Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Restorative Yoga


A writer with Yoga Journal once said "If yoga were a smorgasbord, restorative postures would definitely be at the dessert table." I agree. Restorative yoga poses are nourishing and relaxing, providing us with that time to really be in the pose, as we slow down our bodies and calm our busy, ever chatting minds. What a beautiful type of yoga to do while pregnant. It is not so much about doing, but more about being within ourselves, in the moment, with our babies.

A huge thank you goes out to Michele Landegger, yoga teacher extraordinaire, who braved the thunder and lightning storm to come teach restorative yoga to the mamas in our circle. It was a rainy and cozy evening, with the fire lit, and we all spent an hour and a half melting into poses, fully supported by pillows and blankets. The time flew by as Michele guided us into 5 or 6 poses, I don't remember exactly because I was participating on my own mat, so I wasn't keeping track. I realized how lovely it was to stay in such a supported pose for a longer period of time, to breathe into it and let my body be fully supported. How nurturing it was and how easy it can be for us all to do it at home on our own. What a wonderful way to ease into sleep at night.

The one that everyone seemed to really love is the reclining bound angle pose, we used the strap around our ankles and our back, but it can be done at home with pillows on the bed and floor. It is a great way to open ones chest and heart, stretches inner thigh and groin muscles, while relaxing the mind and the central nervous system. Restorative yoga gives us a chance to slow down, breathe and savor the sweetness of life, as if it were a piece of chocolate cake.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Calm

How do you find peace? How do you cultivate your own inner calm? How do you link yourself to that stillness within yourself, even when things are busy all around you? It is always right there. One breath away. Or should I say, one breath closer. When we practice meditation in our Pregnancy Circle, it can be simpler to get to that quiet, peaceful place because the external factors are in harmony with us. Lit candles, quiet room, dimmed lights. But what about when our kids are screaming? What about when someone screams from the car in back of us to go when the light turns green (yes, happened to me yesterday :) )? When our contractions are getting more and more intense and our partner isn't doing what we think he/she should do and there are too loud noises and it is hot and it is getting too hard....Get my point? How do we find that inner calm, that link to our own strength and essence that is always there waiting for us? Breathe, and you'll find your own answer within.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Mindfulness, one breath at a time

"Pregnancy is a natural time to begin or deepen the practice of mindfulness. The increasingly dramatic changes that occur in our bodies and in our very perceptions, thoughts, and emotions invite new degrees of wakefulness, wonder and appreciation. For some of us, being pregnant may be the first time we experience being fully in our body." - Myla Kabat-Zinn

This weekend I had the opportunity to attend a workshop of mindfulness and parenting with mother and author, Myla Kabat-Zinn. She is an extraordinary woman. I loved how authentic she was. She didn't pretend to know all the answers and she spoke honestly and openly about how challenging and beautiful life can be. She spoke about the journey in our lives as parents and how we can use the struggles and joys to bring more depth and insight to our lives. We can begin by cultivating self awareness, bringing attention to our thoughts, our feelings and then becoming more familiar to how we act and react in life. By witnessing who we are moment to moment, we can gain a greater understanding of ourselves and parent from a more grounded and clear place.

We can work towards acknowledging and making friends with all sides of ourselves, even the sides that may not be so likeable. This is what I love. Treating oneself with kindness and non judgement. We may not "like" certain parts of ourselves, but if we can notice them and not push them away, they may not rear their ugly heads so often. And when in fact they do, we can say, oh yes, here you are again...

Thursday, July 8, 2010


Thank you for such a great evening together. It was so sweet to reconnect, hold babies, and to hear how your babies births unfolded. I appreciate each one of you and love that you all have each other as friends to support and be real with one another. Thank you for your beautiful presence in our group.




Oh, and I almost forgot...

Winning Hearts and Minds Cake

(Found in A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg)


7 oz bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 3/4 sticks unsalted butter, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 cup plus 2 tblspoons granulated sugar
5 large eggs
1 tablespoon flour
Lightly sweetened whipped cream for serving

Preheat oven to 375
Butter 8 inch round pan, line the bottom with parchment paper and butter the paper, too
Melt Chocolate and butter in microwavable bowl, on high, for 30 sec at a time, stirring in between, until smooth
When smooth, add sugar, stirring well
Set aside to cool for 5 minutes
Add eggs, one by one, stirring well to mix
Add flour and mix
Batter should be dark and silky
Bake for 25 minutes, until the top is slightly cracked, the edges are puffed, and the center looks set
Check it at 20 minutes, then every 2 minutes, you don't want to overcook it
The center will only jiggle slightly when you take it out of the oven
Let cool for 15 minutes in the pan, then flip it out onto a plate, removing the parchment paper, then flipping it again so it is right side up
Cool completely before serving
Enjoy each bite.




Monday, May 3, 2010

Acknowledging and Moving Through Birth Fear

Working through fear, anxiety and/or trauma from past birth experiences can be an integral piece for many women as they prepare to give birth. This work is important for anyone who holds any unresolved feelings from a past birth experience that may hold them back from truly being present for the next birth. By acknowledging, working on, learning from and moving through past experiences, parents are able to fully experience the next birth for what it is, moment to moment, without being held back by old beliefs, thoughts and feelings. Working through fear or trauma can directly affect how you live day to day, not to mention how you experience your next birth(s). This work creates empowerment, strength and clarity in one's life.

It is common for many women to have expectations going into a birth, how she "envisions" it happening. So often, a birth experience can be very different from what we are expecting or hoping for. This can lead to disappointment, feelings of failure or resentment. How will those feelings impact a mother's life after the baby is born? How will it be to prepare for another birth, knowing that there are all those feelings below the surface? How can acknowledging and moving through an experience help open up the possibilities for the future? This is where I come in...

About me

My photo
I am a mother to two wonderful children. They are definitely my greatest teachers. My family and I are blessed to live in beautiful Ventura, CA, where I work part time at Sunrise Birthing Center, part time with pregnant women and their partners, and very, very full time raising my children to be creative and happy individuals. I love hiking, yoga, and laughing. Laughing is my favorite... And most of all, I love spending time with those that inspire me and touch my heart.

Let's Work Together...

I offer private sessions in the comfort of your own home. These sessions are focused entirely on what you would like to work on.

I also offer phone sessions for those who live too far to meet in person.

Please call me or email me for further information.