Dear Kate,
Thank you for your post and your support toward the development of this site as an interactive forum. There is a wealth of experience available in this community, and I highly encourage others to participate in sharing. As no responses have yet been posted, I offer my own reflections.
I work primarily with women students in small group setting, with an emphasis on the individual’s needs. Only one student has been postnatal, and she an experienced yogini who is following her inner guidance both in private practice and group classes. My response, then, will be from a personal level.
Hatha yoga entered my life @ 12 years ago when my first child was born. I derived considerable benefit in several aspects of yoga practice.
- First is relaxation/retreat/renewal. My first yoga class was taken at Kripalu. I went to a weekend retreat with my mother-in-law. For a new mom, this opportunity to let go of the demands of mothering and find center again was very valuable. The external demands on a new mom are tremendous. Yoga gives her space outside the ‘action’ of mothering to be focused internally. A group class away from home or a private practice in solitude and without distraction can provide the opportunity to come home to herself.
Specifically, I found meditation and relaxation techniquies to be highly beneficial. Meditation allows the grace to let go of the surface activity ad rest in the healing space of one’s deeper self. Gentle Pranayam (done in meditation asana or savasana) with a focus on extended exhalation can help to release tensions and soothe body, mind and spirit.
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Secondly, asana is valuable on several levels. Physical activity reconnects the new mom with her body as separate from the infant’s and provides a physical boost which helps to overcome depression or feelings of being out of control. For 9 months the mother’s body has been the home of 2 beings. Now she can move within and nurture her own growth. The level of practice and particular asanas appropriate to the individual depend oupon many factors, including prior yoga experience, physical ability, and how much time she can devote to it. If no alone time is available it is still possible to practice. I found that I could find time to do asana with kids active around me, if I let go of the tendency to be annoyed by distraction.
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Finally, I would suggest that this time is an interesting chance to practice Svadhyaya - self and spiritual study. One’s sense of identity in the world is altered by becoming a Mother. She may reflect on the meaning of Mothering, and connect with the ways she experiences Mothering as well abeing Mothered (both physically and spiritually). She may develop a deeper connection to the Universal Mother aspect of Reality, or meditate on examples of the Mother such as Virgin Mary, Mother Theresa, Ammachi or whomever is meaningful to her.
If she is familiar with the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, she can reflect on these and perhaps gain new insights, particularly on the Yamas and Niyamas. This is a good time to consider one’s relationship to self, Spirit and others.
The 3 areas I have highlighted are inner solace, external recovery, and personal/interpersonal awareness. Hope these thoughts are helpful to your investigation. I would be interested to hear about how your studies and experiences progress. I would also like to hear from others in our internet community!
Namaste,
Chandra
