Summer Session begins on May 30

photo credit: M. Martinez

Summer time is coming upon us, and the City of San Marcos Parks and Recreation's Summer Sessions have started in May and go through August.

I am hosting two 5 week sessions:

• May 30 - June 29 
• July 11 - August 10

Classes are held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30-7:45 PM at the Community Center's Meeting Room.

If you have never tried my class, then please join as my guest! Bring your partner, birth provider, and friends.

See you on the mat!

Embolden Breastfeeding

KPBS health reporter Kenny Goldberg recently highlighted breastfeeding barriers women in San Diego experience in a three-part health report series. The first series highlighted barriers experienced in health care system including access to professional lactation support immediately after birth. The second series highlighted cultural barriers including the lack of encouragement from family, friends and the community. The last series highlighted barriers experienced in the work place including adequate accommodations to pump.

Photo credit: Katie Schoolov

Prenatal Yoga in San Marcos opens up the second health report on breastfeeding support, and one of our beautiful new moms, Pricila Marquez, was interviewed sharing her recent experiences as a first time mom supporting her infant son with breastfeeding. She explains that breastfeeding is a lot harder than it looks, and that it has taken much more from her than expected. Prenatal yoga provides new moms weekly encouragement and empowerment as they are getting ready for their little one to join earth side. This includes breastfeeding support discussions that include preparations needed to breastfeed, recommendations of independent international board certified lactation consultants, and resources for lactation support groups both in person and online.

Kenny Goldberg’s reporting highlights key health issues for breastfeeding support – breastfeeding doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It needs the support of the community whether it be: the care providers that assist with best practices and provide solutions; the cultural shift necessary from community that breastfeeding doesn’t have to be difficult and to provide support and encouragement for moms to breastfeed whenever and where ever; and the absolute necessary accommodations needed to support mothers returning back to work. The major take away from this health reporting is that health benefits of breastfeeding are not only for mother and baby – breastfeeding builds a healthier community. 

Happy Labor Day! Classes Start 9/6

5th Anniversary Summer Excitement!

I am so excited about this summer season of yoga offerings through the City of San Marcos Parks and Recreation. First off, I am celebrating my 5th year with the City of San Marcos Parks and Recreation. I have had the privilege of teaching prenatal yoga through this wonderful community center since 2010, and this would not be possible without all of the wonderful students who have joined us throughout the years. Thank you so very much for your patronage, your referrals, and your beautiful practice!

To celebrate this 5th anniversary, I have several special announcements with regards to this season’s classes.

Toddler/Preschool Family Yoga

First off, Toddler/Preschool Family Yoga is back! It’s been on hiatus for the past two years, and I am thrilled to be offering it through the Parks and Recreation. A few items to note:

• Classes are held once a month: This is on purpose, so that busy families can fit a family yoga class into their summer schedule. It is held on the second Saturday of the month. 
• The first class is on May 9th. Are you signed up yet? Here are 5 EZ Ways to sign up for classes. 
• Class price is per family: yes, that’s right! Per family. $14 drop-in or $43 for all FOUR classes. Remember they are once a month, so this covers you through August! 
• Family: You might ask “what constitutes a family for registration purposes?” Well, exactly what that means a family. Better yet – your family! A typical family is two parents, a toddler/preschooler, and an older or younger sibling, but your family is your family. Perhaps, grandma wants to come or you have four kiddos – bring them! You just need to register your toddler/preschooler through ActiveNet.    

Prenatal/Postnatal Yoga

Prenatal Yoga got a bit of a title overhaul. We have officially expanded our yoga offerings to include postnatal yoga. I have always welcomed postnatal mamas to join class and this makes it official. In addition here are a few things to note:

• Partners/birth providers: register together, and they will receive a 20% discount on their enrollment package. It is beautiful way for partners to actively engage with the expectant mama. This offer extends to the expectant mama’s birth providers, and includes doulas, midwives, etc.
• Punch card: the city is now providing an opportunity for a five-class punch card. This replaces the drop-in format, but gives students the opportunity to come to classes whenever it works for their schedule. The punch card does expire at the end of the summer (8/31/15). 
• Six-week sessions: this year’s summer sessions are in a six-week format, unlike this past season’s five-week format. I point this out because the total cost per session is a bit more due to the extra class. The price-per-class remains the same.
• Specials: On the newly updated webpage, specials are indicated under the classes, so that students can navigate the various opportunities that that city allows like the “First class FREE!” 

Well, that’s just been a mouthful of great yogic fun to rock the summer. I hope you love all the additions and changes to the classes. The Parks and Recreation’s summer season kicks off on May 1st, and runs through August 31st, and there are 5 EZ ways to sign up for class.

It’s always been a privilege and honor to work with each and every one of you, so thank you for five wonderful years.

Lisa

Pregnancy Kula Series begins February 5, 2015

I am excited to share with you upcoming collaborations that are coming to class. North County has a plethora of wonderful resources to help expectant families. The Pregnancy Kula Series is an opportunity for the prenatal yoga kula to meet pre-and post-nal providers. Providers will be taking class with prenatal yoga students, and then will be available for a 15 minute Q&A immediately following class.

