Benefits of Prenatal Massage

July 29, 2019 by Full Circle KC

The Benefits of Prenatal Massage:

Can a Mama-to-be really find relaxation and relief?! Let’s find out!

Pregnancy is often depicted as a joyful nine months but the physical reality is there are a lot of things that are happening with your body, surprisingly a lot of these things can be aided with massage!

There is an extensive body of research that firmly supports massage therapy’s many advantages for pregnant women which run the gamete from reducing discomfort, anxiety, depression to shortens labor.

The list can go on and on but here is a short list of a few of the benefits of prenatal massage:

Massage can help with the structural changes going on in the body ( which I feel like is one of the most important benefits, there are so many things happing with your spine in such a short amount of time, and even shorter after labor, so this make massage vitally important!)

-Better sleep

-Reduces edema

-Improve circulation

-Reduces joint pain

-Reduces back pain

-Reduces muscle muscle tension

and headaches

-Helps with Hip pain

-Can reduce sciatica pain

-Reduces calf cramps

– Can help shorten labor

-Reduce insomnia

-Morning sickness

-Heartburn

Morning sickness:

Much evidence indicates massage reduces this highly common issue says Susan Salvo, PH.D

It can help with improvement of nerve pain:

Sciatica nerve pain happens with a lot of women in the late pregnancy stage the uterus rest on the muscles of the pelvic floor and lower back the pressure of the uterus spreads tension and muscles of the upper and lower leg causing them to swell and put pressure on there by nerves massage therapy addresses the inflamed nerves by helping to release tension on nearby muscles.

Hormone regulation:

Studies done in the past 10 years have shown that hormone levels associated with relaxation and stress are significantly altered leading to mood regulation and improvement of cardiovascular health.

Precautions for prenatal massage?

As with any therapeutic approach to pregnancy wellness women should discuss massage with their prenatal care provider the best way is to work together with your knowledgeable professionals.

Seeking a massage therapist?

Make sure that your massage therapist is a certified prenatal massage therapist, a certified therapist knows how to address a specific pregnancy needs and sensitive areas of the body.

With a ever changing body in a very quick period of time the low back is thrust forward creating a very large lordotic curve the structure of your body needs a bit of structural massage to help keep the muscle in the right placement. This is why its so important to get a postpartum massage as well it is trying to go back to normal even quicker than it got there structure massage can help it along the way! Help your body during these changes fell the best you can!

Charity Smith, LMT is a guest blogger, She is the owner of Legacy Massage, & is passionate about Prenatal Massage as well as well as structural Massage, which go hand in hand ! She is from UT and moved to KC in 2015 and has been married to her amazing husband for 6 years! We love hiking and Kayaking in our spare time!

Full Circle Yoga KC is family centered yoga studio in Midtown Kansas City specializing in Aerial Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Prenatal Yoga, Baby Yoga, and more.

Playlist for Labor and Delivery

May 22, 2019 by Full Circle KC

Is a Birthing Playlist on Your ‘To-Do’ List?

You may or may not remember the songs played during your labor and delivery. Norah Jones, Come Away With Me is the only song I remember and I was in labor for a LONG time with my first child. Music speaks to us in different ways, and for some they can take it or leave it.

Music may be a tool that helps you get to laborland or maybe it’s a tool that allows you to focus on the words of encouragement and empowerment in the lyrics. Maybe music allows you to tune out other noises that could distract you from the crazy hard work you’re doing.

My playlists in class generally start off soft and relaxed, allowing Mamas to come onto their mat so that they can have quiet contemplation about their pregnancy. Mamas can begin to settle into their bodies, to breath, and appreciate community of women that surround them. As we begin to move I like to pick up the beat a bit moving into music that you can’t help but sway and circle your hips to the rhythm, like Gooey by Glass Animals- birth is gooey, what a perfect song! Or Beyond by Leon Bridges, oh man, this song just makes you want to let your body move organically and let it all go. I love songs that offer encouragement or empowerment because when you’re having a baby it’s one of the hardest experiences you’ll go through, but the reward is pure joy and love! Songs like Fear Not by Kristene Dimarco or Strength Courage & Wisdom by India.Arie or I Can’t Wait to Meet You by David Ryan Harris. When we get to the ultimate pose, Goddess, I play something that is upbeat bring energy for the pose and hold it, even when discomfort arises, challenging the body both mentally and physically while working through breath and swaying to work through the discomfort. Songs like Brave by Sara Bareilles, or Halo by Beyonce or Roar by Kathy Perry or Superwoman by Alicia Keys or really step it up with Confident by Demi Lovato! These songs can help get to the finish line or the top of the mountain.

