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Growing: A Pregnancy and Business AND…Baby Music Playgroup!

November 17, 2022 by Full Circle KC

A business is much like pregnancy, but also SO different! It was such a special class last week when an expectant Mama felt her baby move for the first time in shavasana! The excitement was felt by all. That first kick and it’s excitement is like the first client, first new class, first full yoga class, first new workshop, new teacher, each new client- a feeling of joy and excitement. Then there are those days in pregnancy that you find yourself feeling uncomfortable, nauseous, tired, maybe even unsexy, or yearning for feeling better. Well, like pregnancy, being a business owner there are days that feel the same. It’s an ebb and flow journey both in pregnancy and business.

One exercise I’m practicing is catching myself when I’m feeling impatient or worried about business growt, is to turn that feeling into a statement of abundance. It’s hard to wait for a baby to be born, especially those last few weeks! It’s hard to be patient in growing a business during a pandemic and now a recession.

When I’m in the studio teaching, or supporting a client, it’s like that first kick every time. All the feels, all the joy, all the abundance of a space that brings such incredible community, support, and education. When I’m in the studio I can pause often listening to the words of encouragement given by others in the room and know this is the exact right moment and place to be.

It is always with deep gratitude I have the opportunity to cross paths with so many amazing Kansas City (and from afar like Germany and Portland and more via zoom!) growing families. And it’s always a special treat to run into so many of you at the grocery store and elsewhere!

Trust, Trust, Trust that all is well with both a body growing a baby and a woman growing a business.

If you haven’t written a review about your experience at Full Circle Yoga KC I’d so appreciate a few minutes of your time to share your experience with others. I PROMISE your reviews get read from so many looking to find a space like Full Circle Yoga KC. Click here to write a review.

NEW CLASS!!!!

MUSIC FOR MILESTONES baby music playgroup with Stepping Stone KC!
Mondays, 10:45-11:45am
Ages 2 & under

Description: A playgroup for children 2 and under to socialize, bond with caregivers, and practice early developmental skills through musical exploration and play!! Led by a Board-Certified Music Therapist with Stepping Stones KC.

$15 Drop-in or $50 Per Month
STARTING Monday, December 5th
December dates: 12/5, 12/12, 12/19

As we begin to bring 2022 to a close there are great classes and workshops still left to attend!

Flow +1 with Bri- a vinyasa flow class where you can bring your baby or come alone! Every Sunday at 10:30am

Kids Yoga– Every Sunday at 9am with Chelsea, start your little ones on the yoga mat young!

Restorative Yoga with Miracle- a perfect class to restore during the buzz of the holidays. Every Saturday at noon (the first Saturday of each month 12:30pm)!

Prenatal Partner Yoga– December 14^th

And of course our weekly classes of prenatal yoga and BYOB Yoga!

Full Circle Yoga KC is family centered yoga studio in Midtown Kansas City specializing in Prenatal Yoga, Prenatal Partner Yoga, Baby Yoga, postpartum yoga, and many family-centered workshops.

Yoga Schedule | Kids Yoga, Pelvic Floor & Fertility Yoga

February 10, 2022 by Full Circle KC

Hope is my word for 2022! I’m hopeful we are finding ourselves at the end of this worldwide pandemic. I’m hopeful FCYKC continues to grow and supports many more families! Much of my hope is fueled by the amazing community at FCYKC! It has been such an honor to be a part of your lives these last years. It has been especially warming to the soul as we’ve gathered in-person and virtually during these last few challenging years. I hope the new year brings you hope as it does me.

I’m excited to share with you all what’s ahead for Full Circle Yoga KC in the coming year!

Kids Yoga is BACK!!!!
A yoga class that is a highly engaging yet calming. Kids Yoga is designed to teach children yoga and mindfulness so that they can best manage the world around them. Through yoga poses children will improve their coordination, balance, and body awareness. and This class is designed for children ages 3-6. We encourage caregivers to join in the fun! Reserve your space here.

Tuesday, February 15th 9:00am

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Big Kids Yoga/Family Yoga!

Take a break from your hectic week and find calm, quiet and fun on your mat. Through yoga and connection, one learns tools for coping in times of stress and/or chaos. Mindfulness and breathing techniques will be integrated into the class. Yoga poses help improve concentration, coordination, and self awareness. Designed for children ages 7 and up and a parent/guardian is welcome. Reserve your spot here.

Saturday, February 19th 1:00pm

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Brookside St. Patrick’s Parade– Mark your calendars! Full Circle Yoga KC is walking in the Brookside St. Patrick’s Parade!

