Expecting your first child and are at a loss about what you should or shouldn’t do? It’s a dilemma many new parents face, with little help at hand. Sure, doctors help address the medical aspects of pregnancy, while well-meaning family and friends come up with a list of dos and don’ts. But when it comes to little things like relieving the many accompanying aches and pains, some of the labour stress or even answering the million niggling doubts, there’s nothing like a little expert guidance. It is to address these issues that yoga and Pilates expert Divya Rolla, in association with Ishani Appaya of Rutland Gate Yoga Studio, is all set to conduct a two-day pre and postnatal workshop for expectant mothers and their partners this weekend.
The workshop aims to address topics like what to expect while going into labour, the various stages of labour, breathing exercises for the mothers, postnatal recovery, how to make breastfeeding work for you and handling a baby the right way while avoiding associated injuries. “The idea for this workshop came when I was pregnant with my first child. There was nothing comprehensive to guide expectant mothers, which is when I turned to the Internet for information. Through this workshop, I hope to address some common issues that most expectant parents might face,” says Divya, who had a baby five months ago.
“I was in labour for three days and decided against taking epidural. People tend to lie down a lot during labour; but my midwife taught me that walking around and even squatting helped. Sometimes we need to allow gravity to assist; lying down increases the pain. Also, mothers need to rely on their instincts; it is these kind of topics that I want to talk about at the workshop,” says Divya, who has been teaching yoga for the last 10 years.
The workshop will also guide pregnant women through simple yoga asanas that they can safely do throughout pregnancy. “I will also walk them through a few things they must do immediately after delivery to strengthen their abdomen and back; this helps alleviate lower back pain. Also, many people don’t realise the strain they put their wrists through every time they handle their babies; I myself injured my wrist doing so,” says the young mother, who has her hands full with her baby and the two boot camps she runs. “People’s confidence increases when they see someone like me, who has just had a baby, walk them through their pregnancies. In fact, I was teaching yoga until three days before I delivered my child,” she adds.
The one thing she does stress upon is that the expectant mother be accompanied either by her partner or another family member who will be assisting her through the pregnancy and delivery. “It helps to have the family involved in the workshop too, since they will play a major role in the expectant mother’s journey,” she says.
The course will also include a complementary photo shoot with photographer Amrita Samant, ahead of the two-hour session.
The workshop will be held on August 29 and 30, between 5.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. at Rutland Gate Yoga Studio. For details, contact 9841001989.
