Belly Pilates, a motherhood fitness and maternal fitness and wellness studio, comprehensively serving the health, wellness and educational needs of the multiple stages of motherhood, is excited to present FREE and low-cost Instructional pregnancy yoga and pilates classes in Philadelphia for parents throughout the Philadelphia and Main Line area.
Workshop topics include: Partner Massage for Labor, Breastfeeding 101, Baby Development & Milestones, Baby Sleep Solutions by Baby Sleep Expert, Jennifer Schindele, Baby-wearing 101, Benefits of Doulas, Infant Massaging, and much more.
Pregnancy Yoga Classes in Philadelphia? Free Workshops
Kelly McBride, owner of Belly Pilates, Birth Doula, Childbirth Educator, and the tri-states’ only certified Master Instructor of Prenatal and Postpartum Pilates, comments, “The inspiration for creating a lengthy series of free workshops came from a real passion to provide specialized, expert information for a growing number of moms interested in taking a more natural approach to leading a healthier lifestyle for themselves and for their families. I’m so pleased to see how many ‘mompreneurs’ rallied behind me to offer such a well rounded line up! Not only do I welcome moms to explore the holistic services to be presented in many of these workshops, at no cost, but I encourage all parents to take advantage of this coming fall’s series!”
For more information about the Free Instructional Workshops to be presented at Belly Pilates, visit: www.bellypilates.com. Pre-Registration is required.
Clients also benefit from the community of wellness partners and key resources McBride has established over the years. It is McBride’s goal to continue to expand and grow this community to better serve the needs of moms. A list of these partners and resources can be found on the Belly Pilates website at: www.bellypilates.com or contact Kelly McBride at 610.608.5883.
I’ve been teaching Prenatal Yoga for Beginners in the Philadelphia area and I’ve noticed that often women will embrace or discover yoga for the first time in their life when they are pregnant? I wonder what it is about this practice that beckons women to have a greater attunement to their body and spiritual practices at this time of their life.
I really love teaching prenatal yoga for beginners since I feel like I get to be a part of one of the most exciting and intimate times of a woman’s life. You get to be a part of the some of the biggest hopes and dreams of women. I’ve also learned so much about birth, delivery, pregnancy and healthcare in general by teaching this prenatal class. I always have the women start in a circle so we they can share their hopes, fear and tips about pregnancy so they can feel a sense of community and connection to other to-be-mommies.
In some of my other yoga classes, students compare themselves harshly to the other students and sometimes push themselves to the point of discomfort so they can look like the other students. In the prenatal yoga classes for beginners, the students are always at their most conservative and they are not worried about doing the fullest expression of the pose.
WHY PRENATAL YOGA?
Pregnancy is a great time to learn how to emotionally, spiritually and physically release, open up and let go. Yoga also help you find the time and space to look within yourself, allowing you to openly explore your own intrinsic knowledge about the cycles of life. Prenatal Yoga
Prenatal yoga is a comprehensive and safe form of exercise during pregnancy and postpartum. Prenatal Yoga Classes are taught by highly qualified staff trained in Yoga Alliance Certified guidelines, methods and practices. Our yoga practice is gentle and nurturing, yet safe and supportive, so that mother and baby obtain the maximum benefit from postures without any strain.
Prenatal yoga links postures and breathing exercises to create awareness of your own mind, body and spirit, and the spirit of your baby. Yoga is ideal preparation for giving birth. Our yoga program is taught in a way that will help you access your own intuitive understanding of birth while helping you to connect to your partner.
Breathing practice during pregnancy opens the chest and helps to improve circulation in both mother and baby, ensuring a better supply of oxygen to the blood. It also calms the nerves and gives the mother greater control of her breathing during labor.
CAUTIONS
Since nausea is common during the first trimester, it may be helpful to practice in a well-ventilated room. During the second trimester your growing belly will require modifying some poses. Use common sense and avoid putting undue pressure on the abdomen in poses like Head To Knee Postures, Seated Forward Fold, and Forward Bends Towards the Knee, as well as Seated Spinal Twists. You may also choose to reduce the amount of vinyasa (flowing postures) if generating heat in the body makes you uncomfortable. The third trimester will require you to continue to adapt and even omit certain postures. Standing poses like Extended Triangle Pose, and Extended Side Angle Pose can help relieve back pain. A simple inversion such as Legs-Up-the-Wall-Pose can help to relieve swollen ankles. Some poses might require additional props or support (blocks, blankets, bolsters). Through each trimester the most important thing is to tune in to what your body is telling you and alter your practice accordingly. During and after your pregnancy, try not to be attached to your previous abilities or level of flexibility.
You hear so much about interactive meditation and Yoga these days, and there are so many Yoga styles to choose from, that it is advisable to research a particular Yoga style which suits your needs. Some Yoga classes are gentle, restorative, athletic, cerebral, spiritual, meditative, or hot. Therefore, research the style of Yoga which attracts you most. Then visit a local Yoga studio, or wellness center, for further information. If you have any concerns, you could set up an appointment with a Yoga teacher, and share your thoughts about your specific needs. Do research online to see what kinds of reviews the studio and teachers have received. Some people think of yoga as a moving or interactive meditation.
