By: Kim Austin-Peterman
Inhale a sense of clarity and freedom, exhale into the memory of your earth bound connection...
We spend time on the mat inspiring movement and breath, and we follow it inward to find deeper awareness. As we feel more physical awareness we extend our experience towards mental awareness. Synchronizing our perceptions of both, we can then learn to relax. Our work in our bodies will forward itself into our external world. We find greater flexibility, strength and balance in all aspects of our daily lives as well as our muscles and bones. By dedicating time to practice we can develop an ability to relax and create peace even during times of stress and intensity. This is how yoga allows us to transition from a thinking/doing state to a feeling/being state. This is also how yoga can help transform us from women to brave, powerful, feminine souls ready to be fierce mothers.
Growth within ourselves is synonymous with growth within our family. As we understand more about ourselves, we can draw more of what we need to us.
Yoga is a practice of finding endless opportunities to reach our greatest capacity. As we come up against physical edges and resistant sensations, the mind certainly struggles. This is when we have the choice between giving up or motivating our energy forward. This is when we differentiate between walking away from something we don't know how to do or teaching ourselves how to find a way through it. Interact with our pain rather than defend it. We listen well to our internal senses and detach from external comparisons or false belief patterns. We can access our creative, compassionate and open mind rather than follow the rabbit hole into fear and judgement. Expand or contract?
In a country where both the rate of natural (non-medical) births as well as successful (uncomplicated) births are at the bottom of the percentile list world wide, consideration is eminent. We live in a culture and society where being pregnant and birthing are commonly represented by dread and fear. The unfortunate weight of this heavy emotionality makes it challenging for women to embrace their pregnancies with peace, joy and balance. In fact, pregnant women are brilliant symbols of nature. The process of bringing life into this earth is beautiful, touching and inspiring. The blessing to co-create with Mother Nature is an incredible honor that we can embrace, support and encourage.
As women exercise this ability, they can be free to experience and celebrate a great sense of pride. If the experience of child bearing and birthing is anything less than pure joy layered with intense love, there is room for encouragement.
I encourage you and urge you:
Women! Find your power, find your bliss and share it with your children. Be the change you want in your world!
One in five pregnant women experience severe depression, but science shows that pre-natal yoga can prevent it! Yoga also has other benefits for pregnancy as well. 
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