Benefits of the Schulte Hold

The Schulte Hold is a way to use the pelvic bones to support the work you do internally to create a more effective outcome in a less invasive and more respectful manner. Plus, it is a fun technique that makes the job easier!

Goals of a Pelvic Health Practitioner

It is wonderful to feel the release in the body and know that what you are doing has made a difference that can often be life-changing for your client. Getting the body’s tissues to respond positively is golden and the key to restoring function and getting clients out of pain. It should be the goal of every bodyworker.

For pelvic health therapists performing internal work, the Schulte Hold provides a way to work with the body’s structure rather than pushing directly into resistant tissues.

Benefits include:

• Less reliance on direct pressure
• Improved client comfort
• More efficient tissue response
• Reduced strain on the practitioner
• A more respectful approach to internal treatment

Clinical Takeaways for Pelvic Health Practitioners

• The Schulte Hold uses the pelvic bones to support internal pelvic floor treatment.
• It helps pelvic floor muscles relax without excessive direct pressure on the tissues.
• The technique allows therapists to create change using external force rather than increasing internal force.
• Many practitioners find the Schulte Hold produces more effective outcomes while improving client comfort.
• The Schulte Hold is taught in several Institute for Birth Healing courses focused on pelvic health and internal work.

When the Tissues Won’t Release

I’m not a fan of forcing the tissues to do anything. There is a reason they are tight, and figuring that out should be one of our main objectives when working with our clients. Sometimes, the muscles have a bit too much tone in them for no reason, and giving them a nudge to let go is all they need. Other times, there are deeper issues at play, and you need to explore more as to the why behind the tension and tone.

When working with the pelvic floor muscles, one of your primary goals is to encourage them to relax and let go. These muscles can hold various forms of tension, sometimes requiring a gentle nudge, and other times, requiring a deeper look at what is going on physically and, possibly, emotionally. For this reason, I strongly advocate against forcing the pelvic floor muscles to release as you can create more pain in the body with this approach.

Relaxing the Muscles with the Schulte Hold

There is a safe and effective way to facilitate the pelvic floor muscles to relax without applying excessive force directly on the muscles. When you learn to use the bones of the pelvis in the correct manner, the muscles respond by melting under your touch, ensuring a gentle and non-invasive approach. This approach is what I call the Schulte Hold.

How the Schulte Hold Works – In Real Life!

Here are a some videos from one of my recent Live courses where students were learning the Schulte Hold technique. Their responses to what they were feeling happen in the body was so incredible that I had to pull out my camera and start filming. It’s really fun to see their reactions as they compare the Schulte Hold to what they used to do!

Now, these students have a much more effective way of working with the pelvic floor muscles, and they don’t have to hammer, smoosh, or force the muscles to release.

Using the Schulte Hold in Your Practice

Working with the pelvic floor muscles using the Schulte Hold technique is an effective and fun experience. It allows you to put more force externally, not internally, which can make your job easier, create effective change that is non-invasive and helps your clients feel more at ease.

My aspiration is that one day, this method will be an integral part of all pelvic floor courses. This is why I am proud to associate my name with this technique, claiming my legacy in pelvic health and naming it the “Schulte” Hold!

The Future of Internal Pelvic Floor Treatment

The most effective internal work isn’t about doing more, but rather about working with and respecting the body.

The Schulte Hold gives pelvic health therapists a practical way to use pelvic bone mechanics to support tissue release, improve client comfort, and create meaningful change with less force. It’s one of those techniques that can transform how internal work feels – for both the practitioner and the client.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Schulte Hold?

The Schulte Hold is a pelvic health technique that uses the pelvic bones to support internal pelvic floor treatment, helping muscles relax with less direct pressure.

Is the Schulte Hold used during internal work?

Yes. The technique is designed to enhance internal pelvic floor treatment by combining internal assessment with external pelvic bone support.

Why is the Schulte Hold effective?

It works with the biomechanics of the pelvis, often allowing tissues to release more easily without aggressive force directed at the pelvic floor muscles.

Who should learn the Schulte Hold?

Pelvic health physical therapists, occupational therapists, bodyworkers, and other practitioners performing pelvic floor treatment can benefit from learning this approach.

Where can I learn the Schulte Hold?

If you would like to learn the Schulte Hold and see how it will get you better results with your clients, join one of the following courses:

• Holistic Treatment of the Pregnant Body: Learn 40+ treatment techniques and manual skills that get your clients out of pain and prepared for a smoother birth. Understand what to look for, where and how to work with the pregnant body, and what truly helps prepare clients (and their baby) for a more optimal birth.
• Holistic Treatment of the Postpartum Body: This hands-on and clinically focused course provides more than 40 techniques that can be immediately applied in practice. Unlike other programs that emphasize theory, this course takes a holistic, full-body, clinic-based approach, making treatments more efficient and effective. It will boost your confidence and improve your results, no matter how long you’ve been practicing.
• Internal Pelvic Floor Treatment: A 5-hour, self-paced online course that will increase the effectiveness of your internal pelvic floor treatment with less effort and better results. Work internally with confidence and integrate pelvic bone mechanics into intravaginal work for safer, easier, and more effective sessions.

About the Author: Lynn Schulte is a Pelvic Health Therapist and the founder of the Institute for Birth Healing, a pelvic health continuing education organization that specializes in prenatal and postpartum care. For more information, go to https://instituteforbirthhealing.com