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When: Thursday, July 2nd @ 7pm
Where: DYDC Studio, San Mateo, CA. Click here for directions
Cost: Free
RSVP: Not necessary. Just be there before 7pm. Add extra time if you have not already signed a DYDC fitness registration form. (If you have taken any fitness classes at DYDC, you have already signed this document)

Ok I know it’s a little late, but I just love this Hindu and yogic tradition of celebrating each solstice and equinox with 108 Sun Salutations, and now that we’ve done it for winter and spring it’s only fitting that we celebrate summer the same way (not to mention it’s an invigorating, beautiful, challenging, and fun practice.)

What is it?
It’s pure and simply gathering together and completing 108 consecutive sun salutations. Don’t be frightened by the daunting number 108, it really is quite doable and quite acceptable to stop and rest if you need to.

Why 108?
108 is thought to be the number of creation, 108 is found in most religions and cultures, for example: there are 108 beads in a traditional string of Tibetan Mala beads, 108 beads on a Catholic rosary, 108 Upanishads in the Indian Vedic texts, 108 names for Buddha & Shiva and many more.

Come and join us as we welcome and celebrate summer together!

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You asked for it - Now you got it.

I will keep adding to this list when I have time.

I was not able to find every song on Amazon, but here is a list of most of them.

Thanks, Jake

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Tuesday, June 9th 7-9pm

Prenatal Partner Yoga is a great way for moms and partners to connect to each other and to their baby.

In this special workshop, Jennifer Wolfe will teach several, low impact, partner yoga positions. These positions allow mom to get relief from a variety of common pregnancy related ailments, in ways that individual yoga does not allow.

The workshop will consist of:

1 Hour of partner yoga
You and your partner will learn several easy to follow positions that you can then practice at home and use during labor and childbirth. These poses can help you feel more comfortable in labor and can help speed up labor and delivery by teaching you to work with your body to help baby get, or stay in a good position for delivery.

1/2 Hour partner massage for pregnancy & labor
Jennifer will teach your partner how to massage in a way that feels good to mom’s pregnant body. These massage techniques can also be practiced during labor to provide relief to sore muscles. She will also be demonstrating acupressure points for speeding up or starting labor and common discomforts.

1/2 Hour Q&A
Take advantage of Jennifer’s vast knowledge and experience. In over 350 births, Jennifer has seen and done just about everything related to pregnancy and childbirth. All pregnancy and postpartum topics welcome.

Price: $50/couple - Snacks and take-home reference materials provided

Click here to Register Now

There is a 10 couple limit in the class, so sign up soon!

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Become a Dolphin Trained Doula & learn how to support women through the most amazing, transformative experience of their lives!

Learn more at our FREE info night

May 22nd @ 7pm at Dolphin Yoga & Doula Center

This informative event is free, but please RSVP to training@dolphinyoga.com

Dolphin Doula Certification Overview

Segment 1 Basic Doula Training - 8 classes including:

• Basic Doula Training (3 classes)
• Childbirth Education
• Hypnosis for Childbirth (3 classes)
• Marketing your Business

Segment 2: Breastfeeding Support (12 hours)

• Basic Breastfeeding Class - 2 ½ hours
• Newborn Breastfeeding Support Group - 2 hours
• Breastfeeding Center Observation – 4 hours
• Doula Breastfeeding Support Workshop – 2 ½ hours
• Breastfeeding Consultation Observation – 1 hour

Segment 3: Your Own Births with DYDC observer

• Provide continuous doula services for two births starting before 4 centimeters and staying through at least 1 hour after the birth. At least one of the births has to have a Dolphin Method Doula Trainer present for a portion of the birth
• Every birth must be documented on the Client Birth Record form
• Observing births with a doula trainer also available on a limited basis

Location:

• All classes will be held at DYDC - 415 N. San Mateo Dr. Suite #1 San Mateo, CA 94401
• Onsite Doula training will be at one of the area hospitals in the San Francisco / Peninsula / South Bay area

For more information on the Dolphin Method Doula Certification, please contact training@dolphinyoga.com

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Join Dolphin Yoga & Doula Center for the June Childbirth Education Class

Childbirth Education & Hypnosis for Childbirth is a 3 part series held on the following dates:

• Saturday, June 20th 1-4:30 pm
• Tuesday, June 23rd 7-9:30 pm
• Saturday, June27th 1-4:30 pm

balto iii wings of change dvdrip download

Price is $175 per couple

run for the money dvdrip

Signup Now

Childbirth preparation classes are designed to help the expectant mother and her partner to have a positive birth experience. By using intuition to engage in the physical aspects of labor, deep relaxation to calm their anxieties, and knowledge to make decisions, a woman allows herself to surrender to the experience and thus remains ‘in control’ of her birth.

Participants will learn:

• the physiological aspects of pregnancy
• labor and delivery
• review research-based pros and cons of common medical practices
• labor and birthing positions
• and extensive relaxation work.

