Yoga means to unite, to join together. To be in a state of yoga is to be whole, to have all of the layers of ourselves including body, mind and spirit connected. The birthing process when not interrupted is a yogic experience by nature. Contrary to our culture’s popular belief system that birth is something to be endured, birth is a gift that women are given for deep spiritual awakening. Women are “reborn” themselves as they birth their babies. This is intentional, this awakening is necessary so that the baby has a strong foundation of a fully integrated mother connected to herself, her baby and the universe.  

Yoga allows for opposites to be held in the same space at the same time in the body, mind and spirit -- just like birth. In the physical body there is the rise and fall of the breath, the oscillation between pleasure and pain, action and stillness. In the mind there is both wisdom and fear, exhilaration and despair, control and surrender. Spiritually, we go deep within, beyond the physical body and the mind, to our core where the energy that animates all life exists. It is here that we are infinite, one with the universe and all its knowledge and power. When this inward journey is not able to fully unfold, there is fragmentation and an inability to reach the innermost parts of ourselves where the knowledge of how to give birth resides.

In our culture birth has lost its spiritual significance – a good birth outcome deals only with the physical body of mother and baby. Yoga views the Self as consisting of five bodies, not one. These layers of Self described as the “koshas” are the physical body, the energetic body, the mental body, the wisdom body and the spiritual body. When labor and birth are viewed from a yogic perspective, a good birth outcome must take into account the whole Self. The mother’s mental, emotional and spiritual well-being are just as intimately connected to the well-being of her baby as her physical body is. In this context labor and birth makes sense, a powerful process created for the experience of union and divine inspiration.  

Because birth is the practice of yoga, yoga practice is the ideal way to prepare for birth. Through asana (poses), meditation, relaxation and guided imagery yoga seeks to work with each kosha, revealing where difficulties might lie. For the physical and energetic bodies, yoga keeps the body strong and flexible increasing pranic energy into each and every cell of mother and baby. By cultivating mindfulness, yoga helps to quiet the fluctuations of the mind and process emotions uncovering wisdom and intuition. Finally, when the body is open and the mind is still the spirit soars with endless possibility.

Carrie Parker Gastelu is a New York/New Jersey based Yoga Instructor specializing in prenatal yoga. She conducts group classes, workshops and teacher trainings and is currently working towards certification as a childbirth educator with Birth Works. Carrie is also mother to Sierra Rose, after a yoga-filled pregnancy and beautiful birth! For more information on prenatal yoga teacher training this September contact Carriepark@aol.com.

Carrie Parker Gastelu