It was Spring 2004 when Shelly appeared in my 8AM Open Flow class after some coaxing from someone who raved about my yoga classes. Shelly’s fitness regime was pilates and weight training and had never practiced yoga and did not want to, however her friends convinced her to give my approach to yoga a try. We introduced ourselves and Shelly explained her fitness background. I told her “do what you can and leave the rest behind”. Her eyes rolled slightly …
Class began with child’s pose and then proceeded to the continuous movements linked with the ever-present breath. I watched as my new student struggled, but struggled with a glowing smile, and she seemed enthusiastic. I instructed my class to make their way to a seated position. My regular students know coming to the floor means a flow and then a float or jump to a seated position. Shelly proceeded to sit as if it was time for tea! I looked at her in horror, “what did you do”! We flow to the floor”! I exclaimed. She immediately apologized and got her first taste of what, she later shared with me, she calls "Michaelcentrics".
Over the next few months I was seeing a lot of Shelly in my classes. We would talk occasionally before or after class and she would share how the qualities of yoga were helping her. Physically she was feeling strong and light, mentally she was feeling focused and refreshed.
Suddenly, Shelly was gone from my classes. In my classes people come and go so I chalked her absence up to a fad. One day I saw Shelly walking through downtown Princeton with her young son Luke. Of course, I asked her where she had been. After some coaxing Shelly told me that she was happily six weeks pregnant but was apprehensive about practicing yoga, missed it and wondered what could be done? Coincidentally, I had just finished pre-natal yoga training, but I really did not feel comfortable with teaching pre-natal classes.
Shelly said it was difficult for her to make my regularly scheduled classes and wondered if we could try some private classes at a more convenient time for her and her friends. She convinced me to give it a try.
I taught my class with modifications for Shelly of what to do and what not to do. I instructed her to avoid extreme twists, eliminate all backbends and to not lie on her back for extended periods of time. I would place a bolster under her thighs for each cobra pose as they arrived. I allowed her the opportunity to work within the guidelines, but also realizing she needed to really tune into herself and work with what she was feeling.
As the weeks progressed Shelly and her friends continued a regimen of yoga practice with me twice per week. The encouragement of Shelly's friends and me allowed her smile to glow even brighter during her pregnancy. I realized something special was happening and that this woman had also placed her trust in me. I needed to take a breath.
The weeks were progressing and I studied books like "Yoga for Pregnancy: Ninety-Two Safe, Gentle Stretches Appropriate for Pregnant Women & New Mothers", "Prenatal Yoga and Natural Childbirth”’, to Yoga for Healthy Bones", to "A Woman's Guide - Ashtanga Yoga for Women". I was learning things that are relevant to yoga and pregnancy. How a hip opener can open areas of the pelvis, how many simple poses are often overlooked and can ease the stress on the spine during child bearing times.
We would practice cobra pose with a bolster under her thighs to open her heart and shoulders and spine, grasshopper pose we used with a bolster to alleviate spinal discomfort; two poses of many which were modified, some needed no modifications at all. Many different prananayams (breathing techniques) were explored to open up Shelly’s heart and lungs and keep her immune system fully functional. We started with Nadi Shuddhi Pranayam (alternate nostril breathing) a breathing technique which purifies the blood. When such purified blood is supplied to all the organs, their efficiency increases in turn increasing the total efficiency of the circulatory and immune system. This also causes good effects on the internal organs. We went deeper into Ujjayi Pranayama (victorious breath) which has therapeutic applications, especially useful in insomnia, tensions, and heart opening.
Shelly's due date was January 8th. During the holidays
the group and I continued our yoga schedule, fitting
classes in during the holiday rush. New Years Eve was
approaching and Shelly requested if they could have
a last class for 2006. I was quite adamant about taking
New Year's Eve off from teaching to revel in some holiday
festivities myself.
Shelly asked if we could meet early in the day. After some coaxing I finally agreed to have a class at noon. The class was moving along as usual and then half way through a standing sequence Shelly had asked how long they had been standing thus far. I replied "about 20 minutes". Shelly continued on with class, as did I, watching her closely. During the final relaxation Shelly rolled up to a seated position and said she must go. Her labor had begun. Phone calls were then made to Shelly's husband and Dr. and she was brought straight to Princeton Medical Center.
Baby Anne Atkinson was born at 12:03AM January 1st, 2007. As reported in the Princeton Packet, Anne was the first baby born at Princeton Medical Center for 2007 and the first baby in Mercer County.
It may be some time before she can get into a down dog, but Baby Anne had the flow before she even knew it!
Shelly & Anne Atkinson
I honor that place in motherhood where the whole Universe resides. When mother is in that place with child, there is only one.
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