Benefits of Chair Yoga for Seniors

May 16, 2017 by Full Circle Yoga KC Leave a Comment

Is it really true that yoga is “good for everyone?”At Full Circle Yoga KC we believe the answer is YES YES and YES!!!

Research shows those that practice yoga on a regular basis can improve their overall health including

decrease in symptoms from chronic illness – even saving money in reduced medication needs!
improved mood – studies show yoga is the number one form of exercise to reduce anxiety and have positive impact on enhanced mood.
improved sleep.
increase strength, flexibility and balance, reducing risk for falls
beneficial effects on brain function.

Full Circle Yoga KC believes it’s a win win for everyone to get involved in yoga. Call today to schedule your senior chair yoga class at your retirement community.

http://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info-11-2013/health-benefits-of-yoga.html

The Birth of a Mother

May 11, 2017 by Full Circle Yoga KC Leave a Comment

As I reflect on this article I realize that yes indeed I celebrate the birth journey of my changed identity. However, that transition was yucky and messy at times. This article touches on a topic that is often not discussed, and frequently under diagnosed; postpartum depression.

Full Circle Yoga in Overland Park was founded in 2017 by yoga teacher Jenny Hellman focusing on wellness in the early stages of family life from prenatal to early parenthood and the older adult years. Full Circle Yoga KC is an Overland Yoga Studio specializing in Prenatal Yoga, Baby Yoga and Chair Yoga for seniors.

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Voted Top Yoga Studio In Overland Park

May 8, 2017 by Full Circle Yoga KC Leave a Comment

Full Circle Yoga KC was just voted as a Top Yoga Studio In Overland Park by Expertise.com.

Voted Top Yoga Studio In Overland Park

Here’s why:

Full Circle Yoga KC is a small intimate studio making it easy to receive personal one on one attention as well as creating a network of other moms-to-be and moms.

The owner, Jenny Hellman, LMSW, respects and honors where each individual is at the moment they step onto the mat.

Prenatal Yoga classes that offer a challenge in preparation for labor and delivery, yet creates space for grounding and stillness. Poses are taught that help minimize pregnancy discomforts, as well as, poses that can be beneficial during the birthing journey.

Bring Your Own Baby (BYOB) Yoga or Mommy and Me Yoga classes that incorporate nurturing opportunities with mom (or caregiver) and baby, while creating space for self care for mom (or caregiver).

Full Circle Yoga KC is committed to the wellness of families and communities.

TIPS TO SURVIVING EARLY MOTHERHOOD

May 5, 2017 by Full Circle Yoga KC Leave a Comment

KISS= Keep It Simple and Slow

1. Lower your expectations

My husband: “Lower your expectations”

Me: “I’ve already lowered them”

My husband: “Then lower them one more time and be gentle with yourself”

Such truth in this!

2. If this is your first- set up camp

With our first we set up camp in the living room, we ate there, we slept there, we bonded as a family of three there. We let the world around us continue to happen while we entered our new life as parents.

3. Say yes and Say no

Say yes to friends, family and neighbors helping you. People want to help, but don’t always know what to do. Give them something to do: maybe it’s prepare a meal, maybe it clean dishes, maybe it’s do the laundry, maybe it go to the grocery store, maybe you need a shower let them watch your little one, maybe you need a 10 (or more) minute walk to regroup- again let them ooo and ahhh over your bundle of joy.

Say no to friends, family, and neighbors, it’s okay. You become very popular when you bring baby home! Saying no when you need time to bond, rest, just have some time for adjusting is okay. It’s a big deal to give birth and settle into a new rhythm.

Common Pregnancy Discomforts And How Prenatal Yoga Can Help

May 2, 2017 by Full Circle Yoga KC Leave a Comment

At the beginning of every prenatal yoga class I check in with my mamas to see how they are feeling. Many times they feel great, other times discomforts are mentioned such as hips, lower back pain, sciatica nerve. Our bodies are undergoing such crazy changes, it’s not surprising, discomforts can arise. Prenatal Yoga can help with all of these discomforts.

I’ve had some requests recently about poses for sciatic nerve discomfort. Pain from the sciatica radiates in the lower back, down the leg and sometimes to the feet and toes. This is due to where the baby is resting, pressing on the nerves of the spine and hip, specifically the sciatica. It can also be due disc problems in the lower back or a tight Piriformis muscle in the hip.

Remember to always listen to your body. Yoga should not hurt. If something doesn’t feel right come out of the pose.

Here a few prenatal yoga poses you can do to help relieve this discomfort:

cat/cow- hands under shoulders, knees under hip starting in table top position inhale. On an exhale round your back. On a inhale come into cow. This helps drop baby forward and warm up your body, stretching back and hips. While in this pose, move into a flat back and look over right shoulder. Do the same with looking over the left shoulder to feel a slight lower back stretch.

Downward facing dog- with slight bend in knees- pressing fingers into ground, lifting from the hips and pressing back with your heels. Carve out your armpits to open your upper back.

Wide Leg forward fold- step legs out to a wide stance. Fold forward hinging from hips. Using blocks or folding forward. This pose stretches the back and hamstrings.

Seated Pigeon pose- a great pose to do at work. Sitting on the edge of a sturdy chair place an ankle on the knee. Sitting tall, hinge from your hips and exhale forward. This pose stretches the gluteal muscles

Thread the needle- same as above, however lying down.