Christians can do Yoga!

For a long time, Christians have shied away from yoga because of its connection with Eastern religions.  In our home, however, we do yoga as a way to remain fit.  It is EXCELLENT exercise and fun for the whole family.  My husband has significantly decreased his back and joint pain by strengthening his core through yoga.  He does a simple routine every morning and every evening.  There are many other Christians like us who have discovered that yoga is not a religion, but a wonderful way to care for our bodies.

My clients who have done yoga throughout their pregnancies have been in great shape for delivery and find it very easy to assume whatever labor or delivery position is needed.  They also have a quicker recovery after giving birth.

I am aware of two Christian yoga organizations, “Yahweh Yoga” and “Holy Yoga”, but there may be more.  I recently discovered that “Holy Yoga” has DVDs that are specifically for pregnant women.  This would be a great way to introduce yoga to Christian friends and clients who may have been hesitant to consider it in the past.

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I had to go to the health clinic on campus yesterday, to get this UTI (bladder infection) checked out. I told them I was pregnant, and of course, they gave me major hell about not having health insurance. The one woman was like, “Well, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? Were you trying to have a baby?”

I wanted to be like, “I don’t have health insurance because the system is f-ed up, and were your parents trying to have a baby when they had you?” But I didn’t say that. I just thought it.

I also had some serious boughts of nausea yesterday, which was not fun. Tough day overall.

But, when I got home, E. had a surprise for me. I opened the package and found not one but THREE prenatal Yoga DVDS!! E. is awesome and he totally made up for my shitty day.

I haven’t had a chance to try them out yet, but I will hopefully this weekend. I also have rehearsals for my dance concert, so I’m really hoping I’m not sick a lot over the next few days.

My new prenatal Yoga DVDS, compliments of E.!!

Good news, the lil lima bean sure is active!  I finally got to go to Prenatal Yoga class this week.  One of my tennis friends said she met her BESTEST GIRLFRIENDS in prenatal yoga.  I have been wanting to go for such a long time, but this summer yoga outside is FREE, so duh, I went to that class.  Many times I had to walk away, throw up in the alley, and come back, but believe it or not, I still enjoyed it.  After outdoor yoga ended, Andy and I began our ‘weddings tour’ so we decided it would be a good idea to wait to start the prenatal yoga class in the studio.  On Tuesday I’m practically skipping up the steps to meet all my new BFF’s- oh, and do some yoga.  I give the teacher my money for my “ten hole punch pass” so I’ve got ten classes- PAID.  I notice the time is past 11:00.  We wait.  I put out a mat.  I get some water.  I look around at the windows.  Check myself in the mirror.  Tick tock.  Finally she says, “Ok, so let’s get started.”  I think to myself slightly panicked, “Now?  But where are all my new best friends???”  Yes, that’s right, I was THE ONLY STUDENT IN THE CLASS.  She explained later that they just had a fairly big group all have their babies, but still, here I am, pregnant, friendless, and limber.  Well, sort of.  Honestly, I was surprised at how much more difficult yoga is with the large obstruction at your middle.  Anyway, the good news is, our last position- called “Shavasana” (might be my favorite) is where you just lie there on your back for a few minutes.  In prenatal yoga, lying on your back is not too comfy, so you lie on your side with this cylinder-shaped bolster pillow between your legs and a blanket under your head.  Ahhhhh.  My favorite pose.  Suddenly, the lima bean kicks.  And kicks. And kicks.  And kicks some more!  I think Mr/s. Bean might be doing flips in my belly or something!  This is the most active I have felt the baby yet!!  It was so cool- I kind of wanted to cry, but don’t worry, I hung tough.  “You gotta stuff that down deep,” Andy and I love to say when one of us is getting teary.  Just a joke, people.  I always let him cry it out.  Anyway, I think beanie weenie liked yoga is my point, and one day, another mom is BOUND to show up and I just have a feeling we might be great friends for life.  Or until we leave Telluride.

Yoga’s benefits are becoming more and more known in the western world. A lot of people think of yoga as acrobatic poses. There’s that pose that you’re not sure if you’re going to come out okay from. Or there’s the one that just doesn’t look humanly possible. How about the one that involves doing a push up which is hard enough just to do never mind hold.

Fortunately there’s good news. Those poses are for when you become more flexible and stable and there’s easier poses that you can begin with that anyone can do.

Yoga is not just for toning up and becoming more flexible though. Yoga is good for you physically, mentally, and spiritually. It’s a tri-factor of health.

Increased energy and vitality, a calmer outlook on life, and a connection to the real you can all be expected from practicing yoga. It’s really something you can’t afford to not do if you are looking to be healthier and happier.

Yoga for the body

Yoga helps in many areas of physical fitness including flexibility, strength, muscle toning, and better breathing which means it creates a toned, flexible, and strong body. This obviously will help you to get up that extra flight of stairs or push yourself a little harder on the treadmill.

