Check out our blogs about yoga, birth & parenthood!
First published in Well Rounded NY When I was pregnant with my first baby, I worked out until I gave birth and looked like I had just stepped out of a pregnancy magazine. I only gained weight in my belly and my boobs, and I generally felt good. But my rigorous and rather insane fitness […]
By guest blogger, Michelle W. Canarick, Ph. D. The day before my mother’s birthday I was 12-weeks pregnant and my husband and I sat in the waiting room of the sonogram area of the hospital. I don’t know what we were doing…were we talking? Were we holding hands? I can’t remember. What I do remember
Life After Loss, A Story of Miscarriage and Moving Forward Read More »
What has surprised you most about motherhood thus far? There is no “normal.” I can’t get over how different every baby is. As a brand new mom, I love having the PYC community to connect with other moms, and naturally, the conversation turns to our new babies. What bottles do you use? Do you swaddle
Mom of Month: Meet Jamie Hurwitz! Read More »
If you’ve met Corinne Low, you’d remember her. She’s got infectious energy, a wealth of sound advice, and an admirable dedication to breastfeeding, i.e. pumping while practicing yoga. She also has “a really interesting motherhood story because although Kai is my first baby, I’ve been a step-parent to Alex for 10 years. So, there are
Mom of the Month: Meet Corinne Low! Read More »
Every Wednesday between 12 and 12:15 pm I check in with the mothers who have come to take postnatal yoga. While many different women have cycled through in the past 15 years, many of the issues, concerns, and complaints remain the same. Feeling overwhelmed, completely depleted, disconnected from their core and pelvic floor, breastfeeding issues,
Lack of Postpartum Support is Hurting New Mothers Read More »
If you come to class regularly then you know that we talk a lot about accepting and embracing the unexpected when it comes to giving birth. Good thing Jenny Wood came to class a lot! Her daughter, Noa Violet, entered the world in dramatic fashion on July 9. “In about 90 seconds, I went from,
Mom of the Month: Meet Jenny Wood! Read More »
To say that Aviva Lehmann is busy is quite an understatement. The full-time working mom just welcomed baby #3 to her brood! Major Kagan Lehmann was born on June 5 and has two older sisters (and two dogs) who adore him. If you’re a regular at postnatal or Baby & Me yoga, then chances are
Mom of the Month: Meet Aviva Lehmann! Read More »
Dana was one of our most loyal prenatal students, coming to class at least once a week for months as she prepared for the birth of her first child. Ten days past her due date, Maya Liora finally made her entrance into the world on May 8. Now nearly two months in to her motherhood
Mom of the Month: Meet Dana Simpson! Read More »
Originally posted on Well Rounded NY As you’re getting ready to give birth, you may find that certain hospital standard practices and medical interventions clash with the birthing experience you want. Many of these medical interventions, research shows, are done more for convenience than for medical reasons. So it’s important to educate yourself and get involved
Dear Mother Who Is Trying to Do It All, You are an amazing mother and person. You are not June Cleaver, effortlessly gliding across your perfectly waxed kitchen floor, freshly baked cookies in hand, sporting high heels, pearls, and an impeccably ironed apron. Nor are you Peggy Bundy, lounging on the couch watching endless TV
Dear Mother Who Is Trying To Do It All, Read More »
Originally posted on Beyond Mom Beyond Mom Interviews Deb Flashenberg Founder of Prenatal Yoga Center SHARE: Deb Flashenberg is the founder and director of the Prenatal Yoga Center, the first yoga center in NYC to focus solely on Moms and Moms to be. When Deb graduated with a degree in Musical Theater from the Boston Conservatory of
Beyond Mom Interviews Deb Flashenberg Read More »
Rhythm. Take a moment to close your eyes and connect with your breath. After you push through your thoughts and surrender to the task of observing your breath, you may start to notice a natural rhythm occurring: the rise of your inhale, the peak of breath, and the exhalation completing the cycle. Then the pattern