Our inaugural guest is Donna Irwin owner of Birth Inspired. She will be joining class on Thursday, February 5, and will be sharing her knowledge on doula, midwifery, and postpartum care. 

Donna is a birth doula and student midwife serving San Diego County who has passionately studied birth since 2008 and began attending births in 2010. She completed her doula training through toLabor (ALACE) and is currently a senior midwifery student. 

Come join us for class and ask Donna any questions you have about doulas, midwifery, and postpartum resources!

Partners are always welcome, and remember - the first class is free!!!

Preview Week: Free Class Jan 7 & 9

Prenatal Yoga - two free preview classes

 

Tuesday, January 7

&

Thursday, January 9

6:30-7:45 PM

San Marcos Community Center

1 Civic Drive, San Marcos CA 92059

Space is limited - reserve your spot online

760-744-9000 

The city of San Marcos is hosting a preview week highlighting many of their recreation classes January 2-23. I am happy to participate in this semi-annual event once again and hope that you will join us. Partners are welcome.

 

 

The next session of Prenatal Yoga will begin on

Tuesday, January 14. Sign up online.

FREE Prenatal Yoga in 2013!

Some exciting prenatal yoga news, and I think the picture says it all!

FREE PRENATAL YOGA

The city of San Marcos Parks and Recreation is once again offering their FREE preview week, and I love to participate in this wonderful opportunity every time they offer it! So, here it is again, my prenatal yoga classes will be free on the following dates:

FREE Prenatal Yoga on

Thursday, January 3, 2013 at the Community Center

AND

Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at the San Elijo Recreation Center

 

“What time?” you ask. Why both classes now start at 6:30pm and run until 7:45pm. This is a minor change to the Tuesday night class which use to start a half hour earlier.  

Not pregnant? Well then please consider sharing the good news onto any interested expectant mamas. Also, consider checking out any of the other FREE recreation classes that first week in January because there is always something for the entire family.   

My Daddy is a Pretzel - book recap

I purchased this book to read to my toddler yogis as a follow up to the yoga pretzel cards made by the same publisher. I like to read this book in yoga class when I have mostly preschool aged children (3-5 yrs). The pace and tempo of this book is much more in line with the 3-5 year olds rather than the younger toddlers. There are several sentences per page before the pose instruction, and requires a patient child who can sit for a bit between poses.

That being said, I love this book! I love having a yoga book that isn’t to babyish for the preschoolers. It is sweet how it uses parent occupations and then relates it to yoga. The book is written in the voice of a child whose father is a yogi. For instance, one parent is an oceanographer, but this child’s parent is a fish. The book, then, demonstrates step by step on how to do a fish pose. Brilliant!

This is a great book for teachers and is a great book for parents to read to their children. I love sharing this with my little one. The yoga pretzel cards (future post coming) compliment this book and as a teacher I use them both in class.

Health Experts Say Child-Focused Exercise Programs Should Integrate Fun Activities

Article: Child-Focused Exercise Programs Should Integrate Fun Activities

Are you looking for a FUN family activity? The next Toddler Family Yoga 3-week session begins on April 9.

No Toddler-Family Yoga 7/17

We will not be hosting class this coming Saturday, July 17 as part of our regularly scheduled 'dark days.' This allows Rochelle at Babies In Bloom to have special events. This weekend they will be hosting Birth Stories Event with Natural Baby Pros. 

Classes resume again on July 24 and we are now offering 3 week sessions. Sign up early for the next session!

Now Enrolling Summer Sessions

NOW ENROLLING Toddler Family Yoga
Summer Special $40 (reg. $45)*
Session 1: July 24, July 31 & Aug 7, 2010
Session 2: Aug 21, Aug 28 & Sep 4, 2010

Come meet other like-minded parents and toddlers (ages 18 mos-5 years).
For registration information:
Visit the Toddler Family Yoga page on this blog.

No Toddler/Family Yoga 6/19

Toddler/Family Yoga class on June 19, 2010 has been cancelled.

The class will resume on June 26, 2010. Thank you!

Regular Class Schedule Returns

This is a reminder that my regular class schedule has returned. Please see the schedule listed above and note that there is no Toddler/Family Yoga on May 22.

I look forward to seeing you on the mat!

Adding Toddler and Pre-natal Yoga to schedule!

I am very excited to announce that I will be adding both Toddler and Pre-natal Yoga to my teaching schedule. Both classes will be held in the community room at Babies In Bloom in Vista, CA right off Highway 78 next to David’s Bridal. Please help me spread the word about these exciting new classes to your families and friends.

Toddler Yoga: Saturdays, 10:30-11:10 AM
I will teach toddler yoga on Saturday mornings beginning January 30 following Liza Janda’s pre-natal yoga class. Toddler yoga is geared towards children ages 18 mos to 5yrs and their parents. Toddlers are natural yogis and already demonstrate many yoga poses while discovering the movement of his or her own body. Together, parents and toddlers can discover a playful introduction to yoga. Enjoy moving into a favorite animal pose. Play and interact with each other during this 40 minute class and receive the benefits of a fun workout. Class price includes all members of the immediate family (mom, dad, and children).