It improves respiration by learning how to breathe properly while doing the poses. Not a lot of people know how important breathing is but it can affect how you feel and look, your resistance to disease and even your life span.

There are poses that help your thyroid. That’s right, there are several yoga postures that “massage” your thyroid and when you do these yoga postures the thyroid gland will feel relaxed, cleansed and cared-for. Your thyroid makes hormones that regulate your metabolism. So if your thyroid is not healthy, then your metabolism is not healthy. And since your metabolism is the rate at which you burn calories, when your metabolism is “off” you won’t have the energy you need for a happy life and it will be almost impossible to lose weight.

You’ll feel and look stronger and eventually be able to do those poses you thought were out of reach.

Increased flexibility and strength can help prevent the causes of some types of back pain. Many people who suffer from back pain spend a lot of time sitting at a computer or driving a car. That can cause tightness and spinal compression, which you can begin to help with your yoga. It also will help with your alignment which will prevent many other types of pain.

Yoga for the mind

Yoga is excellent for stress relief. If you’ve ever done meditation then you know that concentrating on something whether it is listening to a sound or staring at an object focuses your mind and helps you let go of all the worries and problems that can plague it. So concentrating on your pose and most importantly your breath is an excellent form of calming yourself.

Yoga also gives you a heightened awareness of your body. Not the awareness of how much fat is hanging over your shorts but the movements your body makes or the muscles used to make those movements. The reason for this is the slow transition between poses. Knowing and appreciating what your body can do leads to greater self confidence and self esteem.

Yoga for the spirit

Just as the concentration of focusing on your breathing and pose helps with calming you down, it can also help get you to another level of spirituality or connection to that area of your life.

Yoga is a Sanskrit word. It means union with God. This union is a conscious union. We are all united with God but we are not aware of it. When we practice Yoga, we become conscious of our union with God through our stillness and awareness.

Once you feel that oneness, once you connect with yourself you will begin to understand your beliefs and what feels right to you. You’ll recognize truth for what it is and I can attest that there’s nothing better than that.

For an excellent book on the many ways yoga can help you go to gnani yoga and start feeling the benefits today.

And the answer when everyone (especially those people who already have kids and can’t wait for me to join their little Popped-One-Out-Already Club) is… not really.

I’m glad I’m pregnant. I want to have a baby. But I also love spending time with my husband and I love watching movies late at night, and I like taking afternoon naps with no one interrupting but the fluffy cat. I love that I have (knock on wood) at least a month left before I have to give up some of those things. Is that wrong? Shouldn’t I be all zen and happy with where I am?

But the looks people give me when I say, “um, I’m enjoying where I am today” are a little scrunchy and crunchy. Maybe they’re just jealous of my zen-like acceptance of life. Oooooommmmmmmmmm.

Moving around in prenatal swim class felt so good that this week I decided to try out prenatal yoga class.  It was… not like prenatal swim class.

The thing that was nice about water aerobics was that I got to really exercise.  I haven’t been exercising much, and it felt challenging and good.  Afterwards I walked straighter and slept better.  I assumed the same would be true of prenatal yoga, since these are things I associate with just-plain-yoga yoga.

There are a number of prenatal yoga options in Portland, so I chose the one that was closest to my house.  It was held at a sort of prenatal salon where they offer spa treatments and assorted classes to expecting moms.  I’ve only been in once before, and found the place kind of snobby.

Prenatal yoga was not snobby.  But it also wasn’t much yoga.  We started out by “checking in” – going around the room and finding out who each woman was, how far along she was, how her pregnancy was feeling so far, and if there were any particular things she wanted to work on.  It was a good idea in theory.  In practice it took almost half of the hour-long class.

Pregnant women all feel achy and strange in new and different ways every week.  Unlike normal yoga class, where “checking in” consists of one person mentioning his recently sprained ankle, this checking in was endless.  Everyone had things to check: poor sleep, incessant kicking, sore backs, stress.  Plus we are hormonal.  It’s part of the package.  So when one woman shared her recent diagnosis of gestational diabetes, she began to cry.  She was the first of three to cry during check in.

I don’t mean to sound insensitive.  I see that the appeal of the class is partly the community, and the chance to feel connected with other people going through a similar experience.  I admit that there was something comforting about all the crying, because I’ve been crying a lot lately also.  Since the non-pregnant people all around you in the big non-pregnant world are generally not crying, one can start to feel a bit crazy.  The endless check-in was somewhat reassuring.

But really I just wanted to do yoga.  I wanted to stretch out my body and make more room for the baby.  I wanted to breathe deeply and clear my head and get my bones and muscles and organs back in their proper places.  We did this for fifteen minutes, and it felt divine.  So I’m going to try to make more regular time for yoga, and try to find a class that makes more time for yoga, too.

More and more mothers to be are turning to prenatal yoga classes to prepare emotionally and physically for labor.

I practiced yoga through both my pregnancies. 

