I visited Hotcakes Gallery in Riverwest last night for a yoga class, and not surprisingly, found myself having an artistic experience as well as a physical and mental one.

"Triangle" pose found me staring intently at a piece depicting a rusty stapler. I focused on the mantra "remove staples here."

"Tree" pose allowed me to focus on the stream of water flayed off the end of a canoe paddle. Images of dumpers and diggers and scoopers by artist Paul Kielland reminded me of all the things my son loves.

I stopped doing yoga when I was pregnant and my back hurt so badly that walking from my cube to the bathroom became a challenge. Once the baby came, time management -- or shall I say the lack thereof -- kept me away from both yoga and art for quite awhile.

Some people think that when you have a child, you sacrifice everything for that child. While I agree that my family is my top priority, I really want to have my "own" life as well. I would like to be able to continue to learn and grow as an individual by pursuing things that I enjoy and that are of interest to me.

The voice of my former midwife (and current yoga teacher) led me into relaxation at the end of the class and took me back to the feeling of helplessness I experienced during my pregnancy -- that my body (and life) was being taken over by a force I could no longer control. A deep inhalation of the energy and art around me strengthened me, and reminded me that is possible to integrate my life with all the things I love. I am doing it, and can continue to do it. I can find a balance.

Another of Kielland's pieces depicted a scooper bashing down a house. Maybe I will never get my pre-pregnancy body back, or nearly as much free time, but I can work on building something that works out even better.

Post a comment / write a review.

Recent blogs/briefs by Jessica Laub

"Spamalot" is more fun than a ferocious rabbit May 01, 2008 I took in the touring musical show "Spamalot" last night at the Marcus Center for the ...

“The Night is a Child” premieres at The Rep March 14, 2008 I had the honor of being in the first audience to ever enjoy Charles Randolf-Wright’s ...

“Enchanted April” delights the ladies Feb. 09, 2008 “Enchanted April” opened last night at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater's Stiemke Theater.

"Glengarry Glen Ross” is a guy thing Feb. 03, 2008 I caught “Glengarry Glen Ross” last night at The Rep and I would really have to say, “It's ...

Discovering Shakespeare's “Twelfth Night” Jan. 29, 2008 Milwaukee Shakespeare opened “Twelfth Night” this weekend at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center ...