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Challenging read

I have just finished reading the September issue of OM. It was an emotional

read for me. I found the article about connecting with the unborn child

fascinating and inspirational.

What I’d like to thank you for is including the beautiful articles about banishing

anxiety with yoga and self-help for difficult times in the issue dedicated to pregnancy

and children. I thought it was very appropriate and considerate of you.

We’ve been trying for a baby for over two years during which I had five miscarriages,

which were a harrowing experience. Pregnancy is a difficult topic for me. There is still

hope - there’s always hope - but there is a lot of sadness and anxiety too.

Needless to say, yoga has been an amazing help through the difficult times. I’m sure,

sadly, many of your readers would have had similar experiences and would identify

with my feelings.

Anonymous, by email

OM Letters, Prime Impact Events & Media,

Park House, The Business Centre, Earls Colne

Business Park, Colchester CO6 2NS

om beginnings

Some like it hot
I was really happy to see that you
included lots of information on hot
yoga in your last (October) issue. Hot yoga -
specifically Bikram Yoga - is how I first got into
yoga and it has been life changing for me. I
appreciate it may not be for everyone, but for me it
has been unbelievable how it has helped shape my
life, and in a much healthier way. Great to see so
many studios out there doing so many wonderful
things as well. Lots of places for me to try and visit!
Maddie, by email

Cover style
I just want to say how beautiful your
magazine looks. I always love your
front covers. I do know yoga is not about what
things look like, but that doesn’t mean things can’t
still be beautiful. I buy OM because of the content

• it is a complete all-round yoga read - but I also
  appreciate how lovely it always looks as well. It’s a
  great celebration of our yoga community on every
  level. Thank you.
  Catherine, by email

Liquid
yoga
Hi OM, I saw
this while out shopping
in TK Maxx (as you do!).
Thought I’d take a little pic
and send to you. Needless
to say I bought one too!
Lisa, by email

72

Finding ways to connect with your infant prior to birth. By Louise Palmer-Masterton

Connecting with

your unborn child

Pregnancy & Children: Special Report

http://www.pommama.com

BRINGING

PREGNANCY YOGA

TO YOU

I

n 2006 I spent some one-one tLeboyer, author of the seminal texime with Frederick t ‘Birth Without

violence’, his 1974 book that changobstetric practice.Leboyer, who passed away this year ated the face of the

age of 98, was a former obstetrieschewed modern obstetric practiccian who ultimately e and turned to

writing the story of birth from this book he painted the infant’s vfrom the quiet, calm womb into brighthe child’s perspective. In iew of birth - coming lights, noise,

stress and separation (when immedchild would be taken from its mother to be prodded iately after birth the

and ‘tested’).mother, procedures, hospitals – everythBefore this, childbirth had always been about the ing but the

infant. Whilst his book was initiaobstetricians, midwives and motlly opposed by fellow hers themselves did

take notice, and slowly things began now commonplace that deliverplaces and infants are allowed to resty rooms are quiet, low lit to change. It is with their mothers

immediately after birth. These directly attributed to Leboyer’s booBack to my meeting with Leboyer.and other changes can be k. It was even more

fortunate for me that at the timmyself five months pregnant, and be of our meeting I was ecause of this he

took me under his wing, desat the time.He taught me something which wepite being in his late eighties nt on to become the

basis of what we now teach ayoga, trainings, and our active birtHe said: “Every day, from when t Camyoga in pregnancy h workshops.you are six months

pregnant, take 15 mins out of youplace to sit and meditate. Once you ar day. Find a quiet re settled and

focused, take your attentionall of your focus to your baby. Thenthat you are there, and that to your baby. Really bring you are listening. Then you let your baby know

simply spend some time ‘listeninHe told me that if I did this my bag’ to your baby.”by would know me,

and be connected to me, and feelbeing born. And guess what? She dscarcely cried since. She was the mo safe and not cry when id not, and she has st chilled, relaxed

baby who has grown into a remarI believe it is first the connecting, then the listening kable child (now 10).

that is key to this process. Thpregnancy we are trying to coeasier for ourselves. Listening puts the ink about it: almost all of ntrol things, make them infant centre

stage, and makes the motherfrom the infant which is of course cruc willing to take direction ial for childbirth –

after all, infants know how to bget in the way of that. e born, it is often us that

Louise Palmer-Masterton is thhas two daughters that were both borsound, breath and movement. e founder of Camyoga. She n at home using

Birth Without Violence by Frederifor anyone pregnant, or anyone working with pregnant ck Leboyer is a must-read

women. It is an easy read, almost likepublished by Pinter & Martin (reprinted poetry, and is 31 May 2011)

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