I experienced active healthy pregnancies with few problems. 

My births were relatively easy, completely unmedicated with quick recoveries. In both cases hospital staff remarked on my calmness.

The relaxation techniques and creative visualizations were amazing during labour. I utilized progressive muscle relaxation during the breaks between the labour rushes and mindful deep breathing through the deep sensations of labour.

Since then I have personally observed  many, many women benefit from yoga during their pregnancy year. Through attending births and interviewing past participants I have realized that all - no matter what their birthing experience – found at least a few of the techniques helpful.

Some Rainbow Yoga Babies are now in their twenties and I get to be on Facebook with them. Oh the thrills of getting older!

Rainbow Yoga Prenatal Classes typically include yoga exercises to gently strengthen, massage and stretch the body; breathing exercises to increase calm, focus and balance, visualizations to ease labour and relaxation techniques to release deeply held tensions.  We also provide documentation on practicing yoga during pregnancy and tips and hints for pregnancy and birthing.

A yoga exercise program is a gentle way to keep active and supple. The benefits listed below show how yoga can contribute to a smooth pregnancy, natural childbirth and restoration of body shape after childbirth.

 Prenatal yoga exercises can help:

• reduce nausea and mood swings.
• boost energy and lessen fatigue.
• restore calm and focus.
• reduce physical and emotional tensions and stress.
• enhance strength and confidence.
• improve posture, stability and balance.
• create optimal health and awareness.
• contribute to a faster, easier, less painful labour.
• reduce the likelihood and need of medical intervention during delivery.
• relieve edema (fluid retention) and cramping.
• strengthen and massage the abdomen.
• stimulate bowel action and enhance the digestive process.
• relieve tension around the cervix and birth canal.
• assist the mother to focus on opening the pelvis to make labor easier and quicker. 
• develop flexibility in the hip region.
• increase strength and awareness of pelvic floor
• relieve aches and pains such as backache, sciatica, sore knees, and headaches.

Post natal yoga exercise can help:

• restore the uterus, abdomen and pelvic floor.
• relieve upper back tension and breast discomfort.
• regain strength and flexibility.
• prevent and or alleviate postpartum depression.

Many of the claims above are now being proven scientifically!

A gentle yoga class as Yoga for Pregnancy can be an amazing way to help those wishing to get pregnant too! More thoughts on that in my next blog!

That’s what Andy asked me when I told him our baby is as big as an apple.    Let me digress for one second please, but did anyone (other than Cha) read dooce’s first day of kindergarten entry?  Well, the main thing about it is how her little girl Leta just went on and on and on and on some more all about her first day.  Loved it.  But the photo accompanying the entry- it’s of the cute little girl, sweet Leta.  And let me tell you, she was SPIT RIGHT FROM HER FATHER’S MOUTH!!!  I mean, she looks ZERO like her mama.  I can only imagine what that must feel like.  Well, maybe I can’t.  Is she like, “Oh, this one’s yours” and then just hands it over?  And then I’m sure there are all sorts of psychological ramifications that go along with that- and I don’t even want to know what they are, because I’m sure there’s no way we’ll be able to avoid them.  We do talk about not “pigeon holing” by saying this is our smart/funny/athletic/bad/tempermental child.  But I imagine it’s much easier said than done!  ENOUGH about all that.  But I really am so CURIOUS- WHO DOES THIS BEAN LOOK LIKE???

Ok, so, the bean is now as large as an apple.  (You think that’s how Gwennie got her baby’s name?  She read the baby center update “Your baby is about the size of an apple, and said, ‘Well, we can just stop looking for names right now because Apple is IT!’ “  Good thing she didn’t fall in love with the update, “Your baby is about the size of a shrimp.”)  The air sacs in bean’s lungs are developing, the legs are longer than the arms now, and baby’s eyelids are fused shut but can sense/see light.  Oh, and baby’s got taste buds and can move all its limbs and joints.  Pretty cool.

I’m still throwing up almost every day, depending on how soon I take my miracle pill.  I’d gladly do a commercial, “Zophran… saving my life one pill at a time!”  It just works so FAST!  PTL.  I think I’ve gained about 8 pounds, but I’m weighing myself on a couple different scales, so who really knows.  I’ve had some really bad headaches lately- which is something that’s new to me.  I never got headaches at all before the past couple of weeks.  YES, I’m drinking water all day.  I’m signing up for a prenatal yoga class, which is where one tennis mom told me that she met some of the moms that she is best buddies with now.  So I’m pretty stoked about that.  We have another doctors appointment on Thursday, but I have a feeling it’s going to be pretty uneventful.  I think the appointment after this one (with the ultrasound and all) will be the only really exciting one.  But it’ll be fun to hear the heartbeat once again!

Here’s the latest:

Expectant Mothers of Boston and surrounding communities won’t want to miss the free Baby Expo put on by Destination Maternity of Natick, MA.   Mark your calendar for Sunday, August 30, 2009 from Noon to 5pm.

