Going to a class, or even grabbing time for a stretch at home, can soothe stresses, writes Adrienne Murphy.
Every mother knows that alongside the joy a baby brings come demands that can leave us burnt out and depleted or even depressed. Pregnancy and birth have taken a dramatic toll on our bodies. We feel like putting our feet up and doing nothing, but instead we must contend with round-the-clock responsibility, hard work, sleep deprivation and the huge lifestyle changes that parenthood brings.
How to stay sane? One option is to visit the Elbowroom, a new yoga and massage studio in a beautifully renovated warehouse in Stoneybatter, in north Dublin. Here mothers can enjoy yoga and baby massage or nurture themselves with a range of de-stressing therapies in a supportive community atmosphere, all with their babies and older children in tow.
"So often new mums are doing nothing for themselves, just giving and not receiving," says Lisa Wilkinson, the Elbowroom's owner, who has a three-month-old daughter. "The Elbowroom offers mothers a chance to step back and switch off. It's just so important to be able to do that. Yoga is great for giving you a quick boost of energy. Half an hour of deep relaxation is worth five hours' sleep. It gives you more tools for coping."
The Elbowroom's mother-and-baby yoga class, on Wednesday mornings, is followed by a free baby-massage class. On Friday mornings mothers can go to a post-natal Pilates class, which targets the abdomen, back and pelvic floor, the areas most weakened by pregnancy and childbirth, then pamper themselves with reflexology, aromatherapy, remedial and deep-tissue massage, or amatsu, a Japanese form of osteopathy.
"Because you can bring your children with you, you can treat yourself at the Elbowroom without the added burden of childcare costs," says Wilkinson, who is also a massage therapist and yoga teacher. "Otherwise the logistics of dropping off a baby to go for your massage might leave you as stressed out as you were when you started."
The babies at the Elbowroom tend to be so interested in what's going on that their mothers can get quite a lot of exercise done. A few helpers are usually around to jiggle a fussing baby while you finish your massage, and the mothers help each other out too. The massage and yoga exercises that engage directly with your baby are a great way to spend chunks of time just playing together, knowing you won't be disturbed by phone calls or the need to make dinner and put on a wash.
There are health benefits for the babies, too: their senses and circulation are stimulated and their co-ordination is encouraged as their bodies are gently stretched and relaxed. Many mothers report improvements in their babies' sleep patterns and digestion. And because of the Elbowroom's community ethos, the prices for mother-and-baby yoga, Pilates and massage are deliberately low.
Dee O'Rourke, another teacher of mum-and-baby yoga at the Elbowroom, believes the social aspect of the class is vital. "Mothers looking after babies are often very isolated. In my classes I like making time to talk, so that women can share birth stories or problems, exchange information or just complain to each other. It can be a way to make new friends. Especially for first-time mothers, it's important to understand that you're not the only one." After classes, clients are encouraged to hang around, chat and drink tea, and for lonely mothers this can be as nurturing as the yoga.
Some mothers may be inhibited from trying post-natal yoga at home, because they think that to reap the benefits they need to block off a period when they won't be disturbed. "Mothers just don't get that kind of time," says O'Rourke, "but there's lots of poses you can do with your baby. If you're at home you can stretch against the cooker or sink. Yoga breathing is excellent for stress, and there's a breath you can do to release anger. Even 10 minutes is beneficial - you don't have to put an hour aside."
For more details of classes, call 01-6779859 or visit www.the-elbowroom.com
Dee O'Rourke (086-4000851) teaches ante- and post-natal yoga in central and south Dublin