Some call it the honeymoon stage. I call it bliss. I feel great, full of love and have this renewed sense of energy. No, I haven’t just fallen in love. I’m 5 months pregnant, in the second trimester, which is often referred to as the ‘honeymoon trimester.’ Why do I feel so great? Two words: love and yoga.
I have to admit that I am one of those annoying people who love being pregnant. But that’s not to say that this journey hasn’t been without challenges. I have been so tired that I actually fell asleep on the toilet, so hormonal and mean my boyfriend has questioned whether I still loved him, and have had a hard time dealing with and accepting the weight gain (why can’t it be just my belly that grows?!). Aside from my amazing partner Elias, there is one constant in my life that helps me deal with the ups and downs of pregnancy and has minimized so many physical aches and pains: my other love yoga.
Yoga is not just a boring hour of stretching, and it’s also not just a workout. All types of yoga are a prayer, a meditation for your mind, body and soul. Hali Love (www.hali-love.com) is one of the amazing teachers at my favorite studio Mermaids & Sailors in Tamarindo, Costa Rica. In her classes, Hali teaches that yoga, along with life, is a balance of sthira and sukha, which means strength and softness. This also applies to pregnancy. As moms, we need the mental strength to get through the emotional, hormonal roller coaster of pregnancy and softness in our hearts to show love and affection to the babies growing inside us, and to our partners! We need strong bodies to carry the extra (gulp!) weight that we gain and to prepare us for labor, and we need soft flexibility to make space in our bodies for the baby. This softness and vulnerability also helps us to let go during labor.
Most pregnant women complain of back pain, swollen ankles and very sore hips. Physically, yoga increases blood flow and aids circulation, opens and strengthens the hips and midsection. It also strengthens your back and will tone and strengthen your legs and bum. You strengthen your arms for all the time you will spend holding your gorgeous baby. Perhaps even more importantly, accordingly to Hali, yoga creates a calm mind and an open heart. Through