Blooma Prenatal Yoga DVD: Take Two!

You heard it here first, friends.  Sarah Longacre, Founder & Owner of Blooma, will be releasing her second Prenatal Yoga DVD, this time giving you two sequences for the price of one.  Blooma’s first DVD was released four years ago and was a huge hit for prenatal mamas all over the world.  For the newest release, Sarah Longacre brings you both an A.M. and P.M. sequence; energizing you for your day, and bringing you a sense of calm to wind down and rest.  These two 35-min sequences were created to be beautiful and empowering practices for your sacred journey into motherhood.

Making it’s big release on Thursday, December 19th, the hard copy will be available at the studio.

A little bit about the DVD from Sarah Longacre herself:

“As a mother who works full time, has a social life, and does her best to keep her family her #1 priority, I know it can be challenging to dedicate a whole hour every day to yoga practice. But I’ve learned that if I can take any time at all on the mat it makes a huge difference to me and my baby–it’s so worth it. In this spirit I created two very different prenatal sequences that are just 35 minutes each. 

 The A.M. sequence is fresh with energy, dance and movement to warm you, celebrate your body and prepare you for your day. (Of course this can be done anytime in your day. Just listen to what you need in that moment).

The P.M. sequence is grounding, cozy and 100% about relaxation.  It is the perfect 35 minutes to calm you after a busy day and prepare you for a long night of sleep (with a few bathroom breaks of course). “

If you have the time, you can even do the segments back-to-back. You will love this new offering. Pregnant or not, we invite you to enjoy these new sequences.

(And of course, it’s the perfect gift for you or someone you love!) 

 

Find them at Blooma locations on Thursday the 19th, and online very soon.

 

 

Birth Story: “Music As My Focus, My Drishti”

Congratulations to Sarah W. on the birth of her baby boy Declan!

Read on to discover how yoga made its way from her prenatal yoga classes at Blooma into her labor and birth (think yogi squats, mamas!). Are squats uncomfortable for you, like they were for Sarah? Just like this mama writes about below, tucking a rolled-up blanket under your heels can help you relax and release into this pose. Give it a try — then close your eyes, inhale deeply with hands at heart center, and let out a deep ahhhhh.

Love,

Alisa, Sarah & the women of Blooma

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{By Sarah W.}

I’d like to start this story off with telling you that I could not do a yogi squat for the first month or so of prenatal yoga at Blooma.

Though I understood the virtues of that position during labor, it was the most uncomfortable position for me at six months pregnant. I was embarrassed that I couldn’t hunker down during classes, so I practiced that pose pretty much every night in front of my husband, Sean.

Friday Funny: How Babies Are Made… Or Not

Let’s wrap up our week with a giggle — enjoy!

xo,

Alisa & the women of Blooma

P.S. – This came to me via multiple e-mail forwards… if you know where it came from, please let me know so I can give attribution!

Celebrate, Gripe & Get to Know Other Dads

Whether you’re a dad to a daughter or a son (or both), you’ll fall in love with the blog Life To Her Years, written by a dad about loving and raising his two daughters. Each post is a simple picture and caption, with a funny, insightful or thoughtful tip for raising your daughter. But really, most of the tips apply to any gender.

From the dad blog LifeToHerYears.com

We’d love to hear from you in the comments section below, too: what’s most important to you in raising your daughter or son? 

And while we’re talking daddyhood, we know that you need a community, too.

That’s why Blooma offers a monthly “Dad’s Hour” — led by a local dad. Dad’s Hours are offered twice monthly — once at Blooma Minneapolis and once at our St. Paul location. The next Dad’s Hour sessions are:

• Saturday, March 2, 2-3 p.m. (Mpls) | SIGN UP
• Saturday, March 16, 5-6 p.m. (St. Paul) | SIGN UP

Sign up online (and bring a buddy!). Whether you want to gripe about the sleep you’re not getting, find out if others also have anxieties about becoming a dad, or are just looking to get to know other dads, we’d love to see you on March 2 or 16!

It’s just a $10 drop-in fee, or use your partner’s Blooma Pass. Whether you’re a Dad-To-Be or already have 1, 2, 3, or more kids at home, Dad’s Hour is an hour for all types of dads to relate to other dads.

Love,

Alisa, Sarah & the Blooma family

Childbirth Ed to Build Confidence, Reduce Fear

Interactive, fun, and supportive of your choices — that’s what Blooma’s Complete Childbirth Education promises for your childbirth ed experience.

Not only that, our three educators (also certified doulas) make it their mission to stomp out fear and build confidence.

