Do remember the first time you had a “sneeze wee”? You will either know exactly what I am talking about or perhaps feel a little confused. I remember exactly where I was and when it happened. I was 27 years old, pregnant with my first baby and coming to the end of my second trimester. I was lying on the sofa watching TV after a long day at work and I sneezed and a little bit of wee shot out! I was so shocked I screamed. Nothing like this had ever happened before, there was no warning - how could this have happened? Until a few months ago I had done pilates twice a week. I could go for the whole day and not use the toilet if work was busy, I had never woken in the night to use the loo. I was fit and healthy and still very active despite my growing baby.

I put it down to the “weight of the growing baby” and promised to do my pelvic floor exercises religiously for the rest of my pregnancy. Despite all my best endeavours by the time I was postnatal with my second child “sneeze wees” were a regular occurrence. If I felt one coming I could “brace myself” and stop it but if I was crouching or not paying attention it would still happen.

As I reflect now, having taught specialist pregnancy and postnatal yoga and becoming pretty fascinated by all things related to women’s bodies, I can see that they were not just “ the weight of the baby” or a lack of Kegel vigilance on my part. Like a lot of women when I eventually saw a pelvic floor physio (hint - sooner rather than later is a good idea!) it was actually my inability to relax and release that was contributing to the issue. My life was busy, my job was stressful, I was looking to move house, I wanted to be the perfect mother, a good wife. The idea of actively slowing down and listening to my body never occurred to me. Perhaps this was my body’s way of communicating with me that I was at full capacity and needed to make space? Maybe adding more tension to an already stressed system wasn’t actually helpful.

As a new mum, yoga finally gave me some space. I truly believe yoga is uniquely positioned to support women and birthing people during this transitional time. Intentionally slowing down and really listening to our bodies, our hearts and minds is life changing. Finding calm and resetting the nervous system through gentle intuitive movements (asana), breathwork (pranayama) or guided relaxation (yoga nidra and savasana) - you will find something that works for you. In a world that tells you to “do more” and “try harder”, you are always welcome just as you are. This practice not only helps you to de-stress but it actively gives you an opportunity to practice tools to use for labour and during the challenging moments of parenthood.

In my class, we bring awareness to the pelvic floor and explore our range of motion there with a focus on “letting go” so we can birth with trust and confidence.

If you want to find out for yourself then join me for :

Pregnancy Yoga 12-1pm Monday starting 15th June - 6th July

£16 drop in or £50 for 4 sessions

Or start reconnecting with your body and healing after birth whilst bonding with your baby

Mum & Baby Yoga Monday 1.30-2.30pm until 6th July

£16 drop in or £60 for 5 sessions

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