Uddiyana Bandha for new mums

Uddiyana Bandha for new mums

When most of us hear the term Uddiyana Bandha it conjures up thoughts of very advanced yogic awareness and practice. Something that would surely scare most of us away from trying something like this. Actually Uddiyana Bandha is an energy lock that the most inexperienced beginner yogi can try and master on the first go.

There are three basic energy locks in the yogic thinking and uddiyana bandha is one of them. Concentrate on your lower belly and notice your breathing. Take some time to witness how the lower belly falls toward the spine when you breathe out. We want to attempt to capture and maintain this hollowing out of the lower belly to activate uddiyana bandha. Then, once we have that we can work the breath up into the chest, straight through this area. Not allowing anything to reside in that area of the belly, keep it empty.

Sounds tricky but actually quite simple once we make the decision to concentrate our thoughts and energy on this. This locking of the lower belly traps in our essential energy and held for some time can actually build internal heat and cultivate vitality.

Vitality is something new mums need plenty of. Holding new babies can be tiring as can the eternal giving of energy that new mums practice. Now don’t get me wrong, this is delightful and one of the new joys of motherhood, but after some time it can be zapping on the mother’s energy. A simple practice such as uddiyana bandha can work wonders on replacing and harnessing a mothers energy.

More importantly, practiced daily and with awareness it is a very simple and profoundly effective way of reawakening the belly area and starting to strengthen the spine again after pregnancy and childbirth. This area is weakened very much by having a baby and it needs a gentle reawakening to start the process of repairing what has been stretched and used so strongly.

Start slowly, when you are breast feeding is an excellent place to start. It is something new mums do so much, all the time in fact. Find yourself and your baby on the sofa starting to feed. Instead of hunching your shoulders over your child start to draw your navel in toward the spine and lift your breath up into your chest. Notice, immediately how much your posture improves. Your shoulders will open and your spine will lengthen. Taking the pressure and stress off the back and shoulders each time you feed will make a big difference at the end of the day, believe me.

Even if you keep this awareness for just a few minutes for each feed you will slowly and surely start the process of healing the body. Our spine has been unaligned through pregnancy and child birth. There is nothing like a baby inside your body to push all your bits to different places. Uddiyana bandha is a practice that immediately aligns all your internal organs, straightens the spine and opens the heart. What more could a mother ask.

Whilst driving the car, start off, navel comes into the spine, breath moves up into the chest. Your heart will open and driving will become something far more conscious than it has been. I am sure that even if you start the drive this way there will be a marked improvement in your posture and state of mind for the rest of the drive.

Doing the dishes, same thing, start the process this way. Don’t worry if your mind wanders and you let the awareness go. Bring it back and work towards that navel moving in again and the heart lifting. Dish washing will never be so aware.

I have had two children, first one I did not have this knowledge and the crawl back to fitness was slow and agonizing. Second time around I had a new awareness and yogic experience and I have to say it was by far easier and more delightful. I could feel my body coming back into alignment and my spirits and moods were easier to control and handle.

My two children are the joy of my life but also they put a lot of strain on my physical body. Uddiyana Bandha may be difficult to pronounce but it is easy to enjoy. My body is now in the best shape of my life. Far better and healthier than before any of my children.

My yogic awareness has changed my body forever and awareness like that cannot be ignored. Try this process, just for a few minutes each day and feel the difference. Little by little you will be pleased and surprised at how quickly your tummy will begin to come in and your upper chest will love the benefits of good posture. Breast feeding is so amazing and heart opening but lets give ourselves a fighting chance at feeling good at the end of each day.

Open the heart, lengthen the spine and love your life and baby. Good luck