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postpartum fitness

RIMYI Experiences Yoga

The Boring Yoga Class I Didn’t Know I Needed

February 4, 2025
At Tipu Sultan's summer palace.

Most of my practice is accessible now. I miss taking yoga photos everywhere I go and am consciously trying to do it again. It used to be fun.

It was Ratha Saptami today, the day when yoga students and teachers honor the Sun god with (usually) 108 repetitions of the Surya Namaskar.  Lately my days have been a balancing act between motherhood duties (in the absence of a permanent nanny), work and a workout (perhaps a workin is in order).  However, I managed to put together a program to pay homage to the Sun God in the hopes that he continues to shine his benevolent light on us.

After the session, I was scheduled to attend my regular RIMYI class.  The Tuesday morning class was the only one that fit into my schedule.  TBH, I’m not too thrilled about it.  I’ve attended the teacher’s classes before, and have never been able to connect with her.  But I didn’t really have much of a choice so every Tuesday I find myself using every ounce of discipline I’ve cultivated over the years just to make it to savasana.  Today it was different though, today that boring yoga class was one I didn’t know I needed.

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Books Postpartum Pregnancy/Parenting Notes

My Postnatal Repletion

June 5, 2024
Many women swear by ajwain water and silver glasses. It tastes good!

Many women swear by ajwain water and silver glasses. It tastes good!

The strangeness of postpartum isn’t written about enough.  There are few books about the state of new motherhood.  It’s as though the mother is pushed into oblivion by mountains of dirty diapers and midnight feedings.  No one talks about learning to inhabit the postnatal body and mind.  A mind that is usually bewildered.  A body whose contours are unfamiliar.  A depleted body.  In need of postnatal repletion.

I recently read ‘The Postnatal Depletion Cure‘ by Dr. Oscar Serrallach.  In it he describes postnatal depletion, and validates the millions of women struggling to find themselves postpartum.  Postpartum depletion comprises all the symptoms a woman experiences post delivery, such as the change in sleep cycle, the psychological strain and the emotional disturbances, social isolation and the hormonal changes.  He argues that the postnatal body is nutritionally depleted, especially if the mother is breastfeeding.  This depletion combined with a lack of sleep and the expectation that a woman seamlessly slip into her new role contribute to women experiencing long-term health problems even years after birthing their babies.  He suggests post delivery women focus on postnatal repletion.

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