Destination Maternity is located at 104 Worcester Road (Route 9)
Natick, MA 01760

The Baby Expo event will bring together the best of products and services that cater to expecting mothers expecting more.  Visit with service providers and register to win over $1000 in great prizes.

The vendors will include GoldenView Ultrasound (3D/4D Ultrasound), Magic Beans, Pottery Barn Kids, and Mustela ( skin care)  and many others.  An aesthetician from Edamame Spa  will be on hand for free skin care consultations.

Destination Maternity in Natick, Massachusetts offers a multitude of products and services for pregnant women, including maternity clothing, including the full line from “A Pea in the Pod”.  Services include prenatal yoga, childbirth education, Breastfeeding classes and much more. 

In order to truly embrace your pregnancy, be sure to indulge in a spa treatment or prenatal massage at Edamame Spa located at Destination Maternity. 

Written by Nikki Limburg, Owner, http://www.GoldenViewUltrasound.com located at 1330 Beacon Street Suite 220, Brookline MA  02446.  GoldenView Ultrasound offers  3d and 4d prenatal ultrasound to expectant mothers of Boston and surrounding Massachusetts and New England Communities

As previously written, like any good university-town dweller, I dutifully attended prenatal yoga classes for seven months. I really enjoyed the instructor, so while still pregnant, signed up for her Mommy and Baby yoga classes during my maternity leave.

Before C was born, I imagined us basking in the yoga glow, bonding with other mamas and babies, and showing off my pre-baby belly  (I have since noticed that my memory of body before baby automatically reduces everything by, like, 25 pounds, kind of like how when you were in high school you thought you were sooooooo big and then you look back at pictures of yourself and want to stab that flab-free thigh with rusty tines).

Chalk this pre-baby movie dream to along the lines of my Vaseline-lens vision of nursing with C.

Each week, I dutifully prepared us for our sojourn. Getting a newborn baby out of the house is a workout in itself.

Packed into the car, with extras bottles, clothes, diapers and burp cloths in tow, we then unpacked ourselves in the room, smiling at other moms and their babes. We did warm-ups, some gentle breathing and calmly looked our squirmy wormies in the eye and smiled. Approximately three minutes into this shared experience, C let out a piercing cry.

No worries, I thought. She was generally a good-natured baby. I picked her up and started walking around the room. Sure enough she’ll calm down soon and I can get back to saluting the sun.

Nope. Wails.

OK. A bottle.

Nope.

Diaper?

Nope.

Walking?

Nope.

Shooshing?

Nope.

Swaddling?

Nope.

I left the room knowing that I was starting to bother the other moms who, with their babies, were in their own swan songs of connecting and core strengthening. Us? We were in the hall for what amounted to be an $8 walk.

No worries, says the instructor. She’s still so tiny. It could be her witching hour.

The next week, the same song and dance to get us out the door. And the same cries. This time, she also graced me with projectile vomit that brought tears to my eyes at the shear amount. I drove us home, her in a new outfit that I packed and me covered in sour-smelling regurgitated food.

The next week? Louder screams.

And the next? I nudged in four minutes of warm-ups before the crying started. And so we went, me walking her around for 44 minutes, only quieting down for final relaxation and the drive home.

For six weeks I attempted to get her to have fun with me on the mat, groove on the vibes and simply let me get some exercise. And for six weeks she taught me that as big or little plans are, even for the grace of movement, some things are more important.

There we were, mama and baby, yin and yin, learning how the other one moved in a dance of anxiety that grew into this waltz of love.

- MD

Place: Centered City Yoga

Location: 918 E. 900 S. Salt Lake City, Utah (801) 521-yoga (9642)

Well folks, this time we stopped into a yoga gym called Centered City Yoga (Best of the Beehive 2009 winner) in Sugar House to do our well loved “Dear Diary” segment.  Some of you may be wondering, “Well heck, why yoga?  That’s dumb.  Cancha do somethin’ cool like mud wrestlin’ or beer can smashin’?  What’s s’great bout yoga?”  Oh just this: “Attaining enlightenment and liberation can be achieved through classic practices of meditation and yoga.  Research findings indicate that they are the most widely used of all therapies.  They have been shown to reduce anxiety, specific phobias, substance abuse; to benefit those with medical problems by reducing blood pressure and aiding in the management of chronic pain and so on; to enhance self-confidence, sense of control, marital satisfaction, and to extend longevity (Sue, 2003).”  Bam!

Jesse: Week #3

Prenatal Yoga

As I have been going to Yoga, and realized how much the body is affected by the breath, I have started thinking about how beneficial Yoga would be for pregnant women.  The big craze right now among some of my friends is Hypno-birthing.  Hypno-birthing is natural childbirth education, enhanced by self-hypnosis by controlling your breathing, generally called the “Mongan Method,” named after Doctor Marie F. Mongan, who has been its modern creator.  Women who use hypno-birthing are believed to have reduced length of labor, reduced use of post-birth pain medication, and reduced incidence of postpartum depression.  Myself, I have been a skeptic over this new craze.

