5 yogic principles for a happier, healthier pregnancy

The approximate 9-10 months of human gestation, marks a time of rapid change for everyone who has experienced pregnancy. Both for the mother to be, as well as, her partner or support people. This time of transition and growth can be stressful for everyone involved. These are 5 simple yogic principles I found extremely helpful during pregnancy to promote health, happiness and to experience a greater sense of ease throughout.

1. Non attachment (vairagya) - Yoga teaches that change is an inevitable and constant part of life, never is this fact more apparent than during pregnancy. Everyday your body feels or looks new, your energy levels, hormones and emotions are in constant flux. Even after the baby is born things are never really quite the same as before. Pregnancy gives us the opportunity to come face to face with the constantly shifting nature of life, and to either resist it or embrace it. Learn to embrace, accept, and maybe even enjoy all the changes. Ancient yogis regarded dvandvānabhighātah, the an ability to withstand change, as a great sign of progress in the practice and an indicator of good health.

2. Pratipaksha Bhavana- When disturbed by negative thoughts, opposite (positive) ones should be thought of. -Sutra 2:33. Several times during my pregnancy doctors told me that there may be something wrong with my baby, fortunately these concerns ended up being nothing or working itself out. However, even if a doctor never tells you anything is wrong, it’s still easy to worry about everything that might go wrong throughout your pregnancy, or to doubt your ability to be a parent. I certainly have had times of worry and doubt. When I saw my thoughts going somewhere negative or assuming the worst, I instead used my mind to cultivate loving or positive thoughts instead. During these times of doubt, worry, or negativity, I had to pause, and take a moment to send new positive thoughts or feelings to my baby or towards myself.

3. Pranayama -Breath Control- Learning to utilize the breath to influence your energy, mind and nervous system is far more effective then learning any of the physical yoga postures. Especially if you have an existing yoga practice going into pregnancy, emphasize breath. As your body changes so will your asana practice (postures), many of the poses you once loved will become inappropriate or even harmful for yourself or the baby. Instead cultivate a consistent breathing practice to relieve stress and calm the mind. Reducing stress during pregnancy is the number one best thing you can do for yourself and your baby. Cortisol, the stress hormone, crosses the placenta barrier and is passed to the baby. Maternal stress has a negative impact on fetal brain development, as well as, on the health of the mother.

4. Bramacharya- is sometimes translated as abstinence, however unless you are the Virgin Mary, that definition is not going to work for us. In this case, I prefer the more modern interruption of Bramacharya as moderation or balance in all aspects of life. Throughout life and pregnancy, let balance and moderation be your guide. Whether you are consulting the internet or friends and family everyone has a different option about what to or not to eat and drink, how much to or not to exercise, how much or little to work, etc. I am not going to add my option on to the already overwhelming list, all I can say is seek balance. Learn to tune out all the external noise, learn to tune in to yourself emotionally, physically, mentally. Find your own balance between working and resting, doing and being, giving and receiving, etc. As your pregnancy progresses, things change a lot, and only you know what is working for you and your baby one day to the next.

5. Ishvara Pranidhana is sacred practice of surrender and devotion to a higher power. Yoga teaches us that we are all connected to something greater than just our individual selfs. What that something is, is completely up to you; God, nature, the universe, humankind, community, family, etc. There are many ways to practice Ishvara Pranidhana, here are some jumping off points.

   -How do you shift your perspective that helps you to remember, connect to, and live in alignment with what is truly important to you?

   -Where are you feeling out of control or excessively worried about something? With out becoming complacent, can you practice letting go of control, and instead trust that the universe will support you?

   -Have faith in your capability to handle anything that is put in your path.

   -Celebrate how truly magical this time is, your body is making another human life!

   -Practice gratitude, dedicate a few moments each day to be grateful for something or appreciate someone in your life.

Transitions and Transformations

Yoga is the Process of Radical Tranformation - Georg Feuerstein 

I am well on my way into one of the most profound transformations that I have experienced thus far in my life. The transition to motherhood. Right now, I am broaching the end of my second trimester and can feel the physical, mental and emotion changes coming on faster and stronger everyday. Thus far, I have been humbled and aw-inspired by the process of pregnancy. By what seems like magic, my body is growing another human! As I type this, she is wiggling around in there, and it feels like she gets bigger by the moment. I find myself in constant amazement and celebration of the female body, yet at the same time I have never felt so vulnerable. Everyday is a rollercoaster of emotions (good, bad, and ugly) and a barrage of mysterious physical changes (stretching belly, swollen feet, pelvic pain, weird rashes...)
Through out this process, the practice of Yoga has helped me navigate these transitionswith much greater ease and compassion. My teacher Mynx often reminds us that change is a constant and inevitable part of life, the only thing in this life that doesn't change is ourTrue Self.  According to Yoga, our True Self, is made up of Sat, Chit, and Ananda. The Sanskrit word Sat can literally be translated as being, or that which never changes. Chit is translated as consciousness, and Ananda is bliss.
A contemporary philosopher, Yasuhiko Kimura, defines transformation as a dance between being and becoming. By being, we can tap into that part of us which never changes, which can be touched while practicing meditation, tuning inward, or in deep Savasana. Becoming is the part of us that grows, shifts, transforms, the part that does change. For me remembering to honor and connect with both aspect of my self, my being, the still center, and that which I am becoming, have been profoundly helpful to navigate these rapid changes with greater ease.