Yoga with Tess

Combining some yoga and a head massage…

Things aligned and I took the opportunity to spend some quality time on my mat today for the first time in a while.

Sleep regression has hit here and with various other things it’s been hard to carve out time where I’ve not been exhausted (or had other priorities in the short snippets of naps not on me!)

But today I had a lovely practice where I managed to luxuriate in my breath and connect to my body, and it felt really nice to have some me time.

AND BREATHE…🌬

The first part of my practice is always some breath work, as it helps my shift my energy and get ready for the practice.

In my post partum body it has become a vital part of my recovery.

I ended up having a Caesarean section. Even in the very first days I found deep breathing and a very gentle kappalabhati were great tools for my healing - helping me regain some control over my core and contect this this area that felt incredibly odd, tender and numb all at the same time.

More realities of post partum yoga practice -

Sometimes other things have to come first 🤱
Aka multitasking final relaxation

(And if you look carefully there’s evidence of the ongoing post partum hair loss 🤦‍♀️)

#🤱

Realities of post partum practice -

Sometimes it’s standing poses only while fitting in a pumping session (yay for hands free pumps!) while trying to entertain a baby who woke early from nap time!

PATIENCE -

I pulled an affirmation card before my practice today and it was the gift of patience, and it struck me how appropriate that was as an intent to work with at the moment…

Pregnancy and parenthood has been an education in patience:

🤰Patience with my changing body during and after pregnancy, and learning what I can and cannot (yet) do

🤱Patience when the role of parenting means you don’t get onto the mat as much as you would like (or get anything else done!)

👶 Patience when on those chances when you do get on the mat they get interrupted

👧 Patience when you’re excited for the next stage in babies development to happen (as much as I look forward to the next skill I’m trying hard to stay in the moment and enjoy the littleness)

And patience pays off, today I noticed small improvements in my core control, I started thinking like a yoga teacher again and thought of a coherent sequence, and although baby woke during my practice, she was happy to play for a bit next to my mat.

I think I’m going to stick with this this intent for a while…

(I’ve also typed patience so many times I’m no longer sure it looks right 🤣)

The realities of post partum practice…part 1

Sometimes it’s about catching a few moments on the mat between pumping while the baby is sleeping, with a very loving cat wanting their turn!

Currently fully immersed in the newborn bubble 🧡

…Might get a chance for more than a few minutes yoga at some point (or maybe not! 🤱)

Arm glides in chair at the wall
- a good shoulder mobiliser

These can also be done in other positions, for example on your back (if you can tolerate it), standing at the wall or in horse stance at the wall!

Throughout my pregnancy I haven’t done many inversions as often they haven’t felt right, for various reasons, for example nausea initially and later acid reflux, or tiredness or pelvic discomfort, and requiring a more gentle practice.

But when it’s felt right, they have helped me feel powerful, strong and energised.

Note: I don’t hold inversions for very long any more (i.e. up to 30 seconds) and it didn’t feel right to kick up since the first few weeks so I’ve not done that. Also I have never experienced any contraindications which would suggest I avoid inversions (such as high blood pressure, too much amniotic fluid etc).

As the birth draws near my intent for my practice today was to send my breath and energy to my pelvis to help my body prepare.

Here are a few of my favourite poses from todays practice that helped me connect with my pelvis.

I’ve talked about my love of props before for helping access poses and get out of struggle. This has been vital for my yoga journey during pregnancy to help with transitions and poses, and also to find a comfortable place for final relaxation, whether that be on an incline or side lying or another position (often in any class I give various options for final relaxation so people can find their own safe comfortable space).

For example, here I was using padding under my hip and head, and a bolster for my top leg, but also felt the need for some support for bump and my hand - cue a handy wedge!

During final relaxation (and for naps/bedtime) I try to follow the Spinning Babies “Rest Smart” principles, which gives a good starting point for finding a comfortable position.