by Caroline Baker, Certified Ma Yoga® Instructor
“Are you expecting?” No. “Do you have any kids?” No. “What was your birth experience like?” Huh? “Are you trying to conceive?” Um… “Do you guys want kids?” Of course… “Have you tried IVF?” Well… “It looks like you’re next.” … “It’s all in His timing.” SCREAMS
Okay, you get my point. Trying to conceive has been quite the journey so far. My husband and I got married a year ago, and we’ve been together for almost five years. We would absolutely LOVE to start a family. It’s actually our main discussion topic.
We discuss the practicalities, the logistics, the ovulation timing, the nourishing foods we are digesting to boost fertility, the partner exercising we’re including in our daily lives… etc.
Then, our discussion topic takes a deep dive into the day dreaming realm…practical with a tinge of wistfulness.
Daydreaming of life with children, dirty dishes, giggles, me being pregnant, teaching them about the books and stories we love, having busy schedules, family vacations, and piles of laundry. However, we have yet to have success with getting pregnant.
I have been practicing yoga for almost a decade now. I got certified in RYT 200hr and then went on to receive other yoga teaching certifications like Yin Yoga, Inside Flow, and more. About six months into our trying to conceive journey, I began the Ma Yoga RYPT Pregnancy Certification.
I thought learning more about pre and post natal through yoga would be an easier way for me to digest what happens to a woman’s body as she turns away from maidenhood and steps into matronhood. It turns out that was only part of it, and I never would’ve predicted all that happened during my Ma Yoga Certification training.
No, unfortunately, I am not yet pregnant. However, I am present.
The daydreaming and constant discussion of my future was something I learned to cease. Of course, it brings so much joy to discuss all of these future endeavors with my loving husband, but the deep sadness that takes over my mental, physical, and spiritual health after these discussions is hurting our chances of conceiving even more.
Through the Ma Yoga intensive and immersive pre/post natal yoga teacher certification, I have been able to connect to the present moment with ease and grace. A specific phrase, “Freely Rooted,” coined by Kori Meloy and Fallon Lee, has been present with me since I began my training.
To be freely rooted, we must have a balance of groundedness to stabilize and liberty to move. This concept and phrase was even more present as Jessica Jennings interweaved the five sacred steps into the training: Space, Air, Water, Fire, and Earth.
Each of these five sacred steps were labeled with adjectives, colors, objects, shapes, and feelings that allowed all of us trainees to connect with in order to understand. If you have found one sacred step in your body, then you are on your way to finding them all.
And trust me… finding one took me a while… I didn’t find it until I surrendered to actually being present.
