by Laura Moro, Certified Ma Yoga® Instructor
One thing no one ever tells you about becoming a mother is that you’ll never be the same person again. Nothing in your life will ever be the same again.
When you become a mother, everything changes.
I often think back to the first few months of becoming a mother, postpartum, the fourth trimester. I find it difficult not to laugh because even though it was only 2 years ago, that person seems so far away from the woman and mother I show up as today. Those first few months, it seemed like nothing would go the way I had planned; I ventured through states of shame, stress, exhaustion, loneliness, joy, love, and also grief, for the old me. It’s an experience that no one can prepare you for.
I began my 300 hr yoga training when my son was 6 months old. I had signed up for it about 2 weeks before giving birth, and now I was coming out of the depths of postpartum. I felt distorted, disconnected, and unfamiliar with how to be social with adults, how to be myself. My body was different, and I wasn’t comfortable in my skin. However, I was blessed with an amazing group of humans and teachers. We met every other weekend, giving me 8 hours away from my baby and other motherly duties. We dove in deepnit was like nothing I had ever done before. I felt like I found myself again, only different. I had found community and connection, acceptance and love as this new version of me.
Halfway through my training, I found out I was pregnant again. I felt that this time it would be a different experience. I wanted to share this pregnancy and the amazing journey of motherhood with others. I saw the community I wanted to create: sharing stories, books, recipes, breathwork, meditation, movement, tears, fears, laughs…
I began researching online prenatal yoga courses. I wanted to start as soon as possible so I could make it all happen.
When I found Ma Yoga, it just clicked! The whole essence of this training was surrounded by the concept of supporting the mother. I completed the Yoga of Pregnancy course to help me gain greater awareness, but as I came near completing, I decided I wanted to do the full prenatal training.
The community that Jessica created was so nurturing to me at this time, I had never had such a connection to an online forum before.
I went on to teach Prenatal Yoga in the summer through my 2nd trimester, and I continued in the winter after my daughter was born, teaching Mom & Babe Yoga.
There is something so special about a room full of moms. The mutual understanding of feeling sheer exhaustion while simultaneously holding your whole family together, the ridiculous, embarrassing bodily changes that come with birthing a human, the stresses and nuances of breastfeeding, and the pure love that exudes out of each mother’s eyes each time they look at their baby.
When you become a mother, you begin to truly see other mothers, and you also see every person you meet as some mother’s baby. It is a life-changing and heart-opening experience – much like yoga. I believe this is why prenatal and postnatal yoga is so important as a physical and emotional support for mamas as they begin to truly stretch themselves to the core.
Today, as I am about to complete my certification with MA Yoga, one year from signing up with all these goals and dreams in my mind’s eye, I am proud of myself.
For choosing me, for building a community, for sharing myself and my heart with others. I hope that the ripple-down effect continues on and we build one another up and grow together as mothers, women, and teachers.
