Susan Rothlein has been teaching pre and postnatal yoga for about six years. She trained with Collette Crawford at the Seattle Holistic Center and recently with Janice Clarfield of Vancouver, Canada. She and her husband, Lewis, who also teaches yoga, own Full Circle Yoga in Winter Park, Florida.
Having attended her classes from weeks 15 to 39 of my pregnancy, I intimately knew that prenatal yoga was one of the few things that quelled the anxiety of pregnancy. Now that my daughter is two, I finally had a minute to catch up with her.
Elizabeth: How did you start teaching yoga?
Susan: My very first yoga teaching experience was at a massage school. I then began doing some subbing at the yoga center where I took classes. I had been showing yoga stretches to my prenatal massage clients for years and once I got my feet wet with teaching I began thinking about the need for a class specifically for pregnant women. I read every book I could find on the subject, watched all the videos, and proposed a class to the owner of the studio. He thought it was a great idea. I did take some yoga teacher trainings both for teaching regular classes and for pre and postnatal.
Did yoga influence you to become vegetarian or was it something else? Which one came first and how do you see them fitting together?
I'd always been drawn toward vegetarianism. In high school and college I would try it and then give it up. But it always felt "right" for me, and I kept coming back to it. The same with yoga. It would come in and out of my life, but I was always drawn to it until I finally committed to practicing on a regular basis. But I definitely committed first with my diet. I think they're both part of committing to nonviolence in my life - both toward others and to myself.
I know at some point you were vegetarian and then went vegan. What made you decide to be vegan?
I was slowly moving toward being vegan in my late 20's and thru my 30's, but still kept some dairy products in my diet. In my 40's I took some vegan and macrobiotic cooking classes and found out how tasty vegan food could be. And I felt so much better without dairy in my diet. Also reading about how badly many dairy animals are treated was an influence.
Were you vegetarian when you were pregnant with your children?
Only with my last, Jordan. With my other two, I didn't eat a lot of meat, but I ate some.
How did you handle that pregnancy?
I was lucky to have a midwife who had also been a vegetarian during her pregnancy, so she was very supportive. The only negative reaction I got was from my childbirth teachers. They kept stressing protein, and were convinced I couldn't possibly be getting enough. But I felt confident that I was. I think it's easy to eat healthfully for pregnancy as a vegetarian as long as you concentrate on balancing your diet.
I know diet is always a hot topic during pregnancy. Do your pregnant students ask you questions about diet and specifically about vegetarianism and pregnancy?
If a student asks about vegetarianism and pregnancy and has concerns, I share with them my experience from my pregnancy and tell them about books that can help them plan their diet.
What thoughts would you share with pregnant women regarding a vegan/vegetarian diet?
I encourage every pregnant woman to eat a healthful diet; lots of good, natural, whole foods, whether meat is included or not - it's so important for the health of both mom and baby. I think that it's definitely possible to have a healthy pregnancy on a vegetarian and vegan diet. I think that one's choice of diet is a very personal matter, and being a vegetarian can be part of one's yoga practice or not - there's no right or wrong way.
When should someone start doing yoga during pregnancy, and how do they get started?
It's never too early or too late, unless a woman's caregiver recommends otherwise. Sometimes a woman feels very fatigued or nauseous during the first trimester and, if so, may want to wait until they feel better and have more energy.
Get started by looking for a local prenatal yoga class. If a class isn't available in your area, there are some good videos and books available, and some teachers of regular gentle yoga classes may feel comfortable having you join their class.
Any final thoughts?
Yoga is a wonderful way to exercise and stay centered during pregnancy and is a great preparation for birth, both physically and emotionally. I would love to see every pregnant woman practice yoga! But most importantly, find a way to move and stay active - you'll feel so much better!
Susan Rothlien can be contacted at Full Circle Yoga or by email at mommayoga@aol.com.
--Elizabeth Bonet, Ph.D. is a freelance writer and yoga instructor who lives in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida with her beautiful two year old and husband. See more about her classes at www.yogafairy.com.
