Yoga: Yoga And Motherhood

By Mystic India

The psychology and philosophy of yoga can assist the mother to understand the experiences she is going through and to live them more fully. The development of awareness and of being a witness to all experiences in life is a central teaching of yoga. The ability to stand aside and witness what one is passing through removes a lot of fear and anxiety. Awareness builds one's inner resources of self- esteem and confidence and also enables the birth to be more consciously experienced. Yogic psychology also helps us understand the causes and effects of our circumstances in life and this deepens our insight and wisdom.

Yoga stresses the first seven years of the child's life. During this time it is the mother who has the most important role in the character formation of the child. After seven years, the more masculine energies of the father are necessary to develop reasoning and intellectual abilities. The mother learns through yoga to nurture in the child an appreciation of beauty and culture, such as the use of storytelling, with colourful heroes and heroines for the child to use as role models.

The yogic attitude towards motherhood stresses the importance of preparing the whole family for the arrival of a new family member. It advocates the participation of the father and other children in the preparations and often suggests the father and children do the yoga classes with the mother. Such preparation is often useful in counteracting feelings of sibling rivalry or jealousy that may occur following the introduction of a new family member.

For the single mother, both the yogic practices and their inherent philosophy help to strengthen the woman's health and psychological well-being, and counterbalance any feelings of insecurity and loneliness she may be feeling. Yoga gives prime importance to the role of the mother which builds self-esteem and strengthens her inner resources. Its philosophy teaches her how to make the most of her situation and provides the incentive to have a positive and optimistic outlook.

Yoga also views the pregnancy and birth from the child's viewpoint, as well as the mother's and emphasizes the importance of the immediate bonding of the newly-born infant with the mother. From the fourth month, the wise say that the soul enters the body of the unborn child and that he or she now has awareness. This is why yoga emphasizes the role of the mother in nourishing the infant, not just physically but also psychologically. The basic fabric of a child's life is woven in the womb and the health and mental attitudes of the mother directly affect the baby. Yogic practices assist the mother in developing a positive influence on the growing consciousness of the child, as well as ensuring that the experience of pregnancy and birth are wholesome and memorable ones for both herself and the child.