My general outlook on pregnancy has always been, “Yes, of course I would have an epidural!  Why would you ever want to experience the pain of childbirth?  We live in a time of modern medicine, so why not use it?”  While I am still wary of trying a natural birth, Hypno-birth followers believe that women’s bodies were made to bear children and that we should let our natural instincts take over.  Centered City Yoga does have a pre-natal yoga class for expecting mothers, and while I did not take the class, ( I guess I could have pretended I was like 3 months along and not showing?), I really have an appreciation for the benefits a pregnant person can receive from Yoga.  The more a woman can really connect and be in-tune with her body and breath her way through pain, the more satisfying the entire birthing experience will be.  I think modern medicine has somewhat forgot this part of pregnancy.  While I am thankful for modern medicine and the low birth-fatalities attributed to western medicine, I believe more women should seek to really connect their minds with their bodies and start to understand their natural instincts.  I plan to attend the pre-natal classes (when that time comes for me) so that I can gain a greater appreciation for this natural female process.

As I try to summarize this Yoga experience, I am left with a greater respect towards this practice than I ever thought I could feel.  I have very much appreciated how when you attend a class at Centered City Yoga, you are not only getting a great workout; you are also nourishing the mind as well.  Nowhere else can you get a workout such as this and walk away feeling so refreshed and free of your usual cares.  I have so much esteem for the teachers who have devoted so much time to becoming masters of the art and are able to share and teach what they know to the general public.  I find the history and benefits of Yoga incredibly interesting.  Everyday we hear new drugs that come out to fix this or that but we forget that there are natural and more healthy ways to cure our common ailments; when in fact people, thousands of years ago, already had the answer to most of our problems, we just regretfully forget to practice them.  Or some people know they exist, but prefer quick fixes (much like a diet pill).  After my own experience at Centered City Yoga, and researching literature on the subject, I have realized the following benefits:

Muscles Become Toned – Muscles that have become weak or flaccid with under-use or age are repeatedly stimulated to increase strength and lose weight.

Complete Detoxification – By gently stretching muscles and joints as well as massaging the various organs, yoga ensures the optimum blood supply to various parts of the body. This assists in flushing toxins out from every spot as well as providing nourishment up to the last body part. The benefits are thought to be delayed ageing and increased energy.

Increase Flexibility – Yoga has positions that act upon the various joints of the body including those joints that are never really used, let alone exercised.  Increased flexibility leads to fewer injuries for all ages.

Massaging of All Organs in the Body – Yoga massages the internal glands and organs of the body in a thorough manner, including those that hardly get externally stimulated during our entire lifetime. The stimulation and massage of the organs benefits us by keeping away disease and providing a forewarning at the first possible instance of a likely onset of disease or disorder.

Increased Overall Health – Yoga forces you to unite the body and mind, and allows for meditation when otherwise a person may not have the time.

I encourage everybody to take some time out of their schedule and experience Yoga for themselves.

Noel: Week #3

Mount Timpanogos is the second highest mountain in Utah’s Wasatch Range.  At 11,749 ft, the view from the top, on all sides, is majestic.  The hike takes several hours and courses through green forest, small streams and waterfalls, flower-covered fields, snow (even in August), and rocks, with local mountain goats as residence, as you edge closer to the top.  I recently hiked this Utah classic with my brother.  He’s an excellent hiker in excellent shape with excellent calves to prove it.  Yet, about 2/3 of the way down he wanted to stop.  When we sat down on this fallen tree he began to rub his shins.  They were sore and tightening up from the semi atypical movement one does on a hike.  I thought about my shins; they felt fine.  Then I thought about why and I remember yoga class at Centered City recently.

There is a pose called the Standing Splits (stand on one foot while keeping that leg mostly straight, lean over that one foot as much as you can, and lift the other leg up as straight and far as you can behind you) that forces you to use your shin muscles-did you even know you had shin muscles?  You definitely do when you’re doing the standing splits-to keep balanced.  When I’m attempting this pose I often look at my foot.  What I see is sort of a spaztic oscillation as I’m doing my best to keep balanced, foot muscles twitching and firing back and forth.  I often put one or both hands on my shin while trying this pose and have noticed there is a lot of strength and power contained in those muscles.  Meanwhile, a puddle of sweat is collecting right off the front edge of my mat as it streams off my forehead.  Hope no one slips.

Thus, on beautiful Mount Timpanogos I saw another benefit of yoga; strong shin muscles.

