Integrating Baby - an Inspiring Story!
As a few of you know, I started a pre-natal yoga class a few weeks ago that I have been regularly attending. I am really enjoying it as I feel I am doing something healthy for both baby and me, learning a lot about breathing and meditation through pain, practicing Kegel excercises and concentration and so forth. In addition, challenging some of the muscle groups that are still safe to work on. All in all it’s so very positive.
But what is really incredible is the teacher. She is probably around 35 years old and her 'assistant' is her baby Carter, a little 18 month old girl who is the cutest thing in the world. Jane (the teacher’s) theory is that part of pre-natal yoga is learning to transcend over a baby and incorporate your baby into your life so that you can keep focus and peace regardless of the level of activity you have to take part in to keep your baby occupied and happy. She also teaches a baby and me class where the babies are welcome as well, so the pre-natal class kind of 'graduates' into that one. At any rate, Carter goes along with her mom with her little mini yoga mat, and after playing or doing whatever, sometimes she takes her mat and joins in..she does the breathing, and she especially likes the lion pose! The child is just so integrated into what makes Jane happy, and it’s so inspiring. You get the feeling that she just kept moving ahead with her life and kind of just took Carter along for the ride! When she opens the class with some reading and chanting, Carter breast feeds for a little bit, and then just rolls off her mom’s lap and gets her cheerios. It’s all just so natural and flowing it’s truly unreal. Now don’t get me wrong..the baby screams sometimes, lays on people’s mats, goes through people’s bags…all kinds of baby stuff, but still, the presence of this little child just makes so much sense, and I think it’s because it makes so much sense in the life of the mommy.
Just thought I’d share. Hope that wasn’t too 'yoga hokey'! It just gives me a positive feeling that maybe I can follow a little in her footsteps and keep some of me through this pregnancy and into my mommy years!
But what is really incredible is the teacher. She is probably around 35 years old and her 'assistant' is her baby Carter, a little 18 month old girl who is the cutest thing in the world. Jane (the teacher’s) theory is that part of pre-natal yoga is learning to transcend over a baby and incorporate your baby into your life so that you can keep focus and peace regardless of the level of activity you have to take part in to keep your baby occupied and happy. She also teaches a baby and me class where the babies are welcome as well, so the pre-natal class kind of 'graduates' into that one. At any rate, Carter goes along with her mom with her little mini yoga mat, and after playing or doing whatever, sometimes she takes her mat and joins in..she does the breathing, and she especially likes the lion pose! The child is just so integrated into what makes Jane happy, and it’s so inspiring. You get the feeling that she just kept moving ahead with her life and kind of just took Carter along for the ride! When she opens the class with some reading and chanting, Carter breast feeds for a little bit, and then just rolls off her mom’s lap and gets her cheerios. It’s all just so natural and flowing it’s truly unreal. Now don’t get me wrong..the baby screams sometimes, lays on people’s mats, goes through people’s bags…all kinds of baby stuff, but still, the presence of this little child just makes so much sense, and I think it’s because it makes so much sense in the life of the mommy.
Just thought I’d share. Hope that wasn’t too 'yoga hokey'! It just gives me a positive feeling that maybe I can follow a little in her footsteps and keep some of me through this pregnancy and into my mommy years!
