain, gastrointestinal, pelvic floor and SI joint dysfunction.

Before & After Photos and Stats:

BEFORE

Cheryl, 1 year postpartum, after 3 children/pregnancies.

Diastasis: 10 finger widths

Waist: 30.5 inches

 

AFTER

Cheryl, after doing the Tupler Technique ® exercises for 6 mos.

Diastasis: closed on top, 2 fingers in the middle/bottom

Waist: 28 inches

 

 

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