I’d also love to share with you this collection of womb wisdom and gentle healing practices from a few of my favorite and most trusted sources:

We can’t help ourselves.  We all strive for a solid core.  But, as it turns out, this common fitness goal goes beyond a six-pack and deeper than rock hard abs.  I believe you don’t need to target your abs to get to that solid core.  Curious?  Read on.

I spent 25+ years harshly judging and sabotaging myself for not looking, feeling or being good enough as is – for not being worthy or acceptable as is.  I managed anxiety and depression with the insidious cycle of restrict-control-binge (both food and exercise) that went on in secret for about 10 years.  I felt ashamed for the fear of inadequacy that I outfitted with perfectionism.  I was energetically dizzy, mentally self-conscious and physically exhausted from obsessive-compulsive coping strategies.  I experienced chronic fatigue, panic attacks and intestinal problems from being disconnected from and mistrusting of myself to the core – impulsively reaching out for guidance from those I perceived to be wiser.

 

And I bet I’m not alone, am I?  Are you with me?

The long and winding process to interrupt, understand and heal these patterns of thought and behavior as well as (re)connect with a deep and authentic sense of self/purpose/path began after college.  But it wasn’t until witnessing and grieving my mom’s death followed by navigating infertility and related hurdles to TTC at 36 that I began consistently practicing what I preach: righteous self-care versus restrictive self-control.  Life had hit me with a 1-2 punch to my body/mind/spirit that knocked me down and woke me up.  This is an unfortunate pun but it rings true: I was left with no choice but to cut the cord of relying on external, superficial or fleeting cues that I was “OK.”  Like, ahem, abs.  Here’s where the concept of an authentically solid core comes in. 

We’re born into a body in which consciousness – the human spirit – gets to reside for a single lifetime.  The physical strength and integrity of the core are correlated with our mental and spiritual well-being.  The bones, muscles, connective tissues, etc. that contain this human experience should be tended to in loving, nurturing, reinforcing and empowering ways.  If we are given the tools to do that and we choose to do the opposite, we are squandering our freedom – our personal power – our righteous and authentic sense of self.  

The deep and structural muscles of the core, to me, are the most “bodywise” entry point for restoring and reclaiming an authentic, empowered and STRONG sense of self. There is so much more depth and function to us at the core than the appearance of abs (rectus abdominis). This is especially important to keep in mind if you are currently pregnant or if you’ve recently given birth.  In both instances, the abs and their connective tissues stretch, change shape and may be inaccessible for some time by way of crunches or sit-ups. But, in both instances, you can maintain a strong core and preserve the integrity of your abs for later in postpartum recovery. You can start here if you are pregnant and here if you’re recovering after baby’s b-day.  

Now, about those “six-pack abs,” I have what might be surprising news for you: you already have them!  And targeted ab exercises alone won’t actually lead to a well-built solid core you can see and feel. But, the good news is, I’ve designed a workout called “Authentic Core” that will definitely move you in the right direction.  

Please note: If you have recently been pregnant, had a C-section or experienced any other compromise to your abs, please check with your doctor, midwife or a physical therapist before doing this workout.  

Authentic Core by BodyWiseMama

Give yourself 20 minutes for this workout.  Set up a timer on your phone or computer to keep you “on the clock” without having to keep your eyes on the clock.  There is no break in between exercises/intervals but you can take 30-60 seconds off in between each round to reset your timer, stretch and/or hydrate.  Be sure to practice diaphragmatic breathing as much as possible throughout the entire workout.  

Round 1: 60 second intervals

Round 2: 50 second intervals

Round 3: 40 second intervals

Round 4: 30 second intervals

Round 5: 20 second intervals

Lat Pull Lunge + Kick*

(optional: w/ or w/out light-to-medium dumbbells: ~3-10 lbs.)

