om family strange language and students are told to do funny things with their noses and breathing could scare off some mamas-tobe. Instead, you have to be open-minded and give it a try a few times before making your decision to continue or not. For expectant mums who happen to be total beginners, yoga will certainly offer a gentle exercise during a special time in life - but it doesn’t have to be all slow with the flow. If, like me, you have been practicing for some time, you can keep to your normal level of practice - with a few variations. And make sure you go to a class that is in line with your level so you can still be challenged if you want to be.
“Through my pregnancy journey, I kept up a level I could never have imagined on that day when I first stood in Tadasana And as for thoughts of your centre of gravity changing as your bump grows – I remain the same pillar of strength in standing balances. I may wobble a little in dancers pose but it’s nothing to be scared of or shy away from. It’s like ‘normal’ practice but I’m pregnant, that’s all.
Strong practice
So as I retreated back to my own space and felt a burst of acceptance for my growing body, week-by-week my practice continued at the same level. Some days I was more energetic than others but every single day I did one thing – I listened to my body. If it felt achy, I targeted that part; if I had energy or wanted to get stronger, I worked on that. I didn’t give up; I met my mat and offered thanks after pranayama. Beautifully at 20 weeks lying in savasasana our baby kicked for the very first time – was this karma? It sure felt sweet enough to be. Through my pregnancy journey, I kept up a level I could never have imagined on that day when I first stood in tadasana (mountain), unsure of what asana to do next. The weeks rocketed by and with daily practice the benefits came flooding in. I never experienced nausea or stretch marks, and I had endless energy. I walked at the same speed and tiredness or sleeplessness wasn’t really a big issue for me either, fortunately. Just towards the end, my lower back started to ache but it was nothing a divine recline into ustrasana (camel) couldn’t fix. It
wasn’t all easy though. I dedicated time (an hour a day) to my yoga, I moved regularly throughout the day walking our dogs and went swimming. But I always offered gratitude to my mind for giving me discipline to practice each day and thanks to my body for co-operating and growing our healthy baby boy inside of me with no complications.
Yoga is for everyone
And at 36 weeks gestational, I was overjoyed that I could shoot the very same beautiful black and white shots that I had previously used for my ‘Yoga Strong’ piece but now with a beautiful bump on board. Every pregnancy is unique so it would be sanctimonious to suggest that yoga is what has given me a healthy and happy pregnancy - because I don’t actually know that. But a big part of me believes that without my practice I would surely have felt more side-effects. I genuinely spent most days feeling not just grateful but quite frankly, astounded that I could possibly feel this good, pregnant. I just felt simply by moving every day I was more connected to my baby and to myself. I was stronger in my mind and body, I became overly fascinated with what we can truly achieve if we believe in something and show commitment to it. And I really believe my body (and yours) is a gift that is made to grow and birth a human being naturally whilst developing a path we travel on to find a new part of ourselves in the process. Yoga is more than just exercise or movement. Those stretches every day sure do help make tying your shoes easier but proper breathwork (pranyama) and meditation kept me at ease and calm at a time when many pregnant women become anxious about the changes that will soon ensue. Of course, this can also help us with birth. As yoga has always taught me to tune in to my inner self and tune out the noise of this world, you too can utilise these tools whenever the time is right to do so. If you’ve just found out you’re pregnant (hooray!), have practiced yoga before or not – I suggest by all means giving it a go. Do your research and only go to a class you feel would suit you and your personality or exercise style. Listen to your body daily and reward it with movement and it will reward you. NOTE: Every pregnancy and every body is different. Please consult a qualified practitioner or physician before commencing any new exercise programme during pregnancy.