Welcome to Yoga Ma Baby Ga! Motherhood is
one big adventure. Everyone tells you your life is going to change –
but somehow when it happens to you – you feel like you are the first
woman in the world to have a baby! I remember looking at other women in
the supermarket – carrying their babies and managing the cart and
groceries and wondering, “How do I do that?”
(CONT.)
I have been a Hatha Yoga teacher and Bodyworker for over 18 years – and
I taught and worked up to the day I delivered. My students asked me when
I would be back teaching – and I told them I would pop this baby out and
be right back teaching. Yeah – right. Nursing on demand, recovering from
a C-section (which was a wonderful experience – I think I had the best
c-section ever!) and holding that wonderful bundle in my arms. I didn’t
want to leave her – ever! Yoga was such a huge part of my life – how was
I going to incorporate it back in? I had no idea.
I vaguely remembered that Rocki (the place where I took yoga pregnancy
classes) had a Mommy & Me class – and finally I was ready to try.
I remember I was so nervous – driving with my newborn in the car – putting
her in the snap and go – carrying her in. I was so worried about germs.
So, how did my first class go? I collapsed on the floor when I tried to
do my first sun salutation! Then Kaliray cried and I had to nurse and
hold her. One more pose – gently. Then she needed to be changed. Then
class was over! This is when I realized my whole world had changed!
As I lay with my baby, Alexandra Kaliray, in my arms that night – trying
to get her to sleep – I heard my own Ujaii breathing and felt her body
adjusting to my breath and mirroring mine. As our bodies took their breath
together – I could feel the sound and rhythm take over and lull her to
sleep. “Aahh” I thought. Here is my true Yoga. What is yoga anyway? The
Sanskrit word means “union”. My whole body relaxed and knew my recovery
would be just fine. Slowly, I regained my strength. At Mommy & Me
classes I added new poses everyday – and began to practice at home with
baby in my arms – making up and adjusting poses. I realized my arms were
so strong from holding her all the time – so I really didn’t need to do
any arm strengtheners – and with the nursing the weight was melting off.
I was rediscovering my body and discovered a well of patience deeper and
more profound than I had ever experienced before. I really liked class
– especially talking and bonding with the other Mom’s – and pretty soon
– the itch to teach came over me. I wanted to do poses that I felt were
important and was helping me. I started to teach one day a week at Rocki’s
and it was transformational. I made new Mommy friends that I have to this
day.
That’s where I met Heidi my partner and our babies Kaliray and Jackson
became yogis together. Heidi was game for any pose – and handled Jackson
James like a pro although a first time mom. We began to meet every week
at her house. One day she asked me for a tape she could buy so she could
do yoga more than once a week – and I laughed and told her there was nothing
on the market. We both had backgrounds in production and I think she said,”
Why don’t we make one of your routine?” Little did we realize what we
were getting into! Our first production meeting was in her kitchen after
an afternoon of yoga, nursing, changing, crying, commiserating – then
holding our babies as we ate pizza and went through a calendar and production
outline.
I was able to get to a few classes on my own – but most of my yoga was
done with Kaliray for the first two years. It takes a lot of flexibility,
creativity, forgiveness – and letting go of preconceived ideas. We tried
to give those ideas with our first DVD – "Yoga Ma Baby Ga".
Your baby comes first. Your body changes every day. Some days – the exhaustion
level is so intense you just barely make it through. That’s why meeting
other Moms is so important – because you realize you’re not going through
this alone. They are feeling what you are feeling. The poses themselves
– how they look becomes much less important. I was now doing m y yoga
to nourish myself – so I would feel good, so I would enjoy being with
my baby – even nursing through the night – or holding her as her temperature
zoomed up to 105.
If you’re a first time Mom – it’s a brand new journey. You have to rediscover
everything! I discovered my true yoga – which was holding, swinging, dancing,
and doing poses while enjoying my baby. I learned to truly listen to my
energy level, back off when I needed to – and pace myself. Not pushing
is very important – and learning about process rather than outcome is
a key principal of Yoga and your baby will give you the opportunity to
discovery true self-acceptance and love.
Every pregnancy is different, every baby is different, and every Mom’s
recovery is different. Embrace the journey, laugh at the challenges, and
enjoy the ride. I love being a Yoga Mama – and Yoga Ma Baby Ga gives me
the wonderful experience of sharing with the whole baby and yoga community!
Please feel free to contact us with your experience, thoughts and questions.
