I started doing yoga for the first time again since college last year. About a month into my epic return to the mat <ahem>, I found I was pregnant. I kept on doing modified yoga through my third trimester. Because my birth ended in a C-Section, I am just getting back into practice about 6 months after. Mind you I wasn’t a tried and true yogi prior to pregnancy, but I held my own. I knew my body. What is could do, what it couldn’t. I felt comfortable.

Yoga after childbirth is a whole other world. Holy cats! For starters, my boobs are huge. Where exactly am I supposed to put them?!? I feel like I am spending a ridiculous amount of time tucking them in and physically moving them to one side or the other with my hands. I never had this problem pre-pregnancy. In addition to just generally getting in the way, these suckers have also impacted my balance. Anything that involves leaning forward, even ever so slightly, causes problems. I’m constantly feeling like I am about to topple over. At least my boobs will cushion the blow.

Second, twisting is now terrifying. Again, because my birth ended in a C-Section, I spent a lot of time healing. And, quite frankly, not twisting. With every twist I throw a little prayer into the air that my incision site will not come undone. This fear combined with my total lack of abdominal strength makes for some interesting posse adaptations.

To top it all off, there is also the chance that I might in fact pee my pants at any given time.

Though all of this has the potential to be a total zen kill, I’m still able to find some moments of peace on the mat. I know it will get easier as I learn to navigate my new post-baby yoga bod. Plus, yoga gives me the perfect excuse to keep wearing my postpartum recovery leggings.