*split time between sides

Goddess Squat Reach + Rise

(optional: w/ or w/out light-to-medium dumbbells: ~3-10 lbs.; no arm reach or calf raise)

360 Degree Leg Circles*

(optional: Dead Bug – dynamic or static)

*Circle legs towards the right for half the time then switch towards the left

Bridge Walk

(optional: Bridge Hold)

(4 small steps forward/4 small steps back)

High Plank Toe Taps or Jacks

(optional: Hover Knees above ground in Table Top)

It’s a very special edition of the BodyWiseMama Blog! 

I’m thrilled to publish this premier of a 4-part series in which I’ve curated expert guidance, recommendations and resources for optimal holistic fitness at every stage of pregnancy: 1) Fertility/TTC, 2) Pregnancy, 3) Labor & Birth, and, 4) Postpartum Recovery.  It must be stated that I wholeheartedly endorse the pros who have contributed their unique experience, expertise and empowered approach to prenatal and postpartum wellness.  I’m humbled by and grateful for their generosity of spirit and invaluable insights.  

This first part focuses on gearing up for fertility – tried and true practices, services and products that support you feeling your best in body, mind and spirit while trying to conceive (TTC).

 

All the products, services and practices below are not intended to be one-size-fits-all prescriptions.  They are, however, the most frequently recommended by real deal experts in their respective fields – from Western to Eastern Medicine, exercise to essential oils, and whole foods to homeopathy.  This guide to gearing up for fertility includes five powerful practices for holistic fitness:

 

1. Strength + Stamina
2. Nutrition + Energy
3. Bodywork + Relaxation
4. Acupuncture + Restoration
5. Essential Oils + Spiritual Elevation

STRENGTH + STAMINA

Source: Kate Jesuele, MA, CPT, R-DMT, Certified Pre/Postnatal Fitness Instructor & Health Coach, Founder of BodyWiseMama

Email: kate@bodywisemama.com  /  Social: @bodywisemama

“When I coach clients for ‘fertility fitness,” what I’m really thinking about is ‘endocrine exercise.’  More specifically: strength and conditioning for humming, happy and harmonious hormones!  When you’re trying to conceive (TTC), the way you exercise can often help or hinder your body’s readiness for pregnancy.  Current research informs us now that there are several fertility factors that are both effect and are affected by our hormones:

• Healthy Weight & Body Composition
• Regular Menstrual Cycles
• Reduced Stress
• Quality Sleep Patterns

If you are currently ovulating and timing intercourse for conception, here are my tried and true guidelines for preconception workouts that will help you: a) maintain a healthy weight, b) increase lean muscle mass, c) preserve consistency in your cycle, d) release excess energy or stress, and, e) gain more restorative sleep.  As a member of BodyWiseMama, you’ve got on demand access to a 35-minute workout that meets all of these guidelines awaiting you in the virtual studio.  Join me there now!

If you are TTC with the assistance of hormone intake or injections, IUI or IVF, please always keep your fertility specialist in the loop about the types of exercise you are conditioned for doing (i.e. your body has adapted over the course of consistent training for at least a year) to receive appropriate instructions for reducing intensity, duration, frequency and volume.  From personal experience, here are some general recommendations:

Exercising for Medically-Assisted Conception (including IUI and IVF):

• Spend most of the workout in “warmup mode” (50-60% your max rate of perceived exertion).
• Avoid twisting, deep crunching or overstretching of your abs.
• Decrease your typical load for strength training by at least 5-10 lbs. and keep your core stable and supported for all lifting.
• Choose “slow and steady” as your mantra during cardio-based workouts, like running, rowing or spinning; aim to pass the “talk test” throughout.
• LISTEN closely to your body’s signals for strain in muscles surrounding your pelvis and STOP doing whatever you were doing to cause the strain; take a few moments to let the muscles relax and then choose something else.

For those who are opting to work out from home throughout the TTC journey, here’s how to “BYO” (build your own) studio with as little as a resistance band and a yoga block.

Getting outside and into nature for workouts while TTC can be amazingly refreshing, invigorating and healing.  Even just making it a point to go for a walk through your favorite park once a week is beneficial.   I highly recommend seeking out a studio that offers class options like prenatal yoga, gentle Vinyasa, “slow flow” or belly dance at this stage of your pregnancy journey.  These types of movement have an inherent femininity and sensuality that feel so aligned with the intent of conceiving.”