BENEFITS OF PRENATAL YOGA AND PREGNANCY YOGA
A prenatal and postnatal yoga practice can help you
Connect you with other parents who are at all stages of pregnancy
Improve your postpartum recovery
Helps to strengthen the body for child bearing and aids in relieving common discomforts
Alleviate many of the discomforts of pregnancy such as nausea, constipation, varicose veins, swelling, back pain and sciatica.
How does yoga transform you physically, mentally and spiritually?
Release chronic pain, tightness and that frozen feeling in your body through juicy stretching and deep breathing.
Each breath, coupled with movement and intention allows you to create the space for change.
Gain clarity to detach from outcomes during your day so that decisions and obstacles become less stressful, which keeps you off the emotional roller coaster for good.
An uplifting & restful class that will leave you buzzing with vitality & connect you to a deep sense of inner wisdom so you can focus on what you want to manifest in your life
For free articles about yoga mailed once a month, email info at synergybyjasmine dot com with “Request Yoga Tips” in headline.
Reduce Stress through the practice of Yoga. This is a universal benefit of all styles of Yoga. If you have stress, when you walk into a Yoga class, you will have much less when you leave. You might feel sore or invigorated after your first class.Some Yoga schools use a variety of methods to purge stress from the body, but the most common are Pranayama (breath techniques), Asana (posture), Mantra (sound), Meditation, and Relaxation Techniques. After a few classes, you will know what works and what does not.
Positive Thinking is a by product of most yoga classes, with the rare exception of a dogmatic Yoga teacher. If you discover you are in the midst of a “drill sergeant,” disguised as a Yoga teacher, you have to make a decision based on your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Do you want to be challenged or do you want to feel supported during your class? Consider this: If you feel negative after listening to your Yoga teacher, you should not return to that class. You may find another Yoga teacher in the same facility or at another Yoga center.
Sleeping Better is a result of the first two, above-mentioned, Yoga benefits. For the most part, the physical styles of Yoga release muscle tension through Asana (movement) and Pranayama (controlled breath work). The less physical styles may focus on Mantra, Meditation, and Relaxation Techniques and often delve more into yogic philosophy.
Relief from Back Pain is a by product of the physical styles, but choose carefully. The more gentle Hatha Yoga sub-styles such as Restorative, Gentle, and Therapeutic Yoga, cater to students with a variety of ailments, including back pain. Styles such as Ashtanga are usually not a great choice for a yoga newbie since the adjustments can be quite aggressive.
Increased Muscle Tone is also a result of the physical styles of Yoga. If you are searching for a Hatha Yoga teacher, studio, or style, choose one that caters to your physical condition. Do not jump into a physically vigorous Yoga class, unless you are physically active. Most injuries, in the physical forms of Yoga occur, when students push themselves too far or the teacher does an inappropriate aggressive adjustment.
Here is my list….my completely subjective list of the top 100 Mind-Body-Spirit Sites. How did I come up with this list? Many of the teachers, products or retreat centers I have personal experience with. They have shaped my yoga journey and other parts of my non-yoga life. I have taken many of their classes or workshops or bought their DVDs and have practiced to it dozens of times. A few are sites that I regularly read their posts. Some are because the website or author has written an influential book in this realm. Admittedly, some of the sites might be weak on content, functionality or navigation but the site is just an intro to a great holistic resource. A few are places that I write guest blogs for.
Some of them happened to be special because of the key role they played in certain parts of my life. I met my husband at Omega, our romance blossomed at Kripalu and we had our wedding ceremony in a Mexican Cenote (limestone water cavern) with a Mayan Shaman.
I can’t imagine not having music during my yoga practice so there are a few yoga music sites on here as well and I bought many of the musician’s CDs or have been to their concerts. Authenticity and having personal experience with the practitioner, product or institution was part of the criteria for making this list. In a way, it is an “Appreciation” list
I wanted to include a few government sites since those often have all kinds of great research and clinical trials on there. My vision is for this list to be a great gateway into the holistic world, with a strong emphasis on yoga since I’m a yoga teacher. Yogis need special clothes, props, mats, spaces, music and equipment so I wanted to include some of my favorite places to buy all things yogic. If you have been involved with the holistic community for a while you will recognize some of the sites on here and likely find dozens of great resources here
I welcome suggestions for other sites that can be included in next year’s list. While we all value directness and constructive criticism, please be professional and refrain from disparaging comments… no trashing anyone on this list or that will disqualify you from being considered for next year. Ideally, you would nominate another company but I do accept self-nominations. I reached out to the webmasters of most of the sites and if something is in quotes, then it is in their words and not mine.
If you live in Philly or San Diego, then invite me over for a class or workshop so I can maybe include you in next year’s list or blog about it in an upcoming blog. If you have products that you want me to review let me know and I will send you a mailing address in a separate email (press at synergybyjasmine.com) with “Product Review Request” in the subject.
Visit Top 100 Mind-Body-Spirit Websites for the list
Belly Pilates, a motherhood fitness and maternal fitness and wellness studio, comprehensively serving the health, wellness and educational needs of the multiple stages of motherhood, is excited to present FREE and low-cost Instructional pregnancy yoga and pilates classes in Philadelphia for parents throughout the Philadelphia and Main Line area.
I’ve been teaching 
