Maternity Yoga.
What an amazing opportunity for Mom to unite with her tiny life forming within!
Using breath as a tool to create ease, poise and concentration. The perfect time to create an inward focus, to develop, nurture and deepen a bond for a lifetime
Prenatal training gives you the wonderful opportunity to explore mula and udyana bundha with a deeper sense of purpose……birthing! Mula (pelvic floor lift) udyana (naval lift upwards and toward spine) are subtle yet invaluable concepts in yoga that not only lift, energize and rock your charkas (for spirit lifting) but also help activate and initiate all the muscle complexes for giving birth.
Similar to ‘Kegle exercises’, my system adds a deeper dimension to the bundhas work, by incorporating transverse adbominus muscles. These are the deepest layer of muscles supporting the internal organs and baby who is safely nestled in the uterus.
While supporting all of Moms internal organs and a growing fetus, this girdle shaped muscle is strengthened and stretched, as it is facing the challenge of a lifetime.
From my years of experience I have seen too many moms who have ripped their transverse abdominus and rectus(outer layer) muscles during the maternity process!
This sets the stage for core weakness, physical dysfunctions, disease and future problems for pregnancy, you’ve seen those bellies drooping downward rather than lifted and held high.
As we strengthen and stretch that deepest layer of muscle it helps provide a more meaningful focus to the breath work while also hugging baby with each contraction of muscle.
It provides multiple benefits to baby as well, baby developing muscle tone through the contractions and increased oxygen with each in breath while cleansing and soaking and rinsing for cleansing and purification.
This contraction release process also helps baby and mom prepare for birthing, so when the contractions are the ‘real’ ones, they will feel oh so familiar and friendly, so calmness prevails and mom and baby fall easily into breath work as they have practiced all along.
Add gentle asana focused on and ‘hugging’ the bones towards each other so that the joints stay strong and stable while stretching and strengthening the muscles all while maintaining integrity of alignment.
Each movement is tailored to your fitness and activity tolerance with a focus on all the muscles needed for carrying, birthing and after birth!
Maternity is a truly athletic event! I will encourage as much movement as is appropriate for you.
Maternity is moms last opportunity to focus on herself for a while so the practice is nurturing for mom, while exploring the bonds of the budding relationship with baby. Maternity is a challenge and celebration, lets explore it safely, with nurturance and challenge in a smart and compassionate way.
I look forward to celebrating your journey with you. The Post Natal journey being equally as important is focused on integrating core, joints and muscles through thoughtful strength and stretch asanas. Pranyama (breath work), meditation and yoga nidra (yoga sleep) or restorative is incorporated as well.
Based on your needs: for healing, cleansing and inward focus and for the necessary self nurturance so needed during this total giving phase. Shanti Om Deb
