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Check out our blogs about yoga, birth & parenthood!

Having the Birth You Want: Are You Setting Yourself Up For Success?

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. […]

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Tuesday Tip! Water!

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

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Your Birthing History

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

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Tuesday Tip – Hot Socks!

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

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Spontaneous Pushing versus Directed Pushing

In our prenatal yoga classes, a portion of time is devoted to abdominal toning- specifically the transverse abdominis. These are the deepest layer of the anterior abdominal muscles; the muscles fibers run from side to side. I often describe these muscles as functioning like a corset. During our exploration of toning the transverse abdominis, we

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Tuesday Tip! The Birth Ball!

Prenatal Moms-to-Be…Be sure to get your birth ball and rock your hips on it regularly and you can bring it to the hospital, too! New Moms…when your baby is being fussy, gently bounce on the ball. Babies really love the movement!

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Yoga for a Happy, Healthy Heart

Guest Blogger: Jyothi Larson Yoga improves heart health. A yoga practice reduces stress and reduces blood pressure, ultimately reducing the risk of heart disease. Studies published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found yoga to have a significant benefit on cardiovascular health (Lakkireddy et al, 2011; Lakkireddy et al, 2013). In my

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British Regulator Urges Home Births Over Hospitals for Uncomplicated Pregnancies

New guidelines from Britain’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence are now advising low risk women with uncomplicated pregnancies to consider birthing at home with a trained midwife. This would effect approximately 45% of pregnant women. A government financed 2011 study carried out by researchers at Oxford University sites that, “Hospital births were more

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Birth: Don’t Push the River, Let It Flow

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I will rarely make a blanket statement about birth. However, one thing I can say with certainty is to be open to the unexpected. Recently, I have been having an ongoing conversation with a student who has presented me with her very well laid out birth plan. It is detailed and very specific. I offered

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Undisturbed Birth

Several weeks ago, I attended an all day birth lecture with Australian doctor, Sarah Buckley. Dr Buckley, a trained medical professional, author of Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering, mother of 4 and well respected birth advocate, presented a fascinating lecture called, “Undisturbed Birth: The Science and the Wisdom.” Throughout the lecture, I found myself frantically scribbling

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Papaya and Pitocin

A few weeks ago, a student quietly pulled me aside after class to talk to me about my recommendation for papaya enzymes to help relieve her heartburn. She said that she asked her doctor about it and her doctor said it was fine. However, after researching online, she came across some information that suggested unripe

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Reflection, Renewal, Rebirth

Today is Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. This holiday encompasses the reflection of the year past, introspection of challenges overcome and desire for a sweet and resolved new year ahead. My personal relationship with Rosh Hashanah is very complex. It was on the eve of Rosh Hashanah 14 years ago that my father suffered

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Sitting with Discomfort

Not long ago, I was sitting having lunch with my dear friend Michele discussing everything from kids, to marriage, to work. We eventually made it to the subject of yoga. I met Michele nearly 10 years ago when she and her super tight hamstrings ventured into the Prenatal Yoga Center for what would be one

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Sleep Training: One of the BEST Parenting Choices I Have Made!

Sleep- A hot and familiar topic to new parents. Some of the first questions people ask upon meeting your new baby are “How is your baby eating? And, how is your baby sleeping?” The glassy, dark circled eyes should be evidence enough to answer question number two. “Not good” had been my anthem for months.

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My Experience in the Hospital System

Last week I had my first experience as a patient in a hospital in over 20 years. My only hospital experience prior to that has been as a member of the birthing team in the role of a labor support doula. I went in for a hernia repair surgery. The procedure is common, so I

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Super Simple Birth Plan!

I have often heard of nurses and doctors rolling their eyes when a laboring mom comes waddling into the Labor and Delivery unit clutching a multi-page birth plan. I do think it is beneficial for the parents-to-be to educate themselves and explore all the different birth options available to them, but it is also important

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Pregnancy, Postpartum, and Body Image

I have never had the healthiest body image, and pregnancy and postpartum have definitely tested my sanity in terms of how I look and feel. During my first pregnancy, I was somewhere around 20 weeks when I “popped.” I was relieved that I passed the phase of “Is she chubby or pregnant?” I rejoiced in

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Are Your Birth Options Slipping Away?

