A great workshop from our friends at Tranquil Space...
And love, love , love, love...
I have already started working on my 2011 goals, reflections and looking back at the amazing year that 2010 was. In one short year, our fabulous little yoga home opened and has grown and flourished into this amazing community. I am SO looking forward to next year ALREADY... In 2011, we will partner with Music Together, Stroller Strides, Palisades Village, Crossway Community, Capital Hill Arts Workshop, The Lab School, offer FREE new mom support groups and FREE lactation support groups. Wow... who knew one little space would become a community center for moms, families, and more.
Someone recently asked me what other classes and programs I would like to do and offer at lil omm...and I thought back to the original creative plan for lil omm. On the list of things to offer were all of the classes/workshops that are on our schedule now and coming in 2011... and so with great pride and humble attitude I am at peace with knowing that we are evolving into a MEANINGFUL place for DC families.
My heart races with delight when I see a new mom excited about taking "Baby First Foods" or the bonds that are being created in Itsy Bitsy Yoga. Sharing and creating space where learning, playing, practicing and being are at the core of who we are and what we do.
And this time of year, the written words on cards of students so grateful for their yoga practice and the smiles of the babies on all the cards filling the studio reception- brings joy to all. And that's what yoga is. Connection, love, growth, meaningfulness in our everyday lives and practice.
Today was an "ordinary" day for me.. take Saylor to school, work my tush in TOUGH, relax in joy with LOVE, teach babies and mamas yoga, host an AMAZING healthy lunch surrounded by fabulous teachers, students, and children. Come home, work on the computer and reflect about the fulfillment that this life brings. This Wednesday, like any other Wednesday bringing me so much joy because of the community you have all created, and become part of. So with that, happy happy holidays, filled with love and gratitude ALL through the year for what life brings us and for being at peace with whatever comes our way.
Resources for Pregnancy and Childbirth
Birth Options Alliance
Information and resources for birthing options in the Washington, DC metro area
Breastfeeding Center For Greater Washington
Free and reduced price breastfeeding classes and support; breastfeeding supplies; lactation consultants
DC Developing Families Center
midwifery services, prenatal care, labor and birth services, birth center and hospital births, well woman care, breastfeeding support, children’s services
International Cesearean Awareness Network (ICAN) of DC
Birth empowerment advocates and educators
resources for natural childbirth, doulas, and childbirth educators
Birth Blessings
doula, childbirth education, breastfeeding support and lactation consultant
Birth You Desire
Ursula Sabia Sukinik, Bradley Method childbirth educator, doula
Child Birth Solutions
advocacy organization dedicated to ensuring that pregnant women are educated about their options so that they may make informed choices for the most empowering birth experience that is possible
Conscious Empowered Birth
birth coaching, birth plans, child birth education, doula services, yoga
Susan Messina, Birthworks ( susanmessina.com)
Lakshmi Landa
HypnoBirthing Instructor, Bethesda
shantiyoga@schooloflife.org
301.654,4899 x4
Momease
childbirth education, baby care, breastfeeding support, massage, exercise and parenting classes for couples and single parents
Northern Virginia Midwifery
midwifery services, including homebirths, waterbirths, consulting, well woman care, natural fertility planning, gentle birth pool rental, prenatal and perinatal loss support, and placenta workshops
Transitions Birth Doulas
doula services
Trusting Our Bodies
Jessica Groves, Bradley Method Childbirth educator, doula
Wisdom Women’s Health Collective (WWHC)
a group of parents, parents-to-be, midwives, doulas, doctors, and other advocates working together to celebrate and support the experience of healthy pregnancy, natural birth, and conscious parenting in Washington, DC.
midwives and birth centers
Alternative Birth Choices
Evelyn Muhlhan, CNM, well woman care, prenatal, labor and delivery, homebirth, waterbirth, hypnobirth, hospital birth, breastfeeding support, family planning
Birth Care
midwifery services, prenatal care, birth services, homebirths, well woman care, breastfeeding support
DC Developing Families Center
midwifery services, prenatal care, labor and birth services, birth center and hospital births, well woman care, breastfeeding support, children’s services
Karen Carr, CPM
410.467.4586
Metro Area Midwives and Allied Services (M.A.M.A.S.)
