i love yoga i had just started on my yoga journey when i fell pregnant and continued to do it right up until i had the baby. i had quite a complicated medical delivery using forceps and had a lot of problems with my stitches down there. this set me back quite a while as i could not excersize. When i recovered and started back to yoga i had a massive problem with wind (not from the behind) but thought it would improve however three years after having a baby i can not practice yoga in front of others as it is too embarrassing. i have not returned to classes and even find practising alone too awful. i dont know what anyone can say to this, i just feel so upset that having a baby seems to have completed ruined my pelvic floor region and in turn it has spoilt an activity i love.
Dear Science
I am soo sorry to here that. As a newer mother myself (youngest is still in preschool) I can so relate how the expectations we have of our bodies changes so dramatically after a birth of a child. I had 3 in under 4 years and to say the least it was life changing. While I did not find Yoga until after they were born, I understand the embarrasment that we can feel with our post pregnacy bodies . I have found that kegels help alot to mitigate those problems, and then avoiding gassy foods. Also I would recommend asking some of the other member’s on this board starting with Inner Athlete, Lotusgirl and CityMonk, all who are yoga practitioners and teachers. Their advice and wisdom is irreplacable.
Thats a bummer.
I have nothing more to add at this time.
Of course Yoga is not the physical practice of asana. So birth couldn’t actually ruin yoga, though it could temporarily interfere with an asana practice. It could re-frame the practice of yoga so that the practitioner might unearth other more robust methods of practice. But on the topic of physical practice…
Depending on the complications mentioned (and I’m assuming it was a vaginal birth rather than c-section) there is recourse and the possibility of improvement.
Pragmatically one can find a well-trained, therapeutically oriented yoga teacher and begin the process of strengthening the pelvic floor and its surroundings. Of course one can also choose a local doula, midwife, or OBGYN for feedback AND begin kegels.
Yoga teaches us that if you don’t like it, change it. If you cannot change it, find the joy in it.
This is usually related to weakened pelvic floor muscles, which you know. Several factors can contribute of which childbirth is one, other include, age and being overweight. The good news is that they can be exercised like any other muscle group. Kegel Exercises as mentioned in a previous post is an excellent starting point. These are usually simple, repetitions of concentrated muscle contractions in the pelvic area. If you don’t know the muscles to target, try momentarly stoppping the flow of urine the next time you go to the bathroom (not recommended to do regularly, but I don’t suppose anyone would want to, so I shouldn’t have to tell you that!). The muscles you use to do this are the ones you’re after.
Another home exercise you can try it to lie flat on your back, knees pulled up with a soft ball or cushion between your thighs, deep breath in and squeeze that ball/cushion as hard as you can, do a few repititions each day.
I would also recommend that you work for a while on and one-on-one basis with your yoga teacher and ask him/her for targeted asanas to help strenghten the muscles around the pelvic floor in conjunction with kegel.
[QUOTE=science;47066]i love yoga i had just started on my yoga journey when i fell pregnant and continued to do it right up until i had the baby. i had quite a complicated medical delivery using forceps and had a lot of problems with my stitches down there. this set me back quite a while as i could not excersize. When i recovered and started back to yoga i had a massive problem with wind (not from the behind) but thought it would improve however three years after having a baby i can not practice yoga in front of others as it is too embarrassing. i have not returned to classes and even find practising alone too awful. i dont know what anyone can say to this, i just feel so upset that having a baby seems to have completed ruined my pelvic floor region and in turn it has spoilt an activity i love.[/QUOTE]
Science, I’m so sorry to hear about your bad experience.
I an tell you that women with normal delivery also experience a wind. (this is just after inversions? right?) Have you practiced mula-bandha? this should help.
Difficulties on the life also a part of yoga, bealive it or not. One can practice yoga without doing any poses at all.
You look stressed…try to incorporate more pranayamas and meditation in to your practice.
[QUOTE=science;47066]i love yoga i had just started on my yoga journey when i fell pregnant and continued to do it right up until i had the baby. i had quite a complicated medical delivery using forceps and had a lot of problems with my stitches down there. this set me back quite a while as i could not excersize. When i recovered and started back to yoga i had a massive problem with wind (not from the behind) but thought it would improve however three years after having a baby i can not practice yoga in front of others as it is too embarrassing. i have not returned to classes and even find practising alone too awful. i dont know what anyone can say to this, i just feel so upset that having a baby seems to have completed ruined my pelvic floor region and in turn it has spoilt an activity i love.[/QUOTE]
So is it that you cant stop the gas from coming out or is it excessive gas forming too frequently?
…the reason I ask is a friend of mine became gaseous due to developing an allergy to cows milk. She had drank large amounts of milk whilst breastfeeding etc which started it off and then it took 4 years before she realised it was IBS. Irritable bowel syndrome that she had. She hadn’t had a problem with Milk before being pregnant. She doesn’t know why she suddenly has developed this following pregnancy but this is what happened.
After 4 years she now avoids Milk and she told me that a few times she has had a glass of milk and suffered the consequences of a pain in the left front side of the abdomen, followed by gas and sometimes mild Diarrhea.
Also, in those four years of having the IBS, she had unhealthy bowel bacteria forming which made it worse, gas wise, so other foods could start it off like pickles, mayonnaise etc.
[QUOTE=kareng;47125]So is it that you cant stop the gas from coming out or is it excessive gas forming too frequently?
…the reason I ask is a friend of mine became gaseous due to developing an allergy to cows milk. She had drank large amounts of milk whilst breastfeeding etc which started it off and then it took 4 years before she realised it was IBS. Irritable bowel syndrome that she had. She hadn’t had a problem with Milk before being pregnant. She doesn’t know why she suddenly has developed this following pregnancy but this is what happened.
