In the Belly

a different kind of yogic core work

March 2020, my pregnant belly:)

Centering midway between winter and spring

Like so many other mamas, I always feel like I need to get back to doing some corework. Since having babies, my core has never seemed the same. Of course, there are many things that will never be the same since having kids. It’s just one of those radically transformative things.

Core work is so important and yet dreaded by many. It can be hard work, but once it becomes part of your life, it can be so satisfying, too. It doesn’t have to be crunches, either (I’ll get more into this in the coming weeks. Yoga offers many ways to strengthen the core without making it tortuous).

Today, though, on this Celtic festival of Imbolc, which means ‘in the belly,’ let’s take a moment to do some emotional and spiritual core work. In the yogic tradition, we call this practice svadhyaya — getting to know our True Selves beyond the day-to-day roles we play in life. How? It really just takes a moment of slowing down.

Let yourself just be. It sounds too simple. You might wonder how a few minutes of just chillin’ can do anything for your introspection, but the more often you do it, the more you recalibrate your nervous system. Here’s a sweet little song called Just Be by Kira Willey that I’ve been using at the end of my kids' yoga classes.

Drop the balls

You may have heard the phrase ‘the juggle is real.’ It’s true, motherhood is a juggling act and yet there must be a time when we can put down the balls. We can always pick them up again and when we do, we’ll have more energy and focus.

Here are some of my favorite yogic versions of ‘dropping the balls:’

1. Pause to take several deep breaths with my hands on my belly or one hand on my belly, the other hand on my heart. Just feeling how the inhalations expand into my torso can be very calming.

2. A few standing forward bends when I feel overstimulated.

3. A backward bend or two when I feel sluggish or down.

4. Breath of Joy when I feel stagnant (I do it at the end of the reel below! If you want more details, here’s an old post of mine on breath of joy:)

5. Dance party with my kids (or alone, but it’s actually more fun with kiddos:)

Notice that taking a mindful pause doesn’t necessarily mean sitting still or meditating. Sometimes what I need most when I take a break is to move my body. Knowing what you need takes a little practice and introspection (hey, sounds a little like svadhyaya!), but once you do this regularly, you’ll find your own favorite practices. Pro tip: you might need to schedule this into your day. I know a few minutes doesn’t sound like a big time commitment, but creating space in the schedule is the first step to making sure we devote ourselves to these micropractices!

Introspection and interoception

It’s great to get into a regular yoga practice, but practicing true yoga is more than just going through the motions. If we just do the physical part and check it off the list, it’s still beneficial, but it’s just exercise. What makes yoga yoga is the quality of attention we bring to the practice.

I think of two words that bring life to my practice: introspection and interoception. Basically, when we bring these two things onto the yoga mat, we are paying attention to our thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations. We look inward at the same time we practice physically.

Introspection is highly personal and tied to our individual experiences, beliefs, and cultures. You might leave this work to your therapy sessions or heart-to-hearts with a close friend or family member.

For now, let’s try interoception in our yoga practice. We’ll try it when we’re moving and when we’re still so we can experience that integration between body and mind.

Keep the ball rolling: more resources

Here’s a lovely little yoga nidra practice for Imbolc:

https://www.yoganidranetwork.org/nidras/welcoming-breath-of-life-at-turn-of-winter-to-spring-imbolc-nidra/

And I love the Headspace Guide to Meditation on Netflix. If you find it hard to sit and meditate, these videos can help keep you inspired:

https://www.netflix.com/title/81280926

I hope you’ve found some inspiration here to keep your yoga practice alive, or to start your practice if you’re new to it. Truly, every day is another chance to keep the ball rolling with your yoga. Stay tuned for more satisfying, doable yoga micropractices and some creative core work to build strength without strain.

What helps you stay devoted to a daily yoga practice, no matter how brief? I share what works for me, but I know that everyone is different!

As always, feel free to share this with anyone you feel might enjoy it!

My belly a week after my son was born in 2020. It’s common to see those pretty preggy belly pics, but how often do we celebrate these postpartum ones? Plus I truly feel like I look beautiful and powerful in this moment.