Why Yoga for Mamas -to-Be?
Yoga for the Natal Year is designed to serve all women in the months of their natal experience. We have participants seeking to get pregnant, many women in their first, second and last trimesters of pregnancy and women who are anywhere from 3 weeks to 12 months post-partum. Women come to Yoga for the Natal Year for a variety of reasons: safe and effective exercise, relief from the symptoms of pregnancy, relaxation, preparation for childbirth and mothering, recovery from birth, a chance to build community with other mothers and the opportunity to share women’s wisdom in a low-key, humorous and informative way. It is a warm, lovely, funny, intelligent group of women who are very supportive of one another and have great birth and recovery experiences.
Here’s what women say about Yoga for the Natal Year:
“Kat’s yoga class changed my life, literally! After two miscarriages, I began to practice yoga with Kat. About two months later, I was pregnant and continued to practice with her throughout my pregnancy. Due to my yoga practice, I experienced very little discomfort during my pregnancy and no difficulties through labor. Yoga also helped me ease back into shape, both physically and mentally, after the birth of my daughter. Kat is an amazing instructor. Her insight and sense of humor will keep you positive throughout an exciting but often anxious time.” -H.S., So. Hamilton, MA
“Thank you for the many weeks of support and strength. Both physically and spiritually. [Prenatal Yoga] was a wonderful experience.” -V.H., So. Hamilton, MA
“Prenatal yoga with Kat changed my entire pregnancy experience and ultimately my body and life. With my first pregnancy I practiced seldom with a couple of other prenatal teachers and experienced excruciating sciatica and excessive weight gain. With Kat’s guidance, my following two pregnancies were practically symptom free. I was free of the cramps, aches, pains and overall exhaustion most women experience while sharing their body with a little one. I gained less weight and was able to regain my active lifestyle faster after delivery. What separates Kat’s prenatal program from others is that it’s designed for ACTIVE women. While she accommodates the changes and limitations of the mothers in the class, she gently pushes her students to be physically fit and shares a wide range of information and wisdom on how to stay healthy throughout the natal year. After delivery, Kat eases her students (and babies) back into practice in a loving and invigorating environment. By sharing the class with pre and post natal women the class becomes a refuge for women traveling similar journeys at the same time. Ideas, advice, friendship and love are shared and nearly all the women leave the class with a regular practice and a new group of girlfriends. I’ve been practicing several times a week every week since I first waddled into Kat’s prenatal yoga class three and a half years ago. I thank God for Kat’s gift of teaching, especially in the area of prenatal yoga.” -R.M., Hamilton, MA
Bringing Babies Back to Class
Our sangha (yoga community), Yoga for the Natal Year welcomes you to bring your infant to class as you start to reclaim your practice post-partum.
- Please come EARLY to class. Give yourself time to sign in, set up, acclimate the baby and you to the environment, introduce the baby to the instructor and get settled. Latecomers in general are disruptive. Latecoming babies, with gear, transition coos and cries can stop a class right in its tracks. Please come early/on time.
- Consider allowing the instructor to pick up the baby and walk him/her during class. This usually soothes a fussy baby without having you get out of the flow. We have been doing this for years and love it, and do not find it at all disruptive. We will not, however, do this without your permission.
- View getting to class, settling in and taking three or four postures as a huge victory the first two or three post partum classes. You do not have to participate in an entire class to be successful! Relax your expectations. Taking a few postures, then nursing in a meditative state, can give you some much needed down time. You and the baby will adjust to the class rhythms very soon and you’ll be doing full classes before you know it.
- Prenatal mamas, know that very soon YOU will be the one bringing a baby back to class. Part of the yoga (and the reason why we have had pre-natal and post-natal classes in combination by choice, as the best yoga learning environment) is broadening our practice of open heartedness. There is no greater tool for motherhood than a patient, loving, open heart. You will learn a lot from these mamas with new babies, whether you are a first time mama or an experienced parent. And you will be surprised at how quickly babies become Yoga Babies, acclimating to class and becoming an integral, essential part of our community.
