Yoga.

I love it. It’s like a breath of fresh air for me. 

When I practice my days flow better. My mind is clearer and I make better choices. Situations that would normally aggravate me just roll off my back. I’m more patient, more kind and more loving towards others.

This I believe is directly related to what I am giving to myself during my practice — patience, kindness, grace and love. Because we can’t give what we don’t possess ourselves ?

My yoga practice has saved my life -- literally and figuratively -- I don’t know what I would have done during my postpartum depression if I had not had this practice. 

Today’s episode is all about yes you guessed it -- the benefits of yoga for postpartum wellness. But you don’t have to be a mom to receive what I am gifting to you in this episode.

I believe a committed consistent yoga practice can benefit all human beings -- it’s just that powerful. 

My Yoga Story

In my twenties, I had a wake up call about my unhealthy and promiscuous lifestyle.  I was diagnosed with borderline cancerous condition that would most likely turn cancerous without intervention-- you hear precancerous you think cancer. My options were surgery or wait and see if it reversed itself. 

Well, I’m a rebel in a sense, and even though I went to medical school, I believe in the inherent wisdom of our bodies to heal IF we give it what it needs. Surgery was too invasive in my book so I chose wait and see.

I read everything I could about my condition and how I needed to nurture my body through proper diet, rest, and positive recreation (notice I didn’t say exercise). 

My reading led me to a little gem of a book called 8 Weeks to Optimum Health by Dr. Andrew Weil, an integrative medicine physician. It’s actually not that little. But it is a true gem. This book became my health coach -- well in a sense Dr. Weill became my health coach. 

Making Changes Requires Making Changes

The timing of my diagnosis was divine I am sure -- I was heading to Texas for a 6-week preceptorship at Texas Children Hospital in Houston. 

This meant I would be far away from my family and this would make changing my lifestyle a lot easier. Being home I wouldn’t be able to resist mom’s bbq chicken that falls off the bone, her extra decadent rice pudding, and my sister’s potato salad or baked mac & cheese.

I learned about the importance of eating greens daily, the difference between omega 6s and 3s and the importance of the ratio, and how inflammation is the number one culprit in helping disease proliferate in the body. 

But most importantly I learned that with strategy and accountability through working with a health coach people can change if they want and set themselves up for success one small step at a time. 

And it is through this book I learned about yoga. Actually I learned about the importance of breath which led me to yoga.

Yoga is a Mind, Body, Spirit and Sex Thing. 

Three months later when I returned for a follow up appointment the precancerous lesion I had developed was gone and I am happy to say it has NEVER returned. 

I owe it to my yoga lifestyle and faith. I trusted my inner wisdom and have developed a health consciousness and connection with my body that allows me to instantly sense imbalances and self-correct. This experience has also improved my overall mental health. 

So why do I think that yoga is the best thing for the new mother … (for the show notes visit ThriveAfterPostpartum.com/5)