Though everyones experience after C-section varies, most people take about 5-6 weeks to recover. You need to give time for stitches to heal, but as soon as your doctor tells you you are good to go, then you can get right back into your Kundalini Yoga practice! During the healing process (and with your doctors okay) we recommend that you take daily walks as well as any upper body Kundalini Yoga you can do (which does not pull on your stitches) while sitting in a chair.

During the first 5-6 weeks, Sitali Pranayam (as described in the A-Z Health Archive) would be very helpful in speeding up the healing process. We also recommend the Sat Ta Na Ma meditation on Yoga Quick Fixes to get over any residual emotional stress you may be experiencing.

After 5-6 weeks, and with your doctor\'s blessing, you can resume your regular Kundalini Yoga practice, being careful to modify anything which causes strain.

The following exercises which can be found on our Yoga for Beginners & Beyond: Stretch Strengthen, & Be Stress Free DVD. are among the safest and most effective techniques for reconditioning the important core muscles after a C-section or related surgeries.

Plank Pose (front push-up position with Long Deep Breathing, eyes open gazing at one point), and Alternate Arm & Leg Lifts (lie on your back with your arms above you on the floor, inhale, exhale as you raise your right arm and left leg perpindicular to the floor, inhale lower them, exhale raise your left arm and right leg. And continue. Flex your feet as the legs rise). If the stomach muscles still feel very tender modify with bent knees.

We recommend Plank Pose for 30 seconds to a minute (you can do this twice). And Alternate Arm & Leg Lifts for 1-3 minutes. We also recommend simple crunches.

When you feel ready, we feel that Navel Power would be a great DVD for you to practice. Modifying whatever feels uncomfortable.

For more abdominal toning please see: AB 101, also in the A-Z Health Archive