Pre-natal Yoga: Mondays, 6-7:15 PM
I will teach pre-natal yoga on Monday evenings beginning on January 25 as a complement to the already established pre-natal classes at Babies-In-Bloom. The other classes on Wednesday evenings (6-7:15p) and Saturday mornings (8:45-10a) are taught by Liza Janda. I am looking forward to share my passion for pre-natal yoga with expectant mothers and fathers, and I am so honored that Liza has asked me to teach the additional Monday evening class representing Yoga Janda.

Women supporting women
I will be working with two of my favorite people who gave me and my family so much care, knowledge, and support during my pregnancy and after the birth of our daughter. I feel truly honored to be working with both of these wonderful women who have a strong passion to educate the local community about the wonders of pregnancy, birth and parenting. I am greatly looking forward to giving back to community that so warmly supported me and my family.

Rochelle, the owner of Babies In Bloom, opened this wonderful and unique store several years ago to “educate and support growing families.” Along with her family, she has expanded Babies In Bloom to the current location and has partnered with local educators to expand class offerings.

Liza Janda, owner of Yoga Janda, is a local childbirth educator that has been coaching new parents in the Bradley Method for the past 14 years as well as a pre-natal yoga for over 25 years. She was both my pre-natal yoga instructor and our Bradley Method childbirth instructor.

Who's Body is this Anyways?

She is now 17 months, and I am still trying to re-discover my body after having a baby. As you may know, it took us about 5 years and numerous procedures to finally get pregnant naturally. I welcomed each day of change that this pregnancy brought to my body. Many pictures and at least two journals document the journey. I kept up with my weekly yoga practice: two nights of power yoga and one night of pre-natal. I kept that up until my body beckoned for rest around my sixth month and I happily listened to my body. I continued taking pre-natal yoga twice a week up until the day before I delivered. I felt like a champ. My delivery was easy relatively speaking, then came the recovery. We happily welcomed our new daughter into our lives and the daily discoveries that comes along with becoming new parents. Everything was going well with figuring out our new lives, and my body was in its recovery phase.

Patience. I keep telling myself to be patient and listen to my body-the body that I trusted to keep my child safe and bring into this world. This is not the same body that entered into motherhood, instead it is a transformed body that is ready to take on the next challenge. Patience. My yoga practice still consists of power yoga, and I have discovered that I can do poses that I couldn't do before. And some of the poses that I could do previously don't come to me as easily. Getting to the studio to practice has its challenges-mostly the guilt of leaving my daughter to go to an evening class after a full day's work. She is so cool and mellow that she handles my absences easily, but I wonder does she really.

I enjoy the Saturday 6:50AM class for its convenience. Normally, this is a class time that I would never consider, but in order to recover fully from this pregnancy and delivery, it is a wonderful welcome. And, bonus, it doesn't affect my family time!!!

My hips and body image have been the hardest issues to overcome. A beautiful full round pregnant belly is so lovely to look at, but the belly left over is, well, empty. And it looks empty. I don't know why I thought my body's recovery would go quickly, even as I chose to invest my every moment with my child. I nursed her and carried her around in my various wraps-one on one time that would reap the rewards of both bonding with my child and a healthy body. My hips have never been the same, always moving in and out of position, and my daily foot pain caused by extreme weight loads (i.e. carrying a 20 pound baby) makes me feel mortal.

My body is recovering in its own time, empty belly and all. I work with various medical practitioners to assist with my body's aches and pains. I constantly discover my new sizes of clothing and complementary styles for it. I am blessed to have gone through the transformation of motherhood, I just need to listen to you, body, and get reacquainted.

Summer of Inversions

After six years of practicing yoga, I am finally able to invert into pincha mayurasana and headstand. Yippie!!! I have been struggling with inversions for so long, and to be able to do both of them is amazing.

Now,competitive me, I am already thinking about playing around with handstand and scorpion, but I shouldn't get to ahead of myself and enjoy my current accomplishments!

I was in Sue's ashtanga based class and I was practicing L-pose at the wall. Then we were asked to invert into headstand. I remembered what Sue told me last week-use my hands as a wedge for my head and, voila, I was up in headstand. After all this fear of going up by myself, I was finally there and doing it on my own. Too cool.

Laying the Foundation to OM

I decided to use a blog to post my yoga teaching schedule for my friends and family. I thought this would be a great way to lay down the foundation of my profession as a yoga teacher and to have a place to post my yogic thoughts. I greatly enjoy where my yoga journey has taken me and I look forward to sharing it! I have added some fun "gadgets" to my sidebar as well as my current teaching schedule. I hope they are found useful and will be enjoyed.

I have already begun my Sunday Yoga Flow classes at Yoga Branch Shadowridge. The students there have been terrific and such an inspiration. Every week I look forward to building upon the previous class' teachings and incorporating them into the next class. I will be teaching the Sunday Yoga Flow class at Yoga Branch Shadowridge through August.

First class at Yoga Branch is $5! Please come try my class out and see if you like it!