Interview with MOMazing - The Mama Yoga Love Mag

We interviewed the lovely Kathrin from MOMazing . Have you always wanted to know more about pre- and postnatal yoga? Enjoy reading!

As a yoga instructor, you also lead prenatal and postnatal yoga classes. What's special about pregnancy yoga, and how exactly can expectant mothers use it to prepare for the upcoming birth?

Teaching pregnancy yoga is a labor of love for me, because asanas, pranayama, and meditation have reliably and effectively accompanied me through all the ups and downs of my two pregnancies. Prenatal yoga is about shifting from thinking to feeling and connecting with the little soul within you, your intuition, and your breath. Invigorating exercises also help strengthen the body, release tension, and thus prepare physically and mentally for birth and the great act of letting go. Giving yourself and your baby space during pregnancy and internalizing the practice of staying with your breath—come what may—is a valuable tool for birth.

And on the subject of postnatal recovery: Why is exercise, especially yoga, so important for new mothers?

As a new mom, you're faced with an incredible amount of stress: Hormones are on a rollercoaster, the needs of a little human being literally want to be met, and your body feels completely different than it did before pregnancy. Postnatal yoga is all about tough foundational work, namely strengthening the pelvic floor. It's about getting back to your body and centering yourself. But it's also about taking care of yourself and being a good mother to yourself. A task that stays with you for the rest of your life...

Does yoga have a different meaning for you since you became a mother? 

Oh yes! Yoga has been a part of my life for years, ever since a stay at an ashram in Kerala, but as a mom, yoga is suddenly everywhere. Even changing a diaper can become a yoga exercise. What I want to say is: without children, I had much more time to focus on myself and my asana and meditation practice. Yoga classes in the most amazing studios, workshops with the most inspiring teachers, and retreats in the most beautiful places on the planet included. As a mom, I have truly embraced life as a yogini. My almost three-year-old son and my one-year-old daughter are my greatest gurus. From them, I learn to practice patience, to focus my attention on something bigger than myself, and to stay true to myself and take care of myself amidst all the storms that life with children brings.

How can yoga and meditation be integrated into everyday life with small children, even when time is limited?

Being a yoga mom makes you inventive! With small children, you naturally move around a lot on the floor. Cat-cow stretches, Balasana, or Navasana on the play mat always work. Viparita Karani on the wall also works. You're definitely always a star in the children's room or on the playground with inversions like handstands or headstands. I also swear by gratitude meditations à la Bryan Kest and yoga nidra sessions with my favorite Hamburg teacher, Eric Bennewitz of Peace Out Yoga. I recently started practicing with the online yoga studio Yogaia and am thrilled with the teachers and the jam-packed schedule. So, when the kids are asleep, my private studio opens in our living room. I'm also motivated by my fellow blogger Kaerlighed and her #fiveminutes meditation challenge for December. Most of the time, it's exactly those five minutes that make all the difference.

As a working mom, you juggle work and family every day. Do you have a personal " yogini secret" for staying relaxed?

Unfortunately, I don't have a secret recipe, but humor, serenity, and letting go of any perfectionism help me.