Prenatal Yoga

I cut open this gorgeous pepper today for my lunch and was gifted with this little baby pepper inside. I immediately had to show Michele, and we whispered to each other (as if we were going to wake a sleeping baby) how cute it was. I don’t believe in coincidences and I fully believe the universe has a sense of humor.

As my 45^th birthday is quickly approaching, thoughts of family and my parents and how fast time has gone by have been on my mind. It also seemed fitting, so close to my own birthday, that I would spend this past weekend learning about childbirth and motherhood.

Hold on to your hats! No, I’m not announcing a pregnancy on my blog. This past weekend, I had the pleasure of completing the Childlight Foundations of Prenatal Yoga teacher training at The Yoga Loft in Bethlehem. This training was long overdue for me. In all my years of teaching, I’ve never had formal training in prenatal yoga.

The 25-hour training was compassionately and skillfully led by Megan Ridge Morris. Megan has a natural gift of creating community and holding a space that feels safe and almost like a womb. Surrounded by 10 incredible women, I had the opportunity to learn all about what happens to a woman’s body during pregnancy, why yoga is beneficial during pregnancy, as well as what should be avoided. There are a lot of myths out there about what to do and not do during a yoga class, and I’m happy to know the facts now.

A fun part of the weekend was hearing everyone tell their birth stories. Megan loves to hear and read these stories and has even started a website to allow others to submit and share their own stories. You can read some beautiful stories here. It is amazing how different each story is and how we all enter the world in our own unique way.

My mom recently recounted my own birth story and filled in some details that I didn’t know. Her emphasis seemed to be that I was safe and loved and truly wanted. I fully acknowledge how privileged I am to have this start to my life. Not everyone is this lucky.

Yoga is an incredible benefit for a pregnant woman. The movement in a safe environment, the “me time,” the relaxation, breathwork, and most of all community with other pregnant women are all what make these classes so special. And while it’s nice to have the training and information now to keep a pregnant woman safe should she enter one of my classes, I do not feel drawn to teach prenatal yoga classes. I do, however, now know 10 incredibly caring and nurturing women who can skillfully provide a prenatal class. If you know anyone looking for this kind of yoga experience, drop me a note and I’ll put you in touch with one of them.