midwifery services, prenatal care, birth services, homebirths, well woman care, breastfeeding/early parenting assistance
Midwifery Care Associates
CNMs in traditional Ob/Gyn practice, prenatal care, hospital births, well woman care
Sacred Journey Midwifery
Joey Pascarella, CNM, midwife, homebirths, waterbirths, birth tub rental
Special Beginnings Birth and Women’s Center
midwifery services, prenatal care, birth services, homebirths, well woman care, lactation consulting
Whitney Pinger
202.255.3108
midwife at GWU
general childbirth class information
Birth Works
Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth
Birthing From Within
Hypnobabies
Hypnobirthing
Lamaze International
prenatal/pregnancy massage and chiropractic care
Angela Cerkevich
prenatal massage, thai massage
acerkevich@gmail.com
Dr. Anthony Noya
prenatal, infant, children, and adult chiropractor, certified in Webster technique to help turn breech babies
Brigit Visknins
pregnancy massage, adult massage, craniosacral
301.565.4924 x 324
Cynthia Lazarow
infant massage
c.lazarow@verizon.net
301.530.1208
Kamala Myree
202.638.0357
Mary Beth Hastings
prenatal and adult massage
mbhmassage@yahoo.com
202.276.3661
Paul Wood (home visits)
prenatal massage, adult massage, home visits
301.379.2967
Rashida Cohen
Chiropractor
prenatal, infant, children, and adult chiropractor, certified in Webster technique to help turn breech babies
202.835.2225
Saya Barkdoll
pregnancy massage, infant massage, doula
301.602.1368
Sarah Lawrie, Massage Therapist
Lauren Cates, Massage Therapist
Cheryl Dodwell, Massage Therapist
lil omm yoga: 4830 v street, nw washington, dc 20007 (behind blacksalt) phone: 202.248.6304 email: info@lilomm.com
Prenatal/Postnatal Fitness DVD's
Favorite yoga and fitness DVDs!
"Vinyasa Prenatal Yoga" Jennifer Wolfe
“Postnatal with Gurmukh” Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa
“Prenatal with Gurmukh” Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa
“Prenatal Yoga” Anna Getty
“Postnatal Boot Camp 1 and 2 ” Lindsey Brin
“Complete Pregnancy Fitness Program” Lindsey Brin
“Prenatal Yoga” Shiva Rea
“Prenatal/Postnatal Fitness” Erin O’Brien
“Yoga” Max Strom
“Learn to Breathe” Max Strom
“Family Yoga” Rodney Yee
Pregnancy, Parenting Books
Some of our favorite pregnancy, parenting, and mindfulness books!
Everyday Blessings by John and Myla Kabat -Zinn
Parenting From the Inside Out by Daniel J. Siegel and Mary Hartzell
Buddhism For Mothers by Sarah Napthali
Bountiful, Beautiful, Blissful by Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa
The Parents Tao Te Ching by William Martin
The Seven Spirtual Laws for Parents by Deepak Chopra
Meditations During Pregnancy by Beth Wilson Saavedra
Yoga Mom, Buddha Baby by Jyothi Larson
Baby OM Yoga For Mothers and Babies by Laura Staton
and Sarah Perron
The Unhealthy Truth by Robyn O’Brien
Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin
Momma Zen by Karen Maezen Miller
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by Le Leche League
Conscious Birthing by Theresa Jamieson
A Holistic Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth by Deepak Chopra
The Big Book of Birth by Erica Lyon
Resources for New Parents in DC
Breastfeeding Center For Greater Washington
Free and reduced price breastfeeding classes and support; breastfeeding supplies; lactation consultants
DC Developing Families Center
midwifery services, prenatal care, labor and birth services, birth center and hospital births, well woman care, breastfeeding support, children’s services
PACE
New mom support groups
Holistic Moms Network
Community of families dedicated to holistic health and green living.
Jonah’s Treehouse
Active Play for babies and toddlers in Glover Park
Mamistad
Prenatal and new moms groups
Onesies
Unique Mommy & Me program
Our Kids Weekly Events Newsletter and Information: website
Amazing weekly updates of all local events and listings and GREAT special offers for members. They also give away tickets to Movie Screenings!!
Playseum
An indoor facility mixing education and creative play in the venue of a cityscape.
Stroller Strides
Fitness for moms
White House Nannies
Professional, AMAZING care givers (Permanent and Temporary)
Jennifer Kogan (www.JenniferKogan.com) is a clinical social worker who works with parents to solve parenting problems, boost communication skills between parents, and helps find ways to make life more manageable. She is also a mom of of two school-aged children which makes her familiar with the joys and struggles that go along with parenting in today's fast-paced world. She has more than fifteen years of clinical experience working with families in the Greater Washington, DC area.
Fingers at Play
A fine arts program for children ages 3-11
Adopt a Cat!
Dena Kahn is working with Homeward Trails to find homes for 10 cats in need of good families. There will be an adoption event at Planet Pet in Adams Morgan this Saturday from 12- 3 PM. If you or someone you know might think of adopting, please come by.
Also, please help us spread the word!! If you have any questions, contact Dena.
Meet Dr. Jeanne Ohm
Attention Moms and birthing professionals! An opportunity to meet someone influential in natural care of ourselves and our children...
Pleasance,
Good Afternoon! I hope this message reaches you well. I recognize that it has been some while since we have connected, but I thought this would be of interest of you anyways (By the way, we should reconnect and chat sometime soon). Every month a group of Chiropractor meets to basically support one another and have fellowship. Our next meeting is on Monday, December 13th from 7pm to 10pm in Marriottsville, MD (a little ways away from DC, but well worth the drive for this speaker) This Month we have the esteemed pleasure of hosting Dr.Jeanne Ohm. You may be asking yourself who is Dr. Jeanne Ohm and why should this interest me?? WELL...