Rhythm In Labor; Pain Versus Suffering Read More »
Seen in the March 2017 Mantra Magazine How familiar is the image of the sportswear clad, smiling mother, coffee in hand, happily pushing the SUV of strollers down the perfectly manicured street? This depiction of motherhood is all too prominent in our society. Mothers are often fed the idea that the transition to motherhood is
Tips For Making the Great Transition to Motherhood a Little Easier Read More »
Ask any pregnant or laboring woman if they appreciated getting routine vaginal exams to check progress. During pregnancy, unless the mother is experiencing preterm labor, checking dilation will not change the manner in which the care provider manages the woman’s labor. During labor, routine vaginal exams can increase the chance of infection for the mother
No Need to Be So Handsy Read More »
A benchmark given in most childbirth education classes is that active labor starts once the mother has reached 4cm dilation. To go along with that milestone, many care providers advocate that the mother waits until active labor before being admitted to the hospital and receiving pain medication. We know that once the mother has turned
A student approached me last week very upset and rather angry. She said she felt betrayed and let down by what she called the “Natural Birth Movement”. She went on to tell me about her vast preparation for labor: she read all the books, went to prenatal yoga classes and a lengthy childbirth education class,
Is the Natural Birth Community Doing a Disservice to Expectant Mothers? Read More »
“You birth between your ears, not your legs”, a statement made by internationally recognized expert on water birth and gentle birth, Barbara Harper, rang in my head long after our podcast interview was over. For years, I subscribed to midwife, Ina May Gaskin’s theory “Let your monkey do it!” Meaning monkeys don’t over think their
Does Birth Happen In the Brain? Read More »
I started teaching prenatal yoga almost 16 years ago. At the time, yoga had not become mainstream and prenatal yoga was not an up and coming discipline like it is now. My introduction to prenatal yoga was from a teacher based in Iyengar yoga so there was very little flow and movement between the poses. While I
How Vinyasa Yoga Can Teach You To Give Birth Read More »
Since I first opened the doors for Prenatal Yoga Center, childbirth education classes has been a staple of our foundation and offerings. For years, thousands of couples have attended these classes in preparation for their upcoming birth. From time to time, there will be an inquiry as to what the value is of taking a
Why Take Childbirth Education OUTSIDE the Hospital Read More »
Originally published on Endangered Bodies While the inspiration to first step onto the yoga mat may come from the popularity of prenatal yoga or a suggestion from the care provider, the experience of yoga, for many women is often far deeper than simply a good stretch and a nice, quiet savasana (corpse pose) at the end of
Prenatal Yoga: A Passage Way to Empowerment Read More »
Not long ago, I was speaking with a friend about her experience right after her babies were born. She confided in me that she suffered from postpartum depression and started to tell me her story. I asked her if she would be willing to share what she endured so that other women can learn from
Postpartum Depression Read More »
This article originally appeared on Mommybites.com, November, 11th 2015. For many women there seems to be some confusion over the difference between the practice and role of a midwife versus that of a doctor. While there are some overlapping areas for OBs and midwives, such as they both perform yearly well exams, normal obstetric care, and
Understanding the Model of Care : Doctor and the Midwife Read More »
Published in International Doula, Volume 17, Issue 4 2009 Recently I was at a couple’s apartment doing a private childbirth education class. We went through quite a bit of information that covered everything from pain management techniques to understanding the different stages of labor to how the mom’s partner can support her through the variations
