If language creates reality, ask yourself, “What language am I using?” Is it empowering or disempowering? A look at the her story of birth in the U.S. reveals how common phrases shape how a woman views her authority, agency and ability to advocate for herself during the sacred period of pregnancy, labor and birth and early motherhood.

Learning to effectively and unapologetically use your voice during pregnancy is key, for labor and birth and for raising children. if you’ve ever felt like your throat is blocked, safe practices, like vocal toning, can help you find freedom.

Optimize your pregnancy with a spiritual investment.

It’s important to minimize stress during pregnancy to reduce the risk of negative health conditions for your child.

Learning the physiology of birth can free a woman from fear. When she understands how brilliant Mother Nature truly is, she can trust and let go.

Daily movement keeps mama feeling well and baby developing optimally. Open hips and shoulders while reducing stress and anxiety.

DSNYC sits down with Blair Silverman of Integrative Wellness Solutions to discuss nutrition during the early postnatal period. We discuss Ayurveda and the foods the best support c-section recovery as well as breastfeeding. A woman needs to be kind and patient with herself while making healthy and mindful choices for her family. Ultimately, when a woman is willing to give herself time to heal, a compassionate and benevolent mental state augments her recovery.

Listening is an art. Learning to listen is a mother’s responsibility. A regular meditation provides a sturdy foundation on which a mother learns to listen, to herself and to her child.  Meditation is a loving pathway to knowing the Self intimately.  Meditation is succor for a laboring mamma.

Breath practices are an essential aspect of the yoga practice and are particularly helpful to a woman throughout the birth process. Using the breath as a focal point is an effective way to steady the mind.  Breath techniques literally create space on a physical level.  Ultimately, creating space in the body creates space in the mind. Learn about the best practices for pregnancy, postnatal healing and motherhood.

During pregnancy when there’s so much to think about and planning to do, it’s challenging to stay present. Yoga is an ideal way for a mamma to take control of her body and her mind. Prenatal yoga provides anxiety relief. It also helps her confidently prepare for labor and birth.

Quiet, sacred alone time is necessary for every mother. A home yoga practice affords a mamma time for herself. At first, no props are needed. You have only to clear space in your home, in your day and in your mind. Come to class to explore various movements and poses. Then, when practicing at home, as in labor, trust your body to tell you what you need, when you need. In time, add props to expand your practice and breath practices to quiet the busy mind. Like a newborn, a home practice needs attention and care. With steady dedication, it grows. Nurture it, and it will nurture you.

Oxytocin is the hormone mainly responsible for contractions during labor and bonding. Oxytocin is even found in breast milk. Studies show that a nursing mother is often calm and relaxed. Pitocin, on the other hand, is a synthetic form of oxytocin that doesn’t offer all of the benefits of its natural counterpart. It’s important to understand the distinction between oxytocin and pitocin, and to discuss it with your doctor, during your pregnancy, before labor even begins.

Yoga cultivates deep trust. This inward journey helps a pregnant woman manage external factors and changing conditions with grace and ease. By cultivating equanimity, she learns to trust nature and herself.  Yoga helps a woman train her mind and calm her brain.  By cultivating equanimity, she learns to trust nature and herself.

The third limb of yoga, asana, may be the most familiar to us. Asana are shapes, postures or poses. Asana benefits a woman physically, mentally and emotionally as she prepares her body, mind and soul for the challenges of labor, birth and motherhood. A regular and consistent practice of asana helps a woman feel well and confident, and makes a positive impact on the birth of her family. 

Pregnancy, a sacred time of change, is an opportunity to prepare physically, mentally, emotionally and energetically for birth and motherhood. It’s a potent time to honor and revere the sacred power of individual and collective feminine energy.   By harnessing this power, discover and maintain balance.  The practice of yoga helps ground you as you gain confidence to gracefully assert yourself while taking good care of your health. With yoga, uncover your essence.  Recognize you are a beautiful, empowered birthing goddess.

Mindfulness is an essential component to living a healthy, satisfying and joyful life. Mindfulness helps us develop agency and wisdom as well as kindness and compassion. It has also been shown to benefit our health and well-being as well as our longevity. Finally, mindfulness has been shown to reduce stress.