From One to Two

A little over 11 weeks ago I gave birth to Xavier Benjamin Tipman and what a journey motherhood has been so far (I know, I have a loooong way to go & no, don't worry this is not a rambling about my trials and tribulations).  Shortly after coming home I got linked into Child Health Access in Maroochydore and enrolled in the Parenting Course they offer.  This has been a great way for me to meet other Mum's who have bubs that are a similar age to Xavier and exchange ideas, share some of our struggles as well as our wins (we try to be happy for the Mum's whose babies are sleeping through the night!).

Xavier in his first few days of life and a very proud Mum and Dad.  Thanks Darren Stockwell for our beautiful photo (http://www.darrenstockwellphotography.com/).

Apart from meeting a group of wonderful women, the Mum's have also kindly accepted my offer to teach them post-natal Yoga.  I am so excited about tomorrow's class as it will be my first class back since having Xavier and I will be teaching Yoga based on my current studies.  I have been teaching Bikram Yoga since 2013 and have broadened my horizons to study Viniyoga (purists in this tradition please don't strike me down for calling it "Viniyoga").  I have been completing the 350 hour training over the past year and a half with Leanne Davis (http://www.viniyogaaustralia.com/) and unofficially studying this tradition for the last three years by attending various weekend retreats.  This Yoga is based on Patanjali's Yoga Sūtra-s and through my study and practice it has opened my eyes and expanded my mind to a Yoga beyond āsana-s (postures), to viewing Yoga as a way of living and a framework to understand life.

If you can breathe, you can do this Yoga.  I know that sounds rudely simplistic, however, that is the beauty of this Breath Focused Yoga - the breath moves the body and the mind follows the breath, the rest will come.  What is the rest?  It is your individual journey to uncovering your complete potentiality (sounds a bit too good to be true doesn't it?!).  TKV Desikachar (teacher in this tradition) says "The success of Yoga does not lie in the ability to perform postures but in how it positively changes the way we live our life and our relationships."  

Over the next few weeks the goal of our classes will be to bring our attention back to our lower abdomen - an area which undergoes much change during pregnancy and childbirth.  By developing a strong exhale technique and using postures that target this area of the body, we will reconnect and rebuild strength here.  As per the sūtra-s, each class will always focus on relieving tension in the body and encourage reflection on your practice.  So, if you're a Mum or Dad with a bub, and this has piqued your interest, come along on Tuesday.  Class is held at Bikram Yoga Kawana Studio (next to 99 Bikes) and will start at 11am, the cost is $10.  If you don't have a bub and are interested in exploring this Yoga contact me for a private consultation.

Here is this week's practice for you to continue doing at home.  That's right, there are two number 3's...I can blame baby brain and I will be; number 5 is jathara parvrtti parvtti, and number 6 is urdhva prasrta padāsana - my hubby laminated them before I finished (yes I laminate my practices).  If you have any questions please feel free to e-mail me or contact me via FaceBook messenger.