Quick Office Stretches for the New Year! Video with Deb
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Blog
Check out our blogs about yoga, birth & parenthood!
Here’s Your Baby With A Side Of Placenta
The last couple of days I have been talking to my classes about the placenta encapsulation blog I have been working on. So far I have been getting quite the wide range of responses on the subject! Some women are fascinated to hear about the benefits of placenta encapsulation, others had never heard of the
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Understanding “Labor Lingo”
Sometimes walking into a hospital leaves you feeling like you just landed without warning in a foreign country. So many names and terms used today in hospitals may be unfamiliar to you! Rest assured, this quick glance glossary can help demystify labor and delivery talk and get you fluent in “labor lingo.” Amniotomy- The artificial
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How Fear Affects Labor and What You Can Do About It
During a recent yoga class I was taking, my teacher discussed our natural reaction to fear. She explained that students tend to make their poses smaller and constrict themselves when they are fearful of doing the pose. For example, they are afraid to shift their weight forward off their feet and into their hands for
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Preparing Your Pelvis for Labor!
Most women spend countless hours preparing for the arrival of their little one. Picking out names, decorating a nursery (or rearranging a one bedroom apartment, for many NYC-dwelling first time parents), taking Childbirth Education classes…and the list goes on. In the midst of all of the anticipation, preparing the pelvis for labor may go overlooked.
Preparing Your Pelvis for Labor! Read More »
Embodying Durga
Last weekend, I attended workshop with my former teacher, Shiva Rea. About 10 years ago, I studied quite regularly with Shiva. Her teaching has greatly influenced my teaching throughout the years, so it was thrilling to return to her classroom after nearly a decade. Shiva’s path has taken her to India many times; in fact,
Postnatal Yoga and The Power Pose
I recently watched a very interesting TED talk lead by Amy Cuddy, social psychologist. Her talk was titled “Your body language shapes who you are.” Throughout it she highlighted that our body language does not just influence how others read us, but points out that we are also influenced by our own “non-verbal” body language.
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Understanding the Different Methods of Childbirth Education
A student asked me the other day how she should pick a birthing class. Her doctor had suggested she take one in preparation for her upcoming birth. She explained how overwhelmed she started to feel while she researched the different styles and methods of classes available. So this blog is intended to give you a
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The Importance of Tummy Time!
This September we happily added Ellynne Skove MA, LCAT, BC-DTR, NCC, RPP to our teaching roster. Ellynne has taken over the Tummy Time program at Prenatal Yoga Center. For those who are not familiar with Tummy Time or the importance of incorporating it into your infant’s daily life, Ellynne has kindly shared an article she
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TENS Machine- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
Among the many pain management techniques and methods, there is one that gets little attention here in the US. It is called the TENS Machine- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, and it is used throughout much of Europe. What is the TENS machine? How Does It Work? It is a non-invasive, drug free method of pain
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Excerpts from ‘Birthing From Within’
A close friend of mine asked for some pregnancy related book recommendations. She is pregnant with her second baby and a bit anxious about the upcoming experience. I thought for her, Birthing From Within by Pamela England would be a good fit. My friend is fairly spiritual and could really get into the therapeutic birth
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Cesareans and Prenatal Yoga
Not long ago, one of my students, Wendy, was faced with the fact that her birth was not going to go in the direction she had originally hoped. She was intending to have a natural birth up until she learned her baby was in the breach position. After exhausting every avenue she knew to try
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Breastfeeding In Public
I clearly remember my first outing with Shay when I knew I would end up feeding him out of the house. As a new mother, I was a bit nervous since I had a whole “breastfeeding station” set up at home. This included a supportive pillow, water bottle, stool for my feet, right to expose
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Why Breastfeeding? Benefits for Mama and Baby
Welcome to August, aka Breastfeeding Awareness Month! To kick off our month long celebration, we are going to be featuring blogs about breastfeeding, the benefits of it, doing it in public, and proper nutrition for breastfeeding, just to name a few. We are also doing a Karma Yoga event here at the studio on August
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Internal Exams: When To Get Them
A new mother came back for postnatal yoga last week. She was absolutely glowing and excited to share her birth story with me. The new mama said she really felt good about her birth experience, but with the one exception that she wishes she would have been checked for dilation before receiving the epidural. She
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Birthing Season
Most animals in nature follow an instinctual mating habit that reflects the season. Do we humans follow a similar pattern? Over the years, I have noticed that there is a natural ebb and flow regarding due dates. There are often many due dates around the same time, with a particular upraise of birth during the
Calm Eyes Quiet Mind
Recently in class, I was observing the students’ reaction to holding some of the standing poses about one or two breaths longer than we usually do. I found the result was fascinating. Some students immediately focused on their breath to sustain the physical sensations and even appeared soft and relaxed with a quiet, concentrated look
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The Truth about Cesarean Rates Clip
Great clip about the myths and reality behind the rise of the cesarean section rate increase in our country.