Saturday, March 12th at 2pm

Join us for the entire walk or part of the walk. It’s going to be a celebration for sure after having to cancel the last two years. For those interested we will be ordering shirts to wear, more details coming soon! The whole family is invited, even the family dog on a lease! Wear your green, dress up your wagon and join the fun! If you are interested please click here.

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Coming SOON

* Pelvic Floor Wellness Yoga– Jenny received her Pelvic Floor Yoga Teacher Certification with Leslie Howard. Leslie is a dynamic instructor and Jenny is thrilled to bring Pelvic Floor Yoga to FCYKC!!! This class will teach pelvic floor issues and how yoga can support pelvic floor health.

* Fertility Yoga Series– Jenny is in the final stages of completing her Fertility Yoga Certification with Bebo Mia and will be scheduling the first series in early spring.

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Punchpass is the software we use at FCYKC for reservations and pass purchasing. The company just made it so much easier to reserve and purchase passes.

https://app.punchpass.com/app

It just takes a few minutes to have on your phone and at your finger tips!

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May we look to the new year with open hearts and open minds! Here at FCYKC we are so grateful for each of you and the opportunity to have walked with you during a very special moment in your life. We are so excited about the continued growth of FCYKC and welcoming more expectant Mamas and Parents and celebrating lots of new babies!

Full Circle Yoga KC is family centered yoga studio in Midtown Kansas City specializing in Gentle Yoga, Prenatal Yoga, Baby Yoga, Tot Yoga, Family Yoga, Workshops, and more.

Changing Seasons and Yoga Class Schedule Changes

September 1, 2020 by Full Circle KC

“Create the change the world needs by creating change within yourself “

– Layla F. Saad author of Me and White Supremacy- Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor

Dear FCYKC Community,

It felt like fall today and soon it will arrive with all the beauty in the changing colors. This year has been a roller coaster!!! I hope you and your loved ones are staying healthy physically, mentally, and emotionally during these unprecedented times. I hope we are all doing our part in the fight for social justice for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. I hope brighter days of unity are ahead of us!!

Who knew face masks would become an accessory! Thanks to my mother-in-law my children will have custom made unicorn, turtle, dragon, panda, and butterfly face masks! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the continued support you’ve given to FCYKC online and in-studio. Your kind words about what the FCYKC community means to you is truly the fuel that keeps me charging forward to keep our community thriving. Being the founder of FCYKC is one of my most proudest accomplishments, aside from birthing my sweet babies of course!!

We have a NEW yoga instructor joining our community!!! With the changing season comes a change in yoga class schedule and we hope it’s a schedule that work with yours. September also will offer workshops with safety and health measures in place to do our role in public health safety. It’s getting cooler…..so we are making the first Saturdays of each month OUTSIDE at Gillham Park, just west of the studio.

We are thrilled Jordan is joining our sweet community!! Come join me in welcoming her for her first class Wednesday September 9th at 7:00pm! I’m so excited to be taking her class! Jordan will be teaching gentle yoga for all levels and yogis. This class is open and encouraged for early prenatal and postpartum. You’ll love Jordan’s energy and smile!!

Here’s what to expect with the new schedule change starting the week of September 7th. Evening prenatal classes are changing to Tuesday and Thursday nights. Times remain the same 6:30pm and 6:00pm respectively.

Everyone loved being outside when mornings were cooler so let’s do it again! Starting THIS SATURDAY, the first Saturday of each month! We will have prenatal yoga (9:00am) and Mommy and Baby (10:30am) in the park! Class will be held at the far south end of Gillham Park between Harrison and Campbell. There is parking on Brush Creek. Look for the FCYKC A-Frame just down the hill from where you park.

Upcoming Workshops:

Prenatal Partner Yoga – Monday September 14th 6:30pm (In-person and Zoom)

Write Your Birth Story– Saturday September 19th 12:00-2:00pm (In-person and Zoom). Right after BYOB class!

Coming of Age Workshop – Sunday September 20th 2:00pm-5:00pm

Please reserve for all classes and workshops at www.fullcircleyogakc.com

With Deep Gratitude and Respect,

Jenny

Full Circle Yoga KC is a Kansas City yoga studio that specializes in embracing the full cycle of life. Classes include Prenatal Yoga and Bring Your Own Baby (BYOB) Yoga for those entering the beautiful journey of pregnancy and the transition into motherhood. Full Circle Yoga KC also offers several other Family-Centered Classes.

Classes return to the studio!

June 12, 2020 by Full Circle KC

FCYKC is BACK in the studio!

I’m thrilled to be opening FCYKC’s doors again! I’m over here doing a little happy dance to be back in the studio. These last few months have been trying on so many levels. I hope everyone is staying healthy. I hope we are all asking tough questions during this uprising and movement towards equality, I certainly have- read on to learn more. FCYKC unequivocally stands with the Black community against police violence and continued systemic racial injustice. We stand in solidarity of Black Lives Matter.