Bringing it down to return to a place where Mamas can really consciously connect with their pregnancy lends itself to calmer slower music, sometimes with lyrics, other times instrumental. Some like I Can’t Wait to Meet You by David Ryan Harris or Mother by Brandi Carlile are beautiful songs with lyrics that speak of the journey women are on in pregnancy. Or, instrumental songs like Bless This Morning Year by Helios or A Spark, Carried on a Breeze by Roger Saint-Denis.

Putting together a playlist can be fun for a partner to put together, or putting the playlist together. Think about the genres you like, the mood you want to create in your scared place during birth. Ask friends, ask your yoga instructor if you hear something you enjoyed during class.

Full Circle Yoga KC is family centered yoga studio in Midtown Kansas City specializing in Aerial Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Prenatal Yoga, Baby Yoga, and more.

Happy Mother’s Day from Full Circle Yoga KC

May 10, 2019 by Full Circle KC

Greetings Beautiful Mamas!!!

May you each have a wonderful Mother’s Day this Sunday! Maybe you’ll stay in your jammies all day and spend the day being with your amazing family, maybe you’ll pamper yourself with a pedicure or massage, maybe you won’t make any plans at all and just be with what comes of the day. However you spend your day enjoy it fully and give yourself some serious kuddos to being a MAMA. I hope you might find some time to reflect on the women in your life that are and have been part of your village, who have trusted in you, supported you, cheered you on, and encouraged you to create and fulfill your dreams.

I am still coming off the high of spending four amazing days in Minneapolis at Blooma with a group of 13 other strong, brave, vulnerable, and courageous women! We completed our Advanced Prenatal Yoga training. It was such a reminder of the power and energy a group of women create when working together! It totally filled my cup and provided such inspiration for the future of Full Circle Yoga KC!!!

New Happenings at FCYKC!

I believe one of the reasons Mamas come to Full Circle Yoga KC is for the support they receive from other women they meet. One of my greatest joys is watching community blossom among Mamas. We want that support of community to continue soon after giving birth with FREE classes when you just can’t stand being at home any longer! No yoga, just space to be with other women who understand and want to support you. Come and nurse, bottle feed, rest, hang with your sweet new joy, and if you come in your jammies, that’s OK!!! You are welcome to come to prenatal classes or BYOB classes, it’s’ up to you! We got you! When you’re ready to return to the mat Mommy and Baby Yoga will be waiting for you.

Kids AIReal Yoga starts Monday at 5:00pm. Many have asked about kids AIReal and now it’s here! Classes are for 9 years and up.
AIReal yoga class passes for adults has been reduced to $16!!!! Grab a hammock and deepen your stretch and find the kid in you!!
Pop-Up Kids Yoga happening all summer long at the KC Studio!!! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!
Thursday May 23rd, live Handpan with Rick Kloog music with yoga! Join us at the KC studio for this super fun evening! Class is $5 and music is donation based- help support our local artists!!
I’m so honored to have Kelsey O’Neill trained and certified with Sheila Kelly S-Factor join Full Circle Yoga KC! S-Factor is a feminine movement practice – a sensuous workout for body and soul that’s intelligently designed to open the female body into her full, free, erotic expression. If you’d like to reserve a spot for her class watch for posts on Full Circle Yoga KC Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/kelsey.winter.58 This class is a separate pass purchased through Kelsey.
Super excited about Amy Zoe Schonhoff with Mindfulness in the Heartland offering her 8-week mindful parenting class that starts on June 4th. Reserve your spot here https://www.facebook.com/events/402443963651894/

Thank you to all those you were able to make it to the Brookside Art Fair and show off your gorgeous belly and darling children! Thank you to all the awesome partners that were a part of our first outdoor Prenatal and Family Yoga with Brookside Babies! It was such a perfect morning!!! I see future events just like this!

Peace and Hugs,

Jenny

Full Circle Yoga KC is family centered yoga studio in Midtown Kansas City specializing in Aerial Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Prenatal Yoga, Baby Yoga, and more.

