Back to the mat yesterday for full primary…
I’m sort of curious how other ashtangi mothers handled their transition back into practice post-partum? I don’t feel strong enough to take on my full practice through my second series poses, but pre-pregnancy, my instructor had me splitting at Navasana on those days when I felt too tired or rushed to fit in my whole practice. Or I could just keep on with primary, and add on my second series poses as I feel ready… Thoughts? Please share!
My body composition has definitely changed from what it was before my pregnancy. Since the water weight disappeared, I’m more willowy, I guess. The waist is a good inch smaller than it was before. Less muscle mass. A little skinnier, but softer too. Maybe because of this, my shoulders are a lot more open. Wrist binds (which were once a bit of a struggle) are now effortless, even in pasasana.
This is not at all what I was expecting post-pregnancy, but it certainly is a nice surprise.
Of course, I’m a lot weaker now as a result of this loss of muscle mass. I don’t really mind, but the “party trick” transitions are practically impossible now.
I dread twists that compress my breasts. Unless I’ve just pumped, that is.
Yesterday I stood up from a backbend for the first time in probably 6 months? Scary. I took a step or two back on the first one to regain my balance. Dropbacks were scary, too. Less effortless, less comfortable, less “hang time.” But it was a thrill. I skipped my ticktocks, but held a handstand for 6 breaths. The bandhas are slowly coming back. In fact, Uddiyana feels tighter, more pronounced. Again, maybe because of the lack of muscle mass?
Time on the mat is a little more sacred. It’s a rarity these days, and yesterday I felt like it was the only thing I had that was purely “mine,” not shared with my husband or my child.
Oh and as a side note, Tay has started practicing yoga fairly regularly. He uses podcasts from yogadownload.com on my iTunes and probably uses my mat more than I do these days. Just as I told him it would so many times before, he says it really helps his hands and wrists (carpal tunnel syndrome). I don’t say “I told you so” out loud though. I’m just happy he found his own way there.
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On the baby front, Ash has his frenulectomy today. Hopefully it helps with the breastfeeding. He is SUCH a slow eater. He’s started smiling here and there, and a few days ago he actually laughed. He’s over 11 pounds now, out of all of his newborn clothes and almost into some of his 3 month clothes. He’s quite a little chunk.
Sometimes he cries for an hour or two without reason. Tay and I take turns holding him, bouncing him, rocking him. Usually the moby and gripe water trick works, but sometimes it takes a while. I eat my dinner standing up at the bar, shifting from one foot to the other. Of course, these trying times are totally forgotten the next morning when he smiles and coos as he jumps up and down on my lap (with my assistance, of course).
I was getting my hopes up for that magical 3 month time, when a baby’s personality starts to shine and the smiles are more social, and when the fussing starts diminishing a bit… but then I remembered that we have a bit longer to wait with a preemie. He’s 11 weeks, but his “adjusted age” is just 6 weeks.
Even so, he’s definitely a little character.
hi jenna
i know what u mean ’bout time on the mat being one of the ‘truly yours’ things and ‘more sacred’ now.
i’ve asked around w/quite a few ashtanginis ’bout their experience back into practice and the answers have ranged from 5 weeks to 6 months or so. the ones who waited longer did so b/c they birthed in their mid to late 30s and wanted to let the organs settle back more (on the advice of separate naturopathic type dr’s or midwives they trusted). the women i asked had practices more like yours than mine (mine ends at bakasana).
this past sunday, my female teacher who’s a mommy had me lay on my back, put my legs together, lift my head to look @ my toes, to let me feel how the separation btw. the abdominals at the midline had come together near the sternum but was still apart near the belly button and down. she suggested my not being in a hurry and holding off on intense backbends (ustrasana, kapotasana, dhanurasana, etc.) til 3-4 months at least to let that gap close more, tho she also added i know my body best so it was up to me. i am doing bridge instead of backbend for now.
i’ve had only a few uninterrupted practices as yet & don’t feel i have much, nuanced, to say as yet. unlike others, i haven’t noticed a significant difference in flexibility (back, hips, etc.). the main things: mulabandha feels ‘hard to feel’ for me right now, i have a few extra lbs. of fat cushioning that seems mostly at the belly, my boobs hurt if squished, and i get pain ‘down there’ if i do too much, which is a great barometer for pacing.
i’d be curious what other ashtangini mommies have to say as well.