Yoga Sadhana for Mothers

Sharmila Desai

Sujets

• Pregnancy

Informations

• Publié par: Pinter & Martin Limited
• Date de parution: 01 janvier 0001
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781906756338
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 3 Mo

Extrait

YOGA SADHANA FOR MOTHERS
YOGA SADHANA FOR MOTHERS
Shared experiences of Ashtanga Yoga, pregnancy, birth & motherhood
First published in 2014 by YogaWords Ltd
Text copyright Sharmila Desai and Anna Wise 2014
For photography and image credits see page 330 - 331
Sharmila Desai and Anna Wise have asserted their moral right to be identified as the
authors of this work in accordance with the copyright, designs and patents act of 1988
All rights reserved
ISBN 978-1-906756-30-7
Managing editor: Zo Blanc
Editor: Susannah Marriot
Design: Pascale Willi
Jacket design: Blok Graphic
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British library.
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade and
otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher s
prior consent in any form or binding or cover other than that in which it is published
and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
The author and publisher disclaim, as far as the law allows, any liability arising directly
or indirectly from the use, or misuse, of the information contained in this book.
Published by YogaWords Ltd
An imprint of Pinter and Martin Ltd
6 Effra Parade
London SW2 1PS
www.pinterandmartin.com
Disclaimer
The techniques, ideas, and suggestions presented in this book are not a substitute for proper medical advice, nor are they a substitute for instruction from an experienced teacher. The practice guidelines in particular are intended for use by students with an already established, regular Ashtanga practice only and are not suitable for beginners. As with any exercise program, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is advisable to consult a medical practitioner in all matters relating to your health or your baby s health, particularly with respect to any symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention. If you feel any discomfort or feel unwell while attempting any of the practices described in this book, please stop. If you are unsure whether to practice something described in this book, please consult your doctor or midwife. The authors, the contributors, and the publishers assume no responsibility for injuries incurred as a result of following the practices described in this book or of using any of the therapeutic methods described or mentioned here.
YOGA SADHANA FOR MOTHERS
Shared experiences of Ashtanga yoga, pregnancy, birth & motherhood
SHARMILA DESAI & ANNA WISE
For Guruji,
In loving memory

Our mother is our first teacher, then our father.
It takes 100 fathers to make one mother; she is the primary Guru .
First we pray to her, then to our father, then to our Guru .
We must always keep these three in our prayers.
R. Sharath Jois

An offering
Yoga S a dhana for Mothers is an offering to women and families in the practice.
Our intention was to create a resource for women steeped in the practice of Ashtanga yoga who are going through the rite of passage to becoming a mother.
We were truly inspired by the birth stories from our Ashtanga sisters, which offer a wealth of practical wisdom and express the importance of intuition.
Our desire was to show that when it comes to pregnancy, childbirth, and mothering there are many paths.
We are indebted to all the women who generously and honestly shared each of their stories. We know the experiences in this book are only a small selection of what is out there.
Our hope is that these guidelines, communal stories, and tips give strength, peace of mind, and joy.
We are filled with gratitude for our beloved Guruji, who modeled the synthesis of family life and yoga with great compassion and humility. His teachings continue to be a blessing.
With love and in friendship,
Anna & Sharmila
CONTENTS
Introduction
PARAMPARA Knowledge passed through lineage and received by tradition
Introduction
Interview with Saraswathi Rangaswamy
Interview with Sharmila Mahesh

