After an egg retrieval,
You may experience soreness,
Swelling,
Or pain in your abdomen.
Always consult with your doctor about any discomfort,
As it may be a sign of complications.
If you get the all clear,
Here is a short pranayama or breathing exercise to help manage your body's pain response and calm down the nervous system.
Pranayama is one of the eight limbs of yoga and is more commonly referred to as breathwork.
It can reduce stress and pain,
Improve physical health,
And promote overall well-being.
Begin seated in a comfortable position with your spine straight and your chin slightly tucked.
Place one hand on your stomach and one hand on your heart.
Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths from the abdomen.
Breathe in through your nose and exhale gently through your nose.
Let's get into an even rhythm,
Counting to four on the inhale and four on the exhale.
If it helps,
Think of a wheel turning at the transition of your breath,
Spinning inward on the inhale and outward on the exhale in a continuous and fluid motion.
Allow yourself to get lost in the rhythm of your breath and take the time to feel its calming effects,
Observing the movement of your breath in and out,
Calmness to settle in.
Let's change the cadence slightly to enhance the calming effects of the breath even more.
Slowly inhale through the nose for four counts,
Hold the breath gently for four counts,
And exhale through the mouth for eight counts.
In one,
Two,
Three,
Four,
Hold,
One,
Two,
Three,
Four,
Exhale,
One,
Two,
Three,
Four,
Six,
Seven,
Eight.
Relax the jaw,
Relax the shoulders,
And make sure to fill your lungs up completely with each breath and relax as you exhale.
Let's try it again.
In through the nose,
One,
Two,
Three,
Four,
Hold gently,
One,
Two,
Three,
Four,
And out,
One,
Two,
Three,
Four,
Five,
Six,
Seven,
Eight.
Relax the jaw.
Don't attach yourself to any part of the rhythm and work within a comfortable space,
Breathing,
Holding,
And letting go.
Now,
As you breathe in,
Let the energy of the breath travel to the areas where you feel the most tension and discomfort.
This may be in your abdomen,
Your low back,
Your shoulders,
Or your hips.
As you breathe in,
Let this energy bring the tension with it and feel it dissipating with each exhale.
Practice this pattern for a few minutes,
Focusing on your breath.
Allow yourself to release any last tension or feelings of discomfort.
When you're ready,
Let your breath fall back into a natural rhythm,
Moving past any tension or discomfort you have been feeling.
Sit quietly for a few moments and observe.
How does your body feel?
You're ready to continue on with your day.