Starting Wednesday, June 17^th the studio will re-open and I’m so excited to see you in person! We will continue to zoom each class so we can meet everyone’s comfort levels. If the weather is too perfect to be inside, we will have classes at Gillham Park on the far south side of the park.

Having classes outside has been a great way to see each other while social distancing in the fresh outside air. Because I have had such great feedback in having classes outside we will continue this on the first Saturday of each month as long as the summer heat isn’t too hot.

**Mama and Movers will remain zoom. Stay tuned for in-studio date for this class.

Here’s what FCYKC is doing:

Mats and blocks will be cleaned with CDC approved cleaner.
Blankets and bolsters will not be used for the time being, unless blankets are needed for knee protection in which case they will be washed after use.
Mats will be placed in the spaces designated by tape.
Masks will be worn while teaching.
Door handles and other frequently touched areas will be cleaned with CDC approved cleaner
Restrooms will be cleaned with CDC approved cleaner before each class.

Here’s what we ask of you:

Please keep a 6-foot social distance when at the studio, including the placement of car seats.
There is a new hand sanitizer at the bottom of the steps- please use when entering and exiting, or wash hands in the restrooms across from the studio before and after.
Please bring a mat if you have one.
If you are not feeling well, please stay home and join us on zoom.
If you have had contact with someone with COVID please remain home for two weeks and join us on zoom.
Bring your own water bottle.
Mask wearing is encouraged.
Bring a towel to cover bolster if bolster is needed for comfort/safety.

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In November 2018, Full Circle Yoga KC moved from a predominantly affluent white area of the community to its beloved larger location on Troost. When I took out a lease on the new studio, I began immediate visions of how we could evolve into a vibrantly diverse studio community on the city’s symbolic dividing line, supporting mothers and building up families, creating a space where families seek joy and community alongside the newest generation.

It was necessary from a financial standpoint to carry a small staff (now larger than just myself) until the business gained its footing, but this meant I was missing the most important component to the equation for representation: a teacher from the community of Troost herself. It’s long been on my heart to include a person of color on our teaching staff. I’ll admit that I did not keep my search a continued priority with focus given to maintain day-to-day operations. When it became fully within the studio’s financial means to add another teacher this spring, a person I determined must be one of who represents the voices and experiences my present staff don’t, COVID closures occured.

Still, I was wrong in the waiting. We are a community who serves primarily mothers and families, and even with caring teachers, we cannot claim to do that unless a variety of voices of the community are represented in that space. As many of you know, Black women are disproportionately impacted by perinatal inequalities- Black women are at higher risk for premature birth, maternal and infant mortality, cesareans and unnecessary birth interventions . Places like Uzazi Village, just up the street from FCYKC are doing powerful things to fight these statistics. In our efforts to provide added prenatal, postpartum, and family-centered yoga, we want our families who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color to have community. But to adequately support, that community must be one in which they have the ability to see themselves.

I am committed to remedying this missing voice in our circle, and I don’t state it lightly. We are at a time when studios, my own included, are struggling as we come off the pause of COVID-19 closures. But I cannot close my eyes any further to the void. Our studio staff wants to be representative of the mothers, parents, and children who step on the mat with us. We are also willing to expand our offerings. Therefore, I humbly wish to extend an invitation to any teacher who is Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color in this community—be they female, male, non-binary, or trans—who feel connected to the idea of building family-centered yoga to please email me at fullcircleyogakc@gmail.com. I would be honored to talk with you. We also support mentoring a present 200-hour YYT student or student of prenatal yoga.

As a white woman who understands she’s lived a life with certain inherent racial privileges, I know it is a borrowed gift to share yoga with others. Therefore, it is an even more important duty to see that the voices most needing to be heard on the mat have a venue to share their practice.

Thank you SO much for being a part of this community. I appreciate each and every one of you!

I’d like to give a special thanks to Deana Bindel who also teaches at the studio in helping me craft my thoughts into eloquently written words.

Love and Light,

Jenny

A Birth Story

January 15, 2020 by Full Circle KC

A Birth Story

Beyond the Stretch
By Andrea G.

