This topic will give you a overview of pre and postnatal anatomy medically and holistically.  In yogic terms the body is modelled on the chakras and on energy.  This section will look at the first three chakras as these relate to the pelvis and the muscles surrounding. Yogic philosophy believes the imbalance of the chakras can cause diseases.

Here is a reminder of the chakras:

The first chakra Muladhara relates directly to the pelvic floor area.

• Unconscious until conscious- women don’t come to yoga until pregnant and don’t even know the pelvic floor.n• Fight or Flight origin
• The base from which the 3 main nadis emerge, ida, pingala and shushumna nadi
• Seat of kundalini awakening
• Unites shakti to shiva (SHIVA symbolises consciousness, the masculine principle and SHAKTI symbolises the feminine principle, the activating power and energy)
• Associated with element earth, sense of smell, nose, action of excretion
• Any history of trauma can show in the muscles dis-function of this area

The second chakra Svadhishthana sits right in the bowl or centre of the pelvis.

• Swadhisthana (Sanskrit) – ‘one’s own abode’
• Supports the pelvis but also supports us knowing what we desire for our lives and for our babies lives
• Water element, silver crescent moon, sense of taste, tongue, cocreation
• 6 petals represent vrittis of affection, pitilessness, feelings of all destructiveness (addiction), delusion, disdain, suspicion.
• Associated with unconscious and emotions (water element)
• Similar to muladhara where the potential karmas lie dormant –our ability to co-create, manifest in the physical world

The third chakra Manipura right up in the solar plexes.

• Power chakra – ‘solar plexus’ between the ribs and pelvis
• Element – fire
• Self definition and ego identity, self will, personal power, autonomy,
  metabolism – ‘I am’
•  When balanced this chakra brings energy, effectiveness, non-dominating power

Knowing these chakras where they sit and how when pregnant we can be rewired essentially.  This is particularly helpful when in classes so we can create a safe environment for women to get in touch with these energy points and prepare her for motherhood by being more self aware.  We want to create non judgmental safe spaces for women where they can really get in touch with the dynamic energy changes and understand and feel comfortable with this.

Shakti is the feminine energy referring to multiple ideas. Its general definition is dynamic energy that is responsible for creation, maintenance, and destruction of the universe. It is identified as female energy because shakti is responsible for creation, as mothers are responsible for birth.