Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Every Moment is a Fresh Start

As the end of the year approaches, many of us look back at the previous year - the victories, perceived defeats, highs and lows. It can be very easy to slip into the trap of self-doubt, regret, "if only" thoughts. These thoughts can weigh heavily upon us and become burdens that we begin to carry with us into the future. They color our vision and steal our potential joy....The good news is our thinking CAN change!

Every moment of our lives is a new moment, and with the arrival of each and every moment we can let go of everything that has happened and begin anew - a clean canvas...I know what you are thinking. "Easier said than done." Yes, indeed. I struggle every day with letting go. It's a constant battle. I have found, for me, a tool that helps. When I start to recognize that my thoughts are spiraling and a "storm" is on the horizon of my mind, I stop and take a cleansing breath - just a simple big, full breath in and out. Better yet, I try to do a little one minute meditation. I take one minute to focus only on my exhale as I breathe. As thoughts arise, I label them "thinking," let the thought go, and return to my breath. I affectionately think of this process as "sorbet for the mind," like sorbet between courses to cleanse the palette. Give it a whirl. See if it works for you, too.

Days will arise during parenthood that are challenging and make us question our parenting abilities. We spill (soy)milk all over the table. We burn the food on the stove. We get cranky and lose our cool in front of our kids. There are days as a parent where you feel like you did far from your best...but the great thing is you get a brand new fresh start the very next moment! Take a breath and let it go! Choose not to let your heart become heavy, but celebrate the lightness this unburdening will bring. It is then you can be fully open to the joy of this moment with your child. As Jean-Louis Servan-Schreiber said, "Every moment of your life, including this one, is a fresh start." 

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Welcome and why I do it....

Welcome to Yogini and Bambini's blog! 

I'm Lisa Feuer, the director of Yogini and Bambini, and I'd like to share with you why I chose this particular journey of helping mothers-to-be and their families achieve their desired birth outcomes...

I took Prenatal Yoga when I was pregnant with my son and it was a life changing experience! The class really helped show us what strong women we were and that made me feel so confident in my body, and strong as a person as well! We were informed about a lot of "tools" and comfort measures for natural labor and delivery. Our teacher was also a doula, and she fed us spoonfuls of Childbirth Education in every class. Concurrently, I took a Childbirth Education workshop at my hospital - one that made me come away being thankful for all the great information I received in my Prenatal Yoga class. I felt the hospital's philosophy was very intervention-oriented and thus, I felt there were gaps in the material they presented.

While I can't say with a certainty that my easy labor and delivery were a direct result of Prenatal Yoga, I CAN say with a certainty that Prenatal Yoga helped with my strength, endurance, focus, my ability to breathe through intense physical sensations, and - most importantly - it gave me confidence in my body and my body's ability to birth naturally. Having that confidence and such a great birth experience also gave me self-confidence in all aspects of my life from that moment on, a wonderful consequence!

Years later, I became a yoga teacher myself, and I found myself yearning to pass along the feeling of empowerment and of being informed and prepared that I got from my Prenatal Yoga class. I took additional training and became certified to teach it myself! It has become my passion, and when clients tell me after their births that what I passed along was helpful, I know I am on the right path. More recently, I also became a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator. I really look forward to instructing couples about what to expect, giving them the information they need to make informed decisions in their health care, and introducing them to the Lamaze Philosophy with its natural approach that aids in alleviating fears and managing pain. In both types of instruction (Prenatal Yoga and Childbirth Education), I also facilitate taking time to feel the connection - the growing bond - between you and your baby. Our lives can be so busy, and finding time to honor and enhance that connection is so important! 

I am very excited as I begin this new chapter of my life with starting Yogini and Bambini and offering my services to prospective parents. I find I enjoy teaching so much that it never feels like work. It's completely energizing and I am always inspired by my student. I am truly grateful to all of them, and grateful for this wonderful life.

Love to all. 
Lisa Feuer