Would you like to receive tailor-made recommendations for how to use exercise to support your intentions to conceive?  Schedule a FREE 30-minute consultation HERE.

NUTRITION + ENERGY

Source: Beth Auguste, MS, RD, CSOWM, Registered Dietitian + Nutritionist, Be Well with Beth

Contact: Beth@BeWellwithBethPHL.com  /  Social: @bewellwithbeth

“The best diet for fertility is one that helps to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation.  In plain English, this means that you should eat plenty of fruit and vegetables and healthy sources of omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon, tuna (once or twice a week is fine — chunk lite is lower in mercury), walnuts, ground flax seed, hemp seed, free range organic eggs or grass fed meats.  It is important to remember that an anti-inflammatory diet also means that you should stop eating foods that cause inflammation. In some cases, these foods will be the same for everyone, for example, it is good for everyone who is trying to get pregnant to avoid a diet high in overly processed foods.  However, other foods can be trickier to determine.  If you know that a certain food creates abdominal discomfort or skin irritation, then that food is creating inflammation inside your body and should be avoided while trying to conceive.  [Preconception] is, however, not the time to try an intermittent fasting diet or any other diet that requires severe calorie restriction. You want your body to be in ‘building mode.’

There is also a large amount of evidence pointing to the benefit of full fat dairy in fertility.  Now is the time to eat 2% or higher yogurts, milks and cheeses.  Aim for 5-6 servings per week.  Another great resource [I recommend] for fertility nutrition is The Fertility Diet.”

BODYWORK + RELAXATION

Source: Carrie Sarlo-Randazzi, RYT, LMT, Founder of HoliMomma

Email: carrie@holimomma.com   /   Social: @holimomma_nj

“I recommend diaphragm breathing to everyone but especially for women preparing for conception. Making the decision to become a parent can be wonderful but also very stressful. Our thoughts can go in many directions.  Is my body capable to carry a baby?  Can we financially afford having a family?  Will I be a good parent? And so on… Practicing diaphragm breathing is an excellent place to begin with understanding the ability to shift our response to stress. It also allows us to create deeper awareness within our own mind-body connection.

In addition to calming the nervous system, diaphragm breathing is wonderful for the health of our organs and pelvic floor.  The movement of the diaphragm helps to maintain circulation around our organs with the flow of blood, lymph, energy and nerve connection to the brain.  In regard to the health of our connective tissue and muscular structure, the downward movement of the diaphragm as we inhale, gently presses on the pelvic floor, working as an internal massage to relax pelvic floor muscles.  As we exhale, the diaphragm moves upward, giving a subtle contraction to the pelvic floor.  This movement allows the pelvic floor muscles to relax and contract – essential for pelvic health.”

For more on Carrie’s insights on how Diaphragm Breathing can help you on your TTC journey, click HERE.

ACUPUNCTURE + RESTORATION

Source: Caroline Grace Ashurst, M.Ac., Dipl.Ac., Founder of Restorative Harmony Acupuncture

Email: restorativeharmony@gmail.com   /   Social: @restorativeharmony

“For you ladies who are trying to conceive, finding out if you are ovulating is the first, most empowered step you can take in your process.  There are ancient ways womxn throughout the ages used to elucidate what part of the cycle their body was in and when they were ovulating. These are very sacred practices of self-awareness and love that are actually very simple, easy, and enlightening for you to reclaim! I highly recommend beginning to see what your cycle is doing as soon as the idea of having a baby comes into your awareness. This tool is a process of seeing patterns, so it takes a few months to get a clear view on what’s happening.  There are a few ways you can do it (or you can use all three so you can be a powerhouse maven with your cycle!), and I offer a free guide on my website for you to use so you can begin to acquaint yourself.  There are also some great apps and devices that alot of women are using to help them; I briefly talk about that in my free guide.