One thing about the instructors at Centered City; they are proficient teachers.  They are knowledgeable enough to accommodate all skill levels.  So you don’t have to feel uncomfortable because everyone besides you is able to put the bottom of their foot on the back of their head.  The teachers are very helpful in adapting or giving different options for the poses.  They’re experienced enough to know when my technique in any or all areas could use some tweaking; “Now look at your feet.”, “Bring your shoulders back.  Now elongate your neck toward the front of the room.”, “Breath.”  Through these small modifications that the instructors helped me out with, I’ve been able to impove my personal practice of yoga.  And that’s what it is; no competition; it’s personal.  That’s why mindfullness is so important.  Listen and be aware of yourself. Honor yourself.

Namaste.

I went with my new friends, Debra and Andrea, to baby yoga this week and it was so awesome! We attended the class at Amazing Births in Boca Raton. The class was a combination of exercises for moms and activities for our babies. We also massaged our babies and I learned from the instructor that wheat germ oil is very good to use for infant massage. There were 6 of us total in the class (12 including our babies) which I think was the perfect size for a class like this. The babies ages ranged from 3 months to 6 months. It was very comforting to be in an environment where we could feed and change our infants as their needs required. All of the babies were so calm throughout the class. Debra and I carpooled together and on the way home both of our sons were completely conked out! You can go to www.amazingbirths.com for more information on this class and others. They also teach prenatal yoga and have educational classes on things like immunizations and naturopathic care for newborns and infants.

Baby Yoga

Baby Massage

Chris & Tina, Balloon Museum

Hola from Albuquerque!

First of all, major apologies to everyone for not doing this sooner.  Both Chris & I are so blessed to have a great bunch of family & friends and the least we could do is keep y’all up to date on all things baby.  

Time has flown by since finding out that I’m pregnant back in March.  Here’s the latest:

I’m 5 months pregnant, or 22 weeks to be more exact.  Due date is November 8th.

It’s a BOY!  Still mulling over name choices, but Noah is our latest favorite.  Thoughts?

Chris & I are over the moon excited about it all.  Pregnancy so far is going well, no major voms, cravings or discomfort.  Staying active has played a big part, I think.  

A lot of people have asked if I’m showing yet–not too too much, but “sucking it in” is nearly impossible at this point.  Not nearly in moo moo territory, clothing wise, but I hear that comes fast.  

I did get a pair of maternity jeans the other day and they’re a little loose at the moment, but OMG the elastic waistband is a godsend for all the potty stops during the day.  

Baby Shower!  Going to do one in Texas in mid August at Mom’s in Spicewood, bring on the cake!  Invites should go out next week.  I hope to see as many family & friends as possible while in Austin, so it will not be strictly girls at the shower.  Also want to do one in Albuquerque, maybe in October (Halloween theme !) Someone said that you can’t have enough baby showers.  I’m like, bring on the cake(s)!  

Registering for gifts was definitely an experience.  Babies R Us was useful for testing out major things like the stroller, car seat, and bassinet thingy.  Target had a lot of nice things that I may or may not need, but oh so cute. 

Otherwise, we’re just staying busy with work, being our usual homebody selves.  I started doing this prenatal yoga workout at home and its soo relaxing and yummy.    

I have to say that overall I feel so blessed with everything that is taking place.  Chris’s mom said that we get to be a kid again, such a great way to view it all.  Chris himself has been such a godsend all around and I can’t wait to see the little man that we’ve created together.  

Here are some of the latest ultrasound images of the critter:

Baby LoDunk

 

Baby LoDunk & his junk

The technician said that he’s got long legs and is completely healthy.

As a general rule, regardless of your practice history, it is best to go to prenatal yoga classes to learn safe modifications.  Many studios offer prenatal yoga classes and there are some studios that specialize in this area.

When choosing a class, look for a teacher that speaks to you rather than a school or a deal.  Do the research first.  Look for their bio on the studio’s site, read up on their style and training before taking that first class.  

Arrive early to that first class so that you can tell the instructor about your body, health, and pregnancy.  The more you tell them, the more you will get out of the class.  During class, take the class that they are teaching, but remember to speak up if anything feels uncomfortable.  It may feel like some of the modifications are too cautious, but remember that your pregnant body is very different from your “normal” body and your practice will be different too.  You’ll have plenty of time to get your pre-pregnancy practice back in a few months.

If you are brand new to yoga it might be best to stick with these specialty classes.  However, those with previous yoga experience may sometimes opt to attend  and modify regular classes.  If this is your route, try to go to classes taught by a teacher with knowledge of prenatal yoga.  Keep in mind that there are many different theories as to what is and is not safe to practice while pregnant, so in the end, listen, learn, and do what feels good to you.  