The Truth about Cesarean Rates Clip Read More »
Delivered to Obesity?
This is an article from The Week (June 15, 2012 Volume 12 Issue 570 pg 21.) I though it was rather interesting piece, so I am passing it along. Happy reading!! Babies delivered by caesarean section appear to be twice as likely to become obese as those born naturally. Researchers at Harvard Medical School followed
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Batteries NOT Allowed
The recent rain has encouraged me to change up my play routine with my son. Today was particularly dark and overcast afternoon, so my son and I stayed in instead of taking our daily walk to the swings. At first, I was worried about how I could possibly entertain an 11 month old for 3
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NYC and Its “Baby Friendly” Hospitals
In 1991, UNICEF and WHO (World Health Organization) launched the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) in hopes of encouraging and educating hospitals and staff to promote, protect and support breastfeeding. Studies have indicated exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of the baby’s life can dramatically reduce the chance of asthma, type 1 and 2
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Finding Your Community
Part of my original vision in creating the Prenatal Yoga Center was to offer a space that was more than just coming in for class, unrolling your mat, doing some asana, and leaving. I wanted to offer classes that engaged the students and opened a place for friendships to develop and flourish (I am beyond
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Scratching the Itch: Cholestasis of Pregnancy
Guest Blogger: Our very own, Clare Friedrich! The lovely prenatal yoga teacher who teaches at Yummy Mummy on Monday nights and ArtsCetera on Tuesday night. She is one busy mama! I had the kind of pregnancy that most moms loathed me for. I flew through the first trimester without a glimpse of morning sickness and
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Preeclampsia Awareness Month
I love the month of May. The days start to feel longer… there is the whisper of warm weather leading into the heat of summer. I get to bring out my (much cuter) summer wardrobe. Mother’s Day arrives allowing us to honor the wonderful mamas of the world. And, did you know, May has recently
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Easing Back Into a Fitness Routine After Birth
As seen on the Lamaze Giving Birth With Confidence website I remember chatting with a friend about a month before I was due with my son about my post-baby gym routine. At that time, I was an avid morning gym goer-6:30 am spin classes- things one can do before baby! I was under the great
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Some Shots From My Scrapbook
For months I have been referring to my son in several of my blogs. So I thought it was time to share a few shots from my scrapbook. Thanks for viewing!
Some Shots From My Scrapbook Read More »
Be A Smart Consumer And Educate Yourself!
The other day while breezing through some blogs, I came across an entry on the Lamaze Science & Sensibility blog about Vitamin D. The article explained the average person, especially breastfed babies, need additional vitamin D supplements. This concerned me, since my 9 month old has never been given supplements to his diet of breastmilk
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Finding the Right Doctor 101: Starting from the VERY Beginning
A friend of mine recently told me about her experience and dilemma with finding the right OB/GYN. She and her husband are trying to get pregnant and when she discussed this with her current doctor, she was surprised, saddened and slightly frustrated to hear that her doctor is only a gynecologist, not an obstetrician. She
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Pain During Labor
Last Monday night, I was on the panel to speak at an event following the screening of More Business Of Being Born. The event was organized by Urbanity Baby. What I appreciate most about this film is the honesty and bluntness about the hardships of labor, and the disappointments that evolved. Alanis Morissette was among
Skin and Hair During and After Pregnancy
I am thrilled to offer our PYC community a guest blog from Dr. Zoe Veritas, a well respected Manhattan dermatologist, about the many skin and hair issues that arise during and after pregnancy. Enjoy! I often tell my patients to expect to see many changes in her skin during her pregnancy. These are called physiologic
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3 Common Aches and Pains of Pregnancy and How to Fix them!
Pregnancy is ladened with aches and pains. Many of them we can address during our prenatal yoga classes and offer poses that may help and some that may not! Here are three of some of the more common issues and a few suggestions as to how to deal with them. Respiratory Issues Dyspnea (shortness of
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Balancing Motherhood with Work and Life- the Great Delusion!
When I was pregnant, I fantasized about life after baby and how it would all work out. Here is the picture I had envisioned: I would have some leisure time with our new baby- taking walks in the park and meeting other new moms. I would easily maintain my teaching schedule and presence at the
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Are You Getting The Right Nutrition While Breastfeeding?
