Yoga Birth and Beyond Blog

I am now scheduling HypnoBirthing classes for December 2011/January 2012 and January/February 2012. My classes are held on Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons. You can register on line or you can email me with any questions you have about the classes. Please go to the class schedule and registration for more information. We are now accepting payments on line.  

I wanted to let everyone know that registration is now open for the classes starting in September in Alexandria, Virginia. There will be three Prenatal Yoga classes and three Mom and Baby Yoga classes. They fill up fast!  Please go to the class schedule and registration for more information. We are now accepting Paypal payments online.

Prenatal Yoga is a 1.5-hour class held in Alexandria, VA just off 395 and Duke Street. The first half hour of this class is childbirth preparation and education where we go over a variety of topics during the 10-wk session. Some of the topics we discuss are breathing to relax the body during birth, Phases and Stages of Labor, Back Labor, Breast feeding, What to look for when selecting a Pediatrician, Happiest Baby on the Block techniques, and much more.

Each week the first half hour is filled with lively conversation with plenty of time for questions and answers. This might also explain why we many times run a few minutes over the scheduled time. Then we move on to an hour of gentle movement with Prenatal Yoga. Please tell anyone who might be interested to sign up for this class that is packed full of good information and a lot of fun!

Please check the schedule, pricing, and registration information.

Mom and Baby Yoga is a 1.25hr class for mom and babies who are at least 6 weeks old to almost crawling. This class starts with Itsy Bitsy Yoga, then moms do some gentle yoga, and then we end the class with baby receiving a massage from their mom. This class is a great way to get out and meet other moms in the Alexandria, Arlington, Springfield and Washington D.C. area. All you need to bring with you is your baby, your diaper bag and a small blanket for your baby to rest on.

HypnoBirthing classes meet each week for 3-hour classes over a 5-week period of time. This class is for both the mom and her partner. It is best to register as soon as possible to make sure you get into the class of your choice. You want to allow time to practice the techniques that you use in the class and to develop that mind body connection. Your goal is to instantly slip into a deep state of relaxation and to use your breathing techniques, massage, visualization during your labor.

Practice is important, because each and every time you practice the techniques you will go more quickly, more easily, and more deeply into relaxation. The more you relax, breath and keep your head in a positive place the more easily your body can open and release your baby.  Through you pregnancy your mind should dwell upon what you want your birth to be like and preparing for that birth through practice. It is important to not think about what you do not want. Focus only on the positive.

Did you know that with a little practice you could learn techniques to calm your baby? My children were really not the Happiest Babies on the Block so I was thrilled to learn these techniques and am happy to pass them on to my students. I want each of my students to be able to calm their baby and learn their baby’s cues so that both baby and parents are the Happiest Family on the Block. 

In Yoga Birth and Beyond’s Prenatal Yoga and HypnoBirthing classes you will learn how to swaddle your baby and calm your baby when they are fussy. I love calming babies so if you are in one of the Mom and Baby Yoga classes and feel you would benefit from learning these techniques we will be right there on the spot to apply the techniques. There are never a shortage of swaddling blankets in the room for babies to snuggle into while their mom enjoys a little yoga.

I would love for each woman to go into birth believing in her body and in herself.  If a women goes into labor and is able to relax and breath through each and every surge/wave/contraction her body will respond by more easily opening during each and every surge.

The uterus is a muscle that needs blood and oxygen to work properly and through breathing and relaxation you are able to guide yourself into a more relaxed state during each and everyone one of your surges. You can learn more about how relaxation is very beneficial in Prenatal Yoga or HypnoBirthing class at Yoga Birth and Beyond in Alexandria VA.