Not so long ago, I used to LOVE going to hot yoga classes. I had asked at the time if it would be OK for me to continue going to class once I was pregnant. Sounds crazy but those classes are very addictive. A good yoga class can provide an inner peace, a general calm, a resetting of your priorities within the chaos that is often my life. If I had a realy bad day, I knew going to yoga would release all that tension and I could go home to a great night's rest. Why wouldn't I want to continue my practice?
So, you can imagine my surprise now that I am pregnant how many excuses I make as to why I can't go. So much so, that I'm now 17 weeks along and haven't been to yoga once. I'm too tired, I have too much to do, they aren't holding prenatal yoga classes, etc., etc., etc. Last night was the first night that I went. And, I decided since it had been a while that I'd try just an all-level yoga clas, not the typical hot yoga class that I had enjoyed. It was most definitely a challenge. For one, I have to modify some of my asanas because being pregnant I'm not supposed to twist or do any inversions. For two, I needed to honor and respect the fact that I was no longer at the level I once was in strength, endurance or balance. Perfect example: chaturanga. This asana requires a good amount of strength and endurance, especially during several sets in a row. Cobra is sort of an alternative to this, but your thighs should graze the floor. Imagine my surprise when I realize 1) how difficult it is for me to even muster the strength to do the push-up like move, and 2) that my belly is already uncomfortable smooching into the floor. So, I sort of had to modify it into a girlie push-up, butt in the air. I was a little bummed at that, but ultimately I submitted to the fact that I was there and doing what I could do. Just going through the process, I was still able to feel that inner peace in the end.
But my pivotal moment in the class was as I lay on my back, stretching our legs out with bands and feeling Baby start its little "bump-bump" dance. Like "Hey, Mommy, I'm here and I'm excercising too, see.....". And, as I placed my hand on my belly, this was the first time that I could feel Baby through my belly. Strong but light. That moment in itself, although hard to describe, was worth it to attend the class.
Most people find it hard to believe that I'd feel movements so early, but I do. Tommy being one of those skeptics. So, last night when I got home, laying on the couch, Baby started bumping around again. I told Tommy to quickly come over and feel the baby. I was afraid he'd miss it, but sure enough Baby thumped a few more times. His eyes just popped open, "oh, my Gosh, that's pretty hard." He just smiled. It was a really great night.
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