A Guest Blog Post by Angela Thorne (Nova Yogi since 2010)
When I first tried yoga eight years ago I was looking for another form of exercise to add to my daily walk. After my first beginner Vinyasa Flow class with Melanie Caines I was hooked. My yoga practice soon became much more than a way to help maintain my physical fitness, it was a way to unwind and de-stress, and reconnect to my mind and body.
I became pregnant with my first child last year and at about eight weeks I tried my first Prenatal Yoga class. It was an awesome experience but I knew I wanted to maintain my regular practice along with attending Prenatal Yoga. As the weeks went on practicing yoga started to become more of a challenge as I was dealing with nausea from the pregnancy as well as changing body. However, after each class I felt so much better. My yoga teachers were so helpful and I learned how to adapt many poses to accommodate a growing tummy. I was so proud of myself for sticking to it and at the last class I attended before giving birth to my son the teacher asked when I was due and I said ‘tomorrow’ with a big smile on my face. Not only did a regular yoga practice help me physically throughout my pregnancy but the breath work and mantras that I learned over the past few years helped enormously during labor and delivery.
In the weeks that followed I really missed practicing yoga and as soon as I was given the all clear from my doctor at my six weeks postpartum appointment I was back on the mat! At first I was a little scared, almost like the first time trying yoga, what would it feel like? Would I still be able to do the poses I could before? But it felt so good to attend a flow class and I felt like I had hadn’t even taken a break at all. After the teacher cued Shalabasana and I lowered to my belly I realized how much I had missed belly backbends.
I started to wonder what my body could still do and a few weeks later during a home practice I was up against the wall in Sirsasana (Headstand). I had doubts that I would be able to roll up into this pose after months of not practicing it but I did it! All of my teachers at Nova Yoga were so encouraging at all the classes I attended after returning and this really helped me stick to it. In the coming months I felt like I was really coming back into my body and my practice and with each class I felt more and more confidence. I was soaring! Just yesterday during a Mixed Flow class I realized that I can kiss my knee again during Core Plank.
Having a small baby at home certainly creates new challenges in attending yoga classes and maintaining a home practice but I take every opportunity I can to continue on my yoga journey. I also currently attend Buddha Babies with my son and he loves it. He also loves to watch Mommy doing Sun Salutations at home, especially when I look at him and say ‘peek-a-boo’ when I left up to Ardha Uttanasana.
I am so grateful for all that yoga has done for me.
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