How can Yoga Help You?
LOLA provides yoga classes which are designed specifically with grieving mums in mind. They are aimed at building your physical and emotional strength and you can do them in the comfort of your own home, without seeing anyone else before you are ready to do so. The yoga classes here are also suitable for anyone who is new to yoga, as well as mums who have practised before.
One of the great things about yoga is that you don’t need to show up in any way, other than how you are. It doesn’t require a ‘perfect’ pose, or for you to be ‘happy’, or for you to feel ‘hopeful’ when you step onto your mat. Just showing up is enough, and when you are suffering after the loss of your child, that may be all you can do. One of our practitioners, Claire Hawkins, explains how yoga can help you to point your mind and body towards balance and wellbeing, following your tragic loss.
Yoga and your Physical Recovery:
Practising yoga can support your body’s recovery after losing your baby by building strength and energy following your pregnancy and delivery (including delivery by caesarean section). In particular, yoga may help you to:
- Recover from the physical strain of pregnancy, miscarriage or stillbirth
- Restore your abdominal muscles
- Restore your pelvic floor muscles
- Release physical tension
- Reduce tiredness
- Regain strength and energy
- Improve your posture
- Open your chest, helping to relieve tension
- Re-establish your abdominal and core stability; in particular, this may be helpful if you have had a caesarean section
Claire explains why her yoga classes available here might benefit you emotionally and physically following stillbirth.
Yoga and your Emotional Recovery:
The benefits of yoga are by no means purely physical. Even just a little yoga at a time can have a positive impact on your emotional well being following the loss of your baby. Through yoga you can learn to steady your mind and help to calm overwhelming and painful thoughts by focusing on your physical wellbeing and modulating your breathing as you go through your yoga practice. Once you feel ready to begin recovering from your grief, yoga can be a good way to start releasing tension, stress and pain from the body.
Yoga and the associated practice of pranayama, or breathing techniques, can support your emotional recovery and help you in the following ways:
• Re-balancing your emotional wellbeing.
• Calming your mind after the strain of losing your baby.
• By giving you a chance to take time for reflection and peace in a quiet space.
• Providing you with a practice which can give you a strategy for dealing with your grief.
Here, Margaret Rawlinson discusses using yoga in a restorative and therapeutic way after suffering trauma.
Explore
The Classes
Practicing Yoga
These yoga classes are designed to help you calm your mind after the loss of your child, and help you manage your deep grief.
Each class has been designed with you in mind, so that you can get the benefits of yoga with ease. There is no need for you to leave the house, no need for you to go to a class and interact with an instructor or other attendees if you are not ready to do so. All of the classes are free for you to download and can be done from the comfort and safety of your home. They are suitable for anyone new to yoga, as well as those who are more experienced.
We at LOLA hope they will help you to start your emotional recovery after losing your baby.
Warning: Always consult a health professional before starting any exercise and listen to your body. If you are under medical supervision, check in with your doctor before embarking on any exercise, including yoga practice.