The Journey from Maiden to Mother. Finding your inner and outer strength with Prenatal Yoga.

Pregnancy is a powerful time. It is a significant rite of passage. If it is your first pregnancy you are journeying from maiden to mother. Even before the birth of your baby there is a deep experience of things shifting from within… not just the obvious expansion of your growing baby and belly but also an experience that you are changing emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

As your baby grows inside of your womb and you prepare to birth your baby, you are also birthing a new ‘you’ as you prepare for the role of becoming a mother. In the deepest sense, pregnancy and motherhood brings us into direct relationship with the energy of expansion and contraction. There is a falling away of the old self, certain things we have to let go of and relinquish (during pregnancy and beyond), but the gains and rewards far out weigh any losses. Becoming a mother offers us the opportunity to move into a deeper connection with our heart space and experiencing a more profound sense of love than we could ever have imagined.

Pregnancy is a time for shifting gears, to slow down and connect in more deeply with yourself and your baby. During this time it is so important to nourish yourself (and by extension you are doing this for your baby). It is a beautiful time to experience sitting in circle and connecting with other women, particularly expectant mothers and to feel yourself held in the space of support and connection. Everything you do during this time is subtly and directly affecting your baby and informing your babies nervous system. The more you can relax and nurture yourself during this time…the better.

During pregnancy the body has so many demands placed on it. The heart and cardiovascular system are working so much harder, the movement of energy towards your baby and your womb often has the affect of drawing (qi/chi) energy away from other parts of the body so it is common to feel that your lymphatic system (circulatory system) isn’t working as effectively, resulting in swelling around the feet and other parts of the body.

The increased weight of your growing belly can also create sore and aching hips and the protruding belly starts to compress and pull on the muscles of the lower back causing back pain. It is quite common for the shoulders and upper body to also start to ’round’ creating tension in the neck and upper back. When the body starts to seize up and become sore and tight pregnancy can start to feel quite challenging.

Additionally, during this time the body is flooded with relaxin which aids in softening the ligaments and tendons to create space for your growing baby. However, relaxin often makes the joints and bones less stable which can lead to issues such as pelvic instability and pubic symphysis. At this time the body needs a physical practise such as prenatal yoga to create stability for the shifting bones and joints and to relieve tension and pains associated with the growing weight of your baby.

Many physicians are in agreement on the benefits of prenatal yoga and so it is common for many women to be encouraged to attend prenatal yoga by their doctor upon finding out that they are pregnant or when experiencing physical discomfort during their pregnancy. Having a regular prenatal yoga practise can also be incredibly beneficial in speeding up your post pregnancy recovery.

Divine Warrior Yoga in Doreen (close to surrounding suburbs such as Yarrambat, Mernda, Whittlesea, South Morang and Diamond Creek) now has a prenatal yoga series on Friday evenings at 6.30pm. The next series will be commencing on Friday the 5th of October. Each prenatal yoga series lasts for 6 weeks and all classes are of a small size so that participants can receive maximum attention and assistance. All classes contain the necessary props and equipment so all you need to bring is yourself.

Throughout all prenatal yoga classes at Divine Warrior Yoga there is a focus on:

• Breathing exercises to help you feel more calm and empowered in your life and throughout the birth
• Building physical endurance which is especially important throughout pregnancy and particularly during childbirth.
• Improving energy levels.
• Stretching and creating more space and ease within the body and to relieve the aches and pains associated with pregnancy and the growing weight of the baby.

Please note: if you have not had a yoga practise before it is generally recommended to wait until you are at least 12 weeks before commencing Prenatal yoga.

For all bookings please contact 048777 6482 or www.divinewarrioryoga.com.au.

If your body is in need of a nourishing pregnancy massage or you are in the final days of pregnancy and want to move things along, I would highly recommend acupuncturist and remedial massage therapist Michael Ryan from Melbourne Acupuncture Centre, who is based in Doreen.

Contact 0403 555 806 or www.melbourneacupuncturecentre.com.au.