New Classes Starting Soon!

We have three new classes coming to North Yoga & Wellness in just two weeks, and they have something for everyone.

Shannon leads our Mindful Motherhood series, a class written specifically with mama's in mind. Over the course of an hour, for four weeks, we will spend time sharing our stories of motherhood, talking about who we are now and who we aspire to be. We will celebrate the small victories, and acknowledge the moments where we feel less than.

Each class will end with a meditation, where you can indulge in some weekly self care, sink back into the yoga mats, cozy up with a warm blanket and just be.

birthPrep is our four week childbirth education and birth prepartation class. This round is being led by Birth and Postpartum Doula Lisa, who provides a safe environment for parents to get to know their options, discuss them openly and find the path that is right for them.

There is no right or wrong way to birth your baby, or raise your family. We are here to help you navigate all of the options, provide you with nonjudgmental support and the information you need to make empowered decisions.

Shannon wraps up our Sunday classes with a fantastic four week session, Meditation for Stress Relief. Open to beginners and more advanced meditation practitioners, men and women alike - there is something for everyone at this practice.

Using soft spoken words, visualizations, candlelight, warm blankets and a safe environment, we encourage you to indulge in an hour of self-care time, let go of thoughts that don't serve you in a positive way and let the stress melt away.

To register for any of these classes, email us! info@sweetstellas.com

What is THAT for?!

On the topic of physical supports during labour and birth this month, we are talking about counter pressure.

What is it?

Well, there are a few things that a doula typically carries in their bag of tricks that help with providing counter pressure to the small of mama's back when they are experiencing back pain. Sometimes, babe is just in a funny position so we feel the contractions more in our back than in our abdomen (though, that is completely fine in your birth process!).

Absolutely, counter pressure can be applied with your thumbs, fingers, knuckles, or palm of your hand. It's a great way to get mama's partner involved in the physical comfort measures of birth, but if labour is taking a bit of time...your hands can get tired.

Tennis balls, lacrosse balls, and hard plastic massagers can provide the same technique, and dig a little deeper if that's what mom needs.

The tennis and lacrosse balls are something that mom can even use on herself, between her body and a wall, rolling it as needed and letting the pressure sit where she needs it most.

The plastic massagers (my personal favourite!) have different sized balls on the ends, which helps if you need to change the pressure, or use it for a total back massage (lightly) between contractions for some soothing touch and relief.

Typically, I bring two of the plastic massagers with me in my bag, and Stephanie likes the tennis ball method (having hers connected to a cord to make sure it doesn't get dropped on the floor!).

Counter pressure...there and available to you when you need it most.

xoxo
Shannon