Words of Wisdom, From Yana Ibrahim

Beginning in February Yana Ibrahim, an ACE certified personal trainer and certified Level 1 Prenatal Yoga Teacher with MamaTree, will be joining the team of practitioners at Community Well. She has a few words of wisdom for those interested in her two classes, Postnatal Fitness Conditioning and Community Yoga. For class dates and times, please see our calendar of classes and free programs. 

Yana's Words of Wisdom:

A mother who has gone though 9 to 10 months of carrying a baby endures many physical changes in her body that need to be addressed postpartum. It is very important to give her body the time it needs to heal after the birth, which is why I would recommended starting conditioning exercises 4-6 weeks post-birth, if there are no medical complications. Benefits of postnatal conditioning exercises include reduced recovery time, increased muscle tone, strength, endurance, and energy.

Your pelvic floor muscle, which acts as a supportive hammock for your pelvic organs, gets stretched during pregnancy. If the muscles in the pelvic floor are weakened, your run the risk of incontinence that makes you pass gas more often. Strengthening the pelvic floor muscle is important before and after birth (in fact, it is important for women in any stage of their life!). 

Being in a group of mothers who are at different stages of motherhood is also very comforting, in that these women know what you are going through or have went through. Participating in a group class not only benefits you physically, but also on a mental and emotional level.

Yoga has been a great teacher for me. I started yoga more for its physical benefits, as I was injured years ago. I feel like a better version of myself when I practice. I feel less reactive to things that happen around me (I am less stressed) and I am able to appreciate the little things. Yoga is very much about your own personal growth and it is a unique experience for each person. You can participate in the same class as your friend, but each of you may leave with two very different experiences. For those who are still unsure about yoga, my advice to is to be open and try it!

Be sure to follow Yana on Instagram @yogawithyana and contact her at yana@yogawithyana.com for more information about her classes.