Corset Training

History of Corset Training

Adolescence has never been a lot of fun, but for girls who grew up in the time of corsets, it was the beginning of a lifetime of discomfort. One eventually got used to the corsets, but it was the rare woman who actually enjoyed hers.

Corset training began in the teenage years. Most girls started off wearing lighter corsets than their mothers and only during the day. A woman serious about her figure would sleep in her corset, perhaps only loosening the stays. As a girl grew, her corset became tighter and she would wear it longer. The ideal figure was one where her husband would be able to span her waist with his hands on their wedding night. At the height of the hourglass curve trend in the Victorian era, women became so desperate for wasp waists, some would even have their lower ribs removed so that they could tighten the stays that much further. Many women became ill.

There were, and are, health advantages to corsets. First and foremost, a good corset forces you to have perfect posture. You keep your stomach muscles tight and your back straight. In the days before yoga and Pilates, corsets did a lot to keep women in good shape.

Starting Your Corset Training

For a modern woman or man in search of a tiny waist, corset training should begin slowly. You want to work your way up to cinching your waist by six inches. To begin with, buy a corset that is about four inches smaller than your natural waist. Some corset wearers will advise that you wear it 20 hours a day, taking it off only to go to the bathroom, but it’s better to start a little more slowly. You don’t want to seriously tighten the corset until it is broken in and conforms to your body. That way, you can avoid cramping and putting pressure on your ribs.

Your first goal is to lace your corset completely closed. Once you can achieve this with ease and no damage to the corset, you can move on to a smaller corset. It is advised that you have a corset custom-made or get a pattern to make one yourself, as these will be the most comfortable, conforming and sturdy.

Shaving Inches

If you want to see permanent waist reduction, you have to commit to a rigorous program of exercise, diet and corsetry. Concentrate on exercises that flatten the stomach and whittle the waist, such as side crunches. Stretching and strengthening exercises are also encouraged. As to diet, advice will vary depending on your goal. What you eat matters less than how much you eat at any one time. A big meal will bloat you, whereas small meals scattered throughout the day will not cause your body to strain against the corset.

Attaining a permanent reduction predominately involves wearing the corset for a certain number of hours every day. While you can allow for extenuating circumstances, you also have to commit to your main goal. Focus on daily corset training to see results.

Most corset experts advise that you keep your reduction goal to one inch every six months for maximum safety and health. Remember that everyone is different and your body may not respond as quickly as someone else’s. Maintain your own pace! Also, you should certainly consult with your doctor before beginning such a program. Waist reduction can be achieved through corsetry, but you should proceed with care and caution.