Full Circle Yoga KC Spring News

March 29, 2019 by Full Circle KC

Happy Spring

The Season for Birth, Renewal, and Regrowth

Full Circle Yoga KC is blooming just like the spring flowers and green grass! We’ve added more classes and we have lots of events coming up!

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Tuesdays at 11:00 am- Tot Yoga with Amanda Garner- (children ages 16 months to 4 years)- Fly like a butterfly! Roar like a lion! Jump like a Frog! This playful class teaches yoga poses, yoga breathing, and savasana with song, animal movements, story, and games. Toddlers will learn impulse control, body awareness, locomotive skills, and ways to calm down in this fun class. Feel free to grab a coffee or tea before class or stop downstairs after class for coffee and community.

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Thursdays at 6:00 pm- Hatha $5 Community Yoga Class– Emphasizes strengthening the physical body by focusing on body posture and breath control. In this friendly flow class we work to find balance with mind, body, and spirit. Benefits of Hatha yoga include maintaining a healthy body, relaxing, improve flexibility, and build muscle strength and balance. This class is open to everyone! It’s a wonderful class for Mamas postpartum. Yoga isn’t about how one looks but how one feels with yoga. In April (date to be announced soon) Dead Beet Taco Shop will be offering tacos after class! Check out @deadbeettacoshop!

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Dance Tribe– Alcohol Free Dance For All Ages! Come join us and shake your tail feather to some bumping beats by DJ Clandestine. 🎶🎧. Event is being held first and Third Sundays 12:30pm-2:30pm of each month (with the exception of Easter April 21st). April 7th will be from 11:00m- 1:00pm
$10 Adults
$5 kids 3 years and up
Under 2 years Free
Cash Only at the Door

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April 13th- Do-What Now? What’s a Doula? Join Jessica Walker and Carly Crockett of Black Rabbit Doulas in a FREE informative workshop on what doulas do for expecting and new parents.

In this class, you will learn:
-an overview of what a doula is
-a brief history of our profession
-how a doula can help YOUR family
-our BONUS: we’re going to share our top 3 tips for labor!
-then we’ll open up the floor for any questions related to pregnancy, childbirth or parenting.
Partners are welcome!
Check out our website: www.blackrabbitdoulas.com

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May 4th- SAVE the DATE!!! Prenatal and Family Yoga at Brookside Art Fair! I’ll be teaching prenatal yoga outside at the tennis courts in Brookside! Please help me fill the tennis court with your beautiful selves! The event is FREE! I can’t wait to teach with the sun shinning upon us, striking your confidant Mama Bear Warrior Poses, and feeling the buzz of a great community. Prenatal Yoga at 9:00 am followed by lots more fun. A petting zoo from 10-noon, and a kids tent with crafts from 10-6. This event is in partnership with Brookside Babies.

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April 14th- May 19th- Mindfulness Family Classes- There are no members of today’s modern family that are immune from stress! Our contemporary lives of perpetual “doing” leave us all, parents and children alike, often overwhelmed and over-committed.
Learning the skills of mindfulness can help family members strengthen attention and focus, learn to handle life situations with less emotional reactivity and greater balance, while cultivating a sense of well-being and compassion for self and others.
6-Week Mindful Family Class
This Mindful Family class is designed for families with children ages 6-12, who are seeking practical skills and tools to reduce stress and create a calmer, happier and more connected family.
In this weekly one-hour class we will:
•Practice mindful movement
•Learn simple meditation practices that are accessible to all family members
•Learn about the brain and neural integration
•Have fun!
Spring Session
Sundays, April 14 – May 19
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Cost: $120 parent+1 child/$60 each additional family member
Contact amy@mindfulheartland.com for more information.

About the teacher: Amy Zoe Schonhoff is the founder of Mindfulness in the Heartland, a venture dedicated to providing training and education in mindfulness-based interventions. She is the mother of two beautiful humans, a qualified teacher of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and a trained Mindful Schools Educator.

What’s the refund policy?
Refunds will be provided up to one day prior to the start of class. Participants who need to drop after the session starts will be permitted to make up missed classes at a future offering. Session fees will not be prorated for missed classes.

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May 11th- Strawberry Swing Spring Fair. Full Circle Yoga KC is a sponsor for this event. Stay tuned for possible yoga events happening at the event!