Here is a list of Prenatal-friendly classes/teachers at Sangha Yoga Shala:

Charlotte Mama Moves Pilates or Pilates for Yoga People

Malissa Hatha or Vinyasa Flow

Erin Hatha

Kenzie Vinyasa Flow

Denise Forrest Yoga

Abby basics

Cory Rope Wall Iyengar

Not recommended

Vinyasa Flow in general

Basics in general

Hatha in general

Sangha Stoned in general

Mysore Ashtanga if not committed to a regular Mysore practice

Birthing Business Institute Ezine

I woke up at 6am on the 21st and felt pretty awake and starting have contractions. Take in mind I’ve been having contractions since I was 4 months pregnant. I for sure thought that I wouldn’t know when I actually went into labor because I had SO many contractions that I thought I would blow them off as more Braxton Hicks contractions. But I heard over and over again that I would just “know” and my contractions would be “different”. By 7am I “knew” I was in labor and indeed the contractions were “different”.  These contractions left me speechless during the peaks, but not in complete pain.
Morgan was getting ready for school and I told her that I was in labor and she could stay home from school. Her biggest concern was that I would wait too long to call her and she wouldn’t make it to the birth on time. (Her school is literally across the street and takes her 7 minutes to get across campus to home) But I figured it would be great to have her there for the whole process. After all, part of the purpose of going natural was to show the girls that we as women can do it!
I had Morgan text everyone around 7:30am letting them know I was in the beginning stages of labor. Garrett was still sleeping and although I really wanted to wake him, I knew it was more important that he be fully rested for the big day. I called my midwife and let her know I was starting and she advised me to try and lay back down for a nap and to conserve my energy. Well, I tried that. These contractions were enough to wake me up and get me off the couch- to my knees and leaning over the seat of the couch. Oh yeah, don’t forget to breathe. The midwife let me know what her schedule was for the day but assured me she would cancel it all whenever I gave the word. I told her I was fine to be on my own for a while and that I would call her later when things got going.
I heard Garrett get into the shower around 9:30am and I went upstairs to fill him in. “Well, I’m in labor” “Great!” he says, “We’re gonna have a baby today!” I half heartedly grinned with a fear in my bones.
Garrett got busy setting up the pool, lying plastic down, moving furniture around and general set up. I hit all fours about every 5 minutes and took each contraction one at a time. We took a little walk to the end of our cul-de-sac and walked into the wooded area and back. We would stop for each contraction and hug and sway and then continue walking. The sun was out, the breeze was nice. It was beautiful.
Garrett’s mom came over and hung out waiting for her first grandchild to show up. She was very excited. The midwife called as I was in the middle of a contraction- so I put her on hold. By then the contractions were 4 minutes apart and more aggressive. Enough for me to moan through the intensity. She asked me if I wanted her to come and I told her I was still fine for now and I would call her in a bit. About 20 minutes later, around 12noon, I asked Garrett to fill up the pool with warm water. He asked if I wanted him to call the midwife and again I told him I was fine. Then I had him call my mom and ask her to pick up Carlie from school and head over to the house.
I got in the pool which helped to relax me quite a bit and again the contraction got a little more intense, now putting the pressure into my low back. I would lean over the side of the pool, grip the towel and moan through the contraction all the while chanting in my head, “Surrender, breathe, opening up, letting go”  I asked Garrett to call the midwife, but he had already gone behind my back and called. He said they were already on their way. Between contractions I was talking and laughing with everyone. Mom and Carlie came sometime around this time.
I continued to labor in the pool for another hour or so, it’s hard to recall as time was irrelevant as I was laboring. The midwife and her assitant came sometime around 2:45 and started setting up all of their gear. When I say gear, I mean 4 large packs full of medical equipment.
Vickii, my midwife and her assistant Derenee assumed I wasn’t as far along as I was because of my demeanor.  Vickii suggested Garrett give everyone chores to keep them from staring at me creating a slower labor. Mom and Morgan took off to go get a pizza and Garrett’s mom, Mary, and Carlie headed to Mary’s house to let the dog out.
My back pain continued to increase. Vickii suggested I get out of the pool and take a trip up in down the stairs; she assured me it would get things moving. I was reluctant to say the least. I didn’t want to get out of the warm water.
Garrett helped me out of the pool and to the bottom of the stairs. The stairs looked a mile high! I made my way up the stairs having 3 contractions on the way up. Each one getting more and more intense. I stopped, squatted, grabbed the railing and tried to get my legs open as far as possible. The pain my low back was getting stronger. We walked in to our bedroom and I came to rest at the foot of our bed. There is a wood frame around the bottom of our bed that allowed me to hold on, yet rest my face on the mattress while in a squatting position.
Garrett asked me if I wanted to journey back down the stairs and I said I was going to stay put right where I was. The midwives set up some drop cloths and chucks pads under me just in case. The midwives left the room  and gave Garrett and me some privacy and time to be together. This was an amazing time for him and I to be in this process just the two of us. Garrett continued to coach me and reassure me that I was doing great and stay with it. The contractions were almost unbearable and I could feel changes happening in my hips and pelvis. This is where is got tough. Each contraction felt like someone pulling my hips apart, yet I felt I couldn’t open them wide enough. It had reached an intense point.
My inner dialogue at this point was very interesting. There was a duality. One part of me is analyzing each moment and has a complete understanding of what is going on, while the other half of me is screaming and freaking out!!!! To consciously witness both inner dialogues was a very surreal process to me.
I continued to try and get comfortable but there was nothing I could do to escape the ever increasing pressure. The next contraction I turned to Garrett and said, “I don’t think I can do this” This is when they, the experts, say “transition” is happening. Garrett said, “Yeah you can, he’s almost here”. Then the next contraction I said to Garrett, “I changed my mind, I don’t want to do this.”
About 10 senconds later my water broke. Right then I got the feeling that I had to take the hugest poop of my life and needed to get it out. The feeling to bear down was strong. In my mind I was thinking, “I have to shit and I don’t care.” The pressure was a strange feeling. It felt like it was in my rectum, yet different. I squatted and pushed and Kai’s head crowned. Garrett cried out, “I can see his head, baby!” Garrett called Vickii into the room and she told me to slow down. The feeling now was what they call “the ring of fire” which is exactly what it sounds like. It is when your vaginal lips start to stretch when the baby crowns. Kind of like an Indian burn on your arm. It burns, yet it feels so good to finally push. I wanted to keep pushing just to get him out but I took a deep breath, sat back.
Vickii told me to slow down my pushing and take my time so I wouldn’t tear.  I sat back on my right leg while I kept my left foot planted on the floor so I could elevate my rear off the ground. I reached down and could feel the top of the baby’s head protruding out.
Right about then Mom and Morgan came back from the store and Vickii called them upstairs. Mom grabbed the camera and started filming. Morgan grabbed the still camera and snapped some shots.
I kept pushing and his head was just about out. It felt like everything stopped. No matter how hard I pushed, nothing was happening.
Vickii had me lean forward onto all fours and continue pushing. Still nothing. Kai was stuck at the shoulders. I didn’t know this until after the birth. Vickii had to reach up inside me and turn him to let him come out. I let out a scream and continued to push. Vickii yelled, “Keep pushing he’s almost out!”
With all the vigor and energy I had left inside of me I let out a roar. Literally. And he was out.
I sat back in awe of what I had just accomplished.
Kai was breathing, but not taking in deep breaths. The midwives worked on Kai to get him stimulated to take the first deep breath. But he wasn’t. They gave him CPR to help him expand his lungs. Then he finally let out his first beautiful cry. I looked up to see tears streaming down moms and Morgan’s face. The fear was still written all over Garrett’s face.  Morgan cut the umbilical cord.
Mary and Carlie never made it back in time but Morgan assured me that she was glad Carlie had not witnessed everything. She said it was almost overwhelming for her to watch.
Kai is doing great now and growing like a weed. As of yesterday (5/5/09) he was 10lbs 11oz.
I have to say this was the most intimate experience I have ever had with a man and the most empowering thing I’ve ever done as a woman. This has given Garrett and I bond that I will cherish forever. It was simply amazing!
If you are thinking about having children in the future and want more information about home birth/natural birth, I highly recommend the documentary by Ricki Lake- The Business of Being Born and also Orgasmic Birth. They both helped me to overcome some of the fears of going naturally.

