So here I am, 7 months pregnant with our second child. Quite amazing how time flies and how our life has changed already with another soul entering our lives. Evan is going to have a baby sister very soon!
When I wrote the first chapter of "practice of a yogi mom" in 2008, life had balanced out beautifully and I was very content to have found my true yoga practice. I experienced positive changes within my physical, emotional and spiritual approach to yoga and was very happy to see this process continue over the next year.
When Evan was 16 months old my Ashtanga Yoga practice was back to where I was before I got pregnant with him. In fact, my body and awareness of it had changed so much that I surpassed that level in a way that it felt smoother and easier. And much more full and aware than before.
On the day where I had one of those "aaahhh, Yoga feels sooooo good" moments and everything felt light and bright, I found out that a second soul chose us to be his/her parents. It was very surprising and very welcome news to us. Now that I am 7 months along there have of course been changes in my yoga practice again. In my first pregnancy as well as in this one I developed an over-flexibility in my pelvis and an instability in my hips. This is common in pregnancy and by now I knew what to do to eliminate and prevent pain: no ashtanga yoga!
This isn't an easy feat for me but I immediately developed a practice I could do. Unfortunately I was very very nauseous and tired the first 4 months and during that time my yoga practice was to sleep as much as I could and be as present with Evan as best as I could. It wasn't easy but I survived.
I still need more sleep than when not pregnant but most mornings I manage to get up before Evan and do a little routine that centers me and connects me to myself. The hip area cannot be stretched, instead it has to be strengthened. I do a few movements that stabilise the hips and build core strength. Some of them are pilates style moves but a lot is also found in Ashtanga Yoga: moola bandha and uddiyana bandha. I take this practice with me throughout the day and know from experience that it will help me bounce back fast after labour.
The rest of the body can be stretched but it gets complicated when you can't do anything from a standing position or when you can do no folding forward bends etc. A lot of movements end up going into the hips. So.....I use a technique called AIS - Active Isolated Stretching. A technique that Adarsh has studied thoroughly in the past years and which he has now included in his work with students/clients both one-on-one and in group sessions. You can read more about it here: http://www.smartstretch.com/
For me it has been an incredible tool to stay strong and flexible and to stay connected to my body on a deep level. I believe that a healthy happy body brings healthy happy children. Not that this is always the case but for me it's very important to be present in my body, to not get too carried away in the mind with the daily things but to feel balanced and connected. The AIS has given me this during a time where Yoga is not so easy. I can work specific muscles that need attention (in my case my neck and shoulders and my calves) and get rid of aches and pains from carrying Evan and carrying the belly.
I have also developed a modified seated half primary series sequence that I do on days where I have the time (not often) but I always do a few AIS stretches before. The two complement eachother beautifully and it brings me back to: "aaaahhhhh, moving and yoga feels soooo good!"
There will without a doubt be even less time for a yoga practice on the mat when our little girl has arrived but that's ok. Whatever I can do is great but my approach and attitude to the changes are much more important. With Evans arrival 2 years ago I found a whole new approach to what my yoga practice means and it has been the best change for me as a human being. With our little girls arrival there will be a whole new shift in how I practice yoga and I welcome the challenge and the change.
To all the yogi moms out there who struggle to find time for themselves and who miss their relationship with the yoga mat: everything is temporary! If you are open to adjusting your practice and your approach to it you will find that yoga is more than being on the mat. It may be that staying calm during another tantrum of your child is your yoga or taking a few deep breaths while he/she is playing. Yoga is there. Everywhere. Always.
Love Heleen
