One for my Pregnancy Yoga class - what to Pack In Your Hospital Bag
Have you started packing your hospital bag yet? Most pregnant women are packing their hospital bag at around 33-36 weeks of pregnancy (earlier for twins or more). Even if you are very much planning a homebirth, having a bag ready 'just in case' can be useful. If you're wondering what to pack, I’ve compiled a hospital bag checklist and free downloadable guide.....
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Simple Self-Care - take time for you
This is such a brilliant idea to remind you to build a little time into your busy life for some simple self care practices and rituals - a self care box. Even though I do a lot of yoga and meditation each week, which to me is definitely self care, I also need other practices and rituals to help me have time for me. So I have a 'self care box' at home containing the things that uplift me when I need to have that little slice of me-time and feel better.
Read on for my tips to create your own self care box. Everyone's will be different, and of course you change it over time, its definitely not rigid and fixed. But here's some lovely ideas to consider...
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These are a couple of recipes that I shared in my Fertility Yoga Workshop in York at the weekend. It's always nice to have a little sweet hit and a warm drink an afternoon of yoga, and so I made some treats that were nutrient dense and fertility focused yet still delicious too. But they are perfect not just for women trying to conceive or pregnant women, but actually for anyone look for a yummy treat that's actually rather good for you too - avoiding refined sugar and processed foods and packing in good fats, antioxidants, vitamins and trace minerals. Here's the recipes. Enjoy!
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Exercise during pregnancy
Whether you are a yoga geek, a gym bunny or a couch potato (or anywhere in between), once you find yourself pregnant it can be hard to know what kind of exercise you should, and shouldn't be doing. Some stuff is great - pregnancy yoga, swimming. Some not advised - contact martial arts, skiiing. Here's a guide for you.
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I teach Yin Yoga as part of my Slow Sunday monthly yoga workshops, and also one off Yin Yoga specific workshops too at the beautiful York Yoga Studio. So I wanted to tell you more about this wonderful style of yoga, and how it can really be of benefit to you dealing with the stresses and strains of modern life - whether you are a seasoned yogi or a complete beginner.
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Love your amazing pregnant body - feel confident and beautiful
It’s natural to feel a little apprehensive about the massive changes that are about to happen not only in your day-to-day routine but also to your body when you are pregnant. I know many (if not all) of the women that I teach in my pregnancy yoga classes feel this way. I know I certainly did.
However, any negative thoughts or frustrations that you may have about your changing body shouldn’t be allowed to take away from your enjoyment during this incredible time in your life. You are after all growing a new human being - and that is truly and utterly amazing.
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So do you need a yoga mat? In short the answer is YES.
The first thing to purchase as part of your yoga kit, is your very own mat. Many of the other bits and bobs we use in a yoga class can be substituted pretty well with household items (a yoga block with a book, cushion or folded blanket, a yoga strap with a belt or scarf), but a yoga mat is more than just a physical surface to practice on, it has greater significance that that.....
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I always love to share a little something edible and homemade at the end of my 'Slow Sunday' yoga workshops. After an afternoon of letting go, relaxing and nurturing the body and mind is lovely to revitalise with a small delicious treat. I often make chocolates, but this week I pushed the boat out (as it was the last Slow Sunday before a Summer break) and made some nutritious raw brownies and some cooling jasmine and melon iced tea. Sound good? Here's the recipes.....
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I hope this blog post will provide you with some information on how you can bring in some simple lifestyles changes that can help to reduce stress in your life, and also explain how special fertility yoga practices can really help too.
We all know modern life can be stressful, and life while trying to get pregnant even more so. Staying grounded and calm with all this going on is really truly not easy, at all. But eliminating unnecessary stress is very important when trying to conceive, as studies show women with high stress levels often have a harder time getting pregnant), your hormone system is controlled by the same region of your brain that regulates stress and fear.
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The Art of Loving kindness for pregnancy and motherhood
"In modern life we have become so busy with our daily affairs and thoughts, that we have forgotten this essential art of taking time to converse with our hearts….If we are still, and listen deeply, for even a moment, we will know if we are following a path with heart… " Jack Kornfield, A Path with Heart
In my 'Self-Care Sunday' Facebook live video this week I introduced the practice of loving kindness (if you missed it catch it here https://www.facebook.com/yogaformodernlife%20/videos/1369281359787198/). I also shared it in one of my pregnancy yoga classes which is a just the most lovely way to connect with your unborn baby. It's such a beautiful practice and I really wanted to write a blog post to share it with as many people as possible and tell you more about it...
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Yoga and Fertility
I love teaching yoga, I love how yoga benefits people on such a profound level in so many ways - whether it’s physically, mental, energetically or emotionally or often a combination of all of these. I've seen it happen so many times, it’s so powerful to witness. But I will never fail to be moved by the kind of feedback I received this week from a woman who attended my Fertility Yoga Course.
I'm grateful that she has allowed me to share this with you and hope her words will encourage anyone reading, who understands what she has experienced, to come and join the next Fertility Yoga course and be part of our supportive group. Here's what she had to say.
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As a yoga teacher, people often talk to me about meditation and how frustrating it can be, or how bad they feel they are at it. They tell me how much they struggle to stop their thoughts and find that elusive place of complete stillness. Their mind just races away off into a juicy thought, a to-do list, or keeps running over something that happened that day - but all of this is completely normal and natural. Meditation is a practice. It becomes easier with time, as you practice and some days are easier than others - so don't expect it to necessarily straightforward for you when you start, for most people it takes a while. But a little time and effort is really worth it.
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The Mind-Body Fertility Connection
Going through infertility is the ultimate mind-body experience. There are issues we are experiencing with our bodies, and understandably the stress, anxiety and uncertainty weighs very heavy on our minds. As human beings it is our natural default to feel things both physically and emotionally. Unfortunately, for most of us it is not our natural default to stay attuned and connected to the mind-body experience in a way that most benefits us.
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The great magnesium shortage
Right now, less than 70% of women and 40% of men in the UK are getting their fair share of magnesium. If you are suffering from poor sleep, muscle knots and tension, fatigue or even a modicum of stress, not to mention one of the 22 or so magnesium deficiency triggered ailments, it’s time to think about your magnesium intake.
Read more about why magnesium is important, and how you can address any imbalance in easy ways.
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Yoga is a fundamentally accessible activity and can be practiced in a variety of settings and places, and it doesn't require much in the way of specialist equipment. However, there are a number of basic props you can use to help you get the most from yoga. These can also help make some asanas more attainable for those with limited mobility. A good class or studio will have these props available for you to use, but at home you can always use alternative items from around the home (and there's some suggestions below).
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Without compassion we wouldn't survive, yet it's not always easy to bring compassion into daily life (or we simply forget to). Learn to strengthen your empathy muscle with these 10 tips and insights and cultivate more kindness, gratitude and understanding.
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