Prenatal Yoga

Embracing the changes that occur in the various seasons of our lives by maintaining our disciplines of practice whenever possible will help keep us centered while making room for all the exciting adjustments along the way.The more support we allow for ourselves in this season, the more we will experience the nurturing possibilities found around us, helping us to mother our babies in their transitions from the womb into the world; bringing about the greatest possible care for our little ones.
Let's capitalize on this miraculous gift of a season in pregnancy.  Each stage brings about unique realities for both the wee one within us as well as ourselves.  Practicing Yoga while pregnant puts us more in tune with some of the changes occurring in our bodies, minds and spirits as we make way for life to come into its fullest expression and form.
Not always the bliss that we expect it to be, carrying the additional load can take a toll on us in various ways.  Many mornings the stiff muscles remind us that soon we will be face to face with childbirth.  These awakenings can stir us toward better preparation through practice.  With Pranayama and Asana practice under safe instruction, one can develop a renewed sense of empowerment and greater self-awareness.  The concentration that comes about with breath control and relaxation confirms the various benefits of Lamaze and Bradley methods.  The centuries of experienced women that have gone before us, help to set us up with all kinds of tools that promote holistic health and strength from trimester to trimester.
Yoga encourages us to maintain proper alignment and enables us with meditation techniques to have a more stress-free self.  We cannot always change the environments in which we work or live to bring about greater peace, but we do have the ability to restrict the impact of those variables upon us.  This will be evidenced in the increased potential of relaxation.  Where our whole self comes away renewed and refreshed.
This energizing discipline of yoga practice for the prenatal phase is also true for the postnatal stage.  More to come on this subject soon ... stay tuned!