Dr. Jeanne Ohm is...
A practicing DC in a family, wellness based practice since 1981.
International lecturer on the topic "Chiropractic Care in Pregnancy and Infancy" to practicing Chiropractors
and affiliated Care Providers
Post Graduate Instructor for numerous Chiropractic Colleges
Author of numerous papers on pregnancy, birth, children and chiropractic. Co-author of several research papers published in major CAM journals. Author of chapter in Pediatric Textbook: Pediatric Chiropractic.
Founder of Makin' Miracles...Connecting Kid's n' Chiropractic, community outreach programs and resources to educate children and adults about the life saving benefits of chiropractic.
www.makinmiracles.com
Producer and writer of the children's chiropractic song, "Power On!" and educational video, "Birth Trauma: A Modern Epidemic"
Executive Coordinator for the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association: www.icpa4kids.com
Executive Editor of Pathways to Family Wellness Magazine: www.pathwaystofamilywellness.org
ICPA developer and instructor of the Webster Certification Proficiency Syllabus.
Board of Directors Member for:
I.C.P.A. www.icpa4kids.com
The Academy of Chiropractic Family Practice: www.chiropracticpediatrics.com
Holistic Pediatric Association: www.hpakids.org
Families for Conscious Living: www.familiesforconsciousliving.org
Panel Member of Mothering Magazine: Ask the Exert: www.mothering.com/experts/meet.shtml
Dr. Ohm's professional mission is to provide Doctors of Chiropractic with the skills and motivation to care for more pregnant mothers and children. She is committed to educating other practitioners with the information to support natural birthing in their practices. It is her understanding that birth trauma is a current chiropractic concern, and therefore it has become her goal to eliminate its damaging effects on the
newborn. She intends to accomplish this by:
* adequately training DC's in specific chiropractic techniques and care for pregnancy, birth & infancy for the promotion of natural birthing.
* forming national alliances for chiropractors with like-minded birth practitioners and attendants
* empowering mothers to make informed choices in pregnancy and birth
* offering patient educational tools which address this issue
Dr. Ohm is married to Dr. Thomas Ohm, Chiropractor. They have six children who have all received chiropractic care since conception. They were all born at home and are living the chiropractic family wellness lifestyle.
I was wondering if you could announce this meeting to the members of the Lil Omm Community or any other birthing professional you know that would be greatly appreciated. And if people are interested could they please email me @ drharris@trucentered.com so I can add them to our guest list so we can make sure we can accomodate the interest. If you have any questions feel free to contact me. Thank you for entertaining this conversation.
With Love and Gratitude,
--
Dr. Bryant Harris
TruCentered™ | Your life aligned.
TruCentered™ Chiropractic Care | 4708 Wisconsin Avenue NW Suite 101 • Washington DC 20016
202 248-1704 | Fax: 202 318-7598
featured teacher: meet cristina khun
Cristina is a true embodiment of everything important to lil omm. She is a mother who found her yoga through daughter Ellis, and can now be see at lil omm both teaching classes and taking classes as an integral part of our community!
Cristina discovered the total benefits of yoga relatively late in life, after the birth of her second child. She had been practicing the asanas for several years before then, at the gym, at the occasional studio, in her living room, but it was not yoga; it was exercise. With two active little boys in her life and an emotionally demanding career, she was slowly starting to lose her balance. She thought she should start taking better care of herself and joined a new gym in the hopes of doing just that. Little did she know how much better she would begin to feel not only physically, but also mentally and spiritually. Under the guidance of Kelly Griswold, a Certified Anusara Teacher, and Danielle Brand-Lemond, a Kripalu Certified Teacher, she truly discovered Yoga.
The next major event to take Cristina deeper into her practice was the birth of her third child. Even when she was pregnant with her daughter, she was starting to consider teacher training as an avenue to deepen her practice. Once her daughter was born, it was no longer something she was considering; it was something she was compelled to do. Her daughter knew something Cristina did not. Her daughter had a wisdom Cristina did not. Her daughter was only two weeks old, but the peace in her soul was palatable. Cristina signed up for Pure Prana’s Holistic Teacher Training Program and began her training when her daughter was 4 months old.
Upon nearing the completion of her training, Cristina began to realize that her training was not only deepening her practice, but also deepening her desire to share all the she had learned.
She had found her dharma. She began teaching immediately upon graduation when one of her mentors herself was having a baby and needed a sub while on maternity leave. As she began to round out her teaching schedule as a full time yoga teacher at a few area yoga studios, she discovered a new little studio that was soon to open in DC called Lil Omm. She adored the studio’s family focused mission and energy (and name!) and knew, that when given the chance to teach there, she would jump on the opportunity to do so. A few months later, she taught her first class at Lil Omm and she is loving every minute she spends with the Lil Omm community.
