Before I became a mother, my greatest teachers were parallel parking downtown, the moments I realized I would be late for something and that sensation just before I knew someone was taking advantage of me. Those are still great teachers, but motherhood has been my greatest teacher, the highest highs and lowest lows. Every button in between. The great magnifier of human existence, of impermanence, of fear and love.

I practice so that I can share my most true self with my daughter (& husband, & everyone else in my life, but I spend the most time with my daughter). And (as I talked about in this post), this practice unfolds slowly over time. Preparing for baby is a wonderful time to either begin or to deepen a practice. So that when poopy diapers are flying, dinner is burning and baby is crying, instead of collapsing into a heap, I can do what Thich Nhat Hahn suggests:

Smile. Breathe. Go slowly.

Of course there are reasons to practice that are closer to the immediate moment: to prepare the body and mind for birthing and repairing the body after birth, to remain calm through pregnancy, to connect with other mamas-to-be, to start.

Your practice meets you where you are and offers you another way to connect with baby. It can be a refuge from worry and fear. It can help you transform fear into inspiration.

I practiced asana, meditation and lots and lots of mantra throughout pregnancy and birth. The prenatal series I teach at Heart Fire Yoga is a culmination of what I have learned through my experience, my training and my conversations with other mothers. I invite you to join us. Class meets from 1-2:30pm on Saturdays, beginning February 2. Visit Heart Fire to sign up.