By Nicole Elliott Murray
Pregnancy
is truly a life transforming experience. It is a time when a woman comes face
to face with her deepest self and is called upon to participate in the miracle
of creation. According to the teachings of Kundalini
Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan, it is through the
conditions that a woman establishes during pregnancy that she attracts the soul
that will be born to her. She sets this vibration based on what she thinks, how
she feels, what exposes herself to, as well as what she eats or drinks.
Pregnancy is the most critical time for shaping the life of the unborn child.
Yoga,
which means to yoke or unite, provides a supportive space for a woman to
connect with her own body, heart and mind. In particular, prenatal yoga builds
inner strength by connecting us in a bond of common experience with other
pregnant women. It is one of the few spaces today where women can come together
to affirm one another’s decision to become a mother. More importantly,
yoga establishes the inner sanctuary or sacred space where a woman can connect
with her baby and prepare to usher in a new life. It enhances the pre-birth
bonding experience which can lessen feelings of isolation, depression and
anxiety.
Regular
practice of yoga exercises, meditation and relaxation, and focused breathing
exercises ensures the highest possible state of health for both mother and
baby. There are numerous benefits of regular yoga practice during pregnancy.
Women generally experience a healthier pregnancy with fewer complications. They
are able to overcome fear and insecurity surrounding the birth experience by
becoming the expert of their own bodies. Yoga also assists in the development
of intuitive awareness, which is the heart of a woman’s power as a
mother. In addition, yoga offers specific techniques (conscious breath,
relaxation, endurance, and concentration) that can be used during labor and
delivery. Through the regular practice of postures, exercises, meditation, and
deep yogic breathing, women maintain a positive and relaxed attitude toward
their birth, which can in turn shorten the duration of labor and decrease physical
pain.
There
are certain yoga poses that are designed to work essential areas of the body
that tend to affect pregnant women. These areas include the stomach, the back
and the pelvis. Regular squatting exercises tone the pelvis and the uterus to prepare
women for labor and delivery. Many women who practice yoga regularly state that
their time in labor was significantly decreased due to regular squatting.
Toning exercises for the stomach make the experience of carrying a baby more
comfortable, especially during the third trimester. It also prepares women to
effectively push their baby out during delivery. Spinal exercises also assist
women by helping them carry the extra weight of the pregnancy while keeping the
body well aligned through proper posture.
Beyond
the obvious physical benefits, one of the most important aspects of prenatal yoga is that is asks modern
women to participate in the ancient ways that women have prepared themselves to
give birth throughout the ages. It invites women to take a moment to consider
the lineage and legacy of childbirth and to remember that billions of women
have given birth before us without the fear and anxiety that is common today.
Through yoga, women discover that the power to have a peaceful, natural birth
is within their reach.
It
is critical that we remember that the creative love force of this planet is
contained within women. Yoga connects a pregnant woman with this essential
truth about her essence. It thereby encourages her to develop a healthy sense
of self-love and empowerment through which she can effectively nurture and
guide her children.
About the Author:
Nicole Murray is an
instructor of pre and post- natal Kundalini yoga, as
taught by Yogi Bhajan. Her intention is to offer
yogic technology that will help women open up and enjoy the physical and
spiritual transformation of birth one baby, one soul at a time.
She is available for group
and private yoga lessons and holistic motherhood workshops. For more
information, please contact Ancient Instinct at 626-379-0562.