Pregnancy is one of the most holy times in a woman’s life. At the level of the causal body, a sacred soul contract is agreed upon between the players of this most amazing creation: mom, dad, baby and the forces of Purusha and Prakriti (Divine Masculine and Feminine). At the moment of conception, glorious powers of creation set in motion the most wondrous events. The sacred elements of life: Ether, Air, Fire, Water and Earth begin to dance their cosmic love dance. As they dance, where there was once only potential, the human form begins to take shape in the womb of the mother. A magnificent, spiritually charged, bio-energetic form begins to emerge. A whole new mobile, holy temple grows for this soul, who said yes to the contract, to begin acting in the world of forms.
A pregnant woman shares her souls her holy temple, her body, with the soul of her growing baby. As cells divide and take form and structure, the pregnant woman gives of her essence to build a temple perfectly suited for the karma of this baby’s journey. This is profound work at hand. To build a temple that is strong and resilient, the materials must be of the best quality. If the mortar used to hold the granite stones of the temple is compromised, the walls of that temple will crumble. Every morsel of food mom eats, drop of drink she swallows, interaction she has with nature and it’s forms, every emotion that plays across her heart influences the quality and the outcome of her baby's temple being built. As a practicing yogini (female yogi), clarity is drawn from a deep inner knowing that has been polished through her dedication to practice and self-reflection. This clarity guides her into the beauty of devoted service to the creation she is nourishing while carrying her child within. It helps her with her convictions and choices of actions in each moment. She makes conscious choices, such as rising early with gratitude for not only her life, but also the growing life in her womb. She practices devotion to the dance of Shiva and Shakti (powers of masculine and feminine creation) so that she nourishes her divine union with Source.
Through practice, the yogini quiets the busy-ness of her mind so that the whispers from her body temple guide her choices of food, exercise, rest, and with whom she chooses to spend her precious time. Conscious living derived from a well grounded yogic lifestyle cultivates strength and suppleness of her body and mind, as well as clarity of her actions deeds and words. The pregnant yogini hones her discernment by observing herself and her responses to life, therefore clearly understanding her environment and the players within it. From a centered, peaceful and self-assured place, she freely shares her love with her companion, family, friends and community. She expresses enduring self-love that is unapologetic when she declares healthy boundaries to care for herself and her growing baby. She is the Self-Actualized Tantrica with her roots reaching deep into mother Gaia for sustenance, her crown open and united with the wisdom of the cosmos, and her heart open to the human drama unfolding between the two. She is creation itself.
The 8 limbed Astanga Yoga path provides the wisdom of the ages to a woman who has agreed to the sacred contract of pregnancy and the journey toward motherhood as a yogini.
The rich guidance of the Yamas and Niyamas: Non Violence, Truthfulness, Non-Grasping, Restraint, Desirelessness, Purity, Contentment, Commitment to Practice, Self Study, and Devotion to God provide her with an internal compass that will continually steer her toward the highest and most clear actions. These moral and ethical codes create her foundation providing the stability to balance self-care with the work of mothering.
Prenatal Asana (Yoga Postures) practice gives her strength, suppleness, balance, endurance and sustaining peace. These rewards create ease in her body temple thus availing her to energies that can be directed toward loftier pursuits of realizing her Dharma (life’s mission). The strength and endurance gained from regular practice translates into a resource she can draw upon in times of challenge.
Pratyahara (Sense Control) practice cultivates objectivity with the senses so that even the most challenging of experiences will not cause her to waiver in her state of balance. She can better remain neutral in the face of desire or aversion so that both she and her growing baby reside in a state of peace. Practicing pratyahara through her pregnancy makes this tool of sense control easily accessible during labor and birth when inward focus becomes paramount. As she cares for this child once born, a well honed pratyhara practice will give the mother yogini steadiness in her emotions and objectivity in her mind during the many weeks, months and years of parenting.
Dharana (Concentration/Contemplation) practice places her mind at her masterful command in a quiet, reflective, observant state that absorbs and fully digests life’s unfolding drama. An undistracted mind is able to be present for the beauty of the temple being built within. The yogini growing in ever-greater brilliance, as she remains awake in that all pervasive presence.
Dhyana (Meditation) practice holds her body, mind, and spirit into expansive stillness and awareness of Sat Aham Prema (Divine Love is my true nature). Through sustaining this state of union she is able to witness the divinity of the soul connection between herself, her companion, the growing baby and the dance of Purusha and Prakriti (Consciousness and Form). She is able to hold the space for her own dharma (life mission) as well as the space for her child’s dharma.
The final outcome of this 8-limbed path is Samadhi, or Spiritual Liberation. The pregnant yogini has an amazing opportunity for dwelling in Samadhi as she holds within her a twin flame. Two sparks of the One Source occupying her holy temple, burning with all the love of the universe. All she has to do is turn inward toward this brilliant light and put the tools of the master handbook of life, yoga, into conscious action. Through this action, she dwells in the infinite peace and joy of Samadhi.
The awakened yogini knows the infinite power of the creative forces at play when she spends time each day aligning her body, mind and spirit through the chanting of the Gaytri Mantra insuring a steadiness in Bhakti (devotion).
Om Bhur Bhuva Swaha
Tat Savitur Varenyam
Bhargo Devasya Deemahi
Deeyo Yo Naha Prachodayaat
Translation: We meditate on that most adorable, desirable and enchanting luster and brilliance of our Supreme Being, our Source Energy, our Collective Consciousness….who is our creator, inspirer and source of eternal Joy. May this warm and loving Light inspire and guide our mind and open our hearts.
One of the most widely used terms to describe yoga today is hatha. Hatha yoga refers to the balance of “ha” meaning sun, and “tha” meaning moon or expressed another way divine masculine and divine feminine. The pregnant yogini embodies this hatha or balance as she embraces the spark of creation or divine masculine. She reflects that light within her own form and the form of her baby growing with just as the moon reflects the light of the sun. Her awareness through reflection upon this dance of divine forces in constant dynamic movement is expressed as her radiant glow.