She currently teaches 4 classes at the studio:
Monday 10:45-11:45AM Postnatal
Tuesday 6:15-7:15AM Adult Yoga
Tuesday 11:00-12:00AM Movers & Me
Wednesday 6:15-7:15AM Adult Yoga
You will often see her at the studio with her inspiration, daughter Ellis, not only teaching butalso taking classes from all of the other fabulous teachers at the studio. She believes that we are one, and if we are compassionate to ourselves we can be compassionate to all beings. One step towards peace for one is one leap towards peace for all.
What can you do to help?
Palisades Village, a network of volunteers that supports seniors who choose to live and stay in our community, is looking for volunteers. Read on to learn how you can use your skills to help!
The wonderful volunteers who offer direct services to Palisades Village members - rides to the doctor or supermarket, minor home repairs, yard work, and many other services - are the lifeblood of Palisades Village, as it supports our older neighbors who want to continue to live in their own homes.
But we are equally dependent on those whose behind-the-scenes labors on the board and in committees are vital to sustaining and expanding our work in Berkley, Foxhall, Kent, and the Palisades.
We are seeking the help of energetic, qualified volunteers of all ages for our board and committees--volunteers who can devote 8 to 10 hours per month to help direct the growth of Palisades Village.
At this time, we are especially interested in finding neighbors with experience in the areas of finance and accounting, fundraising, membership development, or information technology.
To learn more, just reply to me at jodymcp@rcn.com, or call our president, Andy Mollison, at his home, 202-337-2315, or our executive director, Sonia Crow, at the Palisades Village office, 202-244-3310.
From Jody McPherson, Secretary/Treasurer of Palisades Village
Fitness and Parenting.. from ZEN HABITS
From Zen Habits Blog
"I’m a big subscriber to using whatever you can find to work out: pullups on trees, throw big boulders, flip logs or big tires, jump over things, sprint up hills...
As a parent and a minimalist, I’d like to share my ultimate minimalist workout secret: my kids are my gym.
Fellow parents, if you’re not doing this yet, I can’t recommend it highly enough. How are they my gym? Instead of paying hundreds of dollars (even thousands) a year for a gym, I use my kids to get in shape.
How? Every way I can, but here’s a few:
I carry them on my shoulders as we walk around town.
We race each other to the corner, sprinting. Often up hills.
I do pushups with them on my back.
I lift them up in the air — it’s like lifting weights.
I’ll let them hang on me as I do chinups.
We climb and jump around in the playground.
We play with the soccer ball — getting lots of sprints in as we do.
We jump around in the ocean. A great workout.
We wrestle.
We challenge each other to do pistols (one-legged squats) or handstand pushups (what they sound like). Mostly we can’t, but it’s fun.
We do lunges while walking up a hill.
I carry them slung across my shoulders — a fireman’s carry — which is a great workout btw.
I’ll carry one on my back, piggy-back style, while racing another kid up a hill. Yes, I love hills.
Awesomer than a gym
So why is this so awesome?
1. We bond. Instead of spending time away from the kids at a gym, I spend time with them. And get a great workout in throughout the day. It’s two birds, one stone, saving time while helping me bond with my kids.
2. Work becomes play. It’s not exercise, it’s not a workout, it’s *play*. And that’s a whole different ballgame. Play is fun, it’s challenging, it’s easy, and yet it’s a great way to get in shape.
3. No cost. OK, kids aren’t cheap — but I have them anyway, so why not use them? I’m saving money and getting fit — that’s all kinds of win.
4. I’m being a role model. Kid learn most of all from what they see others doing, especially their parents. You can tell them things all day long, but unless they see you doing it, you’re not teaching them much. When we go to the gym, they don’t see us working out. When we workout as we play with them, they’re learning how to be healthy, and that is a gift that will last a lifetime.
5. It’s a lifestyle. I don’t work out at one time during the day, and then stay sedentary the rest of the day. It’s all throughout the day, every day, which means it’s woven into my life, not a small segment of my life. This is what a healthy lifestyle looks like.
6. It’s functional. When you do a bicep curl with a dumbbell, you’re making a motion that you never would do in real life — when have you ever lifted something heavy while keeping your upper arm fixed to your torso? Instead, when we lift heavy things, we bend at the knees, and use our legs, our torso, our shoulders, our arms — basically most of our body at once. When I lift my kids, that’s the same motion I’d use to lift anything else. Functional exercise is much more useful than isolated lifts.
Working out using my kids as equipment is the best thing I’ve done with my fitness. It’s fun, so I never want to stop. It’s functional, it’s cheap, and best of all, I get to do it with my kids. I love it."
thanks LEO!
—
Prenatal MUSIC.. Part 2
Okay, so first we published the list of LOVED lil omm musicians.. now I actually made Imixes for you all! ( thanks Paige for telling me how easy it is, and Natalia and Sylvie for inspiring me to work on this project)
Here are the links below- check out our Prenatal lil omm music!