Childbirth Yantra
SADHANA Practice or discipline towards a spiritual goal
Ashtanga yoga and pregnancy
Basic principles for practice
Asanas
ANUBHAVA Knowledge derived from personal experience
Introduction
Mariela Cruz
Lucy Crawford Scott
Louise Newton
Katia Garcia Gomez
Joanne Darby
Bella Rossi
Louise Ellis
Sharmila Desai
Anne Pinette
Catherine Robertson-Glasgow
Harmony Lichty
IiLing Loo
Philippa Asher
Karri Jinkins
Ruth Westoby
Nancy Gilgoff
Margaret Munzer Loeb
Rayna Matsuno Weise
Melanie Fawer
Mariella Papaioannou
Mae Yoshikawa
Pamela Luther
Jocelyne Stern
Petra Gordon
Trudie Styler
Jessica Walden
Katie Heller
Fiona Stang
Anna Wise
Laura Pero
Dena Kingsberg
CHIKITSA Therapeutic practice
Postpartum recovery
Practical tips for postpartum healing
Returning to practice
Ayurvedic foods for new mothers
PRENATAL APPENDICES
The pelvic floor
Pelvic-girdle pain
Perineal preparation
Optimal fetal positioning
POSTPARTUM APPENDICES
Separated stomach muscles
Birthlight s five gentle steps to postpartum recovery
Postpartum Ayurvedic recipes
RESOURCES
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Introduction
We were friends long before either of us became mothers. With the arrival of our families a new aspect of our friendship developed, as we discovered that there was much common ground in our experiences around pregnancy, birth, and motherhood. Above all, we found that these experiences had an impact on how we practiced yoga in every aspect of our lives.
We often wondered what choices other mothers who practiced Ashtanga yoga had made during pregnancy and how they had transitioned into motherhood. We were curious about how and what women practitioners had learnt directly from Guruji and his family. Understanding what an Ashtanga yoga practice during pregnancy should look like from the perspective of Guruji, Sharath, Saraswathi, and Sharmila was of great interest to us. We also wanted to know more about long-term healing after giving birth within the context of a traditional practice.
When we realized that we had a shared vision to create a book looking at the practice from the unique perspective of becoming a mother, producing something together was an obvious, organic choice. Of course the idea was just the beginning, and we would not have arrived at this point without a great deal of help and support along the way. First and foremost, the immediate and unwavering support of the Jois family strengthened our feeling that there was a need for this book. Another source of affirmation came from all the mothers who responded so positively to the idea of sharing their experiences.
Becoming a mother, much like the practice itself, is an intensely personal inner journey. Yet many books about pregnancy and parenting seem to focus on telling women what they should or should not do. Our intention all along has been to create something that shows that when it comes to pregnancy, childbirth, and mothering there is no right or wrong way to do things. For this reason there are no definitive answers here, only information, tips, suggestions, examples and, most importantly, the experience of others to draw from.
When we set out on this journey together, neither of us could possibly have known what an enriching and layered process it would be. We knew very little about the world of publishing, and as soon as we began work we learnt that creating a book is about far more than just its content. Every time we encountered something we didn t know about there was always someone ready and willing to assist us. Help came from the most unexpected sources-relatives, moms in the school yard, friends of friends-all of whom offered their expertise for nothing. Yoga S a dhana for Mothers is a reflection of these combined efforts and would not exist without the generosity of everyone involved.
Our genuine hope is that this book will be beneficial for the community as a whole: for women who practice Ashtanga yoga and are interested in starting a family, or for those keen to learn about family life within the context of the practice. We also believe that women who are already mothers will find much to relate to in reading how other women sustain personal harmony in motherhood. Similarly, fathers, teachers, and fellow practitioners who would like to support women in this new phase of life should gain a deeper understanding of the physical, emotional, and spiritual journey that is part of becoming a mother.
Inside this book
Yoga Sadhana for Mothers begins with a section entitled Parampara . The word parampara means an uninterrupted succession; the direct and unbroken transmission of knowledge from teacher to student. 1 In this section we hear directly from the female lineage holders of Ashtanga yoga-R. Saraswathi, Guruji s daughter, and Sharmila Mahesh, Guruji s granddaughter. These interviews offer insight into the Jois s family life and Ashtanga yoga as practiced by women. Both Saraswathi and Sharmila share their memories of life with Guruji and his beloved wife, Amma, revealing how this impacted on their own personal journeys into motherhood. They also share traditions that have been passed down through generations, and which Indian women follow for health, healing, and longevity. Parampara gives a cultural and historical background for what is to follow, and sets the book firmly in the traditions and teachings passed directly from Guruji himself.
The following section called Sadhana addresses the Ashtanga yoga practice itself in the context of pregnancy. Sadhana can be translated as practice towards a spiritual goal. Written with direct input from Sharath and Saraswathi and using the Primary series by way of example, each asana is listed according to the traditional Sanskrit count, with instructions and photographs to show how it should be modified during pregnancy. These guidelines are primarily aimed at pregnant women who already practice Asht