Partners participation is highly encouraged, but not required

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New Fitness schedule effective Monday, April 13 - 2009

Monday:

12:00-1:00pm  - Mom & Baby Yoga – Rebecca Blake
6:30-7:45pm – Prenatal Yoga tarzan and the lost city download – Rebecca Blake

Wednesday:

10:00-11:00am – Pilates – Tracy Stettner
6:30-7:45pm – Prental Yoga – Jennifer Wolfe
8:00-9:15pm – Vinyasa Flow – Jennifer Wolfe

Thursday:

9:45-11:00am – Prental Yoga – Rebecca Blake

Saturday:

9:00-10:00am – Prenatal Yoga – Aileen Call

Sunday:

10:45-11:45am – Prenatal Yoga – Jennifer Wolfe
12:00-1:00pm – Vinyasa Flow – Jennifer Wolfe

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Spinning Babies is an amazing website with tons of information on turning babies from breech or OP positions.

www.spinningbabies.complainsman the dvd download

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In over 300 births and 9 years as a doula I saw my first vaginal breech birth recently. It amazed me and saddened me all at the same time. Surprisingly, I was amazed at the normalcy of the delivery. Aside from it taking place in the operating room, the actual birth of this little boy was quite smooth.

I was saddened a little because the few breech clients I have had previous to this all opted for cesareans instead of looking into the option of vaginal delivery. I don’t in any way blame the clients, their doctors were adamant that breech delivery was unsafe and that they were risking their baby’s lives to try it. When a woman is told she is putting her baby’s life at risk by a doctor she has put her trust in, it really makes sense that so many opt for the cesarean.

This baby was in a frank breech position, (bottom down head up and legs straight up so the feet were near the head) this is the position most favorable for attempting a vaginal delivery. Her labor progressed normally though she opted for the epidural because her doctor advised her to, she didn’t get it until 9cm. (She was told by another doctor present that she didn’t need to have one but that if she didn’t and anything went wrong where they needed to do a cesarean she would have to be given general anesthesia and she really didn’t want that so she opted for the epidural. After the epidural it took several hours to be complete and start pushing and there were a couple of times when we thought the vaginal delivery might not happen but it finally did. The baby came out bottom first and the staff at UCSF were really amazing. They made sure that I was by her side talking her through the pushing, made sure the DAD was involved and allowed her to have the experience she so wanted.

I understand that like most childbirth choices, the choice to try to deliver a breech baby vaginally is not a straightforward and easy decision to make. There are many factors one needs to take into consideration before making this decision. The best advice I can give anyone who is told that their baby is breech and they need to have a cesarean is to get a second opinion from a doctor WHO HAS EXPERIENCE DELIVERING BREECH BABIES. Most doctors don’t have the experience and will not advocate it. Do research and find someone who does. After getting a second opinion hopefully you will have the information you need to make an informed decision and you wont be left wondering later if there was a better way to go.

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In my work as a doula and a prenatal yoga instructor over the last 8 years, 300+ births, and thousands of prenatal yoga students, I have noticed a trend.

Most women who regularly attend yoga classes while pregnant, have faster and less painful birth experiences.

Of course there have been many exceptions and circumstances that increase length and intensity of labor, but the correlation is too great to ignore or write off as just coincidence.

Because I don’t have all of my birth statistics organized, I could never make the statement that “doing prenatal yoga regularly during pregnancy greatly contributes to shorter and easier labor and childbirth” even though time and time again I would see that to be case.

I was thrilled when a study from Thailand was released confirming my theory.

Here is a summary of the findings of the Thailand Study:
To see the entire study (may require subscription) click here

This study examined the effects of a yoga program during pregnancy, on maternal comfort, labor pain, and birth outcomes. A randomized trial was conducted using 74-primigravid Thai women who were equally divided into two groups (experimental and control). The yoga program involved six, 1-h sessions at prescribed weeks of gestation. A variety of instruments were used to assess maternal comfort, labor pain and birth outcomes. The experimental group was found to have higher levels of maternal comfort during labor and 2 h post-labor, and experienced less subject evaluated labor pain than the control group. In each group, pain increased and maternal comfort decreased as labor progressed. No differences were found, between the groups, regarding pethidine usage, labor augmentation or newborn Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min. The experimental group was found to have a shorter duration of the first stage of labor, as well as the total time of labor.

I believe there are several reasons for the outcomes observed in Thailand.

1. The focus and connection with the breath allows a woman to tap into the rhythm of their bodies and work with them instead of fighting them.
2. Yoga can increase lung capacity allowing the woman to take deeper, longer breaths, which bring oxygen to the baby and mom, making contractions feel shorter and more manageable. A woman in a yoga class is encouraged not to hold her breath and tense up but to breathe deeply and right into the tension. When a woman is tense the contractions can feel much more intense.
3. Women who do prenatal yoga tend to have more stamina (especially when practicing styles such as Prenatal Vinyasa Yoga which builds strength and flexibility while staying focused on the breath and on releasing tension); therefore they can go a longer time without pain medication. Typically getting pain medication slows down labor.
4. Prenatal yoga releases endorphins, or “feel good” hormones, which she becomes accustomed to feeling while practicing yoga. These same hormones are released in labor and are much more identifiable to women who have been practicing yoga.
5. Practicing a relaxation at the end of class helps women to get familiar with what their bodies feel like when they are comfortable and free of tension. It also gives them a practice of staying in the moment and focused.

The practice of prenatal yoga provides women with many physical and mental advantages when it comes time for them to give birth. My own experience has paralleled the Thailand study, which has concluded that in many circumstances, women who regularly practice prenatal yoga have shorter and more manageable births.

Image above is a clip from Jennifer Wolfe’s Prenatal Vinyasa Yoga ~Short Forms DVD and can be purchased directly from her website www.jenniferwolfeyoga.com

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