Yoga Classes for Beginners Chicago IL

Lift and Breathe

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Lift and Breathe

Weight training and the healing power of yoga bring strength and serenity to childbirth.

It always surprises me to hear people say that I have a high threshold for pain. I don’t actually. I’m no saint when it comes to pain, and childbirth was no exception. I certainly was not one of those women who looked forward to the process. I just wanted to get it over with as quickly, safely, and painlessly as poss-ible, but nevertheless I opted for a natural childbirth without any drugs—with all four of my children. As a result I felt it every inch of the way as those babies of mine—two daughters and two sons—worked their way out into the world. What really helped me was my understanding of the power of yoga breathing and an ability to harness that power. Through it all, I stayed calm as the contractions intensified and I gave birth without using any drugs.

Throughout labor, I felt that I had yoga breathing as a tool and a friend to help me in the challenge to stay calm and be present. Yoga breathing took the edge off as the waves of pain grew stronger and stronger with each contraction and the forces of labor took over. In each phase of delivery, the power of the breath allowed me to draw my attention and all my strength into the moment and into what I was doing.

I learned from giving birth that, realistically speaking, the mother is just along for the ride. You have little control over any of it. But you do have the power within yourself—breath by breath, moment by moment—to help nature direct your childbirth and support your ease and well-being. Yoga breathing can be your best friend, especially when you are giving birth. It can help you to better manage the pain of childbirth, harness the strength you need, and discover the timeless wisdom that every woman carries within herself to give birth and become a mother. The yoga-with-weights exercises beginning on page 95 are designed to help strengthen your back, make you comfortable while you’re pregnant, and prepare the pelvic floor for a healthy delivery. Use the last exercise as an affirmation to practice your breathing, plant the seeds of well-being, and make yours a joyous childbirth.

Remember
Exercise gently when you’re pregnant. Notice any signals of discomfort and stop doing an exercise if it doesn’t feel right. You want your workout to gently relax your whole body, leaving you with a peaceful sense of well-being.

Practice yoga with weights

These simple exercises incorporate yoga breathing and light weights to prepare you for labor and delivery.

Courage and Strength
The purpose of this exercise is to give you tools and techniques to build courage and strength. Remember, courage—a quality of the heart—is not the absence of fear, but the ability to proceed skillfully, moment by moment, with conviction and clarity. This exercise will strengthen your back and spine and show you how to open the pelvic area. It also strengthens your arms so you can carry your baby easily ...

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