Welcome to all new Prenatal Yoga students who joined Yoga Yoga in January and a big Congratulations to all the new yoga babies born!

A Weekend with Nischala Joy Devi
February 22 - February 24 at Yoga Yoga Westgate
For over 30 years Nischala Joy Devi has been highly respected as an international advocate for her innovative way of expressing Yoga and its subtle uses for spiritual growth and complete healing. Her teaching is both masterful and compassionate. We are honored to welcome her to Yoga Yoga! Nischala Devi is now directing her energies to bringing the feminine heart perspective back into spirituality and the scriptures through her new book, The Secret Power of Yoga: A Woman's Guide to the Heart and Spirit of the Yoga Sutras.
Click here for more information.

Prenatal for Partners with Alice
Sunday, March 16 12:00 pm - 2:30 pm Yoga Yoga Westgate
This fun and supportive workshop gives both birthing partners the tools they’ll need to experience a satisfying childbirth. Reflect upon the sacred aspect of the prenatal period and take an opportunity to experience deeper connection with one another and the growing baby through physical and meditative practices.
Click here to register for this workshop.

The Secret Power of Yoga:
A Woman's Guide to the Heart and Spirit of the Yoga Sutras

The Yoga Sutras is the most widely translated, interpreted and quoted book about yoga in the world. It is the basis for all yoga practices and all yoga philosophy. There are literally hundreds of versions of this foundational yoga work – yet only one by a Western woman.

Nischala Joy Devi’s new book The Secret Power of Yoga is unique in that it was written by a woman for women. When she describes the ethical precepts for the practice of yoga (the Yamas), for example, she replaces the typically negative connotative words of “non-stealing” and “non-violence” with the positively charged words “generosity” and “compassion.”

Her feminine and intuitive perspective comes across throughout the book in her personal reflections and experiences of the practice of yoga as a woman.

Nischala Joy Devi is the wise woman of yoga for the 21st century!

Nischala will be at Yoga Yoga February 22-24. On Saturday, February 23, she will share the Secret Power of the Yoga Sutras in a unique workshop. Don't miss this incredible opportunity to discover the feminine side of yoga. To register, click here or call (512) 358-1200

Breastfeeding, in the beginning...
by Ryka George CD(DONA), PCD(DONA)

Almost all resources about breastfeeding focus on the mechanics. Today I will focus on the emotional changes that occur within the family while mom and baby learn to breastfeed and how the entire family can navigate these challenges.

Everyone in the family needs love and understand while mom and baby are learning how they can be a successful breastfeeding couple. Here are some suggestions that can help to smooth this transition:

• Education before the baby arrives helps families have more realistic expectations.
• Mom needs loving support that allows her the space to identify how she is feeling and what she needs (this frequently includes nutritious meals and sleep.)
• Dad needs encouragement and support in his new role (Men usually do not, "do it" like mom so, please remember to let him discover what works for himself or he will retreat from that task so that he is not criticized again.)
• Mom needs the opportunity to communicate and fulfill her needs and desires for personal care and self nurturing time away from baby (examples: time to eat, bathe, stretch, etcetera.)
• Mom usually desires comforting non sexual touch that feels nurturing and loving
• Children need patient loving support as they discover what it means for them to have a new sibling.
• A postpartum doula can help with all sorts of transition issues by providing physical and emotional support, education, companionship and information
  

Stacy has had a life long interest in wellness and its relationship to one’s body, mind, and spirit. From a young age, she learned about quality nutrition from her mother, a licensed dietician, and studied her own body and its movements as a swimmer for many years. Swimming taught her about the power of concentration and the importance of focus.

Stacy began her yoga practice in curiosity and deepened her practice while pregnant with her daughter. Stacy utilized what she uncovered through yoga in her pregnancy, during the birth, and throughout motherhood. She learned the importance of being guided by one’s breath, the power of yoga to sustain oneself in times of challenge, and the ability to release oneself into relaxation.

Stacy studied anatomy and physiology as a massage therapist and through Yoga Yoga’s Hatha Teacher Training program. She extended her learning through Leslie Lytle’s prenatal and postnatal yoga teacher training and received certification for Kate Jordan’s Bodywork for the Childbearing Year. She is also a Texas State certified public school teacher.

In her yoga practice and teaching, she explores the principles of foundation and alignment and how the breath moves the body. She encourages her students to awaken movement, spirit, and their own sense of joy and well-being. She provides her students with practical applications of yoga that they can take off their mats and use the concepts they discover in the world around them.

Click here to see when Stacy teaches.

Circulating the Life Breath
~ relaxing mind and body ~

Many practitioners of yoga believe that one breathes life energy called prana into the whole body, not just air into the lungs. Directing this life energy to fill a particular area of the body with the in-breath, and imagining tension draining out of that area with the out-breath is a powerful means of feeling revitalized and relaxed.

To begin, find a comfortable posture for meditation (seated on a cushion or blanket, in a chair, or against a wall). You may also rest in savasana if you like.

Place your hands on your knees with palms facing up to open your awareness or palms facing down to calm the mind. Scan your body and relax any tension. Let your spine extend from the base of the pelvis. Draw your chin slightly down toward the chest and let the back of your neck elongate. Allow your breathing to become a little deeper and a little slower without straining in any way.

As you inhale, imagine that your breath is a golden light filling your body.
Exhale.
Inhale and imagine that golden energy of your breath is filling your left arm and hand.
Exhale, feeling the tension draining away through your fingertips.

Inhale and imagine that your breath is filling your right arm and hand.

Exhale, feeling the tension draining away through your fingertips.

Inhale and imagine that your breath is filling your left leg and foot.

Exhale, feeling the tension draining away through the sole of your foot.

Inhale and imagine that your breath is filling your right leg and foot.

Exhale, feeling the tension draining away through the sole of your foot.

Inhale, imagining that your breath is filling your pelvic region, the buttocks, and the birth canal.

Exhale, as if you were breathing out through the birth canal, feeling all the tension flowing away.
Inhale, imagining your breath filling your abdominal region.

Exhale, feeling the abdominal are relax.

Inhale, imagining the breath flowing down the spine, filling the chest and back with energy.
Exhale, feeling all tension draining away from your head and neck.

Prenatal Resources

We would like to provide you with a variety of resources. Click here to view our online resource list.

We invite you to share your birthing resources with us, or if you are a Birthing Professional please contact lisat@yogayoga.com

Postnatal Yoga class is a great way to support the body's recovery after birth. Mothers may bring their babies for an experience that incorporates yoga and bonding with the baby. These classes are a wonderful way to connect with other new mothers in supportive and healthy environment.

Postnatal Class Schedule

YY North
Friday 10:30am with Stacy W - for Crawlers and Toddlers!

YYNorthwest
Wednesday 10:30am with Sarah E
Thursday 10:30am with Summer

YYSouth
Monday 3:00pm with DeLora - for Crawlers and Toddlers!
Wednesday 3:00pm with DeLora

YY Westgate
Thursday 10:30am with Jess G - for Crawlers and Toddlers!
Sunday 1:30pm with Jess G

Yoga Yoga Westgate, 4477 South Lamar, 512-358-1200
Yoga Yoga North, 2167 Anderson Lane, 512-380-9800
Yoga Yoga South, 1700 South Lamar, 512-326-3900
Yoga Yoga Northwest, 12001 Burnet Rd, 512-490-1200
Yoga Yoga Teacher Training, 1700 South Lamar, 512-326-2273