Prenatal Yoga in KC Archives | Full Circle Yoga KC

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.

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.

Full Circle Yoga KC Grows

November 19, 2018 by Full Circle KC

Greetings Full Circle Yoga KC Family!

I hope you’re beginning to enjoy the gifts of winter and holidays, but, remembering to breath, relax, and appreciate the moment of togetherness. I always try to focus on what I’m grateful for, especially this time of year. One of the many things I’m grateful for is each of you! For entrusting me into your life during such a vulnerable, yet special time. I feel honored I was a part of your pregnancy journey. For some of you I met you after having a baby and you allowed me to help create space for pure presence with you and your little. And for others your older children came to the mat to practice mindfulness and yoga.

Thank you for your stories you share of your birthing journeys and Mamahood! It most certainly takes a village!

My grand vision for Full Circle Yoga KC has always been to create a studio that offered prenatal yoga and family centered yoga. That vision is beginning to become reality!! And so much of it is due to you and your continued support and requests for more classes!!!

A beautiful studio kind of landed in my lap and I couldn’t walk away, it was just too right. The new studio offers a larger space, a coffee shop below- Equal Minded Cafe, and the ability to schedule all the classes I want to!!! I see so many opportunities for growing our Full Circle Yoga KC community! Sounds perfect right??!!! More teachers and more classes will be offered at the new location! https://fullcircleyogakc.com/yoga-classes-in-overland-park/ . This is just the beginning as I continue to bring on instructors that see my vision and want to teach family centered yoga classes. In January I will be teaching Prenatal Yoga Saturday mornings and every other weekend BYOB Yoga (birth to crawling) and Little Crawlers Yoga (crawling to 18 months) . Many of you have asked for postpartum classes for yourself!!! We’ve got you covered now!! A slow and easy flow is offered in the EVERY body yoga class and Hatha class. Got older kiddos from 8-12 years…..Monday classes at 5:30 pm is a great way to get the wiggles out!!….eventually (once props are purchased) this class will become a kids AIRreal yoga class!!!! Need to power yourself up, check out Power Vinyasa!

The new studio is located in a wonderful neighborhood at 4327 Troost Ave. upstairs in the Ubuntu Village building located on the east side. I know many of you come from the Overland Park area. Although this may seem like a long drive, it really isn’t that far!!! Taking 435 East to 71 North and taking the Paseo exit to Troost Ave is the best route from south Overland Park. The Studio is located to many well known Kansas City neighborhoods-Hyde Park, Troostwood, Brookside, Waldo, South Hyde Park, Midtown Kansas City, and many more!

Let’s continue to grow and be a community together!!!

Peace and Gratitude,

Jenny

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.

Yoga and Pregnancy

October 15, 2018 by Full Circle KC

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Yoga, or prenatal yoga, and pregnancy are a prefect combination! Prenatal yoga is like the rehearsal leading up to the grand performance of your birthing journey! Mama’s who practice yoga while pregnancy have a strong tool in their well-house to pull from during labor.

While exercising can feel daunting it helps build stamina for labor and supports a healthy pregnancy. Exercise normalizes blood pressure and glucose metabolism, builds muscle tone, helps regulate digestion, increase energy, and improves mood. Exercise also improves blood flow through the placenta by 30%.

Pregnancy has a profound impact on a Mama’s body as the body undergoes physical and emotional changes. The first trimester is often the most challenging period of pregnancy with the greatest physical adaptation that takes place. The blood pressure drops, intense fatigue, nausea, and lower back discomfort, mood swings, and constipation. Regular yoga in the first trimester will help temper these side-effects. Breath awareness that is practiced in prenatal yoga will help increase energy.

The second semester is often referred to has the “blooming period” where energy returns, skin glows, hair shines and the body finds a new normal with pregnancy. Prenatal yoga offers poses that are safe and support the changing shape and weight of a pregnant Mama.

As baby grows and takes up more room, discomforts may set in again in the third trimester. Yet, with poses and stretches offered in prenatal yoga your body will remain strong and prepared for your birthing journey. The emphasis placed on breath in prenatal yoga is the platform for which a Mama can find her inner strength and confidence she can carry into her birthing journey.

Yoga and pregnancy compliment each other so nicely for the dual benefits yoga offers. While exercise is important to Mama and baby, prenatal yoga offers a deeper level of preparing the mind and body for one of the most empowering challenges a Mama will experience. Prenatal yoga prepares a Mama for discomforts that she will experience in labor. Through holding challenging poses and relaxing into these poses it equips a Mama to relax and accept the work her body must do to bring her baby into the world.

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.

Overland Park yoga studio