“{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.” -Soulemama

If you’re inspired to do the same, leave a link to your ‘moment’ in the comments for all to find and see.

Birth is more than just the labor. It is more than the first day of a mother’s relationship with her child. It is the beginning of a much larger process: motherhood is not something that a woman gives to just her child; it is a capacity that opens within her to serve the whole world.

The weeks (and months) of physical and emotional adjustment after the gross birth experience, however, is helpful to stabilizing this capacity. A protected, supported postnatal period is essential to having a relaxed and healthy mama and baby. A new mom is a very, very, busy person, but she may be busy in a different way than she was before she was a mom. Instead of running around with a big to-do list or killing it at her career, you’ll see her with her mind and heart tirelessly occupied with her child’s needs. It may look like she is quietly sitting for long stretches with baby, puttering about the house for a few minutes here, resting there. Still, she is ever alert to her new child and building intimacy with him. The sleep deprivation is intense and what looks very “chill” may not feel that way to her.

The most important thing for the family and community to remember around a new mom is that she has very little opportunity to do anything for herself. She is there for baby alone. She only has the opportunity to adjust her reaction to what is happening around her as she cannot control her environment herself or go get what she needs. This puts it on the family around her to create a safe and sacred space for her in which she can thrive.

Herbs help. Proper foods help. Relieving her of anything you can so she can do something for herself really helps.

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The “Ayurvedic Guidelines for Postpartum Health” document below is meant to help the family plan the right orientation around the birth and postnatal period. It is meant to help the family understand how they can contribute to an environment that will protect the mother from external stresses and allow her to heal from labor and delivery. If the new mom knows her Ayurvedic constitution and understands the season in relation to it, it will help tremendously. The more smooth and relaxed the environment, the better mother and baby will be able to adjust and the best bond will be created between mother and child.

Consider posting the following “Ayurvedic Guidelines for Postpartum Health” document on the fridge. Share it with family and friends who will be an integral part of the first stage of baby’s life.

During pregnancy, so much emphasis is given to prenatal support and preparedness for “labor day”. Books guide parents in creating a birth plan, classes offer birthing techniques and all manner of doulas and therapists can be hired. But what about after the baby’s birth?

In this workshop, Sri Lalita will guide moms-to-be and their partners through essential information about the postnatal period with the intention of making that time a relaxed and sacred transition. Education about Ayurveda will be given, with application to healing from childbirth, easing into lactation and creating a close mother-child bond.

Healing herbal formulas, nutritive recipes, teas and sitz baths–even placenta recipes–will be discussed. Strategies for promoting optimal recovery from labor and delivery will be offered, including remedies for common postnatal discomforts.

New moms, moms-to-be, partners and birth professionals are encouraged to attend. Partners are welcome to attend for free so that they, too, can support the new mom and baby.

Cost: $60 (Partners are welcome to join for FREE!)

Location: Yoga Mandala
2807 Telegraph Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94705
Dates: Sunday, January 17, 2010
Time:  10:00 AM-3:30 PM
Contact: 510.486.1989 pre-registration

Caring for the Neck: A Daily Yoga Regimen

We know that building and maintaining strength and flexibility the spine is key to health, longevity and a sense of vitality. However, we sometimes forget that the neck is part of the spine! In many exercise and yoga regimens, the neck is often overlooked.

In this brief, 45 minute class, we will discuss the basics of neck care. We will learn basic yoga postures and easy strength training to gradually increase range of motion and strength in the neck, affording greater stability and circulation to the structures in the neck and helping to prevent injury and tension. This simple regimen can be practiced almost anywhere.

Location: ALIVE Chiropractic
4223 Piedmont Ave.
Oakland, CA
Date: January 14, 2009
Time: 6:30-7:15 p.m.
Contact: (510) 457-5874

I guess our son is at that age, whatever that means.

Have you ever noticed that adults—especially seasoned parents-–have a tendency to lean toward one another and knowingly comment on a given child’s behavior with, “Oh, he’s at that age.” The remarkable thing is that this observation can be made at any age at all, no matter what. In fact, as the parent of a toddler, I can definitively say that my child is, at present, at that age right now. Come to think of it, that age was preceded by another that age, which was marked by different humorous, cute and/or irritating habits and activities. There was another before that as well and so on. No doubt, that age will be following this one. I’m still pretty new to parenting, but I’m catching on.

For instance, as my toddler begins to speak more and with increasing accuracy, such that even strangers might be able to comprehend him at times, I see that that age can be very revealing as to how my child views reality. As a constant mimic of every word and deed to which he is exposed, he is laying down patterns for what he perceives as normal behavior and modes of expression in the world.

Sometimes, that is embarrassing. Just this week, he mastered the pronunciation of my favorite curse word (which starts with ‘s’) and then he used it with appropriate timing in public. That was funny.

His newfound control of his body brings about a wonderful opportunity to glimpse his ideas, since almost everything he thinks is immediately expressed as he tries out gestures actions and new words. Though I celebrate his widening ability to explore the world and the enhanced interface with it that every developmental leap affords, I also catch greater insight into my responsibility as a mother. Are my actions—which he constantly copies—positive stimuli for growth?

The fun part is that his mimicry inspires me with a desire to grow. When we get down on the living room floor for what he calls ‘om-ies’, it is fun to see him giggling, awkwardly trying yoga postures with a big smile spread across his face. And today, as we were driving home from the grocery store, I caught him in the mirror sitting in his car seat, repeatedly chanting om and contorting his hands into play-mudras. He was just having fun, doing what he deems normal.

Watching him play at these yoga activities made me want to go home and practice. I know that the more he witnesses ‘om-ies’, the more he will learn that opening the channels to reinforce using the body in an integrated way is an indispensable daily activity. He will regard it as fun and will experience how yoga helps bring that sense of integration into other aspects of life. Though I am his teacher now, watching his experimentation fires up my desire to be a better student.

I understand that that age is just a series of learning opportunities. In fact, I believe I’m at that age myself and always will be.