Kim and Piper
“I feel very fortunate that I was able to maintain a regular yoga practice of three to four day per week through my entire pregnancy (up until three days overdue),” says Kim. “It was so helpful in more ways than I can say for my mental and physical health during pregnancy. When feeling exhausted or sick, my time at class was typically when I felt the best, and it helped me feel like a normal person again.
“In addition to all the benefits through pregnancy, I feel that the muscle tone and flexibility I was able to maintain, along with the relaxation and deep breathing skills of yoga, contributed to a smooth labor and delivery, and a speedy recovery! I couldn’t be happier now that I am the mama of a healthy baby! I send my thanks to all of the teachers and students of the Inner Fire Yoga community who were so supportive of me through my pregnancy.”
Jenn and baby girl
Jenn’s “sweet angel”, as she likes to call her, was born on Dec. 28th at 1:42 am! She was 8 lbs, 10 oz and 21 inches long. “It was a long, hard labor, and my birth plan did not go as planned at all,” says Jenn. “My 16 hours of hard labor and four hours of pushing ended with a C-section.” Yet, as every mother after a long labor feels, it was worth it! “My husband and I have never loved anyone or anything this much. We have no words to describe it.
“Throughout my pregnancy,” Jenn continues, “my yoga practice was exactly what I needed. It grounded me, gave me energy, helped me stay strong, helped me relax and most importantly, made me happy and grateful every day for what I have and who I am. As far as my labor goes, to be completely honest, nothing could have prepared me for it. It was the single hardest, most painful thing I’ve gone through. But now I can’t wait to get back into the studio! I wish everyone happiness and good health!”
Clive Anthony (October 2013) – Born to Inner Fire Yoga student Melanie Jacobs
Congratulations to long-time Inner Fire Yoga member Melanie Jacobs on the birth of her beautiful baby boy earlier this month. Clive Anthony arrived at a healthy 8 pounds, 1 ounce and 20.5 inches long. “Labor was long so I am very grateful for the playlists David shared with me,” says Melanie. “Our little one is very alert, present and calm…. and I attribute that to our shared yoga practice.”
Melanie added that she was grateful to have a yoga space that was supportive of both yoga mamas and babies. “It meant so much to me to have a studio where not only was my pregnancy practice in the warm room welcomed, I also felt supported and encouraged by teachers and other students.”
Owen Philip (August 2011) – Born to Inner Fire Yoga student Theresa Brown
I consider myself very lucky to be a part of the welcoming and positive community at Inner Fire Yoga. I was able to enjoy yoga throughout my pregnancy and let me tell you, if you want to get to know the people you practice with, take a power flow class at nine months pregnant and everyone wants to talk to you! I believe my practice greatly contributed to having a healthy pregnancy. Even through what felt like an eternity of morning, noon, and night sickness, I knew that if I made it to class I would feel much better afterward. The physical and mental strength that I maintained helped not only through a relatively short (5 hour) labor and delivery, but also allowed me to resume my usual activities much sooner after my son was born. Owen Philip was born on August 3, weighing 7 pounds, 6 ounces and is a very happy (and strong!) little guy. He’s already working on his yoga too – he does a perfect baby baddha konasana in the bath tub and recently started on super-yogi!
Samuel Senatori (August 17, 2011) – born to Inner Fire Yoga student Megan Senatori (and Adam – our photographer)
When I found out the exciting news that I was pregnant last December, I knew that I wanted to continue my yoga practice during my pregnancy. I happily maintained a regular yoga practice at Inner Fire Yoga throughout my pregnancy, supplementing studio practice with a home practice at the very beginning and end of my pregnancy. As a new mom, the support of the Inner Fire community and its excellent yoga teachers was incredibly valuable and appreciated. I believe that my yoga practice is largely responsible for an extremely easy pregnancy – and, I know that my practice provided me with the physical and mental stamina required for a long and difficult 15-hour labor and delivery. Samuel was born at 8:53 am on August 17, 2011, weighing 8 pounds, 5 ounces, and 22 inches long. He is an extremely mellow little guy – must be all that yoga!
Sage Honey Johnson (February 3, 2011)- born to Inner Fire Yoga student Allison Johnson
Hi, I just wanted to announce that my husband Derek and I (we’ve been practicing at Inner Fire for several years now) recently welcomed a baby girl on 2/3, Sage Honey Johnson. Can this announcement go out in the next newsletter or on the website? I wasn’t sure how that worked. Thanks and can’t wait to get back into the studio!!!
