February 7 2013

Be Yoga Loves Your Baby Belly

Pregnancy, Birth & Motherhood without Yoga? No Way.

By Jennifer Downing of Be Yoga

On hectic days when I can’t find time to practice yoga or sit and meditate, I sometimes end my day with a brief gratitude session…I figure it’s the least I can do on crazy days to avoid getting lost in the chaos. It’s a simple exercise – before I doze off for the night, I take a few breaths and quietly reflect on things I’m thankful for. Now I must admit, sometimes my affirmations of gratitude are pretty shallow. Like recently during a weekend in New Hampshire, one of my affirmations went something like this, “I’m so thankful I found those white trouser pants at Banana Republic for $19.99…I mean, what a steal!” Usually though (in all seriousness) my affirmations do have more substance, like being thankful for my health and for those I love. Every time I do this little exercise, my last affirmation always goes something like this, “I am grateful for Calvin and Reese and the blessing of being their mom.”

When I think about being a mom (all of its joys, demands, and challenges), my children, and the experience of bringing them into the world, I can’t imagine doing any of it without yoga. While yoga was a central part of my life before my children and continues to be now full throttle in the midst of motherhood, I can’t express enough how valuable my yoga practice was in the months leading up to becoming a mother – from the miracle of conception, to the rollercoaster ride of pregnancy, to the challenges and triumphs of labor.

Jennifer Downing of Be Yoga, with son Calvin.

Yoga prepared my body physically and emotionally to become pregnant. As you strengthen the mind/body connection through yoga, treating the physical & mental bodies with respect and kindness begins to come more natural. This means things like eating well, getting rest, having patience, and being present – just a few key ingredients to ginning up a happy & healthy pregnancy.

Once I became pregnant, yoga’s lesson of impermanence was tremendously valuable. Each day my body changed physically and emotionally, and while these changes weren’t always easy to swallow, I could remind myself that “this too shall pass.” I was more accepting of myself and able to change my thinking from negative to positive…sadness, fear, and anxiousness turned into excitement and sheer amazement over the miracle of pregnancy and the baby I would soon get the opportunity to meet.

And then there’s labor…where do I begin!? So much of what I’ve learned on the mat directly benefitted me while I was birthing my children. Most significantly, my yoga training prepared me to quiet my mind, focus, and use my breath to effectively navigate through contractions. And during that commonly feared moment right before baby arrives (often called transition), when you think you can’t handle another minute…fight of flight kicks in and your mind says, “That’s it, I’m out of here!” I was able to concentrate, breathe slowly, and keep my eye on the prize. Instead of tensing, I directed each breath to my baby and softened into the tension. I was able to take a back seat and surrender to the birthing process, letting my body and baby take over…since they knew exactly what to do.

As a mommy the most valuable lesson that yoga has instilled in me is the importance of being present. One day you’re preparing for your child’s first birthday and then it seems like just a few months later they’re entering kindergarten. You blink it seems and soon they’re graduating, starting college, having children of their own. Yoga reminds us to savor each and every moment, not just in our poses but in life itself…for the days continue to roll forward with or without you.

We are starting a prenatal yoga class on Saturday mornings at 9:45 at our studio in Acushnet that is just right for the expectant mother. If you’re expecting a new little bundle of love, I encourage you try our class and give yourself (and your growing baby) the many gifts of yoga.