4 different mixes for you , for home, labor, birthing mix, whatever!
ENJOY!
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewIMix?id=403616676
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewIMix?id=403618224
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewIMix?id=403618229
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewIMix?id=403619564
YoKid - an organization close to our hearts!
Help support this amazing organization that brings yoga to kids who need it most!
YoKid's 3rd annual Wellness Weekend & Silent Auction is just around the corner...
FREE activities for adults and children
November 13th & 14th
lululemon athletica ~ Georgetown
Saturday, November 13th
5:00-5:30: Open bidding/information opportunities
5:30 – 6:15: Healthy Movement Presentation by Hoop Dance DC
6:30 -7:15: Making Nutrition a Core Value for Your Family w/Whole Foods Market Eating Specialist Amanda Louden
7:15-8:00: Open bidding/information opportunities
Sunday, November 14th
2:00-4:30: YoKid Challenge: Can you do 108 Sun Salutations?
4:45- 5:30: Healthy Eating w/Takeyah Young of Core Connection Lifestyle AND Monica Silvestro
5:30-6:00: Open bidding/information opportunities/YoKid Video presentation
Event Sponsors Include:
Budding Yogis, Capitol Hill Yoga, lil omm yoga(!), quiet mind yoga, Radiance Yoga Studio, Yoga Alliance, Dawn Wilson of Keller Williams Realty, and Jen Walker Realty.!
Wondering which event to choose? The big part of the weekend is the YoKid Challenge on Sunday, November 14th, 2:00-4:30 at lululemon athletica, Georgetown. Adults and children will challenge themselves to see how many sun salutations they can do (the goal: 108)! Some of our students are in need of sponsors because many of the adults in their immediate community are not available to support their efforts. If you would like to adopt a child to sponsor please sign up! (Sponsors commit to donating $.05-$1.00 for each sun salutation, up to 108 salutations, that the child completes.)
Get more info, sign up for events or sponsor a YoKid here.
Did you know that YoKid is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization? All donations are tax-deductible. YoKid's program fees are based on a sliding scale designed so that ALL children can have access to yoga & meditation by qualified instructors.
Have further questions? Email us at info[at]lilomm[dot]com or contact
michele of YoKid / 703.475.0046
Teachings from Zen Mama
Thanks Brandice, for passing this on to us. What wonderful teachings here in this text. And lil omm is THRILLED to host Karen Maezen Miller here to DC in April.
We spoke in our postnatal class last week about the CHALLENGES we face with asking for help as women, as mothers. Read below for some guidance , support and mindful love. ENOY!
From Karen Maezen Miller...
"First let me say how humbled I am by the questions. More than that, I am proud of everyone. When we ask for help, we empower ourselves to make a positive change.
I grouped the questions together by type, so each response applies to dozens of questioners. Even though our circumstances are unique, the underlying issues we face are common. Most of us are disappointed with ourselves – our anger, our impatience and our feelings of imbalance. We feel out of control and anxious about the future – about how our children will survive and thrive.
I hope readers find a glimmer of hope and encouragement in the answers that follow. If what I say is not quite enough, please contact me personally through my website atwww.karenmaezenmiller.com and give me a second chance to help. I will do my best. Thank you for your patience and kindness.
Q: How do you keep your cool in the face of outright defiance? How do you deal with the drama and stresses without losing it? How do you keep a zen-like attitude? Where do I find patience?
A: All of us lose our cool. What matters is that we find it again. I can’t pretend to keep my cool in the face of defiance, even though I’d like to. The job of children is to defy their parents. Kids are always stretching boundaries for themselves and for us. It’s how they grow, face consequences, learn responsibility and become independent. It’s also how we grow as parents. Our children resist us because they must, and in a way, it’s a sign of how much they trust us.
What helps me most is to step away – literally. I try to go into another room, take a comfortable seat, catch my breath and slow down. There is a chair in my room I call my “quiet chair.” When I come back I can speak my mind without losing it. I can say, rather than scream, “I’m upset right now. I don’t like what is happening right now. I need you to change what you are doing right now. I’m sad. I’m angry. I’m tired. My head is about to explode.” My family always appreciates when I warn them about how I am feeling rather than suppress it until I erupt in rage. It’s like a weather report: they can adjust before the storm catches them off guard.
When I lose it, I can always apologize (even when it’s not my fault!) That’s the fastest way to bring the temperature down. Then we all start over. The truth is, we all want to find a way to get along, and working with myself is the fastest way to change the situation.
Q: How do I deal with my own nit-pickiness? I am a control freak and a perfectionist. I want the best for my daughter but I also want her to do her best.
A: This is a constant question for me. First of all, we’re all control freaks. We just have different ways we try to exert control. Sometimes we try to control things around us by what we do; sometimes we try to control things by what we don’t do. Give yourself credit. You have recognized that your expectations and fears may be at the root of the problem. When we act out of fear or guilt our decisions are not well-made.
