Begin again. And again. Returning to Rocket Yoga After Surgery

Getting back to my Rocket Yoga practice after the fourth umbilical hernia surgery has been a journey of resilience, both physically and mentally. The road to recovery can feel overwhelming, especially if you compare yourself now to where you used to be. You will never be where, or who, you used to be. However, with patience and consitency, I've learned that rebuilding strength after surgery involves nurturing not just the body, but also the mind and spirit.

In this post, I’ll recount my experience (not all the gory details) and share practical tips for anyone wanting to return to Rocket Yoga after a significant break. After all, Rocket Yoga is a mindset based around a sequence. What CAN you do?

Trust the Process

After surgery, the body goes through a natural healing process that takes time. Listening to your body and respecting its limits is crucial. Recovery is not a race; it’s a gradual journey. Trust your instincts, and remember the hardest part is showing up.

The first days post surgery, I was just moving around a little at home, and doing deep breathing. Pranayama is essential if you can't move around much. In my case, even mula bandha was too much those first few days.

Days 5-14 I focused I increased walking, added mula bahnda, seated meditation, mountain, and a few yin poses (oh viparita karani i love you!). on gentle movements and breathing exercises. I also let myself emjoy the break. I let my mind wander. I made phone calls, read books, stared out the window at the sea (cleverly i recuperated at my sister's house on the coast).

Do your practice and all is coming. --P.Jois

Setting Goals

I don't set goals so much as I set a direction. As I get back on my mat, I am not trying to dive back into my previous routine, but I am still using the rocket yoga framework. Remember: it's a mindset within a sequence. The mindset is to modify to suit your needs; the sequence is: warm up, stand up, sit down, go upside down, lie down.

More important than how many poses, or what poses, that you do, is the time spent focusing on the present moment and the breath.

Incorporating Meditation into Practice

Meditation is a crucial part of my recovery. I learned that returning to Rocket Yoga isn't just about building physical strength; it is also about gaining mental clarity and emotional stability. The list of asanas that I can't do right now is a long one, but seated meditation supports the alignment of the whole body and mind. Meditation tips will be another post, but I can't stress the value I a recieving now, especially since i can't do a handstand

Rocket Yoga encourages us all to relax and breathe and go with the flow. So if you can't do asana, play with your prana (another post!)

Seek Support from the Community

If you're a student, make sure to ask your teacher for advice (and your Dr). EVERY aspect of yoga has a modification,or alternative.

If you're a teacher, ask that super keen student to demonstrate for you. Don't feel like you have to demonstrate, that is a fairly new phenomenom.

Building Strength

One of the many good things about having to start over (and yes there are many!), is that you have a blank slate of sorts. If you, like me, know you need to strengthen your glutes, now is a great time to add focused exercises. I have a routine of clamshells, etc. that i do for my legs before I do my asana practice. Each time you start over, you are beginning with more knowledge than you had the last time! Incorporate strength building into your weak spots.

Celebrating Yourself

It is so important to acknowledge what you have done well. Don't spend too much time on the setbacks. See what worked and move on. Ahimsa begins at home! Don't listen to the inner critic. Listen to your breath, quiet your mind, and you can tune into your inner guidance system; everyone has one.

Yoga is a lifelong journey. I'm grateful that i know, I mean really know, that I can get stronger, again. The poses come and the poses go. The practice will never change. Now is the only place to begin. Roll out your mat, breathe deeply, and trust the process. You are stronger than you think.