I am almost fully recovered from a bad reaction to some medication and feel alert and inspired to build on the success of Yoga Baby. We are on track now to begin filming in the new studio, in high definition, with improved sound and lighting from January 2009! Please let us know if there is anything you would like to see from the show. It is my aim to look at yoga from the first stages of pregnancy, right the way through to having babies, toddlers and older children. The show will have sections for mum on her own, to help baby development, e.g to encourage crawling and relieve any stiffness, for mum and baby/child in playful or relaxing moods and a whole host of other things! Miller and Heidi will of course join me on the show and maybe we will introduce some new mums and their little ones too!
Everyone suffers from backache at some point. It is one of those things we have to accept but there are ways to combat backache and relieve discomfort from it. Yoga is one thing you can practice to minimise back pain or even prevent it to some extent! Here are some of my favourite asanas which I would urge you to try after a busy day maybe bathing your baby, shopping, doing housework, nursing, a day at work or another other reason! You don’t even have to be a new mum to try these re-invigerating and freeing asanas! Read more
If you watch babies and toddlers you will see they have flexible bodies and a fluidity of movement. They carry their weight forwards and sit in a variety of positions, always moving from one position to another. They naturally fall into yoga asanas which is why it is wonderful to practice with them, it is ourselves who find the moves more unnatural, to them it is second nature. Yet if fluidity of movement and flexibility come naturally, why teach yoga to little people? Read more
This week’s episode delayed for a few days due to reasons in this post! It is a fact that many women suffer badly each month with their cycle whilst others barely notice it. If you fall into the first category, pregnancy and the post-natal period can be a time when you don’t have to think about it. For some, you may be free of your cycle for just a few weeks after birth, for others it may be a year or longer (nursing moms generally have a longer break). Can yoga help when your cycle returns or when you get PMS?
When Heidi arrived in the Summer of 2005, I had no idea what my body would look like or if I would ever get my figure back. One thing I could say is that after giving birth I didn’t even want to look at my midriff! However, I was amazed as the weight started to come off and my shape began to reappear after just a few weeks. I was nursing Heidi and eating a lot, I took fruit and crackers to bed with me for a snack when i woke for her early morning feed and was eating everything I liked and more! I know this is not the same for everyone and it was not true with Miller but I was enjoying being a new mum and looking pretty good for it. I began my yoga practice as soon as my body was in the condition too and had just about got back to my preferred shape about 6 months later. It is worth remembering that it takes the body 9 months to put everything back in place after everything being pushed out the way to make room for your big lump!
Great, my figure back in no time at all. So what do I do? Yes, I fall pregnant again! A second bundle on the way after being told it was unlikely I’d ever have children in the first place. Just 10 months after Heidi, I was carrying Miller. When he arrived I thought nothing of eating lots of lovely things, however this time my body was not so forgiving. Even with toning exercises and gentle yoga, my tum was happy sticking around. Fortunately, I had a change of lifestyle when Miller was around 4 months old. Already a vegetarian, along with the family, I came across some information that made me change to a vegan diet. Ethically and for health benefits we made the change and wow, what an unexpected side effect. I dropped down 2 dress sizes in a month. Worried about still nursing I was trying to eat well and was enjoying food more than ever. It seems cutting out dairy just made my body drop all it’s excess. Feeling great I began teaching yoga again. Whereas a few weeks before I was nervous (who wants to see an out of shape yoga teacher), now I felt great and ready to go.
I believe to get back in shape after childbirth, unless you are incredibly lucky, you need to find a combination of gentle exercise and good nutrition. You should not really think about dieting early on, especially if you are nursing but be sensible with your choices.
Depending on your situation (if you have had a standard birth or a c-section), your recovery time may vary. After a standard birth it is usual to wait for 6 weeks before returning to basic yoga practice and 3 months after a c-section . I also advise all new mothers to check with your doctor before starting any exercise plan if they have any concerns about their health. However, that is not to say you cannot do anything before this time. There are gentle stretches you can begin as soon as you feel upto it. You may be feeling tired and a fitness routine might be the last thing on your mind, you have a new baby and there is just no time. You know best and when you feel ready you can begin at your own pace. However, some new mothers have a lot of energy and want to regain their muscle tone as quickly as possible so it is fine to begin soon after the birth as long as you take things slowly.
See the ‘0-12 weeks’ page for short routines you can practice alone or with your baby in the first few weeks after the birth. Yoga Baby TV is designed for mothers from 6-12 weeks after birth onwards and you should not attempt the yoga demonstrated before this time. Be patient!
