Lucy Bremner, mother of Siena and Lawrence, yoga teacher, holistic health practioner and retreat founder was interviewed by Sara Rossi yoga teacher and writer from Costa Rica.
What does 'birthing consciously' mean to you?
It means being in touch with my body and my soul and that of my unborn child, connecting with my higher self and my physical body to guide me while giving birth. This conscious connection helps the unborn child begin the process of moving from the womb (the universe) down the cervix into the physical world.
According to you, what is the connection between yoga and giving birth? What was your experience?
Yoga's techniques helped me in a number of ways. They helped me to prepare for the birth through the practice of asana, pranayama, meditation/ visualization and relaxation.
While giving birth, yoga helped me with my breathing and the asanas I practiced while in labour made me more in control of my body, giving birth naturally and actively without using drugs of any sort. Using asanas and pranayama while in labour & experiencing strong contractions was a real help.
And ultimately yoga's meditation and spiritual teachings helped me detach from the discomfort or pain that comes with labour and birth and to let go and trust the force of nature, therefore my child could leave the womb and enter the world naturally and as stress free as possible.
Giving birth naturally made me aware we are part of the animal kingdom, but that we are also gifted with a spiritual awareness and conciousness. If you tune into this higher conciousness, as well as being connected to the earth, it can guide you through your labour and birth
For me giving birth was the most challenging, spiritual and most beautiful experience of my life and yoga helped me in so many and would recommend yoga to any mother-to-be, pre and post natal.