Who Am I?

As women in our society we pride ourselves on being strong, competent, and go-getters (at least some of us do). We make a plan and then make it happen. Then comes pregnancy.

This week I met with a new mom (19 weeks) who has a strong Vinyasa practice. We sat down to talk about....what do I do now? What is happening to me? Why can't I do what I used to do? What should I change? I listened to her anxieties: the extreme changes her body is going through to create a new life and the sometimes extreme adjustment it takes to get used to it.

Moms have shared with me:

• the inability to think clearly, aka "momnesia"
• soreness in places you didn't know could be sore
• anxiety
• insomnia
• fear

As yoginis we are on a constant quest for the Self. Through all experience, emotional influences, and physical challenges we search. So through this intense, amazing, and unique experience of pregnancy, childbirth, and motherhood you will continue along your path on your quest. 

The constant throughout life is breathing. 

So BREATHE NOW.

That's all. 

Give yourself and your child the gift of prana. 

Refill your cup.

To find classes with DeLora and refill your cup,
visit Hill Country Yoga. 

Relaxation - What's that?

At the end of each of my classes we do Savasana or final relaxation.  I know some folks think relaxation isn't yoga and don't want to just 'lay around.'  Consider these possible benefits from relaxation:

• wards off disease by strengthening the immune system
• reduces heart disease
• reduces the need for insulin in diabetics
• widens restricted respiratory passages
• lowers blood pressure
• lowers cholesterol levels
• relieves significant pain
• relieves mental stress and tension

Relaxation is becoming widely practiced in many medical programs for heart patients, asthmatics, folks with high blood pressure, and those recovering from trauma.  It no longer fits into the woo-woo category.  So why don’t we do it?  First answer…I don’t have time.  My question…how can we NOT make time for health and wellness for ourselves, our children, and our families?  This is why I include savasana in every class. 

Do you remember the first time you learned about relaxation?  Who taught you?  Imagine your favorite place to relax and how you feel during and after relaxing.  Now imagine giving your child the gift of relaxation for the REST of their lives.

We all want to be happy and we want our kids to be happy.  When we relax endorphins are released which create a sense of happiness.  Relaxation calms the central nervous system allowing the body to rejuvenate itself.  Relaxation helps kids sleep better and that means parents sleep better.

We learn so many useful tools in yoga.  The next step is taking it off your mat.  Create a Tool Bag you can reach into while you are out there living life.  Maybe you put long deep breathing into your tool bag to calm the central nervous system while you are at the grocery store.  One simple tool – long term deep effects in your life!

Come to class, connect with other mommas creating a peaceful way of life.

ß My schedule is here on my blog.

Remember: You are the perfect Mother for your child.

Resources:

New York Times

Relax Your Child

Why am I having these crazy thoughts?

Motherhood brings an array of experiences, but who woulda thought it would make you question your sanity? No, I mean really question it!  With the hormonal changes going on right after birth, life sometimes becomes like a slow moving foreign film you can't quite read the subtitles to.

You might settle into a 'routine' but you begin to find yourself doing things like putting the ice cube tray in the cabinet....or the lotion in the fridge.  Okay, so you are sleep deprived and those things can happen.  But what about really weird doomsday thoughts, those thoughts you don't talk about with your husband or partner?

So much press is given to postpartum depression.  We have all heard the term, seen the stories, and are somewhat familiar with the condition.  Most of us do not want to be 'HER' - the mom with postpartum depression!  This is the thing: we are all 'HER.'  Your babymoon is a tumultuous time for your hormones, body, and psyche.  This is a huge adjustment you are going through, not to mention you are suddenly responsible for keeping another human being alive! New Moms are unable to see and understand their own needs because they have just arrived on unstable ground.  This is new territory for women in our culture. We are strong, confident, & have ourselves and our family (mostly) together - at least we thought we did.

Babymoon anxiety is not always a super extreme situation. It often goes unmentioned because it is not EXTREME.  Do you hear women talking or writing about their weird thoughts?  The question becomes what do you do when things become unmanageable in your head?  How do you reach out without being dismissed and judged.

Babymoon anxiety can be a natural and transitional response to birth for women. "Experts" say 15 - 20% of women experience more significant expressions of anxiety and depression; that is 80% that may still experience anxiety after birth, just not 'significant.'  When it's you and you are experiencing unusual responses to stress and the now unfamiliar world - it feels significant.

