For the month of August, this Indian mama and Yogini is our fitness-inspiration. Khushi, a young woman who lives in Uganda, recently spoke to IWB about her health transformation and overcoming postpartum depression with the power of Yoga, which she started practicing out of boredom.
2,587 Likes, 26 Comments – Khushi | INDIA 🌴 (@stardivakhushi) on Instagram: “🤰Still no baby lol. Expected due date is 24 Dec, so let’s see. One week to go (give or take). ☺️…”
A professional Yoga teacher, Khushi completed her training from Akshiyoga Shala, Rishikesh. During the interview, as we discussed her life on the Yoga mat, Khushi spoke of the asanas that helped her revive herself physically and mentally during the rough labor days and while nursing. Excerpts below:
What drew you towards Yoga?
It started some 5 years ago when I had just got married and was trying some interesting Instagram Yoga Challenges out of boredom. Until a point where I got super intrigued about yoga and wanted to learn more about it, that’s when I enrolled for yoga teacher training and there’s no stopping since then. These many years into practice and yet things changed drastically after I became a mother. Pregnancy changes your body to every bit with the addition of Partum depression that I was going through.
1,559 Likes, 10 Comments – Khushi | INDIA 🌴 (@stardivakhushi) on Instagram: “I know it’s hard mama I know it can be hard to get up everyday and have these little ones rely on…”
Up to the point that it was getting hopeless and overwhelming that I turned myself towards yoga again. I got even more depressed after I realized that my hard-earned flexibility and strength were gone despite I been practicing yoga until the day I delivered my baby girl. My SI joint pain was terrible and I couldn’t bend or fold at all or move much on my mat. It was frustrating, to be honest, but then I calmed myself and tried the best I can to be compassionate and respectful towards my body. Slowly did I start and 4 months later, I am in a much better state of physical and mental health. This really boosts my confidence.
Has your vision as a Yogini got transformed during this new journey?
I guess so. Earlier, Yoga helped me achieve some major body goals but today, my focus has totally switched to bettering my emotional health and attaining mental peace. We don’t usually address the issue of Postpartum depression among nursing women, which eventually leads to their disrupted health overall. I was lucky I knew Yoga as my escape and ultimate solution.
3,338 Likes, 49 Comments – Khushi | INDIA 🌴 (@stardivakhushi) on Instagram: “A big THANK YOU to everyone who reached out to me (regarding yesterday post). 💖 I see you and I…”
Do you prefer any particular kind of Yoga?
It depends on my energy levels. If I feel too dull, I indulge in Yin Yoga. Otherwise, it’s always an hour of Ashtanga yoga or Vinyasa sessions.
What changes have you been observing since you began daily yoga practice?
On the spiritual level, I’ve become a much stable, calm and patience of a person. Physically, I feel stronger than ever as I witnessed my body doing some wonderful Yoga moves during the pregnancy period. I could even travel during my 6 and 7, and in the first week of 9 month without inviting any health issues. That’s unusual, right? In fact, I remember hosting Instagram Yoga challenges while I was in my last trimester. Today, I can confidently say that it was Yoga because of which I could enjoy a healthy pregnancy and delivery experience.
667 Likes, 9 Comments – Khushi | INDIA 🌴 (@stardivakhushi) on Instagram: “When I started yoga 2.5 months postpartum while going through #postpartumdepression, it wasn’t a…”
Why do you think pregnant women usually feel intimidated by Yoga?
Probably because they’re too afraid to perform those complex asanas! The trick is to fold & bend as much as you can, and not compete with the expert Yoga Gurus. I have got a lot of information on Dos & Don’ts on my Instagram page. In short, if you’ve never practiced yoga before getting pregnant, be extremely gentle to your body and ask your doctor before incorporating new exercises because every pregnancy is different. While some of us are asked to be on a complete bed-rest, others manage to pull it off till the last day of their labor.
Were you ever advised to not go overboard with your practice? Also, which asanas do you suggest to pregnant women?
I was told many things but I kept myself educated on the topic. I was aware of the fact that resting during the first trimester is absolutely important as the chances of miscarriage are high. Once you move to the next trimester, you can start with 10 to 30 minutes of walking, only if your medical reports are positive. For beginner level yogis, five rounds of Suryanamaskara are good enough. It’d be a great help if you can get a Prenatal yoga teacher to guide you through it but if not, YouTube is a great help, too.
If you’re already into Yoga, try including Pranayama like Ujjayi and Nadi Shodhna into your daily practice. These exercises help keep you calm during the hormonal changes. Also, never do any breathing retention asanas.
Anything specific for nursing mothers?
Yes! I’d suggest you to wait at least a month or two to get back to your Yoga journey. Let the stitches be healed completely, be it episiotomy or surgical stitches. I, for one, couldn’t start any sooner as I was also going through postpartum depression along with dealing with SI Joint Dysfunction where my left hip used to pain terribly. It occurred during the delivery process and seven months later, I’m still dealing with it. However, once the stitches are all healed, your physical and mental health has gotten much better and you think you’re ready to take on some physical activities, that’s about the right time.
We like that you don’t hide or photoshop your stretchmarks on social media. What do you have to say about it?
Ah, thank you! I think my stretch marks tell my story to the world, don’t they for every pregnant woman? I wear my pregnancy-marks proudly as they remind me of how fortunate I am to birth a human.
4,301 Likes, 66 Comments – Khushi | INDIA 🌴 (@stardivakhushi) on Instagram: “Good morning my loves! Apology I couldn’t post last night.I was down after 4 severe vomiting…”
What’s your message on body-positivity?
I believe that body-positivity and self-love are about loving yourself enough to improve yourself. Just claiming to be body-positive and still feeding the body junk food consistently doesn’t explain real love. It’s when you put the concrete efforts to change your destructive habits is what justifies what you say. Indeed, embrace your body as it is, acknowledge it and then work from there. Don’t be too hard on yourself but be disciplined enough to help it live longer.
3,080 Likes, 54 Comments – Khushi | INDIA 🌴 (@stardivakhushi) on Instagram: “🌎Day 3 of | #MotherEarthMothers | 🌺Theme: Wisdom 🌒Pose: Crescent Moon Pose. 🌼Today’s Affirmation:…”
Lastly, do you want to burst any myth regarding Yogis & Yoginis?
I don’t know, is there any? Though one thing I used to wonder while looking at the Yogis’ pictures was that yoga seems to be for flexible and strong people and I didn’t consider myself neither of it. Now four and half years into the practice, all I can tell you is it’s for every BODY, every kind of body. It’s the consistency to show up every day that makes you flexible and strong enough to lift your entire body on your hands. What we don’t see in those yoga pictures are the amount of time, efforts, discipline, and consistency it takes to get into those poses. So, start from where you are and stay consistent. There’s no magic pill, it’s all just the practice.