From time to time I realize that everything I say to my family is a command, such as “Go do such and such!” or a correction, “You did it wrong,” or a second-guess, “Did you remember to do such and so?” Once I hear myself, I realize how I must sound to them! No wonder they tune me out!
We all want our children to do their best. We have to trust that we are all, always, doing our best, and remember that what encourages us all is positive reinforcement. Not false praise, but recognition. The other day I said to one of my daughter’s friends, “You’re a great kid.” My daughter turned to me accusingly. “You never tell me I’m a great kid!”
She was right. I’m too busy trying to turn her into a great kid to realize she already is one. Tell your daughter she’s a great kid, and give yourself a break. You’re a great mom too.
Q: How do I restore balance in my life?
A: The nature of balance is imbalance. Let’s all accept that it’s impossible to keep from tilting out of balance! The point is not that we tilt, but that we find our way back to center, moment after moment. This is the essence of faith.
Keep reminding yourself what your priorities are. In our hearts, we know what they are. In our daily lives, we keep forgetting. When I actively choose my work – even my housework! – over time with my children or husband, I have to be honest with myself. We have choices to make every moment of the day. When we are mindfully aware of the choice we are making, there is no need to feel guilty. We all have work to do, and when it’s time to work, work. When we get lost in our worries and preoccupations, wasting our time, then we need to correct ourselves.
The wonderful thing about children is that they need us far less than we think they do. Although our children may be in our constant company, they need our undistracted attention for one hour a day. This is an hour when we are not on the phone, on the computer, cleaning up, giving orders, getting angry, etc. That might sound impossible, but if we don’t have an hour a day to spend with our children talking, playing, and paying attention, then we have a problem we have to face.
I use a kitchen timer to keep track of time so I can devote my attention to my priorities single-mindedly without distracting myself. That even goes for “floor time” playing with my daughter (when she was little.)
Attention is the most important thing we can give our children. Attention is love, and what we pay attention to thrives. Just keep asking yourself, “What am I paying attention to right now?” You’ll find your balance again and again.
Q: I struggle with past mistakes and worry that my daughter will hate me. How can we make sure our children grow up knowing they are loved and full of worth?
A: We cannot change the past, but we can change the future. The best way to repair the past is to apologize, even if there was no way to have done anything differently. To do this, we have to stop obsessing about past events, stop casting blame and simply say, “I’m sorry.” It’s the fastest way to let go. The best way to change the future is to say, “I love you,” even if we can’t see the outcome of our love right away. These two things are the most that we can do, so we must do them, and forgive ourselves for everything else.
Q: How do I deal with my frustrations with my husband? I feel like I’m doing more than my fair share at home.
A: I’m sure you are doing more. You are doing things your way, and he is doing things his way. This is true in all relationships. The purpose of a relationship is to teach us how to get along with people who don’t do things our way! (I hate that part.) I understand your resentment, fatigue and worry. I have those feelings every day. You can continue doing things the same way, realizing that even though they exhaust you they also give you a sense of order and fulfillment; and you can also practice giving others more time and space to pick up the slack. It always helps me to give myself some time off: an evening with girlfriends, or even by myself, so I can have fun, relax and refresh myself. My husband can have some daddy time. Then we can all start over with renewed appreciation for one another.
Q: Some days are good but some days are very bad. I need help keeping my head in the right place. Pointers and advice, please.
A: Here are 5 simple things I practice every day:
Ask for help. Ask for help from others – your children, your partner, your friends, your neighbors, your church – and pray. Prayer works.
Create a place for peace and quiet for yourself. Noise elevates stress. Although at first they will complain if you turn off the TV and all electronics, your children will benefit from an hour or two without them. Their nerves are fried too.
Breathe. When we are stressed we forget to breathe, especially to exhale. The breath is the body’s own calming device. When you focus on your breath it quiets the craziness in your head.
Pay attention to what is in front of you. If problems seem insurmountable, focusing on the one simple thing in front of you will keep you steady and unafraid. This may be something as simple as washing the dishes or sorting the laundry.
Let yourself go to sleep. Rest is a miracle cure, and things always look different in the morning.
About Karen Maezen Miller (from her Web site): I call myself an errant wife, delinquent mother, reluctant dog walker, expert laundress and stationmaster of the full catastrophe. I’m also a Zen Buddhist priest and teacher, or sensei, at the Hazy Moon Zen Center in Los Angeles. Don’t let that last part confuse you. I’m not the kind of priest you have pictured in your mind. I’m the kind of priest that looks a lot like you do, doing the same kinds of things you do, every day.
If every Tuesday afternoon you wheeled your garbage cans out to the curb and saw your next-door neighbor doing the very same thing, your neighbor would be me.
--
Meet Dena!
Each month, we'll be featuring a lil omm teacher in our monthly newsletter. Dena has been a integral part of the lil omm community, and we're so happy to share her path!