Some ways women experience anxiety after birth are mildly obsessive thoughts and fears for everyone's safety.  Due to our culture and media influence many of the themes we see in new mommas are sourced from those influences.  Break-ins might be more on the forefront of your thoughts, or kidnapping, getting locked in or out of the car/house.  All of these can be seen as instinctual  responses to birth - imagine a tiger with her cubs.  She would constantly be on the look out for predators, trying to stay one step ahead of them.
Same response.

Wow ...so glad to hear this happens to other new mommas?  Find others to connect with. Be brave. Talk to your healthcare provider about it.  Find nutritional support.

Here are a couple of suggestions from mommas:

• Floridex
• Calm
• Herbal Zap

Other resources in Austin, Texas:

• DeLora Frederickson  
• Baby Love Facebook Page
• Momma Love
  Babymoon support group. Contact DeLora for more information. 
• Kelli Hejl  
• Pregnancy and Postparum Health Alliance of Texas
• Dawn Gibson 
• Mindful Mothering
• Summer Greenlees
• Massage + Yoga

And they look cute on too!

If you have been to any of my postnatal yoga classes you have probably heard me talk about baltic amber teething necklaces.  Here is a link to a great article that explains the science and use of amber teething necklaces -  http://www.amberartisans.com/amtene15.html.

Most mommas that have gotten them and had their kid wear one have reported less drool and better disposition while teething.  Seems it is worth a try.  

As I sat before the circle of wide eyed children singing and gesturing to the tune I saw the beauty and possibilites before me. As we chatted about the meaning of the song - as it is partially in Gurmuhki - I asked them what the teacher within says to them. A blonde headed girl across the room from me says 'that I am a fairy'.

Indeed, our teacher within SHOULD stoke the flames of our imaginations, the inherent magic in our being. What can we dream, how can we shape our lives, create who we become in the world without the inner inspirations?

Finishing our discussion about our inner teacher we touched on love, kindness toward others and our selves.

Yoga keeps the magic alive in all of us! Call in prana, chi, energy, chakras, nadis ....I'll just call it being a faery.

This week I was talking about vibration in one of my preschool classes. We listened to a tibetan bowl ring, we felt our voice boxes...then I asked the kids to listen for anything they heard vibrating and making sound. After a little while I went around the room and asked each child what they heard - I heard the air conditioner, I heard people talking, and then stop me in my tracks - a 5 yearold little girl said...I hear the sound of war. I hear the sound of bodies dying and hitting the ground. Quite frankly I was astounded. I don't know exactly what I said to her - something like 'Wow - you heard all that?' She said yes that it what she heard.
Just take a mooment and let that sink in.....

Why bring your kids to yoga?

So many families are busy busy busy...running from one activity to the next with their kids. I often hear the question - why should I bring my kids to yoga?

As we move through this fast paced life we live it is inevitable we suffer the consequences of doing too much. Coming to yoga is an opportunity to slow down, to let the body rejuvenate itself, to pay attention to ourselves.

This same is true for kids. When they learn pranayama (breath awareness) they stop...all their focus is on the breath - whether we are blowing out our 'finger' candles, blowing up our balloons, or watching a feather move from our breath. They are still - for a brief moment.
We all can benefit from stillness. And with what we know about kids that they are sponges absorbing everything around them...we have the responsibility of role modeling a healthy lifestyle for them. That includes slowing down and noticing the breath.

(http://slowfamilyliving.com/family-mission-statement/)

There are many other benefits to yoga - body awareness, building muscle strength, coordination, balance, fun!! Better digestion, easier sleeping patterns, stress relief, and creativity.

None of us practice yoga for what we do on the mat - we practice yoga to create a resonance in our lives from what we do on our mats. When we balance in tree pose we create a place in ourselves that is rooted and yet flexible so the next time an aggravating situation presents itself we can stay grounded and flexible in our response. We take our kids to yoga to share this gift with them. To give them every tool we can to meet the challenges of life with grace, beauty, and a secure sense of themselves.

When we do yoga with our kids we create a bond between the student of life and the teacher of life. Question is - which one are we?