“I LOVED this class! I think it helped so much to erase a lot of my worries and fears that surround pregnancy and birth.  It was great because I was forced out of my comfort zone to stay open and feel supported. Absolutely AMAZING experience… Thank You! Thank You!” – expectant Mama

Offered at both Blooma locations (Mpls + St. Paul) monthly, Blooma’s Complete Childbirth Education is just that — complete. Nicole, Amber + Liz guide a comprehensive class with topics that include:

• pregnancy nutrition + wellness
• normal birth
• comfort measures (with lots of hands-on practice)
• coping techniques
• partner connections + affirmations
• common medications + interventions
• navigating difficult or unexpected bumps in the road
• breastfeeding (with a live demo!)
• postpartum baby + self care

Sign up online or call Blooma (612.223.8064) for any of the upcoming sessions:

March:

• St. Paul – Saturday Mornings – SIGN UP
• Minneapolis – Sunday Afternoons – SIGN UP

April: 

• St. Paul – Thursday Evenings – SIGN UP
• Minneapolis – Sunday Afternoons – SIGN UP

Love,

Alisa, Sarah & the women of Blooma

Love for Breastfeeding, From The Farm

While Sarah Longacre was visiting The Farm (of Ina May Gaskin fame) last week, she emailed back the below photo. It’s of a poem hanging at The Farm’s midwifery clinic called “Everything I Needed,” and it’s all about what the writer learned about breastfeeding. It’s beautiful!

Mamas, what have you learned from breastfeeding?

If you’re an expecting mother or couple, let this poem inspire you! Then sign up for one of Lisa Erbes’ breastfeeding classes, including one for mothers of multiples, at Blooma. Lisa’s classes are offered once-a-month, with her next one scheduled Feb. 24, 6-8:30 p.m.

Love,

Alisa, Sarah & the women of Blooma

Birth Story: “The Most Gratifying Moment of My Life”

This blogging wonder mama’s birth story is one not to be missed! From her mantra of “loose on the top, loose on the bottom,” to her  beautifully-worded descriptions of labor and birth, this story is filled with gems!

Love,

Alisa, Sarah & the women of Blooma

__

{by Sarah A.}

I’m not going to bury the lede here — the arrival of Edwin was, to-date, the most gratifying moment of my life.

But I couldn’t have known that 24 hrs before his arrival. Twenty-four hours before, I was weary from an unshakable sinus infection. I couldn’t tell if my midwife’s suggestion to break my water the next morning (I was 40 weeks and 4 cm dilated) would relieve the stress of life at the moment, or add to it.

Knowing we wanted to labor with our midwife, Deb Stealey, my husband Chris and I decided to go for it.

The night before we broke my water, I continued the tradition from my first pregnancy of meeting my best friends for a steaming bowl of Pho* (Vietnamese cure-all soup) and got to bed early. (*I seriously swear by the stuff.)

The next morning at Abbott, we broke my water and with the encouragement of nurse Jessica and Deb, we got to gettin’!

“I don’t want you to shuffle the halls cooing at the nursery. I want you to WALK-walk!” Jessica said, swinging her arms with vigor.

Want More Childcare Spots? AND Cheap Yoga?

You’ve asked for more childcare spots at Blooma, so we’re taking action! To make this happen we need your help.

Blooma’s childcare operates in part because of amazing parent volunteers like you. So, what’s in it for you (other than more childcare spots)? First off, you get to dance with sweet littles, snuggle and read, play to your heart’s content, and cradle new babies. Fun, right?

Our sweet childcare room at Blooma Minneapolis

But even better than that is the nearly-free yoga you’ll get in return. For every three shifts you volunteer, you can purchase a volunteer pass: 5 classes for $15. That’s $3 yoga! (Crazy, right?)

Below are the shifts we need filled.

Kids Yoga Teacher Training in Mpls, March 8-9

The Kids Yoga Teacher Training at Blooma Minneapolis (March 8-9) is almost here and we have a few spots left! Whether you’re a yogi or not, if you love to work with kids, this training is open to you.

Learn more about Jessica Rosenberg’s Adventures of Super Stretch teacher training, sign up online, and check out Blooma’s Q&A with Jes below.

Love,

Alisa, Sarah & the women of Blooma

Secrets to an Easier Birth?

There are many ways to help facilitate an easier birth for you and your baby. One of those ways is to get your baby into a position ideal for rotating and moving through the pelvis. Turns out, there’s more to it than head-down!

Join Gail Tully, Certified Professional Midwife — also known as “The Spinning Babies Lady” for an afternoon of learning and fun all about Optimal Fetal Positioning, Saturday, March 2, 12:30-4:30 p.m. at Blooma Minneapolis.

Gail Tully shows an expecting mother how to correctly do an inversion.

You’ll learn easy, easy exercises to encourage baby into a sweet spot for birth. These exercises also come in handy during labor!

Bring a birth partner to the workshop, and please wear yoga/sweat pants for easy movement. (No yoga experience necessary for this workshop.)

Gail travels the world teaching these exercises and concepts to parents, doulas, midwives and OBs — now it’s your turn to learn it, too!

Sign up online or call Blooma at 612.223.8064. Learn the best ways to use balance, gravity and movement to your advantage!

Love,

Alisa, Sarah & the women of Blooma