My birth was nothing like I thought it would be yet exactly like I envisioned it to be. Labor started well
before I knew it had, my water broke just as we were getting into bed for the night so I knew there was
a good chance we’d be meeting our little one soon, little did I know, it would be much sooner than I
thought. I have a deep trust in my body and it’s ability to birth my baby. The mind is often where the
distrust can come from so I spent 9 months mentally preparing myself by reading about home births,
repeating positive birth affirmations and visualizing my birth. When I was woke by a contraction a few
hours later I knew it was time and I felt ready. Within about 30 minutes the contractions became much
more intense and closer together, that is about the time I convinced my husband to get the pool ready.
I moved from the bed to the shower the warm water felt good while I rocked back and forth in goddess
squat, but when I’d get a contraction I would describe it as “bearing down” but from all my reading I
knew that “bearing down” was the pushing phase of birth. I next moved to the toilet and quickly knew
that I was in fact, bearing down! I had my husband call the midwife who only stayed on the phone long
enough to know that she was going to be late! Still in a little disbelief that my labor could be progressing
so quickly, as it was only about three hours from the first contraction that woke me, I had my husband
feel the babies position and he calmly suggested I get in the pool. I think we both knew the baby was
coming soon but neither of us wanted to say it out loud! Once I got in the pool I had one contraction and
then a rest, it was like suddenly I could relax, like I hadn’t been working hard the past few hours. Next
contraction I could feel her head coming but then would go back, just one contraction later her head
fully birthed. I took a nice deep inhale and then exhaled as her body swam out into the pool. My
husband swept her up and handed her to me. She snuggled on my chest, me in his arms. We started
talking and she looked up at us with her big eyes, she knew us!

As many people will tell you pregnancy is a wonderful and magical time, and they are not wrong;
however, there are some things that can make pregnancy more enjoyable. Yoga is one of those things.
Not all yoga or prenatal yoga classes are created equally though. Listening to your body is always the
first and most important thing, but if you feel well, we are capable of quite a bit while we’re pregnant.
This really shouldn’t be a surprise, we’re women, we create, carry, birth, and nourish!

I did yoga prior to becoming pregnant but the first trimester pretty much took me out of the game when
it came to physical activity (or anything for that matter). Once the nausea subsided in the second
trimester, I was ready to get back into my yoga practice, but what was okay to do while pregnant? I
ended up going to a prenatal yoga class and, though it was relaxing, it was quite boring. I thought, well I
might be pregnant but surely my body can do more than this! That is when I found Full Circle Yoga KC
and the wonderful Jenny. She took us through a vinyasa flow, sure there were a few modifications for
moms who were further along or any who medically needed to modify, but otherwise it was a flow like I
did before becoming pregnant. I was happy and amazed to see that I could safely do pretty much all the
same asanas (postures).

What I loved most about Jenny’s class was how she structured it in a similar way to the birthing process.
We’d start out slow, warming up our bodies, gradually moving into a vinyasa, and then hold some
strength poses for a longer period to imitate a contraction. Jenny was always reminding us to move our
bodies with what felt right to us and breathing slow and deep into any discomfort.

There were two phrases that Jenny would regularly say in class that became a mantra to several of us;
While holding a deep squat for a minute (average time of a contraction) Jenny would say, “you can do
anything for 60 seconds,” and often when talking about our upcoming birth she would remind us that,
“you can do anything for 24 hours,” which is the average length of birth for a first time mom. Though
while in labor I definitely told my husband, “I cannot do this for 24 hours!!” these mantra’s, the
reminder of breath, the strength, and endurance I gained in yoga and knowing that so many women
have birthed before me got me through each and every contraction and allowed my baby girl to move
through me and into this world. (And the good news is that when I let my husband know I couldn’t last
24 hours, I unknowingly was already in active labor and only had 4 hours to go).

Outside of the physical benefits that yoga provided my ever-changing body, the space Jenny created for
us felt good. Sure, anyone can do prenatal yoga at home but at Full Circle Yoga KC we had a safe place to
move, breathe, ask questions, and truly be present with our little one growing inside of us. Most
pregnant women know that people love to offer advice, unsolicited or not, and as someone who has
now had a child I feel confident in saying…..we forget a lot of things. So, when you’re pregnant and you
feel a certain way or wonder if something is normal or not there is nothing better than being in a room
with women who are not only currently pregnant but several are at the same point in pregnancy as you.
Sometimes learning that they feel the same way can lift a worry or ease your mind.

I’m one to listen to my body and use my intuition. I talked to my baby daily and set the intention for the
birth I wanted. Prenatal yoga was a bonus along my journey. I think all pregnant women can gain
something from it whether stretching, moral support or a quiet place.

Namaste

Full Circle Yoga KC is a Kansas City yoga studio that specializes in embracing the full cycle of life. Classes include Prenatal Yoga and Bring Your Own Baby (BYOB) Yoga , Mama and Movers Yoga, for those entering the beautiful journey of pregnancy and the transition into motherhood. Full Circle Yoga KC also offers several other Family-Centered Classes and workshops for parents.