The MUST Have Talk BEFORE Birth! Read More »
About 12 years ago, while I was earning my doula certifications, I attended a birth that had such an impact on me, the situation still lingers with me to this day. To complete the doula program, I was required to attend three births and then be critiqued on my performance. So here I was, fresh,
Asking Permission To Birth Your Baby?!? Read More »
BY G. H. I saw the photo this drawing is based on, taken by @daniloxton on Instagram, and aside from immediately wanting to create a drawing out of it, it also evoked so many feelings of early motherhood for me. The way the two of them are sitting close, bare skin, reminds me of how
5 Ways I Have Remained (Somewhat) Sane As a Mother Read More »
The first few weeks of motherhood can be daunting and throw even the most confident, successful woman for a loop. Here are 7 tips aimed to help make this transition a little smoother. Get out of the house. Unless there is inclement weather, you and your new best pal- your baby- need to get
7 Steps to Surviving Early Motherhood Read More »
Originally posted on teach.yoga When I was pregnant, I was delusional about how my yoga practice would continue once I became a parent. I carefully planned out my work and childcare schedule to attend at least one yoga class a week and practice on my own the other days. Before baby, I attended three classes
Yoga and Parenthood Read More »
While I was pregnant, I kept my birth choices private. I am a prenatal yoga teacher, labor support doula and Lamaze teacher; I didn’t want my students to feel I disapproved of their birth plans based on the fact that I was preparing for a home birth. How a mother chooses to birth is very
Why I Chose A Home Birth Read More »
Much of the literature and information pertaining to the unfolding of birth is geared towards demystifying and preparing the mother. However, there tends to be less focus on how to prepare the partner for the birth experience and how to be a helpful and vibrant support. If one forgoes hiring a doula, then the partner
Preparing Your PARTNER For Birth! Read More »
BY G.H. Using Motherly Intuition & Snippets of Parenting Books I Say I’ll start Reading Tomorrow for Toddlerhood My husband and I started potty training our 2.5 year old Elle on Friday, February 26th. We followed the appropriately titled Oh Crap! Potty Training book in which you pick a date to take off the diapers
Lessons from my Daughter Read More »
Ask someone to explain their vision of a laboring woman and you are likely to hear the hysterical, over dramatized movie portrayal of birth. For many women, labor is nothing like the movies. Labor can be slow and methodical, or fast and furious. But one thing most people will agree upon is it’s intense. The
I am going to throw out an idea that may sound completely crazy to many people; Start to think about your birth BEFORE you are even pregnant! I know for many people there is enough anxiety and anticipation around getting pregnant and then the trials and tribulations of the first 12 weeks- nausea, fatigue, fear
Planning Your Birth BEFORE You Are Pregnant Read More »
My birthing story begins with my husband… I mean where else can it really begin? When I became pregnant, I was super excited, but feeling a little alone in the process. Many of my friends were on their second or third children and I was pregnant for the first time… So my husband did
Shara’s Birth Story Read More »
Watch most movies or TV shows that show a hospital setting where a woman is giving birth and comments like “how dilated is she?” or “Oh, you are 10 cm, let’s start pushing!” are being thrown around. So it is no wonder that many people associate labor progress with one determining factor- cervical dilation. However,
Station NOT Dilation! Read More »
A few nights ago, I was quietly lying in bed reading when I stumbled upon the article, “More Doulas Can Help Lower the Cost of Childbirth. There’s Just One Problem,” by Elissa Strauss on Slate.com. I was intrigued and excited that an article supporting the usage of a doula was in a main stream magazine.
