"I will never forget returning from hospital after the birth of my first child, Olivia; that sudden panic of feeling “what exactly do I do now…?” When you’re pregnant, you’re given so much advice on the pregnancy and birth, but no-one actually prepares you for being alone with a new baby and having no idea at all what you’re doing!
For those of you who haven’t met me yet, I’m Dani – a Yoga and Ballet Teacher, and Mummy to Olivia (nearly 5yrs) and Toby (nearly 3yrs). As it is very nearly Mother’s Day, it’s got me reminiscing about those precious early days of being a new Mummy. It was the birth of my daughter that actually led to my Yoga Journey. I had practised a little before, but having trained as a dancer I wasn’t sure what benefits I would find in Yoga as I was already very flexible and strong. I certainly wasn’t expecting Yoga to change my entire life as it did, and how it would help support my journey as a new Mummy.
Those first few months of having a new baby are incredibly daunting for many (myself included). Learning to understand what their cries mean (or rather, guessing and trying everything and anything until they stop), changing what feels like MILLIONS of nappies (including ones 5 minutes after you changed the last one), waking up countless times during the night to soothe or feed. Sound familiar? Then as they get older, the stresses and strains of trying to juggle work, running a house and supporting their education and extra-curricular activities, whilst teaching them how to be a good human being! At times, it can be incredibly overwhelming, busy and stressful.
This is where Yoga can help. After birth, your body has been through the wringer and you may not be feeling your ‘best’ physically. Practising Yoga during this time has many physical benefits:
• Normalises weight
• Strengthens pelvic floor muscles and the deep abdominal muscles (helping them ‘knit’ back together post birth)
• Relieves tension in the shoulders, back and neck – particularly important when you are lifting and carrying a baby
• Develops strength and stamina
• Develops core strength and tone in order to support posture – especially important after you have been pregnant
For me, though, it was the many emotional and mental benefits that took me by surprised and helped support me through the mental stresses and strains that having a young family can cause. These benefits include:
• Important self-care and nurture time, especially for YOU!
• Time to rest and relax
• Deepening and slowing the breath to activate the ‘rest and digest’ branch of your nervous system (which slows release of cortisol and increases release of happy hormones)
• Supports mental and emotional health issues, such as postnatal depression, anxiety or stress
• Quietens the mind by encouraging you to focus on your breath, which can also help develop more patience (something you definitely need as a Mum)
• Gets you out of the house! (Sounds obvious, but it can be a challenge in those early days!)
• Renews energy levels – you will step off the mat feeling invigorated!
Another benefit I didn’t expect was how the tools I gained from those first few years of Yoga helped support me throughout my second pregnancy; keeping me calm and cultivating a strong bond before Toby was even born. My second birth was vastly different to my first too – using many of the Pranayama practices (or breathing techniques) along with Hypnobirthing techniques to stay calm and manage pain throughout labour.
The list above is not an exhaustive list – there are SO many benefits Yoga can bring you as a Mum (or anyone for that matter!) Another great benefit is the bonding that it can bring between you and your baby/child/children. My two love watching me move around on my mat, and will regularly join me (or rather, climb all over me in Cat/Cow pose, and crawl underneath me in Downward Facing Dog!) and are always excited to show me their Tree Pose. We also enjoy sitting still and breathing deeply, counting our inhales and exhales which they find calming and soothing, particularly before bedtime. It is so precious to be able to share my yoga practice with them, and a great way to connect with them.
Becoming a Mum is one of the most beautiful times of your life – but it can also be one of the most stressful times. In amidst the chaos of family life, it’s very easy to lose YOU. It’s so important, now more than ever to maintain your wellbeing, sanity andamp; happiness through this stage. We need to make sure that we stay relaxed, healthy and tuned within ourselves to ourselves – mind, body and spirit, in order to be the best Mum you can be.
I hope you can join me on the mat soon. "
Dani x
NB: Yoga is suitable throughout your pregnancy from around 12 weeks, just ensure you let your teacher know at the start of class so they can advise you and guide your practice. Post pregnancy, it is generally advised to wait until your 6 week check before resuming or starting your practice.
Written by Dani Jones and published on Friday 20th March 2020 at 13:00
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