A student's testimonial

A student of mine recently wrote this testimonial about my Prenatal Yoga classes. I meant to post it sooner but being a mom always makes it difficult for me to spend time in front of the computer. So finally, here it is, along with my best wishes for her new baby girl and for all new moms as they transition through their pregnancies and into motherhood.
Thanks Krista!
"Andre's prenatal classes have been instrumental in helping me prepare my mind and body not only for the process of labor, but for the journey into motherhood. I left each class feeling relaxed, refreshed and rejuvenated. Her classes inspired me and empowered me to believe in my intuition as a woman and mother. [Andre} the prenatal classes you teach helped me to really enjoy the process of being pregnant. I looked forward to your class every week. I attended until the end of my pregnancy. Prenatal yoga by Andre helped me to stay balanced and calm throughout my pregnancy. I'm sure I'll be a better mother as a result. Thanks Andre.---Krista P. Trefz, Psy.D."

Happy Summer everyone!

I've been thinking a lot about Summer lately. There's been stories on NPR about summer sounds and plenty of people writing about what summer means to them. There's lots of desperate moms with kids out of school looking for activities to keep them busy and out of trouble. And of course, there's the Florida heat!
Growing up just north of the Equator, I guess for me summer lasted all year. It wasn't until I was 10 that I learned that there were seasons, when my family relocated to Serbia.
I've been trying to identify what summer means to me. As a kid, it meant sleeping in, watching TV, no school, traveling with the family and all those good things. I guess Summer is different in ech part of the world. When I lived in Argentina, Summer occurred January - March with the start of a new year.
Here in Central Florida, it's definitely a time to slow down and conserve energy. I'm the mom of a 16 month old and even though we love spending time outdoors, lately I find myself looking for more ways to have fun indoors. I also have to remember to bring water and not only keep our baby hydrated, but to keep myself hydrated.
Truth is I always say that Summers here in Florida are more like Winters in other places because the heat, the humidity and the bugs make it more tempting to stay indoors than to go outdoors. Nevertheless, it's still important to get fresh air. So we make sure to get out before 9 am and after 6 pm, when the ocean breeze make the days more enjoyable.
What does any of this have to do with Yoga? Well, for one thing Summer is definitely a good time to practice indoors, drink plenty of liquids and perhaps go easy on the body. It's a nice time to practice more restorative poses and spend more time cooling down at the end of a session. It's also a good season to practice later in the evening and get the most out of daylight.
Whatever you do, wherever you are, be present, in the moment and don't take anything for granted. Every single moment is a little treasure.

Prenatal Yoga Workshop - June 4 - $30

Join us for this workshop specifically designed with expecting mommies in mind.
All stages of pregnancy are welcome.
No prior yoga experience is necessary.
To sign in go directly to www.yogadowntownmelbourne.com

NPR's 'The baby project'

I just thought I'd share this link: if you are a pregnant woman and your due date is in July, you might want to participate in this NPR story on pregnancy, delivery, babies and motherhood.

http://www.npr.org/2011/05/20/136355973/the-baby-project-share-your-story

Been a long time...

It's been a long time since I last blogged, so I just want to write a quick update on what's going on in the life of Yoga with Andre.
The main thing is I'm planning a Prenatal Yoga Workshop that will be held at Downtown Yoga in Melbourne. I'm hoping more people sign up over the next couple of days. So if you're interested, sign up here.
On a more personal note, I'm grateful that I have found a reliable helper. She takes Emma on walks, takes her to the park and the zoo and spends valuable time with her. During that time I enjoy some much needed quiet time to myself. I take showers without stress; I eat breakfast or make a phone call in peace; I work from home (besides teaching yoga I'm also in charge of updating WFIT's website. Hubby and I use the days when Emma is with her sitter to grab quick lunch dates. I run errands without the added physical strain of hauling a 25 lbs baby around. In other words, I enjoy a few stress-free hours.
Of course I worry sick about Emma when she's not in my presence, but I try to control my thoughts and so far her sitter has proven to be a very responsible and professional person.
The other added bonus of having a helper twice a week is that I get more done during the day which means that I can enjoy more me-time in the evenings after I put Emma to bed. Those magical quiet hours from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. have become the hours when I do things for myself like read a book, practice some gentle restorative yoga postures or just simply cut my toenails! Some nights, hubby and I just lie in bed reading, quietly, sharing the same space and unwinding together before falling asleep.
Remember: taking time to nourish and care for ourselves is just as important as taking time to take care of our little ones.