Happy Birthing!

Best wishes and lots of love to Kim as her birth approaches! You are so strong Kim. You will be amazing! We will all be thinking about you and waiting to meet baby Nathan! Remember your breath.

Read this

No introduction needed.  Read this.  I haven't read an account this accurate in ages.
MOl
http://www.elephantjournal.com/2011/05/what-childbirth-taught-me-that-yoga-never-could/

Another Fantastic Book!

Skinny Bitch Bun in the Oven
A Gutsy Guide to Becoming One Hot and Healthy Mother






Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin are really into being Vegan.  Really.  They can get a bit fanatic sounding at times, which may grow tiresome for those of you that are not vegetarian and have no plans to become so.  However, their message is clear: You have to take responsibility for what you are putting into your body and for what you might be subjecting your unborn baby to.  Also, you don't have to get fat to carry a healthy baby. I like the fact that they are not afraid to lay out the controversial topic of alternative lifestyles and pregnancy, especially on the topic of diet.  The western dietary model is called into question unapologetically, which had me laughing out loud and running to my computer frequently as I read this. The recipes are pretty good, too, if you can bear rubbery cheese substitutes.  In any case, vegetarian or not, this book will crack you up. More importantly, however, it will make you take a good, hard look at your dietary practices during this most precious time.

Prenatal Yoga is about Community, not just fitness

Ladies!  Prenatal Yoga classes are great ways to get your female support system started for your journey into motherhood.  Bring your friends!  Pass these cards along to someone expectin'!  They'll be glad you did. 
Love,

Molly

The Shape of a Mother

Check out this fantastic site for pregnant ladies!
How refreshing and candid.
MOlwww.theshapeofamother.com

Ashley teaches!

It's business as usual at Hot Yoga Downtown so I will be leading the Sweat to Serve class tomorrow and Ashley Kruger will be teaching prenatal.
Ashley has an Iyengar background and has been doing prenatal classes for EVER.
Do you know she trained with Rodney Yee?
Don't miss this one, ladies.

Also...

Hello Ladies! You'll notice Molly has added a reading list to the blog. I would like to say that each of these books has been incredibly inspiring to me over the years, as I'm sure they have been to many women! It is easy to get carried away in our pursuit of information while navigating pregnancy and anticipating birth and beyond. In my opinion we should not try to read and research to the point of getting mixed, contradicting and even negative information. There is no need for added confusion, frustration and stress! If you do happen to have some time and are in search, it is always great to get a good book recommendation! These are among the best, with the emphasis being on all of us realizing our ability and strength as women, and most importantly trusting in ourselves. In addition to reading these books, I would encourage you all to relax and have a movie night and check out the Business of Being Born, a documentary done by Ricki Lake. So-ooo great! It was put out in 2007 and if you have Netflix you can watch it instantly right now! (I think things come and go on the watch instantly list) Anyway, I feel it is just a fantastic film that really helps shed light on some of the aspects of birthing that many of us are not familiar with. I think some of the information shared in this film has the potential to shake us up a bit, in a good way, and maybe help us make more informed decisions about how we want to birth. I hope that if any of you choose to take advantage of these resources that you find that they contribute positively to your experience. As women who support women, Molly and I only wish for you all to have your most positive, fulfilling and empowering experience in pregnancy and birth, whatever that means to each of you personally.

Many blessings on your journey!