What a Good Doula really does...

Love everything this woman has to say! Its very important what she says about the pain/fear cycle, stress hormones AND working through issues before you arrive in the delivery room. Prenatal Yoga is without a doubt the ultimate in birth preparation. From keeping physical discomforts at bay and building the physical strength and endurance to birth a baby... to learning and practicing the breathwork (pranayama) to bring in energy, ease pain and maintain focus... the mental training is invaluable. And we practice it over and over (hence it being called a "yoga practice".) Learning to let go and relax "on purpose and at will" and the mindfulness training are tools that are absolutely priceless. Believe in yourself, find a Doula that you resonate with, and find a GOOD prenatal yoga class, and you too can have an empowering birth experience regardless of how things unfold. Find support and know that you really are supported in every single way. Because you really are. Namaste.

It's PTSD Awareness Day.

Chances are extremely high that you know someone with PTSD. It is common among Veterans as we know, but it's not only Veterans who get it. I happen to know a lot about this disorder and one day when I have the time I'll do a longer post about it. (It's getting late and I only just realized that its PTSD Awareness day)! Folks with PTSD basically have a faulty fight or flight response which can be very debilitating for those with the disorder (and tough on their loved ones and families as well.) People with PTSD often suffer from flashbacks, nightmares/sleep disturbances, anxiety attacks, depression and dissociation, and they sadly sometimes wind up making their world very small due to the avoidance of triggers. It is a very debilitating disorder, and one that people need to work at on a daily basis. Therapy helps (cognitive behavioral therapy in particular ,whether one on one or in a group setting.) Yoga is very helpful for PTSD on many levels providing many tools for coping and helping to self regulate the nervous system (therefore counterracting the fight or fight response etc.) The practice of mindfulness meditation and breathwork (pranayama) are a godsend for people with PTSD (as all anxiety disorders).

Really happy to see that there is a PTSD Awareness Day! Its a start :)

Dear friends in Japan from Thich Nhat Hanh

March 15 2011

Dear friends in Japan,

As we contemplate the great number of people who have died in this tragedy, we may feel very strongly that we ourselves, in some part or manner, also have died.

The pain of one part of humankind is the pain of the whole of humankind. And the human species and the planet Earth are one body. What happens to one part of the body happens to the whole body.

An event such as this reminds us of the impermanent nature of our lives. It helps us remember that what's most important is to love each other, to be there for each other, and to treasure each moment we have that we are alive. This is the best that we can do for those who have died: we can live in such a way that they continue, beautifully, in us.

Here in France and at our practice centers all over the world, our brothers and sisters will continue to chant for you, sending you the energy of peace, healing and protection. Our prayers are with you.

Thich Nhat Hanh

Do you enjoy helping others? Are you helping them in the right way?

I am thrilled to be spending the weekend with a Yoga Teacher and Psychotherapist named Michael Stone. (and no, he's not my therapist haha.. And yes, I do have one)!

He's doing a book signing this evening from 730-9 and some yoga workshops tomorrow and Sunday at a couple different Semperviva Yoga studios here in town.

The book is called Yoga for a world out of balance.

Click here for details.

Not sure how I missed ever knowing of this guy (especially since I have pretty much lived my entire adult life in Toronto where he's from before moving here). Anyways, none of that matters now. Since September of last year (the same month this particular talk was recorded) I have listened to every podcast, watched every video, and heard just about every public word that this man has said, and honestly I could listen to him every single day. He's fascinating, wise, edgy and very cool. I highly recommend listening to his talks, reading his books and catching him any chance you get. I got into a workshop with him last year at The Yoga Conference on the very last day of the conference and left wishing that I had gone to more. Many more. His Sangha is called Centre of Gravity. Heres a link

Here is just one of his many talks HERE

Enjoy & Namaste

"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."

Yesterday a friend told me that the bank of Montreal stopped recognizing holidays.

Many other organizations and businesses have done the same as we know, and some I even might agree with. Some things just aren't "in" or politically correct in the eyes of some these days.

I was told specifically that "allegedly" they stopped recognizing Remembrance day and I certainly hope that is not true. If it is true it deeply saddens me. I really hope my friend is wrong .

Without getting too deeply into things here I would like to share an article I saw this morning in the Washington Post on brain injuries, war and Afghanastan. It is an American article but it really illustrates how difficult living with a brain injury can be and just how truly awful and absolutely devastating some can be.

The article is here

My friends and loved ones who know me well know that I have a few causes that I have a real soft spot for and one of them is Veterans, and more specifically PTSD.

This article doesn't speak of PTSD, but Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a brain injury as well, and you don't have to be serving overseas to have it. The walking wounded are all around us. Some diagnosed and many not, and we are in this world together.

Brain injuries aren't always obvious but can be a real challenge for the person (s) having them and their loved ones on a daily basis (and thats an understatement). It is important to remember that trauma changes the brain as well. There are the obvious brain injuries from shrapnel and explosions(as in the article), car accidents, falls, and brain tumours and surgeries, but trauma changes the brain as well. I just wanted to share this article in light of Remembrance Day coming up next month. I know it's difficult to read (I have a box of kleenex in front of me as I type), but it's real life.

Lets all be very kind to each other whenever possible. And I really hope to see you at the Cenotaph next month on Remembrance Day. I know I'll be there again.

Birth Doula film

From Wikipedia,

A doula is an assistant who provides non-medical and non-midwifery support (physical and emotional) in childbirth. Depending on training and experience she may offer prenatal support, childbirth (birth doula) and/or postpartum. A labor doula may attend a home birth or during labor at home and in transport to a hospital or a birth center. A postpartum doula provides home care for the first six weeks (or longer in cases of postpartum depression) including cooking, breastfeeding support, newborn care assistance, errands and light housekeeping.

