At Blooma, our prenatal yoga teachers strive to take you beyond the physical exercise of yoga, while opening doors through conversation and yes, silence, too. You’re invited to arrive on your mat with anything that you’re carrying around that day. Maybe it’s joy, maybe it’s anxiety, or maybe you simply need to breathe, stretch, and get that foot out of your ribs.
Anna Melzer, Blooma Prenatal Yoga Teacher
One of our Minneapolis prenatal yoga teachers, Anna Melzer, shared with me a recent exchange from her Sunday 8 a.m. class:
After seated relaxation, I talked about the importance of environment and support during labor. I offered up some of my own experience, without sugar coating or dramatizing. Then mamas were asked to share what they’d read, heard, experienced or watched that had influenced their current choices about their pregnancy and upcoming birth. What was they eye-opener, the game changer? With 20 moms in class, ranging from six weeks to near 40 weeks pregnant, there was a wide range of responses! Some just needed to listen, and some needed to share.
A few days later, Anna heard from one of the moms in class:
I actually ended up thinking about you and our discussion a lot this weekend. Some of my favorite moments at Blooma have been the moments when people have acknowledged and honored the hurt/discomfort/unease that comes with pregnancy, birthing and parenting.
It’s easy for people on the outside of a pregnancy/birth/parenting to think it should only be a beautiful, loving experience and the truth is that it does not feel that way in every moment. And that is okay, we aren’t bad or ungrateful, etc. moms because we aren’t glowing and happy at each moment during nausea, birthing or 3 a.m. feeds.
I loved how you didn’t look stuck in the pain you felt. You looked hopeful that it will be healed. What better message can a parent show a child then to persevere through the challenging times in hope/faith that the other end will bring a greater happiness and peace.
I actually wrote a little poem about you after class. . .
I recognized the look of slightly swollen eyes
She wasn’t afraid or ashamed,
She was honest.
She wasn’t angry or resentful,
She was hopeful
She didn’t wish others her same hurt
She was humble . . . .
She was Love,
tangibly protecting others, persevering, hoping and trusting in healing
Rachel
Tell us, mamas, what rings truest and most authentic for you while at prenatal yoga? What speaks to you and helps draw you deeper into your own experience?
Love,
Alisa, Sarah & the women of Blooma