Five years had passed between Dena's first experience with yoga and when it became an integral part of her life. In her late-twenties and rising in her career in educational administration, she found herself walking bent-over around Manhattan, unable to stand upright.
After just one yoga class with an incredible teacher, her aching, stressed and twisted back began to feel relief. Yoga was the antidote to an incredibly fast-paced, disconnected life. After three-years of a dedicated practice with Kripalu master teacher Priti Robyn Ross and ISHTA-trained Lauren Hale, Dena pursued her new calling and became a Kripalu Certified Yoga Teacher.
She believes that yoga is a process of personal discovery and that even in class settings, yoga is an individual experience. Each time on the mat is unique. The body is different everyday. The connection with breath and the challenges of the mind change each time the practice of yoga is engaged. As a teacher, she is there as a trained and knowledgeable guide. Paths may be offered, but are only suggestions. Even young or inexperienced yogis can attune themselves to their bodies, mind and breath to discover what is needed, what feels good, and how to meet a challenge. As a student turns inward, listens and explores, the inquiry of yoga will begin and a journey will unfold.
Practice with Dena at any of her regular classes, including:
Kids
Littles (drop off class for 3-4 year olds) on Wednesdays @ 4:00pm
Tweens + Teens on Wednesdays @ 5:00pm
Adults
Adult Yoga on Saturday @ 8:00am
Families
Family Yoga (3+Up) Mini Session, 3 week class starting this Sunday @ 5:00pm
Upcoming Workshops
No School Today on 11/11
PJ Party on 12/4
Dena hosts lil omm birthday parties, too!
want more details about these classes and workshops?
view the entire schedule here
What is Itsy Bitsy?
What is Itsy Bitsy Yoga? You can check it out online at itsybitsy.com, there's even a you tube channel for itsy bitsy demos, etc.. but there is something that can't be written down, or described that happens in IBY. ...
It's very hard to describe to others in words about the bonding, connection and moments that you share with your babies in an IBY classes. I have many fond, vivid memories of holding Saylor ( now 2.5 years old!) , nursing her, spending time with her in a supportive and warm community. Autumn Wilson was our teacher, and now a good friend. I cherish the moments of stillness, peace, and love that SAylor and I had together before she crawled, before she walked, talked ( no, mommy I don't want to wear shoes today!), and before she stripped herself naked running around the house throwing food.. ( toddlers are so great, aren't they?)
Enjoy these precious moments in life, each stage is MAGICAL.. and I find that Itsy Bitsy Yoga enhances the positive qualities of infancy... highlighting the JOY that parenting can bring.. (and of course we share in the stories of the not so hot moments as well) but with a smile, and an open heart, accepting what is to help ease the changes/challenges joys and sorrows of parenting..
xoxoxoxo pleasance
***Interested in Itsy Bitsy Babies but not sure what it is.. come to a free demo class TOMORROW ( Wed. Oct. 27) 11-11:30am.
Have you taken an Itsy Bitsy Yoga babies/tots/tykes class in the past? Come visit other families who have experienced this class for our ITSY BITSY REUNION! 11:30-12:00pm Tomorrow ( Wed. Oct. 27)
www.lilomm.com
4830 V ST NW
202-248-6304
**Baby Itsy Bitsy Yoga classes(newborn- crawling) contain dozens of unique yoga postures designed to support baby's development. Each class is filled with calming, nurturing ways to enhance bonding and improve baby's sleep. During a Baby Itsy Bitsy Yoga class, babies enjoy yoga while on their backs, tummies, or held in loving arms. For parents, this class is a special opportunity to meet other moms, get support, and learn about baby's emerging personality. Most of the yoga we do in Itsy Bitsy Yoga is for baby, but you will also learn breathing and relaxation techniques as you practice a bit of yoga yourself. No yoga is experience required. Baby Itsy Bitsy Yoga is a wonderful way to bond with your new baby during the first precious months of life.
How Much Sleep Does Your Child Need?
This chat of information was passed on to lil omm yoga by Kim West, "The Sleep Lady", whom we hosted last year ( and hope to have back REAL soon!)
We had this chart posted at the center for a while, but thought it would be great for you all to have it as a reference for the future.. so here it is!
Age Nighttime Sleep HOURS Daytime Sleep HOURS Total Sleep
1 week 8.5 8 ( 4 naps) 16.5
1 month 8.5 7 ( 3 naps) 15.5
3 months 10 5 ( 3 naps) 15
6 months 11 3 1/4 (2) 14 1/4
9 months 11 3 ( 2) 14
12 months 11 1/4 2 1/2 ( 2) 13 3/4
18 months 11 1/4 2 1/4 (1) 13 1/2
2 years 11 2 ( 1) 13
3 years 10 1/2 1 1/2 ( 1) 12
4 years 11 1/2 11 1/2
What the Expo means to me..
