Postpartum Yoga

Yoga prepared me for postpartum life in ways I never expected.

I’ve never been further from my yoga practice while also being as deeply rooted in my yoga practice at the same time.

My physical practice, or “asana”, has nearly disappeared. My body doesn’t resemble me in the way it did before. My breast-feeding life didn’t help me drop pounds, but instead helped me gain them. The tug of my C-section scar tightened my front body, but my baby’s empty room left me a squishy tummy.

I miss the mobility and speed that my core gave me before. I think I took for granted how strong I was. I never felt like the Hot and lean yogi that is comfortable in the head stands and handstands and long, 105° flows, but now when I spend so much time on the floor with my baby, I realize I never used to have trouble standing up.

Still, I’m not upset about all this. Sometimes so sneaky judgmental thoughts, creep in, but I politely tell them to get the F out. My body grow a beautiful human. My body is keeping me safe while feeding him. I don’t wanna take a moment of this time for granted.

My years of daily practice in meditation, Allow me a moment to pause. But no, I don’t have time to truly meditate, because my little guy is apparently “a Velcro baby” and doesn’t like to be put down, But I’m able to have that “first thought,” From a meditation or mindfulness practice.

“First thought” is the first thing that pops into your mind when you begin to sit in a formal practice. It’s a type of mindfulness practice that allows you to truly see without judgment a random ass thought thoughts that pop into your brain. It’s not necessarily “us,” and it’s not from the outside, it’s just arriving to us.

Once we see that first thought we can decide what to do with it. We can decide to not judge ourselves, instead of flowing right into the slew of judgments and vindictiveness and resentfulness and Comparisons, and “oh I wish I could be thinner” and “ If only I could practice for 30 minutes in the morning, then everything would be OK”

Because all of those second thoughts are complete BS.

Yoga provided me with the daily practice that has kept me from being a complete shitshow now, when times are tough.

I’m starting to teach again in two weeks, and part of me felt like a failure because I haven’t had a true physical practice like I used to. And then I finally realized I’ve never been more connected to my practice the depths and internal philosophies of non-harming, non-grasping, And being present in the current moment. All the rest will come back

(not to mention how important breathing is…OMG I could talk for hours)

Hugs and cookies,

Katie