The Yoga of Pregnancy

Lately I’ve been trying to be more careful, mostly because I keep screwing up. First, we flew back from Japan without masks and my husband got Covid. Somehow I avoided it, but since I was born with asthma and I know repeat infections increase the risk of Long Covid, it felt like a close call.

Then, a beautiful antique glass towel holder fell out of its holder in the bathroom. It didn’t break, and I was so relieved. So what did I do? I put it back, even though it felt like it wasn’t being held tightly. Next day, it fell and broke.

It’s true, not everyone wants to teach prenatal yoga. Still, most of us will know someone we care about who gets pregnant, and most yoga teachers will find themselves teaching with a pregnant woman in the room. Knowing how we can best support them – and not pass along more anxiety and fear – is the greatest gift we can give a mom-to-be.

Literally, in the studio where I first taught there was a stage. The teacher sat five feet above everyone else, surrounded by Hindu statues and candles. You’d think I would have felt like a god.

When I was a new mom, I did the natural, best thing for myself – I stopped meditating.

Because who has 20 minutes as a new mom? We’re waking up every 3 hours, constantly watching baby to make sure they’re safe and happy and well-fed and clean, and if we get 5 minutes to shower every few days we’re lucky.

I practice meditation and breathing and I’m grateful to have had many moments of feeling that the universe is supporting me and my intention to serve in inexplicable ways.

But I had an experience the other day that helped me realize I was missing something the whole time.

It came out of the blue and suddenly things became so much clearer, even what I’ve been saying for years suddenly had a deeper meaning.

For me, one of the most annoying things someone can say is “Relax! Take a deep breath.”

It’s not just because it’s embarrassing when people point out how stressed I am, and ask if I’ve ever meditated, considering I’ve been teaching yoga for 20 years and practicing for 25.

It’s even more that it’s actually not that helpful for me to take a deep breath – and it can make me MORE stressed.