The second step in your process of a more conscious/conscientious conception approach is looking at what you’re eating.  Nothing is better than a whole body/environmental detox/purification. Our livers are so inundated with just our normal day-to-day exposures to toxins, alcohol, chemicals, you name it! We live in a world surrounded by pollutants, including the ones in our food. Elimination diets are fabulous for de-stressing your liver and freeing up your body to have to over-process so it can focus all your energy on conception!

Going hand in hand with an elimination diet is integrating organic whole foods into your life. Nothing is going to give you the kind of nutrient density that helps create life like foods that are packed with easy-to-assimilate nutrients, vitamins and minerals.

Eliminating certain foods and increasing lots of whole foods will help rebalance your body and create a cozy environment to conceive in.  A great starting point would be to use the Environmental Working Group’s Clean 15 and Dirty Dozen lists to help you start selecting produce that is as low-toxin as possible.

As an Acupuncturist and Holistic Women’s Fertility Coach, I know how integral and powerful these two aspects can be in a womxn’s process to conceive. I also know how challenging it is as well!  That’s why I crafted a special virtual coaching program online for womxn who are trying to conceive called The Fertility Trinity: Purify, AMPLIFY, and Transform Your Fertility in 45 Days.

In my guided 6-week coaching program, you will learn how to detox and purify your body, nourish and restore your body-mind-spirit, and learn how to get on the right track so you can trust your process and relax into your journey. By using ancient and modern holistic tools and techniques for your body, mind, and spirit, you will amplify your fertility and invigorate your body’s natural ability to conceive so you can feel calm, empowered, and grounded. The added mindset piece in my program is a special piece to support the ups and downs that sometimes come with this process.”

Caroline is offering FREE 30-minute consultations for her virtual coaching program, The Fertility Trinity to the BodyWiseMama community.  Click HERE to schedule yours!

• Frankincense: The king of all oils! Frankincense is a fertility powerhouse and is great to regulate hormone imbalances.
• Clary Sage: CS is considered one of the best essential oils for fertility. It also helps to balance hormones and regulate the menstrual cycle. Also great for mood lifting and steadying yourself for the ups and downs of your fertility journey.  Please note that Clary Sage is a uterine tonic and while great for pre-pregnancy, you would not want to use this one for the first two trimesters.
• Geranium: You may be deceived from the smell in the bottle – once this oil is on your skin it is heavenly!  Not only is this another great fertility oil that balances your hormones, it’s great for cultivating an open heart and, later on, bonding with your baby and breastfeeding.

I recently recovered from an apparent TTC-related hormonal flux that led to heart palpitations, high anxiety (i.e. multiple panic attacks daily) and insomnia for a solid week.  This wasn’t my first rodeo of wrangling the wild bull of hormones, but this felt like a different beast.  Getting through it was tough but necessary.  And necessity is often the mother of invention.  “Whatever works” became my mantra for the rest of the week.  I’m grateful to be feeling stable and steady in my body, mind and spirit today.  Reflecting back, I know for sure that the following prescription is what helped me naturally restore my hormonal, physical, psychological and emotional well-being:

Embody

Express

Rest

Repeat

[Side note in the spirit of full disclosure: Doing “whatever works” may have also included a hypochondriacal visit to Urgent Care for an EKG just to confirm that I was not going to keel over from a cardiac event.  The heart is strong and resilient, my friends.]

On countless occasions over the course of the aforementioned week, I found it immensely helpful to move into, focus on and feel physical sensations in my body with the support of solid ground.  In other words: EMBODY.  The best definitions of embodiment I’ve found comes from Merriam-Webster: “to give a body to (a spirit)” and “to cause to become a body or part of a body.”  My own definition goes something like this: “to create physical form and containment within which emotions may be held, felt and dealt.”  The disassociation – a frightening feeling of being cut off from or outside of the body – that often occurs with a panic episode was what I needed to remedy ASAP.

