At the start of my pregnancy journey, I felt very disconnected from myself. From the dreadful morning sickness, intense hormonal shifts, and physical changes, I felt like I didn’t recognize myself anymore - and it felt terrifying. It became my top priority to reestablish this connection, and yoga became the most powerful tool to help me achieve this.

More than the physical practice, the essence was in creating and maintaining a state of mind to allow me to process and create space for all of the unknown. Through a very consistent meditation and pranayama practice, I experienced a clarity of mind that was unwavering which allowed me to make very intentional decisions for our growing family. When so much of the journey is unknown and unpredictable, it is truly life changing to have something to turn to that you can access anytime, anywhere.

Another key part of the practice for me was community. Especially towards the end of the pregnancy, I had this yearning to only be surrounded by other pregnant women who just…got it. I signed up for a 5-week prenatal yoga session and made friends that I stayed connected to through the rest of my pregnancy and beyond. Community was also essential in helping me through some of the toughest moments of my postpartum experience.

Prenatal yoga is a beautiful way to strengthen your connection to yourself, your baby, and other women going through this life changing experience alongside you. Even though everyone’s journey is different, it is reaffirming to be surrounded by people who can relate, empathize, and offer support to one another.