Seventeen years ago, when my wife was expecting, I wanted to get her some good book to read.
Very thankfully, in a local book store, here in Thane, I found "Totto-Chan".
I had never heard of this book before, yet somehow, my instinct told me to pick it up for my expectant wife, and so I did.
Looking back, I feel, it was possibly the name and the simple cover design that had initiated my inquiry and inquisitiveness in this direction.
"Totto-Chan - the little girl at the window", is the globally bestselling childhood story of Japan's most popular television personality of 1970s, 80s and 90s - Tetsuya Kuroyanagi - who attributed her success in life to her mother and the wonderful and unusual school that she attended as a child, during the second world war days, after being expelled from a prestegious kindergarten in the first grade itself on charges of being unduly disruptive in the class.
Interestingly, my wife lapped the book instantly, to an extent that till date she keeps an occassional nickname for someone who arrived a little after she had finished reading that book.
A few months ago, a mother pegion chose our balcony to make her nest. Our building at that time was going through external repairs and whitewash. The trees outside in any case are being cut regularly for road expansion and other so-called developmental works.
Thus, given the situation, the little that we could do, was to offer shelter to the expectant mother, while instructing everyone, to do their best to not disturb her in any manner.
Our efforts bore fruits as one of her eggs eventually hatched and a little one took birth.
They both stayed in the nest until they needed and then one day, simply flew away.
Giving birth to a young one is certainly exciting, however, immensely stressful as well. The expectant mother needs support at multiple levels.
This is why perhaps, Dr. Alka Godbole, a leading gynecologist from Thane, openly recommends yoga to all her patients.
She herself, now a proud grandmother, has been an active yoga practitioner from her school days onwards.
In fact, she has passed my mobile number to so many of her patients. Yet, barely a few would call. Why?
In last few years, I would often get calls from young mothers expressing their anguish in managing their various situations. These calls were very intense during COVID lockdown. However, with kids around, most new mothers would have no time to either learn or practice yoga or meditation.
Then there is the case of working mothers. Thus, pressure at home and also pressure at work! No escape on either fronts; result - no time once again to learn!
So, what is the best time for women to find a self-driven suitable support for themselves that would last a lifetime?
Thankfully, for the past some months I have been getting some opportunities to work with expectant mothers.
I am teaching meditation to one and in the another case, teaching the same to her hubby, while she sits and practices along.
After the practice session, we discuss Bhagavad Gita in the first case and Uttar Ramayana in the second. This selection is based on their respective individual interests and inclination.
In all these weeks, in both cases, both sets of students have not only been able to learn new skills to control the restlessness of their mind, but also, through our regular discussions, have been able to lose many of their apprehensions and fears.
Therefore, the results have been tremendously encouraging in achieving the objective of managing overall stress associated with the situation.
Besides, these expecting mothers (as also one hubby) are learning skills that would stay with them forever and shall be helpful at every moment in the future.
I can make this claim with this much assurance because my wife says it openly now that it is meditation that helps her combat her stress.
Moreover, I have been noticing that she doesn't miss her practice even for a day. And this is despite her various challenges.
Therefore, what is the moral of all these stories?
The truth is that challenges in life shall always be there, for everyone, as long as there is life. Yet, with a little active support of yoga, meditation and spirituality, we can easily find our strength, wisdom and skills to go beyond every form of stress and weave a beautiful life.
Finally, the pregnancy-time can be an ideal period for expectant mothers to culture yogic, meditative and spiritual knowledge as well as expertise, since this is when they may have all the time.
Moreover, this little investment of time on their part shall not only help them through their entire life, but also be helpful for the new born child.
This is the truth. Rest is individual's choice.
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