Capri (Janurary 8, 2011) – born to Inner Fire Yoga teacher Angie Carlson
Capri was born January 8th after six hours of fairly easy labor. I practiced as much as I could during pregnancy, which helped keep me comfortable and strong. Now, with a baby and almost-two-year-old, I am really enjoying my post-natal practice. Caring for little kids is hard on your body, and yoga helps to counter-act some of the bending over, lifting, poor posture, and asymetrical movement that is taking its toll. It is also, of course, a nice break!
Charlotte Pilar Renner (January 3, 2011) – born to Inner Fire Yoga student Doreen Ernst
Charlotte was born on Jan. 3rd and I took my last Yoga class on Dec. 31st. It was a great experience to practice Yoga while pregnant and it helped me a lot during labor and delivery. Thanks IFY!
Ilyana Maria (December 1, 2010) – born to Inner Fire Yoga students Jesse and Anastasiya Craig
Anastasiya practiced yoga throughout nearly her whole pregnancy and was grateful for a low-impact way to exercise that also promoted stretching, relaxing and proper breathing. Jesse is grateful for increased patience and energy, being able to get by with less sleep, and avoiding the back pains that come with holding a baby in one position for hours on end. We are better parents thanks to our yoga practice and our little angel deserves it!
Summer (May 10, 2009) – born to Inner Fire Yoga teacher Angie Carlson
Summer was born May 10th, 2009. I practiced yoga almost daily while I was pregnant. While I won’t say the labor and birth were easy, I do attribute the fact that I was able to get through it without intervention to both my physical and mental yoga practice!
Milo Jurgella (November 11, 2010) – born to Inner Fire Yoga student Sara Jurgella
Hello Inner Fire folk. This is Sara Jurgella, I was the pregnant woman that was fortunate enough to practice at Inner Fire throughout my pregnancy:) We welcomed Milo James Jurgella into the world on November 11th… he is a beautiful, happy, healthy baby boy and we are over the moon excited to have him in our family! I also wanted to tell you that I was able to have a natural birth, four amazingly short hours of labor, and Milo was a 9lb 13oz baby boy. I attest much of my ease in labor this time around to being able to have a consistent yoga practice throughout my pregnancy. I look forward to coming in and practicing soon! I did some yoga at home today and holy man is it easier without a big ol’ baby in there! 🙂 Peace- Sara Jurgella
Jasper (August 2004), Kemaya (April 2007), and Salem (August 2009) – born to Inner Fire Yoga students Rachel and Lance Carlson
As a couple, we had been practicing Hot yoga regularly before concieving our first child and I had just completed the 5x/week challenge, feeling my best ever. Through the pregnancies I practiced hot yoga as much as I could…it took me to the third pregnancy to realize that a half-set is perfect during the first trimester. It’s funny how I loved the pregnancy series, but also yearned the regular series including the back series poses I never thought I would miss! I was fortunate to practice right to 41 weeks, then I decided to lay low rather than pull a double (yoga and birthing). All our babies were born late (12, 11, and 10 days over), naturally, and in good health. So lucky to have a supportive studio and the opportunity to continue my dedicated practice (even if I can only get there once a week).
Grey Lucien (March 24, 2010) – born to Christina
My son Grey Lucien was born on March 24, 2010. He’s a huge and very happy, smart little guy. I credit my yoga practice at Inner Fire with playing a big role in my fertility; we hardly had to try at all, even though I am over 35. Although I had to stop taking hot yoga classes during my pregnancy, we did try to regularly attend Joan’s Friday Yin class up until I was 40 weeks along. Although not officially a prenatal class, Joan was great about providing me with plenty of safe modifications. I started attending her class exclusively instead of the prenatal one offered through my health provider. Thanks to Joan and Inner Fire!
Tenzin Lotus (April, 3 2009) – born to Inner Fire Yoga student Rahel
Yoga Baby Girl…. Hot Yoga up to 3rd trimester… Then had to take it easy with the heat but still practiced yoga. I believe it helped me, along with other relaxation techniques and a Doula, to give Tenzin a completely natural and gentle birth. I had a real easy pregnancy and birth. I feel so blessed!
Daniel – born to Inner Fire Yoga student Liz
Due to complications I wasn’t able to do yoga the last month or so of my pregnancy and only received the green light to return recently. I’ve missed it so much and can already tell a huge difference how my yoga practice is helping me with this long recovery. Thanks to all the Inner Fire Yoga teachers for your support and suggestions!
Erik Johnson (August 29, 2000) – born to Inner Fire Yoga owner, director, and teacher Marit Sathrum