I recently had a very lively discussion with my friends and expectant first time parents, Denise and Shai. The conversation revolved around the idea that there is often a feeling of having to defend oneself against one’s care provider or hospital. It is a fight of the wills – mom versus her doctor. I acknowledged

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Life After Baby: The Fairy Tale and the Reality

I clearly remember the vision I had of what my maternity leave with my first baby was going to be like. It was the first time in my adult life that I would be away from work – well teaching at least- for an extended period of time. I thought it would be kind of

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Second Stage of Labor and the Epidural: Hospitals Need To Rethink Their Guidelines

A recent article in the New York Times has sparked an important discussion about the relationship of epidural use and the length of the second stage of labor for first time mothers. In the March 2014 Obstetrics and Gynecology Journal, the study Second Stage of Labor and Epidural Use: A Larger Effect Than Previously Suggested

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The Physical and Family Preparation for “Baby Sister”

I would like to give a special shout out to two ladies that are helping my husband and me as we approach the birth of baby number two and our transition from 3 to 4 people in our family. The first person that I want to talk about is Dr. Randi Jaffee. She is a

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Is There A Relationship Between Childbirth Education & A Mother’s Satisfaction With Her Birth Experience?

An interesting conversation ensued the other day with a long time student. She mentioned that she didn’t really like her OB. I asked her if she was planning on have a doula to help navigate the situation since she was not completely confident with her OB relationship. She said no. I then asked if she

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Conscious Relaxation

I recently turned the corner into week 33 of my second pregnancy. What once seemed way off in the future now lies ahead like a big bright neon sign saying “Labor Impending!” Even though I have already been down this road before, there is a bit of anxiety surrounding my upcoming labor. My first birth

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The Benefits of Craniosacral Therapy for Mothers and Children

Guest Blogger Ula Katsoulis, a PYC partner, explains Craniosacarl Therapy and its benefits for moms and children. What is Craniosacral Therapy? Craniosacral Therapy is a light, touch therapy that helps the central nervous system self-correct its dysfunction and heal naturally. The craniosacral system consists of the cranial bones,tissue membranes, and cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds, nourishes

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Explore and Discover in Your Prenatal Practice

Guest Blogger Donna Takeuchi, PYC Prenatal instructor & mom, encourages students to explore and discover both on and off the mat. So much of what we do as humans is habitual. We do something a certain way because that is how we have always done it and most of the time we aren’t fully conscious

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VBAC: Interview With A Mother Facing A Decision

With a national average of 30% of US births being done via cesarean section, the decision to try a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) is something many women will face. I recently sat down with Sasha, the mother of 2 year old Charlotte, who is due in December with her second child. She openly discussed

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Cesarean Birth and Its Recovery

Last week in Prenatal class we were discussing going into birth with an open mind and not being attached to a certain birth plan. I referred to this as having plan A, B and C in place! According to the Center of Disease Control, our current national average cesarean rate is 32.8% (1). With that

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How Movement Can Help You In Labor

Why is it that whenever I see a movie where a woman is in labor, the people taking care of the woman have her sit down, lie down or put her in a wheel chair? It’s as if having the laboring mother walk or move on her own is a bad idea that could cause

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Baby #2 Is On Her Way and Boy is it Different Than Before!

Wow! Is this pregnancy different from my first! Just the other day, I was walking into Shay’s school (Shay is my very active 2 year old) when a former student saw me and asked if I was pregnant. It actually took me a moment to remember and realize that yes, I am! I was concentrating

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Pregnancy and Heartburn

Why do pregnant women tend to suffer from acid reflux and heartburn? Because of the increase in progesterone, which is the hormone responsible for relaxing the smooth muscles throughout the body, the sphincter at the base of the esophagus may not close as tightly as before pregnancy. Additionally, a woman’s body experiences increased pressure from

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Finding Calmness Within The Chaos

A couple of months ago, a student approached me after class with some constructive feedback. She said that while the prenatal yoga class was helpful in reducing her lower back pain, she found it hard to relax and enjoy the yoga because of the distraction of so many other students and the noise of the

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Building Your “Tool Kit” for Labor

When I teach my Prenatal yoga classes, I like to stress the importance of creating what I like to call the tool kit for labor and delivery. This is a collection of reliable, proven pain management techniques the laboring mother can call upon to use as she needs. Not too long ago, I was explaining

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5 Ways to Help Avoid a Cesarean

After a decade of an increasing rate of infants born via Cesarean section, the numbers are now leveling off according to National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (1). This is exciting information for expectant parents who aim to have a vaginal birth. This decrease is partly due

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So You Had a Baby, Now What? Using food as medicine post-partum to help with healing and milk production

By guest blogger Abbie Gellman, MS – nutritionist, yogi, chef, and mother Having a baby is simultaneously one of the most joyful and harrowing experiences a woman can go through. Our bodies grow, change, and nourish new life throughout pregnancy then feed and support the baby once outside the womb. We create life! So why

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Using the Birth Ball In Labor

Among the many pain management tools one can use for labor, the birth ball is definitely a must have! The ball is extremely versatile, inexpensive and effective! Benefits of the Ball Most women instinctively start to sway or rock when seated or leaning against the ball. This movement helps create a natural rhythm which encourages

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3 Important Questions You NEED To Know!