On one such occasion, the onset of heart palpitations while I tried to fall asleep led to the start of a panic attack.  I was hyperventilating and spiraling out of my body.  My husband stayed with me while I while I breathed into a paper bag  (which could work by adding more CO2 to the blood) but that wasn’t working fast enough.  I intuitively dropped to the floor in the nook of my altar (a place I designate for meditative movement and prayer).  As a bonus, the blinds on the window were lifted enough for me to have a perfect view of the full moon.  I latched onto that moon, felt the weight of my body completely held by the solid ground, and followed the movement of my breath with my hands placed on my belly.  I began to sob as the panic subsided and my presence grew.  As dramatic as the whole scene may have been, the tearful release of emotions too big to hold, feel or deal with actually put me to sleep.  I stayed the night on the floor curled up in the fetal position.

Once I was able to anchor myself through embodiment, I felt safe and free to EXPRESS mainly through a whole lot of crying.  I came to realize that heavy sobs were an indication that I was already on my way to feeling clearer, calmer and more collected again.  I did my best to let that happen as much as it needed to (sunglasses were clutch!).  Throughout my week of alarming palpitations, anxiety, interrupted sleep and overflowing tears, there were myriad byproducts of being in a state of depletion (e.g. digestive disruptions like heart burn, headaches, mental fogginess, muscle tension/pain, etc.).  So, it became very clear that I needed to reach out for reinforcement and support.

I went with acupuncture, which always eases me into meditation, quiets my sympathetic nervous system, draws out anything that’s stagnant or stuck and boosts my body’s healing process.  I booked a massage for myself with a trusted practitioner who specializes in intuitive and spiritual bodywork.  With her, I’d be guided through talking first about the places in my body where grief, trauma and other emotional debris may be held and then treated to the most magical massage that would “put me the f*ck to sleep” (her literal words to me!).  I also had a therapy session with a shamanic healer.  This healer with whom I’ve been working for years incorporates talk therapy in her “earth-based medicine” process.  And she wasn’t messing around when I showed up.  We directly and verbally addressed my deepest fears and darkest shadows.  I cried and talked, talked and cried, and cried some more.  But, I started to express very clearly the grief, trauma and control that my body, mind and spirit were gripping for dear life.  Once I got through that session, I felt ready to open up to others.  I’m grateful to my siblings, best friend and healing guides for answering my calls.

A couple of days later, I began to think about elements of embodiment that are inherent part of the prenatal workouts I create for the BodyWiseMama community.  Here’s why they are suited for more than preparing you for the physical demands of labor, birth and postpartum recovery.

I am always threading a mind/body connection throughout every class.  This obviously goes for preconception and postpartum fitness as well.  The BodyWiseMama method is intended to orient you through tangible sensations of solid ground, stability and strength (i.e. burning, quivering and fatiguing muscles).  It’s designed to move you from where you are towards feeling more self-aware, empowered and energetic.  My fitness philosophy for every stage of pregnancy is and has always been “mental health through the body.”

If you are trying to get through or recovering from a rough night filled with sleeplessness, anxiety, physical discomfort, etc, I invite you to STOP and DROP into this dose of movement medicine with me RIGHT NOW. 

I’m with you on this roller coaster of a ride – from TTC to postpartum recovery – to help you gain a sense of control, steadiness and presence in your mind and body.  Please rest assured that my classes are safe for all trimesters and fitness levels – wherever you are on your path of pregnancy and motherhood.

My own trying times – and hard-learned healing processes – are eventually fuel for the fire inside to help you.  They inspire me to keep building this community of empowered women, to hold us all accountable to do our work – to rise and shine in authentic power.  If you are at what I call a “critical point” of needing the utmost support to move through a trying time on your journey, you’re in the right place.  We can move forward together.

Lastly, while TTC, I’ve had the pleasure and privilege of receiving the healing powers of private yoga/meditation sessions with Paige Chapman, owner of Mama’s Wellness Joint.  She just opened registration for her virtual experience, Radiant One, that begins September 30th!  I highly encourage you to look into this if you are seeking a spiritual renovation or upgrade at this stage of your journey.  Don’t miss this golden opportunity to delve into the divine with Paige.  For a limited time only, Paige is offering an EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT for the BodyWiseMama community!  Hop on over to my Instagram page to unlock the super secret promo code.

Now, go on: REST + REPEAT and call me in the morning.