Yoga with Daphne

I have officially decided to end the prenatal classes at RWB after September.  Even though there seems to be plenty of interest, there just aren’t enough students to keep the class going. 

I will continue to run the class through September.  Since the series is ending, there will be no multi-class packages available, but drop-ins will be discounted.  After September, prenatal students will be invited to attend “Gentle Stretch” classes at the studio.  Most of the Gentle Stretch teachers are certified in Prenatal Yoga, and the others are seasoned veterans (with at least 10 years of teaching experience), so all are capable of taking care of prenatal students. 

Hot Yoga has been running for 5 weeks and the response has been wonderful!  We had 10 people in class last Sunday!  Everyone is sweating ALOT, getting an intense workout, and leaving class feeling great.

Next Sunday, August 31, is the last class that you can take advantage of a special drop-in rate of $12. After that, drop-ins will go up to the usual series rate of $20. You will still be able to purchase 8 Hot Yoga classes for $90. With the package the classes don’t have to be used sequentially since it is an on-going series.

Two great teachers have been added to the Hot Yoga teacher rotation:  Danna Gay and Yoganand Michael Carroll.  Even more of a reason to give it a try!  For more information about Hot Yoga classes, please visit my classes.

The first prenatal yoga class took place last Thursday, August 7th.  There were 3 students, and several more have contacted me since then, a few just to verify that the class is actually happening.  The answer is “YES!” - I will be there every Thursday at 6pm (see my classes).  I am so excited to see this coming together! 

If you have been to the Thursday night prenatal yoga class, feel free to write comments for other people who might be interested.

Hot Yoga starts this Sunday, July 27!

Drop-in or save by buying an 8-class package.   This is the first time that Hot Yoga has been offered at Radiant Well-being Yoga Center, and probably one of the first times in the Augusta area.  It’s going to be a great workout.  See my classes to learn more.  (This class is not appropriate for prenatal yogis because of the heat and the intensity of the workout.)

Prenatal yoga offers many benefits for the mind and body throughout pregnancy.  Whether you are planning a natural delivery or one that is aided by medication, the primary benefits of yoga–flexibility, strengthening, and creating a calm center–also make it an ideal birth preparation practice.

Yoga increases flexibility in the spine and strengthens, stretches, and relaxes surrounding back muscles.  In this way, prenatal yoga can reduce or alleviate lower back pain and discomfort and tightness in the middle and upper back.   Yoga emphasizes creating length in the torso, resulting in more room for the expectant mother’s abdominal organs, such as her stomach (minimizing heartburn) and bladder.  These are just a few ways that yoga creates more comfort in the pregnant body.

Hormonal shifts and concerns about the future and can turn pregnancy into an emotional roller-coaster.  Yogic breathing is slow and deliberate, enabling you to focus on staying mentally present during each passing moment.  This practice makes yoga incredibly peaceful and relaxing.  It is almost impossible to leave a yoga class “stressed-out”.  Both you and your baby will benefit from a reduction in stress hormones.  This stress-free environment is also the perfect time to bond with baby.

Prenatal yoga prepares you physically and mentally for giving birth.  Hip openers (such as squatting) and exercises that strengthen the core and the pelvic floor, prepare the body for birth.  Some of the more restful prenatal yoga poses are ideal to practice during the first stage of labor.  Much of the intensity of labor arises from fear and a desire to “escape”.  The slow, steady, deep breathing practiced in yoga keeps the mother calm and focused on the present moment, so that she is more prepared to “surrender” control and allow her body to lead the way.

Of all the benefits of prenatal yoga, a favorite of many students is the community that naturally evolves in a weekly yoga class.  As a student gets closer to delivery, she can offer advice and encouragement to new students who have much of their pregnancy before them.  Students watch as their friends reach their due dates, and then hear the birth stories and what life is like with a newborn.  Prenatal yoga is likely to be the only place an expectant mother will go where everyone in the room will truly be able to empathize with the challenges and joys she is experiencing.

If you have practiced prenatal yoga and would like to share your own experiences concerning its benefits, please add a comment to this post.  We would love to hear from you!

The B.A.B.E. (Better Augusta Birth Experience) Film Festival was a great place for expectant mothers to get tons of information about childbirth, as well as to find out about pregnancy and new mom support businesses and products.  Kudos to Lynn Reed and the rest of the B.A.B.E. crew! 

The La Leche League was represented, and there were doulas, midwives, massage therapists, a photographer, a chiropractor, an artist who specializes in Belly Casting, and more.  You can find all of these businesses at the B.A.B.E. website.  I have begun compiling some info here about local pregnancy support businesses and resources that I would recommend based on conversations with people that I met at the festival.

Please feel free to add your comments about the festival.  I would love to hear how others received it, and what you saw that I missed!

This Saturday, July 12, Better Augusta Birth Experience (BABE) is hosting a 12 hour (10am - 10pm) festival of birth films at the Unitarian Church on Walton Way Extension.  There will be raffles (I saw a list of prizes, they are very nice!), panel discussions, a baby wearing parade, and more.  For more info see the BABE website.

I am one of the sponsors of the event, along with Radiant Well-being Yoga Center.  I will be handing out “first prenatal yoga class free” cards, and will be available for questions about yoga during pregnancy.

As a sponsor, I received several tickets to share.  Each ticket is a $15 value, and good for all-day access to the film festival.  Contact me if you are interested in a free ticket!

Yesterday I visited with Amy and Michael (Yoganand) Carroll at Radiant Well-being Yoga Center in North Augusta to find a better time to offer the prenatal classes over there.  We decided on Thursdays, 6:00-7:15 p.m.  It will be listed as a “series class” at Radiant Well-being, but the class will be on-going and drop-ins are welcome.  The class will start Thursday, August 7.  See changes in my class schedule.

My first post! I’m a yoga teacher in Augusta, GA who is excited to bring prenatal yoga to this area. More to come. Check out my classes and read more about me.