The Art of Healing

The Art of Healing
Written by Sarah Eckstein
Exactly one year ago I gave birth to my son. I had no idea what I was in for; the lack
of sleep, the physical demands of caring for a baby, and the daily fears that come
with becoming a new parent. I was lucky enough to have a pretty good pregnancy
and was able to stay active and continue my yoga practice to the end. I figured once
the baby arrived, I’d snap back within a few weeks. Boy, was I wrong!
Every woman’s post-partum journey is different, but the high expectations that we
(and others) put on ourselves can be universal. Our bodies go through a tremendous
amount of healing in a relatively short time; something I never thought much about.
I made so many assumptions about being a new mom and none of them had
anything to do with what I would need to heal.
Setting goals can be tricky. For many, it’s helpful to set goals, but missing
expectations can lead to disappointment and being too hard on yourself. There are
so many things outside of your control that being too rigid can derail your
confidence. Don’t let expectations rob you of the joy of these precious moments. You
can always press the reset button!
Finding peace is essential to progress. My body doesn’t look the same as it did
before my son was born, but my body has finally healed. I am healthy, but I didn’t go
“back” to what I was. I’m a new, different and stronger person than I was before. I
don’t even want to go back. For me, it’s about taking steps forward as the new me.
What’s a healing process for one person may not be what you need. From the
moment you announce you’re expecting, you become inundated with advice (mostly
well-intentioned). But let’s be honest, it can be overwhelming. Parsing out what’s
important can feel impossible. This is the time to be a bit selfish and listen to your
inner voice. Each time you can stay in tune with your own body and listen to what it
needs is progress. You are getting better and stronger!
Like most things in life, there is no single size for everyone. Listen to your intuitions
and just be you!