I found that a great deal of attention and information was given to me while pregnant about receiving proper nutrition. However, upon entering the postpartum phase, all I heard was “make sure you get enough water to compensate for the fluids lost while breastfeeding.” But besides the reminder to hydrate well, very little was discussed
Are You Getting The Right Nutrition While Breastfeeding? Read More »
Newborn Procedures
There are so many things to consider and learn about when preparing for your upcoming birth. Newborn procedures may not be high on the list. If that is the case for you, here is a brief run down of what you may expect after your little bundle of joy has made his or her debut
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Making a Hospital Birth More Like Home
Recently, an expectant mother asked me about changing care providers so that she could give birth in the Birth Center at St. Lukes/Roosevelt. I gave her a list of midwives and OBs that practice in the Birth Center. Unfortunately, she was already 27 weeks when she started to consider switching practices, and found that she
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Prenatal Yoga: What Poses Can I Do?
After last night’s class, a new student asked me about some of the poses we had practiced. She was confused that we did some twisting poses because she thought that twisting was off limits during pregnancy. She also told me how good it felt to do a fair amount of standing poses. Again, she was
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Change Is Not Something We Should Fear.
Today B.K.S Iyengar turns 93. For those that are unfamiliar with this remarkable man, he is the founder of the yoga style Iyengar yoga. I have been a practitioner of Iyengar yoga for about 7 years. This style, more than any so far, has influenced my teaching, taught me how to be present in my
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Trying to Avoid A Cesarean Birth
The World Health Organization recommends that the cesarean section rate should range between 5-10% for a healthy outcome for both mother and baby. So why is the national rate hovering over 30%, and what can be done to help lower this sky rocketing epidemic? There are a variety of ways a woman can help reduce
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When You Can’t Have The Birth You Want
For many women, the birth of their baby is not unlike getting married. It is an experience that may have envisioned and planned in a certain way for quite a while. What happens when that vision cannot be met? It can create disappointment, envy and an overall unsettled feeling. Recently one of my students, Lauren,
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Eating Chocolate During Pregnancy Can Be Beneficial!
Somewhere nestled comfortably in my nausea-free second trimester I came across a couple of articles that discussed the positive effects of dark chocolate for pregnant mothers. This was a very delightful moment since I am a self proclaimed “chocoholic” and now felt rightfully justified in my wicked indulgence. The first article talked about a study
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Episiotomy or Natural Tear?
There are so many decisions to consider when approaching birth. Where should you deliver? With whom should you put your trust to give you care? Which interventions do you feel comfortable with and which ones would you like to avoid? While sorting through all these options, it can be easy to be overwhelmed by the
Episiotomy or Natural Tear? Read More »
Find Your Advocate
There is a reason for the old saying, “It takes a village!” And in the days of my grandmother and mother, there was actually a village present to help with child rearing and birth. In the case of my mother, it wasn’t the “old country” my grandmother came from, but the yentas of Brighton Beach,
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Postpartum Depression
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
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The Pelvic Floor, Prolapse and Pregnancy
It is quite ironic that I started this blog prior to the labor and delivery of my son, and now I am in the midst of dealing (and healing!) with pelvic floor problems postpartum. I was originally drawn to this subject matter because so many students discretely approached me about pelvic floor issues. Many had
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My (42 hour labor) Birth Story
I am a very good example that prenatal yoga will not necessarily guarantee you a shorter labor, but can offer you tools to get through whatever your labor turns out to be. I could not have gotten through my labor without the support of all I have learned about myself through my years of practicing
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Preparing for Postpartum
Recently I stumbled across an interesting article from The Journal of Perinatal Education titled “New Study Finds First-time Mothers Could Benefit from Postpartum Preparation” The article explains, first-time mothers want more information about how a newborn will impact their lives. Thirty-five percent did not feel prepared for the physical experience following birth and 20% did
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Surrendering to Pregnancy, Labor and Motherhood
Stretch marks: much to my dismay and efforts, they have invaded my belly region. For months I have been slathering on creams and lotions that promised to help prevent stretch marks and then one morning – last Thursday to be exact – I woke up with my belly feeling rather itchy, looked in the mirror
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Interviewing Pediatricians
This afternoon my husband and I are going to visit and interview a potential pediatrician. At first, I was a confused and overwhelmed about what kind of questions to ask. After a little thought and some help from my “Mom-friends”, I complied a pretty thorough list. So for those out there that are also at
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Childbirth Education Classes Why? When? Where?
I am probably a bit biased about the importance of taking a childbirth education class given I am a certified Lamaze teacher. Given that, I am always surprised when a student asks me if this is something she and her partner really need to invest time and money in to. I try to be diplomatic
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