Just a reminder that Monday 11th February is a public holiday and the classes are as follows:

9:30am & 5:45pm ONLY (No 7:30pm class)

See you on the mat yogis!

BORN 25/09/12 and weighing 7.4lb

So our little man is finally here – yep it’s a boy! He has now been in this great big world for 2 and a half weeks and he is growing like a champion.

The last few weeks of my pregnancy were pretty uneventful and as my due date came and went I started to feel as though I would always be pregnant! I continued my yoga practice until about a week and a half before Darcy was born. I would have loved to have practiced my yoga more, however I also had to listen to my body and as I was still at the studio most days and nights I had to rest in between. Especially in that last week, I started to physically rest up and was mentally preparing myself to get ready for a marathon. Giving birth is long, hard work. They don’t call it labour for no reason! Thankfully, I had pre-cooked some meals a few weeks earlier and so they were readily available in our freezer. Plus, we have the most amazing friends (Sarah and Scott cooked Ben and I dinner 3 nights in a row!)

So I felt as prepared as I could be to go through the birthing experience. I was going into it with an open mind about how to do it as the whole event is such an unknown. I often thought about how long it would go for, or how high my pain threshold would be. All these questions got thrown around in my head on a regular basis, but I always came back with the same conclusion – just go with the flow and stay in the present. There was no point thinking about what would happen in the future, I had to continually stay focused on the present moment.

In the end the birth was the most incredible experience of both mine and Ben’s lives. It ended up going for 9 hours and I was able to use only strong pranayama breathing for pain relief from beginning to end. When Darcy finally entered the world and put on my chest, the most amazing feeling of lightness washed over me. I was beyond thrilled to finally be holding our little boy and we couldn’t believe how perfect he was. He hardly even cried – just eyes wide open and looking around taking everything in. He had a full head of dark hair (just like his daddy!) and his hair and nails were so long! He definitely looks like a mix between me and Ben. We think he has my nose, lips and profile, but definitely Ben’s eyes, eyebrows and hair. He truly is the most perfect little being and now we simply cannot stop staring at him. Seriously, the other day I just watched him for half an hour while he slept….and we wonder where the day goes!

I can honestly say that yoga helped me in so many ways through the birth. From being able to control my breathing to maintaining a focused mind. With mind and body working together I felt I was able to get on top of the pain and have a very positive experience. Ben was an amazing birth partner and I think that was the key to having such a smooth labour. He was supportive and encouraging and was with me the entire time. It was just as much his experience as it was mine. When our doctor finally came in to deliver Darcy I just remember her saying “everyone should do yoga!” because Ben and I were so focused and in control. In the end she didn’t have to do anything and she literally stood in the corner until it was time for Darcy to be delivered.

If I had one piece of advice for mummies-to-be? Exercise during pregnancy! It doesn’t have to be Bikram yoga, any sort of low impact exercise is going to help you not only physically, but also mentally. Make sure you find somewhere in the local community that offers classes specifically for pregnancy to ensure you are performing exercises that are gentle and safe for both you and bub. I am so grateful for having my yoga practice throughout my pregnancy and I truly believe it allowed me to have a happy and healthy pregnancy, birth and baby.

We are so blissfully happy in our new role as parents and we can’t wait to watch Darcy grow and develop into a beautiful little person. Would I do it again? Absolutely! But perhaps in a few years…. one step at a time!

Wow !!!!  Ben it’s time to change his nappy………

I think I have officially started to waddle instead of walk. Baby Korkmaz is growing steadily and still moving around plenty. In fact, at our scan 3 weeks ago the doctor told us it was growing so well that it was going to be a good 9 pounds when it was born. The doctor also said that whatever I am doing is great for the baby….but maybe stop?? So much goodness from the yoga! Our last scan however looked like it may be more in the low 8 pounds. We’ll just have to wait and see….
I’ve now had to stop teaching for a while as I keep running out of breath towards the end of class.  I love teaching so much so it will be a bit different for me to take a break for the next few months. But at least it means I can practice a little more before delivery day. I’m trying to get in at least 3 times per week. In class on Sunday arvo there was no room in the back row (which is where I’ve been putting myself during the pregnancy so I don’t distract anyone else.) Only the front row was available! So I put myself right up there on the right-hand side. It made me so much more focussed than I have been in a long time.
During standing bow pulling pose I consciously made the decision NOT to fall out of the posture. I was actually saying a little mantra to myself…. “If I can do this, I can give birth!” Haha….see? Mind over matter! Oh, and in the first set, I didn’t fall!
I am definitely getting a little bit more tired as the weeks go on. It is tiring work growing a person! So I just have to make sure I have a little rest each day between being at the studio in the mornings and the evenings. Luckily, we have wonderful teachers at Bikram Yoga Studio New Town who make it so easy for me to take the rest time when I need it. Sarah and Talitha have been so wonderful and we feel very blessed to have them as part of our teaching team.
So, now I’m just waiting and waiting for our little person to make its first appearance. Hopefully it doesn’t come too early as both my mum and Ben’s parents are overseas until the second week of September. Ben’s mum and dad are in Lebanon visiting family and my mum is in Europe with 4 of my little brothers and sister. They all look like they’re having a wonderful time….I can’t look at any more photos of them eating icecream!! So if they are reading this I hope they all bring us back some delicious goodies…..maybe not too many though as the other night I went to the shops to get some healthy vegies for my dinner – and came out with just a box of chocolate cereal! Who knew something with the word “bombs” in its name could provide oneself with such a sense of nutrition satisfaction….
Speaking of delicious, my sister Jessica who lives in London always refers to children in relation to food! She is studying midwifery and works as a nanny and she just thinks that all children are “delicious!” So she has given me instructions not to have this baby until it is fully “cooked and delectable.” However, she also wants to be called Auntie JRo (her middle name is Rose)…hmmmmm.
Ok baby, we’re ready when you are!