Toree Nies

My sister gave me a great prenatal yoga video. With the assistance of my wonderful husband, I moved some of the living room furniture out of the way and plopped myself and my yoga mat down in front of our TV. First let me just say that it felt so good. The stretching, deep breathing, and strengthening poses were just what my body has been looking for!

O.k so – my point: When I got up from doing my yoga session I left my bright orange mat laying down the center of our living room & rug. We actually really liked the way that stripe of color looked in the room! So – yes, it’s still sitting there. This also got my mind thinking… how else can you use those brightly colored or fabulously patterned yoga mats that some of us have lying around. Then I came across this post on apartment therapy about ways to re-use your yoga mat. Thought I had to share:

1.Use cookie cutters to cut the mat into holiday ornaments
2.Cut down for placemats for pet dishes. Keeps the area neat while also prevents the dishes from sliding around
3.Clean the mat well and use it to line kitchen shelves
4.Use the mat to smother weeds in your garden.
5.Instead of buying a rug pad, use an old yoga mat (or two) to keep your rug in place. Rug pads also make vacuuming your rug easier.
6.Instead of packing peanuts, wrap pieces of a yoga mat around your valuables.
7.Strips of old yoga mat make colourful stair treads.
8.Use a piece as a welcome mat outside a kitty litter box. The mat’s stickiness grabs the litter off paws preventing it from spreading throughout the rest of the house and protects kitty’s paws as well
9.Cut into rounds and use as coasters
10.Cut a piece to use as a sunshade in your parked car when it gets really hot

For 40 more ways – click here!

The “How to Grow Your Birthing Business” Workshop is coming to the San Diego area on Saturday, July 11th at Babies in Bloom in Vista, CA

For more information or to register, call the Birthing Business Institute at 760-522-2829 or email sheri@birthingbusiness.com. We will be posting more information soon.