A women's mental health specialist introduces yoga therapy techniques
to provide solace, steadiness, and ease during the difficult stages of
pregnancy and new motherhood
Pregnancy and new motherhood are often thought of as the most joyful,
exciting, and blissful times in your life--but they can also be
difficult and overwhelming. Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs)
are the number one "complication" of birth. They not only affect the
mothers who suffer but also the families who care about and rely on
them. While there is robust support and treatment options for other
illnesses, moms who suffer emotionally are rarely acknowledged and often
handed platitudes like, "Sleep when the baby sleeps," and, "Just enjoy
every minute because it goes by so fast." This can be a lonely and
confusing place to be--suffering profound fear or sadness at a time when
your friends and family expect you to be happy, radiant, and
beatifically calm.
As a therapist supporting women's mental health and recovery from PMADs
since 2003, Suzannah Neufeld is keenly aware of the special needs of
women during pregnancy and the first year of motherhood. Synthesizing
modern psychotherapeutic research with practical yoga therapy, Neufeld
offers a compassionate, acceptance-based approach that meets women (and
their partners) wherever they are.
Awake at 3 a.m. contains short, digestible chapters that are perfect
for when you are feeling exhausted or overwhelmed. Neufeld skillfully
dismantles the myths and internal beliefs that contribute to the
suffering of new mothers and tells her own story with honesty and humor.
From breathing techniques to mindfulness exercises, the yoga practices
here are designed to fit into your life as it is now--no flexibility,
mat, special clothes, or 90-minute yoga class required.
