When Your Body Feels a Little Spooked: Reclaiming Balance This Halloween

Between juggling costumes, candy, and carving pumpkins, Halloween has a way of sneaking up on us — and so does the stress our bodies carry this time of year. Maybe it’s the tension in your shoulders after a week of bending over craft projects, the ache in your back after trick-or-treating with little ones, or that familiar pelvic heaviness that creeps in when you’ve been on your feet too long.

Here’s the truth: your body doesn’t need to feel haunted.

At The Body Workshop PT, we see women every day who’ve been told their pain, leakage, or core weakness is “just part of getting older” or “what happens after kids.” But what if we stopped normalizing discomfort and started listening to what our bodies are really trying to tell us?

Just like a ghost story, our bodies sometimes whisper clues before they start shouting. That ache in your low back? It might be your core asking for deeper support. The tension in your hips or pelvis? A sign your muscles are holding more than just stress. The fatigue that shows up by the end of the week? It’s your body’s reminder to slow down and reconnect.

This Halloween, let’s unmask what’s really behind the pain.

Many women don’t realize that pelvic floor dysfunction, whether it shows up as leaking, tightness, pressure, or pain, is often linked to how we move, breathe, and manage daily stress. It’s not a “scary diagnosis,” it’s an invitation to get curious.

Here’s how to keep your body feeling supported (and not spooked) this season:

1. Mind your posture — even in costume.
Whether you’re wrangling kids in costumes or sitting at a desk all day, your alignment affects how your core and pelvic floor work. Think tall spine, soft knees, and gentle breathing.

2. Don’t “monster-march” through pain.
If something doesn’t feel right, stop and adjust. Pain isn’t a test of toughness; it’s your body’s way of saying “something’s off.”

3. Treat your breath like your superpower.
Slow, deep breathing helps your diaphragm and pelvic floor move in sync. It calms your nervous system and supports your body’s natural rhythm.

4. Lift (and carry candy bags!) wisely.
Use your legs and exhale with effort. Protecting your core starts with how you move through everyday life.

This season is all about fun, but it’s also a great time to check in with your body, to notice what feels strong, what feels tight, and what needs a little extra care.

Because your body isn’t something to fear, fix, or fight against. It’s your lifelong teammate; and like any good partner, it needs attention, rest, and a little gratitude.

So here’s to a Halloween where the only things that creak and groan are the decorations, not your back. Take a breath, move with intention, and remember; your body deserves treats, not tricks.