Defending The Doula Read More »
Since my decision to start a podcast, I have been devouring as many different podcasts I can find to learn about the different styles, themes and content. Interestingly enough, it seems, no matter where I look, I come across Brene Brown and her discussion of vulnerability. The first one I listened to was Magic Lessons
Vulnerability and Birth Read More »
One of my students recently forwarded me a link to a very pregnant yogini doing extremely advance yoga poses. She asked me my thoughts on this trend. I have to admit, this is something I have been noticing in social media and I am quite upset by the praise these women are getting for not
Is Your Fitness & Yoga Routine Helping or Hindering Your Birth? Read More »
By Andréa Takacs-Carvalho (thegaiahealer on Instagram) My son’s birth story started on the day I met my husband. Previously, I had no desire to be a mother. I never heard the ticking of a biological clock. I also had a great fear of making the same mistakes my parents did. In my 20s I wasn’t even sure marriage was
Preparation and Acceptance for the Birth of a Mama: Andrea’s Birth Experience Read More »
Have you ever stopped to think about the power and ripple effect the words you say to yourself have? Recently I led a class focused on asanas that were purposely uncomfortable. All the poses were safe, but we took long holds- about 5 or so breathes, in strong standing poses and about 1 minute in
The Language of Labor and Birth Read More »
In conjunction with a exercise, healthy diet and good prenatal care during pregnancy, body work can really add to a woman’s positive pregnancy and birth experience. Body work can not only help ease and relieve pregnancy related issues but can also help prepare the mom’s body for labor and delivery. Here is list of
Tuesday Tip: Body Work! Read More »
Perhaps I should stop using the word “Kegel” when referring to pelvic floor work. I think the reason I still use this word is because most everyone knows the basic idea of the area in which I am referring, and it creates some sense of muscle coordination. However, truth be told, what we teach at
Too Loose or Too Tight? What is Going On With Your Pelvic Floor? Read More »
All of a sudden, you are no longer being called by your first name by anyone! Even the guy at the deli is remarking on how cute your new baby is and calling you, “Mommy”. Yes, you have birthed a baby, you have a new role and responsibilities in your life, but you are still
Tuesday Tip: Remember You Are Still You- Not Just “Mommy”. Read More »
Guest Blogger: Ali Epstein Delaying motherhood is a common topic for discussion among women and their partners, especially in cosmopolitan areas like New York City, where ambition and high achievement are rampant, career priorities cause people to marry later and these two factors, together with the high cost of living, often conflict with having families.
“Freezing” the Biological Clock Read More »
I am a bit of a self proclaimed geek! I love to examine studies and findings that are related to childbirth education and prenatal yoga. I spend countless hours reading Medscape, childbirth blogs, and Midwifery Today. A few years ago the Journal of Perinatal Education published a study from the Department of Obstetric Gynecological Nursing
In a recent Teacher Training weekend, one of the trainees opened up about a conversation she had with her father. When she started to share some of her new ideas of involving less intervention and trusting the woman’s innate ability to birth, her father expressed that she was “drinking the kool-aid of the crunchy, granola
U.S. Birth Practices: Are They Traumatizing Our Women? Read More »
During and after pregnancy are great times to call upon your friends for a little extra help. Mamas-to-be When you are at a loss of what kind of stroller to get or contemplating if you really need 5 different kinds of nursing bras, reach out to your friends and ask them what they found useful
Tuesday Tip! “I Get By with a Little Help From My Friends” Read More »
I recently attended a moving and incredibly supportive workshop for expectant parents and birth workers about VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) and cesarean births. Choices in Childbirth, a well respected childbirth advocacy group, gathered a versatile group of speakers including VBAC moms, Sarah Pancake- a veteran doula, Joan Bryson- a home birth midwife and Dr.
Having the Birth You Want: Are You Setting Yourself Up For Success? Read More »
As the warmer days are finally upon us, it is important to stay hydrated, especially for new moms and moms-to- be. Make sure you drink plenty of water. Pregnant mamas: Did you know dehydration can cause early contractions? It is recommended to drink eight 8 ounces glasses of water. Also, should you be informed that
Tuesday Tip! Water! Read More »
Last night, a friend and I were discussing the different factors that help shape one’s perception of birth. There are so many influences that come into play: depictions of labor and birth in movies and TV, friends reliving their birth stories and family members sharing their past. I think the last one mentioned – family
Your Birthing History Read More »
This may sound like an odd idea, but trust me, it is worth the effort! Fill up a tube sock with dry rice or barley, enough to make a supple pack. Sew the end securely closed. For those who like a particular scent, experiment with adding a little essential oil. Lavender is very calming and
Tuesday Tip – Hot Socks! Read More »
