By Melanie Kramer, RYT 200
Two years ago I was in a pretty low place. After having two kids in two years, both through necessary C-sections, my body was not strong. My mind was riddled with post-partum anxiety and the daily stress of working full-time and being a mom to two kids under two was getting to me.
I got help for my post-partum anxiety, but let’s be honest, sleep was a precious commodity that just wasn’t available to me with two small children. I needed an outlet. I had isolated myself with my work from home job and my two little ones with various constant needs. I needed to get out of the house and out of my head.
Returning to a workout routine outside of my home felt like a mountain I wasn’t ready to climb. Still craving that mind and body strength I decided to inch up that mountain and took a beginner’s class at yoga studio very near my home. It was tough. I couldn’t hold a plank at all, or even a down dog for very long. The encouragement from the teacher was great and she didn’t push me, but gave me the space I needed to grow into a practice that worked for me. I kept my knees on the ground during planks, I used props to help my body better fit into proper alignment and I kept coming back for more.
The difficulty of trying to get my body to try new things combined with deep breathing in and out of the poses began to work wonders on my anxiety-riddled brain. So I kept coming back for more. And I kept coming back.
Two years later my anxiety is manageable. I can feel it coming on and am sometimes able to manage it with breath and exercise. My body feels strong and able to do things I never thought I would do again. Most of all, some of the poses I’ve been able to reach like headstand, tripod and backbends, bring back an almost childlike feeling that gives me tremendous joy.
Becoming a registered yoga teacher and being able to teach a weekly class inside the Uncharted Community felt like the next natural step for sharing the joy and community I was able to find.
My hope for you is to experience that strength for your mind and your body. I don’t want you to push yourself to injury. There are modifications and props available to help you reach the level you want to reach. You don’t need to have a headstand, or go into plow pose – my only hope for you through our weekly yoga classes is that you feel calm, comfortable and are able to get out of your head for a little bit each week. All you need to do is start where you are.
Uncharted Yoga Classes are held on Thursdays at 6:30 am Eastern Time on our Zoom platform. To sign up for an Uncharted Membership and attend weekly yoga classes, join our Coffee Club Chat, Culture Club, Book Club and more register here.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Unchartedvet.com editorial team.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Melanie Kramer is a registered yoga teacher. She teaches online and in the Little Rock, AR area. She is also the editorial director for Dr.AndyRoark.com and the director of live events for Uncharted Veterinary Conference.
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