A few weeks ago, one of my students, Rachel, talked with me with about a concern: her due date. She had calculated her due date based on the knowledge of her long cycles (averaging 31 days) while her doctor used the standard 28 day cycle. Her doctor had moved her original due date back a

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Society’s Expectations and the Stigma of Postpartum Depression

I grew up watching 80’s sitcoms, namely The Cosby Show and Family Ties, where it was depicted that having a family was all comic joy with a few silly bumps in the road that could be resolved within 30 minutes. Neither of the mothers in these shows ever showed that motherhood was anything but smiles

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Not Sure About Your Doctor? What To Do!

Recently after one of my Prenatal classes, a discussion formed between two students and myself; one of the women was 14 weeks, the other 25 weeks along. The students were having second thoughts about the care providers they had chosen and were thinking, at this point, what could they do about it? The options for

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Stabilize the Sacrum

To help identify if you are having SI (sacroiliac) joint pain, you can palpate your lower back and identify the sacrum- the flat part of the lower back above your tailbone. To the left and right of the sacrum is a small dimple, this dimple indicates the top of the SI joint. It is most

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Partner Work Works!

For the mother to be, pregnancy can feel like a constant state of awareness of phyisical and emotional change. This sometimes leaves the partner feeling more like a witness to the pregnancy experience and perhaps a little left out. In class we often include some partner yoga and massage poses so that the women can

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Eating During Labor Should Not Be Forbidden

In the movies and on TV, laboring women are often depicted as panting, sweaty and sucking on ice chips. Luckily, that image can finally change! After years of food and fluid intake being restricted for women in labor, there has been a closer scientific look at this practice and the ban has been (somewhat) lifted.

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Maternity Practices in the United States

Last weekend in our Prenatal yoga teacher training, we were discussing the homework the students were asked to complete. They were to write an essay on labor induction and the rise of cesarean births in our country. Though the sources varied, all the students arrived at the same conclusion: US cesarean and induction rates are

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Going Green With Baby

This week we celebrate Earth Day! But why not make honoring the earth and a commitment to healthy living a daily event? Here are a few ideas to help you and your baby live a clean, health and green life! The Diaper Debate There are several diaper options available for a green lifestyle. Cloth Diapers

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Meconium Happens!

What is Meconium? This thick, blackish-green tar like substance is considered your baby’s first stool. Meconium is created from the combination of amniotic fluid, lunugo, mucus, bile, and shed cells that line your baby’s intestines throughout your pregnancy. It usually does not pass until after the baby’s birth; however, sometimes it may occur during labor.

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Ina May Gaskin on the Human Impact of Hi-Tech Birth

Yet again, another wisdom filled video from renowned midwife, Ina May Gaskin

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A Positive Voice From Our Community!

Here is just a brief email I received from one of our students. Please enjoy her positive voice. Hi Deb – I am writing to you from the hospital where my son born yesterday. I am the talk of the labor and delivery ward! Why you ask? Because yesterday I gave birth to a 10

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Spring into warmer weather with Open Hips! video from Deb

A short hip opening sequence from Deb to carry you into Spring.

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Your Doctor’s Birth Plan

I recently met with a couple for a private childbirth education class. When we started to talk about birth plans, the mama-to-be told me that her doctor didn’t want her to write a birth plan. I asked her why and she said that her doctor didn’t want all the details of her birth mapped out

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Relax & Restore to Stay Healthy! with Deb at PYC

Beat the flu season and enjoy this rest and restore sequence with Deb!

Relax & Restore to Stay Healthy! with Deb at PYC Read More »

Who Do You Want With You During Labor?

Renowned midwife, Ina May Gaskin, describes a phenomena called the Sphincter Law in her book Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth. While it may sound funny, there is much truth to this theory, especially in relationship to birth. Here are some of the basics of her Sphincter Law: 1. Excretory, cervical, and vaginal sphincters function best

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