In this article, Rupal enlightens us about biohacking, Garbh Sanskar, and the use of cannabis during pregnancy. Celebrity Trainer, Rupal Sidhpura Faria, the owner and founder of Rupals Yogasthenics specializes in Pre-Natal and Post-Natal yoga. She is unstoppable with an unquenching thirst to learn more.
“Being #mindfulinmotherhood is one of the most underrated emotions. We tend to get so many opinions on what to do and what not, we are perplexed in our choices.”
What exactly is biohacking in terms of pregnancy?
New parents face unique challenges in today’s modern age, and it can be challenging to focus on balancing your work, responsibilities, relationships, health, and well-being. Biohacking provides new parents with practical tips and advice on creating the ideal conditions for their babies to thrive. From reducing exposure to toxins and providing a conducive sleep environment, to boosting immunity and promoting healthy brain development, biohacking can help new parents overcome the hurdles of parenthood and support a robust, resilient, and healthy baby.
Garbh Sanskar is nothing more than preparing the fetus for delivery and the outside world, for instance, it is seen that if the mother listens to a particular music during pregnancy and that music is played again during delivery it is easier for her to have delivery reducing the pain. So we can say biohacking is Garbh sanskar which is a practice to prepare the baby for delivery.
We are observing an increasing trend in the biohacking of pregnancy by women to personalize their experiences. According to you is it right or wrong?
It depends on how biohacking is being used, sometimes it’s very natural and organic like massaging your genitals with castor oil to make them loosen up before delivery so it purely depends on how you use the technique.
Any specific incident where you observed its benefits in a newborn? Tips and rules one should follow while practicing Garbh Sanskar.
There have been instances where I got the chance to observe children who grew up to be calmer and more composed than mothers who were my clients and practiced the same, and it’s not only related to Garbh Sanskar it is related to the Dosh of the parents, the diet that was taken during the pregnancy and it must be a healthy one like the ayurvedic diet.
Also, the season the child is born plays a role. Besides that what is more important is that the baby once it comes out should feel like it’s at home, therefore the music technique helps since it hears it all the time in the womb and then when it comes out from the womb, it feels calmer and protected.
Another important tip is breastfeeding it’s not only important for the baby but also the mother, it improves the immunity of the mother and baby and hence should not be discouraged at all.
Women who use cannabis during pregnancy, potentially to relieve stress and anxiety, may inadvertently predispose their children to stress susceptibility and anxiety, according to a study. Increasing instances of the use of weed as a way to relax during pregnancy have been reported. You say the same. Can you suggest asanas to combat stress and anxiety during pregnancy?
Irrespective of whether one can do any yoga pose or posture, any women pregnant need to start doing pranayam it not only helps with stress and anxiety but also with lymphatic drainage. So it’s important to start practicing pranayam, also during the process of pregnancy the women go through hormonal and physical changes since the baby is pushing all the organs to create a space for it to grow therefore it’s important to practice pranayam to help the body expand and give a space for the baby to grow.
I don’t recommend using cannabis or any type of drug although it’s promoted in the West,
that’s not something I would choose or endorse over the natural and Ayurvedic practices that
are available and easy to incorporate into the routine.
Please suggest yoga postures to focus on to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles to enhance the womb space for a healthy growing baby.
Some of the postures that are great for strengthening the pelvic floor muscles to enhance the womb space for a healthy baby are
- Ekpadasana
- Virabhadrasana
- Sukhasana
- Natrajasana (without bending forward)
- Hastapadangushtasana (side leg lift)
- Ushtrasana (camel pose)
- Baddhakonasana
The latest projects you are working on.
I have a show coming up on tantra yoga in the UK, I am the writer on the show they also wanted me to be part of the show but that would require me to be outstation for 3 months which is at the moment not possible since I have been training a lot of clients regularly, and also have my regular prenatal clients besides that I have my boot camp coming up, been writing a book too! Also plan to get regular with my content posting on YouTube so yes a lot of things in my kitty.
According to Rupal “It’s also about keeping up with the trends yet not forgetting your roots as a teacher. I run a school, authentic yoga is my thing I enjoy the best of both worlds. Both modern and traditional forms. It’s the best.”