“Breathe into your ribs, not your belly. And hold that strength like it’s your armor.”

The instructor’s voice moves through the sunlit room like she’s handing out peace one exhale at a time.

I shift awkwardly on the exercise mat and press my hand against the rise of my stomach. I’m not the only one here with a bump. There’s a woman across from me carrying twins, and her belly looks massive and proud. Another one keeps giggling through every stretch, and it should be comforting.

But I just feel obvious. Heavy. Off-balance.

Still, I push. I stretch. I breathe. I hold my arm a second longer, and my thighs...