By Teanna Gentry

Letting Go: Finding Movement & Peace in Pregnancy

For as long as I can remember I have been the type of person that loves control. Controlling what I put into my body for fuel, how I

any other stage of my life. Daily I have had to call upon and remember the promises of my value and worth and practice presence.

I am loved, I am accepted, I am beautiful, I am enough.

Remembering and dwelling on these promis- es or mantras have been huge for me during my first and second pregnancy. Practicing yoga, or staying active and moving in general in pregnancy is not an easy thing. Getting myself to move in some way everyday has not only given me a place to let go and accept myself, but also has alleviated much of the physical stressors brought onto the body by growing a little human being.

Continuing to practice & move!

The biggest benefit of prenatal yoga or stay- ing active in pregnancy is learning to let go! Going through pregnancy and its myri- ad of physical and hormonal changes can be exhausting. Natural worries may emerge about your babys health, and the imminent transition to parenting can be stressful. There are so many reasons to practice prenatal yoga, and I have summarized some below.

Benefits specific to Prenatal Yoga

• Develops stamina and strength
• Balance
• Relieves tension in the lower back, hips,

chest, neck, and shoulders • Calms the nervous system • Preparation for labor
• Connection with baby
• Increases circulation
• Breathwork practice

No matter where you are in your yoga practice or fitness level, pregnancy will change the way your body moves and responds activity. My favorite thing to remember is that my body was made to carry and birth a baby and that yoga is one way I have found that I can contin- ue to move, breathe, and feel all of the chang- es my body is making on the mat.

Try this!

Warrior 2 strengthens the muscles that sup- port your joints at the hips. This is particu- larly important during pregnancy, since relax- in—a pregnancy hormone that relaxes your connective tissue—makes your joints less stable. Plus, the powerful nature of the pose will encourage feelings of strength and con-

fidence. Tip: Position your front leg so that your knee, second toe, and hip are in a line, which reduces pressure on your front knee.

Meditate!

Try breathing deeply in and out for a few min- utes with your eyes closed. Send your breath to the baby that is growing inside you. Think about the journey you will have together as mother and child....become empowered, feel loved, and safe. Motherhood is another part of this beautiful life, and I am finding strength in it all for the journey ahead.

Teanna Gentry is a health and wellness guru from the Pacific Northwest who has a passion for helping people find freedom in movement. She was an all conference Track and Field athlete at Eastern Washington University from 2003-2007 and has since coached and trained athletes and clients of all ages in the greater Puget Sound area in running, yoga, speed/agility/quickness, and total wellness. Teanna is a certified yoga and barre instructor, as well as an avid lover of the outdoors. She is most often seen around Hot Feet Fitness or running around town with her husband and toddler.

exercise and presenting myself to the world in a certain way has always been a focus of mine. This kind of control can be a good thing to a point, but not when it becomes something that I base my value off of as a person. When I found out I was pregnant the first time, truth be told several thoughts came into my mind....What if I can’t work out like I used to? Will my clothes still look good on me as my body grows for the baby? Am I going to be a cute pregnant lady or one that waddles around with a look of disparity on their face? I know these are all negative thoughts that deal with self-esteem, self- worth, and whatever other “self” focused word you want to use, but I can imagine other women have felt this way too and that I am not alone. Pregnancy has taught me more about letting go of my need for control and realizing my own selfishness more than