After 4 years she now avoids Milk and she told me that a few times she has had a glass of milk and suffered the consequences of a pain in the left front side of the abdomen, followed by gas and sometimes mild Diarrhea.
Also, in those four years of having the IBS, she had unhealthy bowel bacteria forming which made it worse, gas wise, so other foods could start it off like pickles, mayonnaise etc.[/QUOTE]
:razz:
She said the Air don’t come from da behind!!!
pooot.
She said the Air don’t come from da behind!!!
pooot.[/QUOTE
I still dont get it…how can it be embarrassing unless its gas escaping from the bottom? please explain? is she saying that gas is forming too often and when she does exercises it slips out uncontrollably? But how can it when its not from the behind…what is causing the embarrassment?..I dont understand??? Is it burps?
No Its coming out the front side (from the place you deliver a baby from dear)
Its a very common problem with women who have had children.
Kareng she is talking about wind from the vagina, I believe some call them varts , I used to teach someone that had them when she inverted , she used to find it rather amusing , It was just accepted by everyone its only a noise , but I understand your feeling . I cant help with advice , although as some have said find out if utilising mula bandha helps ,or kegel exercise , would have thought it might.
Oh I see…thanks for making it clear to me, I can be such a thicko xxx
I’ve had children and didn’t know this can happen, I see…so sorry I cant offer any help in advice xx Pelvic floor exercises as already suggested or perhaps use a tampon just for the classes…
Poor thing! I so feel your pain! And yes it can be quite embarrassing. As a teacher, I can’t tell you how many times I hear either gas (from behind) or wind (not from behind). It is fairly common. Most of the time people pay no attention to it and keep right on doing what they are doing.
Everyone has given you great advise with good suggestions. Moola Bandha is definitely one to practice. But before doing anything else, I would talk with your OB/GYN and let her/him know what is going on. From there any/all the suggestions above are applicable and appropriate. Strengthening the pelvic floor should help.
To make you feel better and share a funny story with everyone. Many years ago I bought my husband an inversion table as a gift. Well, everyone came downstairs and we all gave it a try. Now, I’ve been practicing yoga for a while now, along with bandhas and inversions. Never any “not from behind wind” problems. Well, I get strapped in, cross my arms and invert and OUT IT CAME! For all to hear and enjoy! Laughter yoga was born that day! lol Now I make sure I am alone when I invert on the table, just in case.
i must say in small doses it is funny but when its all the time, from downward dog to lunge for example, it does start to get irritating. its happening so often as well that you cant ignore it. it does interrupt the medititive flow somewhat.
I have done a practice since using mula bandha throughout and it was improved, i am going to work on kegels, its so easy to forget to do them.
i fell reinvigorated to beat this now, thanks everyone! x
Hello science,
Personally i find much helpful adding cumin to all kind of legumes. You can’t imagine how digestive cumin is!
You could also try having a yogurt (bifidus? don’t know the english word, sorry) just before having lunch or dinner. Looks like milk bacteria keep methane producing bacteria at bay.
Good luck and don’t feel embarrassed.
Panoramix, again, it’s not a digestive issue. She’s having air expulsion (after air is pulled in) that only women could possibly have. 
Sorry to be so blunt!
Science, remember to do kegels when driving, and when sitting! Also, my ex husband told me that when I rode an exercise bike that it really made a difference … there… for him with sex… so maybe that will help tighten up those muscles too!
Just lightly hold them in while doing all kinds of activities. A gentle hold may help you begin to automatically hold the muscles tense all the time. I used to do this with my stomach, and found with one of my pregnancies that my stomach was aching a lot until I realized I was unconciously still holding the muscles tense, so had to conciously MAKE myself relax those stomach muscles!
Just a thought - going to try that myself.
but I am now wondering if it’s good to hold any muscles tense all the time. Not hard tense, just a mild contraction that you hardly would notice.
Wow, this is quite the thread. I know them as “qwefs”. Depending on where you live, there are physical therapists that can help you train your pelvic floor back into shape; which is my highest and best recommendation. There are also pelvic floor exercisers that can be purchased for in-home privacy. You might even contact a good mid-wife, she should have been trained in many pelvic floor techniques.
In the short term, lay on your back with a slight support under the small-of-your-back, and lay in Supta Baddha Konasana, place your fingertips just inside your hips bones (the front of your pelvic crest) gently pull your pelvic floor in, when the muscle under your fingertips begins to tighten - stop the pelvic floor squeeze. hold for a count of ten (good opportunity to use the yogic breathing techniques) then release. the mistake women make with kegels is tighenting too much. follow-up with some low abdomial twists aka russian twists.
remember, you have gone through an extreme trauma, and if not for living in this century (and the past few of last) you would likely not have survived the childbrith. so go easy on yourself, allow yourself not to be perfect and with that knowledge start with the poses that don’t cause wind and gradually add in more challenging poses. hold the posture which gives wind and work the wind in and out - this is also strenghtening your pelvic floor and will give you more control.
Re-enforcing the importance of kegels. I find that midwives are much more informative about that than obgyns, actually. There are several techniques for kegels, ranging from various speed, depths and intensity. I had a friend with the same problems, she also had stress incontinence following the birth of her child, but after several weeks of daily kegels, that got under control. Keep in mind that the vagina is made of muscle tissue and that as such, it should be exercised regularly or else it loses tone, so keeping up with kegels as we age is always a good idea.