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Changes in Schedule:

BYOB class will be changing from Wednesdays at the Overland Park Studio to the Kansas City Studio.

Full Circle Yoga KC is family centered yoga studio in Midtown Kansas City specializing in Aerial Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Prenatal Yoga, Baby Yoga, Power Vinyasa and more.

From Partners to Parents

January 17, 2019 by Full Circle KC

The transition from partners to parents can test a strong relationship to it’s core, lack of sleep, hormonal changes, a crying new baby, lack of sleep, multiple visitors coming to meet your sweet baby, financially providing for a family, did I mention lack of sleep? The transition to parenthood can be one of the biggest transitions parents make together as well as individually. Suddenly not only are you responsible for yourself, now you have a little human that will always be your child, which comes with great responsibility.

Prior to children my husband and I finished the bottle of wine while we ate an amazing meal prepared together over the course of an hour or more. We took amazing trips, traveling on our bicycles with friends through Ireland and Belgium, road trips to Baja, long hikes in the woods, spoiled ourselves with lavish restaurants. We had a good life and I relish that time that we were able to grow as couple. Then a good friend became pregnant and I wanted that too. After our first miscarriage, I realized how badly I wanted a child. After our second miscarriage I was devastated and wanted to have a family more than anything.

Then we were successfully pregnant! We read about pregnancy, we attended the Bradley Method, and we discussed how it would change our life and our relationship. We talked about how we wanted to parent, both feeling very strongly with being conscious in our parenting style and being present to our children. Knowing that we both wanted this type of parenting we also knew we would have to give up a lot (or put some things on hold) – no more long dinner talks slowly working through a bottle of wine, no more fondue parties that lasted until the wee hours of the night, no more ultimate Frisbee club involving traveling for tournaments. Fortunately we were both okay with that knowing what we’d gained in return. We have a happy life with two kiddos filled with new adventures, lots of silly fun family time, creating new traditions, adjusting our travel so that we can all be together. Friday nights are no longer party nights, they are Friday Family Time nights and we look forward to them. We are still partners but now we are parents too!

Making a healthy transition from partners to parents will help create a supportive, positive, and nurturing environment for your child to grow. Begin sharing feelings about this momentous transition before baby arrives. It’s a great date night topic! There are many exercises on the internet to help begin the conversation or take your conversation deeper.

Here are some tips to a healthy transition

Share your expectations- when couples can share their hopes, fears, expectations with each other authentically it can build a deeper respect for each other, as well as finding commonality in shared hopes, fears, and expectations. In an opposite-sex relationship, recognize and appreciate that some issues may be more challenging for males while others are more challenging for females
Regular couple check-ins- how are each of you doing? How are each of you feeling about and managing the new life that’s joined your family?
Take time to talk to each other- Parenting can wear you down, make you question your abilities. Give each other compliments, fill each other’s tanks. As baby grows increase the time you give to your partnership.
Make time for intimacy and sex- postpartum may just be snuggling a little tighter, going to bed at the same time so you can cuddle. Don’t ignore this very important part of your partnership. Embrace opportunities for nonsexual intimacy, especially right after baby is born and the next several weeks.
Talk with friends and family- Keeping your tribe close to you during major life transitions such as having a baby is key to surviving! Your tribe will lift you up when you feel down, they will cheer you along when you feel strong, they will believe in you and remind you of the amazing individual you are.

One might think yoga is for the individual yet it can offer so much more. Full Circle Yoga KC recognizes the importance of a strong partner bond going into such a significant life event as well as the need for a tribe. Prenatal Partner Yoga allows partners the time to check-in with each other. This free, be silly, enjoy the company of one another class creates a space for partners to begin being conscious of the added role as parents. This class opens the door for partners to continue the conversation outside of class as to how they want to show up as partners as parents. Women together in Prenatal Yoga and become a tribe when they return for Mommy and Baby Yoga sharing and supporting one another through the fourth trimester. Full Circle Yoga KC celebrates and embraces the beautiful journey from partners to parents. Full Circle Yoga KC offers a space that creates a community of support for growing families through family-centered classes like Hatha Yoga, Gentle Flow Yoga, Kids Yoga, and Power Vinyasa.

Full Circle Yoga KC is family centered yoga studio in Midtown Kansas City specializing in Aerial Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Prenatal Yoga, Baby Yoga, Power Vinyasa and more.