"My family always say that baby is far more relaxed after Yoga for Baby class" |
My training – Becoming a Mother and Yoga Teacher/Therapist
After training as a Yoga Teacher and Yoga Therapist in India with Yogamahirishi Dr. Swami Gitananda Giri Guru Maharaj and teaching for a few years, I became pregnant and gave birth to beautiful twins, a boy and a girl (Cailean and Eilidh). Swamiji’s wife, Yogacharini Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani then told me, your children are now your Yoga Sadhana (Yoga practice). I found this to be completely true. Now I was learning about another part of myself, which I didn’t realise existed until now – I was now a mummy.
The demands on a new mother are immense and so again I looked to Yoga. I needed to grow - physically, mentally and emotionally, to deal with my new role. I needed strength and stamina, to restore my energy levels to help me deal with the increased demands, exercise endless patience, self-control, increase my ability to relax and make the most of ten minutes off.
With twins or even with one baby it isn’t always possible to attend Yoga classes or set aside half an hour for yourself. So the only way to practise is to involve baby – baby can be your inspiration, your motivator, your weight, your gym equipment and your greatest fan. By being near you baby feels safe and secure. Baby can watch you whilst you practise – you become baby’s mobile, toy and puppet. Baby can encourage you to stretch that little bit further to reach for a kiss or a smile. Baby also benefits from mummy feeling more relaxed, rested and restored when quality time is spent together afterwards.
Now a qualified Yoga Teacher/Therapist and Mother I decided to continue my studies and training in Yoga with the Yoga Biomedical Trust at the Yoga Therapy Centre in London. During this two year training I decided to specialise in the Respiratory System as well as Pregnancy and Postnatal Yoga. The latter was taught by Francoise Freedman of the Birthlight Trust who was both inspirational and enthusiastic about her work with pregnant women, and mothers with their babies in the postnatal stage. This confirmed what I had witnessed on my travels in SE Asia and what I had already been practising.
Please Note: This photograph was taken by Avril in Pokhara, Nepal in 1989 when she stayed with this family. The baby shares the same birthday as Avril.