The Wikipedia definition sort of implies that a Doula only attends home births which is completely untrue. (at least here in Canada) Thank goodness! I have attended a great many wonderful hospital births as a Doula in the past right along with every other Birth Doula in this city. Doulas are welcome with open arms in hospitals (at least I always was).

Most people do deliver in hospital in fact. Sadly some people have a great fear about delivering in hospital, but I can assure you that you have a great many birth choices in hospital (it's your birth after all, and you aren't ill you're having a baby)! And in hospital you can do a lot to set the mood for your birth as well ♥.

*You really can. It is your birth experience and nobody elses.

This isn't a commercial for hospital births but you may wind up birthing in a hospital whether you plan to or not.

When I speak like this in a room full of pregnant women there is the occasional look of terror. But everything is ok. It really is. Remember what Buddha said. Non attachment. Non attachment is the best thing to practice when making a birth plan/thinking about your birth plan etc. (I highly recommend making a birth-plan even if it is only for yourself)

Because it requires you to research and think about decisions that may come up.

Hospitals aren't the bad and nasty places they have sometimes been made out to be. In my opinion anyways. I'm sure glad they are there! (I've been in the trauma unit fighting for my life before so maybe I am biased) Know your choices. Be informed. Take the tour. Ask questions. How your birth is going to unfold may not be up to you, but so many other things are. It is up to you who you have there with you supporting you. In Canada we can choose our own caregiver...we are so lucky. But the big thing is being informed.

There truly is no such thing a a dumb question when you are expecting.

I have been to some very magical births in hospital (all births are). Beautiful wonderful empowering births, difficult and challenging and complicated births...what can you say about childbirth really? Each one is different. Different and unpredictable. Every single one. But one thing is certain... every single one is just such a honour to be at. Such a magical incredible otherworldly, highest energy experience imaginable. On the one hand biological and on the other it's...well there just aren't even words really.

But home births, hospital births, water births, even c-section "births" (they are still births)! are just truly so miraculous, I will never get over it. I was seriously choked up yesterday at my first Roundhouse Baby & Me yoga class of the summer as the room was packed full of mom's who previously were in my prenatal class. Meeting their babies for the first time, and looking at them and watching them, witnessing their mothering... Just watching their whole transition to motherhood really (gulp) gets me every time, and for as long as I do this I know it will. They are soooo beautiful.

Anyways, I could go on about this forever!! (but I won't! I've gotta fly!)

I just wanted to a pass this clip along that a girlfriend Tara sent me yesterday. It's short, but it took me on a trip down memory lane remembering my days as a Doula, and I wanted to put the Doula bug in your ear!

If you are expecting, do yourself (and your partner) a HUGE favour and have a Doula. People who have had Doulas would not again give birth without one. This city is crawling with them. Ask for recommendations from your friends, your Midwife/Caregiver and meet a few of them. You WILL find the right Doula for you.

And remember that a Doula supports "you" and "your birth experience." You and your partner. Totally.

It is all about you baby! And you have lot's of choices! *remember that*!

Oh, and many Doulas's are very affordable. As well, there are many Doulas who are just starting out looking for births to attend. And they're free!! (I attended lot's of free births and so does everybody else)

Get informed, practice yoga and have a Doula at your birth and you'll be laughing!

Well, I'm outta here for now!

It's another scorcher, enjoy, keep cool & hydrated and have fun!

I intend to ♥ xo

Gil Hedley's "Fuzz Speech" (real human cadaver, not for the faint of heart)

Use it or 'in-fact' lose it. Those words couldn't be more true. All you have to do is wake up in the morning to notice how we are all a little stiffer. And as we age? Well, countless things begin to happen and thats what makes a yoga practice so incredibly important. Yoga, massage, body work of all forms. Just plain movement!

Gil Hedley Ph.D, the anatomy teacher in this video (whom I would give anything to one day study with), really couldn't put it any simpler. We are continually being covered over with fuzz and need to break through it or well...

We won't be able to move! seriously!

Energy won't flow, we'll feel like crap, we'll be in pain, depressed and eventually become ill. Lack of movement, believe it or not, can actually cause joints to fuse together! That means the joint is gone and is no longer a joint!

Talk about frightening...

I don't speak very often about an accident I was in once, but I know all about being unable to move, atrophy (muscle wasting), trauma, healing, and yes...being absolutely covered in fuzz! I'm talking about a three year recovery here...life support, the works. (but enough about me. I really couldn't feel better!)

Thought I'd share this video just in case you know someone who was 'debating' going to a Yoga class...don't debate, just get on your mat!

Forget the mat just get on the floor! Get inside your body. Really inside. Life is just too short to not connect with yourself and break through the fuzz.

And while you're at it you'll be receiving countless other benefits. The benefits of a regular yoga practice are literally endless and on many levels. Whether you come to yoga on a Doctors suggestion, or to increase flexibility, improve athletic performance, get strong, ditch stress, meditate, heal from trauma... or even just to look great in that new bikini. (haha)

Yoga is for everyone.

I think I can speak for all of us in saying that we all want to feel as vibrant and healthy and vital as we possibly can while we are here.

So let's get moving. Let's do it up and enjoy life to the fullest!

Take that first step and find yourself a yoga class near you and get started. Our beautiful city is brimming with yoga venues of all kinds and some of the greatest teachers anywhere.

And a special thanks to my most cherished teacher in this city Bernie Clark for bringing Dr.Hedley to my awareness and for sharing so much of his incredible knowledge, wit and wisdom over the years (most recently in my Yin Yoga Teacher training). Bernie is the man. In my opinion Bernie Clark makes the yoga scene in Vancouver what it is. To find out more about Bernie, yin yoga and what he does for this incredible planet of ours go to... www.yinyoga.com and www.mindtheplanet.org