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

Yoga Yoga Babies Babies
Introducing the newest members of the Yoga Yoga community

	Ali and Clay Ali works in Yoga Yoga's Events & Vacations department. She gave birth to Ava Marie Weatherford on January 28th at 2:57 am. The labor was a quick one, five hours start to finish. It was so quick that Clay now calls Ali the birthing ninja. She blew the midwife away with how calm she was. Ava weighed 8 pounds 7 ounces and was 21 inches long.
	Lesley and Ian Lesley is a Yoga Yoga teacher and former center manager of Yoga Yoga Northwest. Maya Clark arrived February 3rd. She weighed 8lbs 2oz and was 19.75 inches. She was recently kissed by Brad Pitt and will make an appearance in his upcoming movie.
	Ravyn and Faris Ravyn is a Yoga Yoga lead teacher and on the Yoga Yoga Teacher Training faculty. Sufyan Abboushi arrived on February 13 at 4:07 am. The birth was quick. He arrived in 5 and a half hours. The parents are blissed out over their new arrival. He weighed 7 pounds and 3 ounces, and measured 19 inches long.
	Lizzie and James Lizzie is a Yoga Yoga lead teacher. She welcomed her little spider monkey Elliot Brooks on February 18th. They describe him as a hoot and a half. He weighed in at 6 lbs. 6 oz, and 20 inches long

Emmalina's Birth Story by Hannah Williams
Born on February 27, 2008

Monday morning, the 25th, at about 6 a.m., I woke up with more intense contractions than before. I could feel them in my back and in the front like menstrual cramps but they were only happening every 30 min or so. I told work that this could be it, but I'd come in anyway because I wasn't sure and I'd see how it went.

I ended up leaving work by noon because they were definitely more intense than regular BH contractions and I was feeling really antsy and spacey and couldn't be there anymore. So I went home and did all the final touches on our house and her room pausing at all the contractions then continuing with excitement, yet trying to remain calm because what if this was just another false alarm? By the afternoon, I definitely couldn't speak through the contractions. I was closing my eyes and letting them pass, then snapping back to me and continuing on with my conversations or actions.

Click here to read the rest of the story!

Have you taken a class with Michelle?

I have been practicing yoga and meditation for over 26 years, and teaching for over 10. I have a prenatal yoga certification through Mamaste Prenatal Yoga. I work with students from preconception, through prenatal and postnatal. At times I will also take on the role of a sort of yoga doula, assisting in labor and birth. I gear my prenatal classes toward the individual needs of the students each week, as well as building a practice that helps with the birthing and recovery process for both Mom and Baby. My goal is the help each student build a personal practice full of the various tools necessary to make the prenatal and birthing process more enjoyable.

Wisdom:
Each pregnancy is different for each woman. This is a perfect time to start or deepen a yoga practice since every moment is unique. My own practice and teaching have changed over the years as I learn more from my students and their babies. It is through this journey that I was able to reconnect with the childlike joy, wonder, and playfulness that our practices should be full of every day. I take this bit of samdhi into every class I teach, prenatal, restorative, or flow.

Click here to see when Michelle teaches.

Prenatal for Partners with Alice
Sunday, April 27, 2:00 pm - 4:30 pm Yoga Yoga Northwest
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.

Our bodies are always in transition. Having a new baby is exhilarating. It can also bring an entire different set of physical conditions, mental and emotional challenges that accompany the joy of motherhood and nurturing your loving creation.

Navasana (Boat Pose)

Sit on the floor with your legs straight in front of you. Press your hands on the floor a little behind your hips, fingers pointing toward the feet, and strengthen the arms. Lift through the top of the sternum and lean back slightly. As you do this make sure your back doesn't round; continue to lengthen the front of your torso between the pubis and top sternum

Exhale and bend your knees, then lift your feet off the floor, so that the thighs are angled about 45-50 degrees relative to the floor. Lengthen your tailbone into the floor and lift your pubis toward your navel. Slowly begin to lift the toes off the floor, with the knees bent raise your calves parallel to the floor. If you would like more of a challenge without sacrificing your posture or breath, slowly straighten your knees and raise the tips of your toes slightly above the eyes. Gaze at the tips of your big toes.

Stretch your arms alongside the legs, parallel to each other and the floor. Spread the shoulder blades across your back and reach energetically out through your fingers. Variation: Keep the hands on the floor beside your hips or hold on to the backs of your thighs.

Allow the lower belly to be firm. Press the heads of the thigh bones toward the floor to help anchor the pose and lift the top sternum. Breathe mindfully and with ease. Tip the chin slightly toward the sternum so the base of the skull lifts lightly away from the back of the neck.

Remain in the pose for 5 full breaths. Release the legs with an exhalation and sit upright on an inhalation.

"The lotus flower has long been a symbol for the unfolding of spirituality. It is one of the most elegant illustrations of the meshing of our human and Divine Natures.

The lotus seed is planted and grows in muddy waters, below the surface of the lake, far from the light. Though the light is murky and unclear, the flower blossoms by drawing energy from within. As the bud passes through the muddy waters, it lifts its face to the sunlight and finally emerges. Miraculously, not a trace of soil remains on the flower. It lives in the mud yet is unaffected by it. This is an example for us to be in the world but, not be adversely affected by it. The lotus flower teaches us that no matter how muddied the waters of our consciousness may become, clarity can always emerge from our spirit if the divine light guides us, even if it is only one tiny lotus blossom at a time."
- Nischala Joy Devi, from The Secret Power of Yoga

Visualization

An opening flower is the perfect symbol for the opening of the cervix. This is a very simple, lovely exercise to practice any time during your labor, with or between contractions.

Begin to practice this visualization now, during your pregnancy.

Come to a comfortable seated or side lying posture. Take a few moments to connect to your breath and baby. Consciously relax the physical body and bring your awareness to the space between your brow, your mind's eye.

Imagine a flower in your mind's eye....

Choose any flower you would like, a rose, a lily, a tulip. Any beautiful flower that inspires, and resonates with you.

Begin to imagine the flower opening petal by petal, opening, opening, opening, until it is fully open.

Begin to visualize a lotus flower gently spreading its petals open with each inhalation. And as you exhale, just dwell inside the lotus flower. You may dwell here in this visualization for several slow, full and joyful breaths. Feel the peace, strength or other qualities that resonate with you.

When you are ready, bring your hands together in Anjali Mudra (Salutation Seal) and complete your meditation with a moment of gratitude, reflection, or prayer to integrate the energy of your meditation into your life.

What Is A Doula?
by Alice Duffy, Yoga Yoga Teacher

A doula is a non-medical assistant in prenatal care, childbirth and during the postpartum period.

Labor support doulas are trained and experienced labor support persons who attend to the emotional and physical comfort needs of laboring women to smooth the labor process. They do not do clinical tasks such as heart rate checks, or vaginal exams but rather use massage, aromatherapy, positioning suggestions, etc., to help labor progress as well as possible.

A labor support doula joins a laboring woman either at her home or in hospital or birth center and remains with her until a few hours after the birth. In addition to emotional support, doulas work as advocates of their client's wishes and may assist in communicating with medical staff to obtain information for the client to make informed decisions regarding medical procedures.

A doula provides kindness and comfort to a woman who is in labor. This is an especially important job, because this friendly care-taker encourages and provides support to a woman when she is giving birth, one of the most vulnerable times in a woman's life. Although doulas provide services first time parents will appreciate, many women who have already given birth one or more times find the addition of a doula to their birth team an invaluable support.

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

After the Birth of Your Baby

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