[su_quote cite=”Yogini Shambhavi Chopra”]To be a Yogini is the highest spiritual goal for all women. It is the way to become one with the Goddess within and to bring her out in expression to uplift the world that is really her creation. Yet it is not an outer appearance but a state of inner energy and ecstasy that makes the Yogini. She cannot be manipulated, defined or even ever entirely known. [/su_quote]

Pregnancy is one of the most holy times in a woman’s life.  At the level of the causal body, a sacred soul contract is agreed upon between the players of this most amazing creation: mom, dad, baby and the forces of Purusha and Prakriti (Divine Masculine and Feminine).  At the moment of conception, glorious powers of creation set in motion the most wondrous events.  The sacred elements of life: Ether, Air, Fire, Water and Earth begin their cosmic dance.  As they dance, where there was once only potential, the human form begins to take shape in the womb of the mother.  A magnificent, spiritually charged, bio-energetic form begins to emerge.   A whole new mobile, holy temple grows for this soul, who said yes to the contract, to begin acting in the world of forms.

When a woman is pregnant, her soul shares her holy temple with the soul of her growing baby who draws from her essence to build a temple perfectly suited for the karma of this baby’s journey.  This is profound work at hand.  To build a temple that is strong and resilient, the materials must be of the best quality.  Every morsel of food mom eats, drop of drink she swallows, interaction she has with nature and its forms and every emotion that plays across her heart influences this quality and the outcome of the temple being built.  As a yogini, a woman draws clarity from a deep inner knowing that has been polished through her dedication to practice.   This clarity guides her into the beauty of devoted service to the creation she is nourishing.  It helps her with her convictions and choices of actions in each moment.  Choices, such as rising early in devotion to the dance of Shiva and Shakti (powers of creation) so that she nourishes her Divine union with Source.  Through practice, the yogini stills the busyness of her mind so that the whispers from her body temple guide her choices of food, exercise, rest, and whom she chooses to spend her precious time with.  Conscious living derived from a well-grounded yogic lifestyle cultivates strength and suppleness of her body and mind, as well as clarity of her actions, deeds and words.  The pregnant yogini hones her discernment and therefore clearly understands her environment and the players within it, and freely shares her love with her companions, family and friends.  She expresses enduring self-love that is unapologetic when she declares healthy boundaries to care for herself and her growing baby.  She is the Self-Actualized Tantrica with her roots reaching deep into mother Gaia for sustenance, her crown open and united with the wisdom of the cosmos, and her heart open to the human drama unfolding between the two.  She is creation itself.

The eight-limbed Ashtanga yoga path provides the wisdom of the ages to a woman who has agreed to the sacred contract of pregnancy and the journey toward motherhood.

  • The rich guidance of the Yamas and Niyamas: nonviolence, truthfulness, non-grasping, restraint, desirelessness, purity, contentment, commitment to practice, self-study and devotion to God provide her with an internal compass that will continually steer her toward the highest and clearest actions. These moral and ethical codes create her foundation and provide the stability to balance self-care with the work of mothering.
  • Prenatal Asana (Yoga Postures) practice gives her strength, suppleness, balance, endurance and sustaining peace. These rewards create ease in her body temple, thus availing her to energies that can be directed toward loftier pursuits of realizing her Dharma (life’s mission). The strength and endurance gained from regular practice translates into a resource she can draw upon in times of challenge.
  • Pratyahara (Sense Control) practice cultivates objectivity with the senses so that even the most challenging of experiences will not cause her to waiver in her state of balance. She can better remain neutral in the face of desire or aversion so that both she and her growing baby reside in a state of peace.
  • Dharana (Concentration/Contemplation) practice places her mind at her masterful command in a quiet observant state that absorbs and fully digests life’s unfolding drama. An undistracted mind is able to be present for the beauty of the temple being built within.  The yogini grows in ever greater brilliance, as she remains awake in that presence.
  • Dhyana (Meditation) practice holds her body, mind, and spirit in expansive stillness and awareness of Aham Prema (Divine Love is my true nature). Through sustaining this state of union she is able to witness the divinity of the soul connection between herself, her companion, the growing baby and the dance of Purusha and Prakriti.
  • The final outcome of this eight-limbed path is Samadhi (Spiritual Liberation). The pregnant Yogini has an amazing opportunity for dwelling in Samadhi as she holds within her a twin flame.  Two sparks of the One Source occupying her holy temple, burning with all the love of the universe.  All she has to do is turn toward the light and put the tools of the master handbook of life, yoga, into conscious action to dwell in infinite peace and joy.

The awakened yogini knows the infinite power of the creative forces at play when she spends time each day aligning her body, mind and spirit through the chanting of the Gaytri Mantra insuring a steadiness in Bhakti (devotion).

Om Bhur Bhuva Swaha

Tat Savitur Varenyam

Bhargo Devasya Deemahi

Deeyo Yo Naha Prachodayaat

Translation: We meditate on that most adorable, desirable and enchanting luster and brilliance of our Supreme Being, our Source Energy, our Collective Consciousness….who is our creator, inspiration and source of eternal Joy.  May this warm and loving Light inspire and guide our mind and open our hearts.

[su_quote cite=”Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (Amma) “] The essence of motherhood is love. That love is the very breath of life. Let us remember that real leadership is not to dominate or control, but to serve others with love and compassion.[/su_quote]

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[Photo by Jaybird- CC BY]