So, as most of you know, lil omm was in the works for a LONG time before the doors opened. And one of the dreams I had for our space was to be used as a community center for families and soon -to be- families in the DC Area. When I was pregnant with Saylor, there was so much to learn and while there are plenty of on line resources and books.. there's nothing like face to face CONNECTION... something yoga teaches us about. We needed a home to discuss, learn, chat, practice and be together.
Our first annual Omm MAMA expo is this event! I am AMAZED at the response and support that the birthing community, lil omm teachers and staff and families have shown and communicated.
We can prove that it is WORTH it to invest in our lives, our connections and our children mentally, physically, and spiritually... no matter how busy and crazy our lives get! We are thrilled to be hosting this event and bringing people together..
Much love and gratitude to you all- at times it's overwhelming how much our lil community is growing, and I am thrilled to know , teach, hug and be with you all.
-Pleasance
We love, love ,love....
Here is the link to the great library that I was telling some of you about in class the past few weeks. I went about a year ago with Saylor and her friend William and we had a blast ( before walking) NOW I am sure it would be more fun and hope to see him there again soon for a playdate...
It's called StoryVille, it's free and it ROCKS!
http://www.bcplstoryville.org/storyville_home.html
Omm MAMA Music
Some of our favorite prenatal yoga mama music!
All of it is available on itunes..
Deva Premal
Wah!
Snatam Kaur
Krishna Das
Jai Uttal
Donna Delory
we love it all!!!
Please comment on who your favorites are!
Meet Brandice!
Over the next few weeks, we'll be featuring all of our teachers, new and old, and their perspectives on yoga and lil omm...
The greatest joy of life is being mother to my 16-month-old daughter Estella. While pregnant I practiced yoga regularly in a community with other prenatal women, and it was a remarkable experience. The desire to continue connecting with other yogi moms is what brought me to lil omm, along with Pleasance’s passion for yoga and for families across the lifespan. I want to practice yoga with my daughter and with other children, with moms and families, and with yogis at all stages of life. Over the past couple months at Lil Omm I’ve formed meaningful friendships and love the people here. And I cherish being connected with like-minded women, feeling my energy renewed through daily yoga and meditation, and living creatively in ways that support and nurture my life, my family, and the lives of others.
These days, between teaching and running around with a toddler, my yoga practice tends to include some form of abdominal toning, sun salutations, a quiet mindful mountain pose or two, a few inversions, journaling, and sitting meditation.
My training is in the YogaWorks method, a unique blend of vinyasa flow and breath emphasis from the Ashtanga tradition as well as creative sequencing, use of props, and specific alignment from the Iyengar tradition. In addition to being a certified 500-hour YogaWorks instructor, I’ve also been fortunate to receive numerous teachings from His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama and have studied Buddhism in-depth with qualified teachers.
As a yoga teacher, a mom and a citizen of the world, I am blessed to have found this community. I look forward to meeting more students and creating more connections.
The Best Parenting Resource
We get asked a lot of questions about resources - for book recommendations, birthing options + education, and good places and organizations you can to go for information.
And while there is nothing quite like a community of like-minded parents helping each other find their path, we also love sticking our noses in a good book, taking a class to broaden our view, or simply do anything that will help us see our relationship with our children in a different light.
I am currently reading Everyday Blessings. A truly empowering parenting book - not one of those books that are simply laundry lists of everything you might be doing wrong. Instead, it focuses on looking inward to find your parenting path. And it is liberating. It reminded me how important it is to choose wisely; a friend of mine recently told me she put all her books away because of how they negative they made her feel. And it made me realize that I enjoyed this book so much because unlike the beginning of my experience with parenting, I now know what I need and want, and seek out information to that end. Don't tell me what to do, help me figure out how to think! A lesson learned, indeed...
But beyond the bookshelf, be sure to look around: there are resources all around you. Yourself - that's the first and perhaps the most important. And remember that you are surrounded by many people who may be going through just the same thing you are, who are ready to share their experiences as well - this hold especially true at places like lil omm, where people come to be part of a community.
Need help getting started? Don't forget the great list of resources we have on our site for new moms, moms to be, parents, kids, and general community opportunities. And take a look at some upcoming workshops: Omm Mama Expo (10/13), Natural Solutions for Cold & Flu Season (10/16) + How to Handle Your Child's Intense Feelings (10/17). We also post many other events on the FB page that are relevant for families.
Truly, mindful parenting is all about staying connected - to yourself, your family, to others. It's about talking, sharing, ask questions of others and yourselves, and most importantly, always learning! Finding the right resources for you is very personal, and is really the first step. Putting the resources and knowledge you have into practice, however, can take a lifetime.
Baby Love Party, This Thursday
lil omm-ers are invited to a fab party celebrating this great cookbook, Baby Love by Chef Geoff and his wife Norah O'Donnell - and a great cause, BabyLove DC!
Chevy Chase Bloomingdales and BabyLove DC
Cordially invite you to a
Private Reception with and Book Signing
special guests
Norah O’Donnell and Geoff Tracy
Co-Authors of the cutely and coincidentally named book
Baby Love: Heathy, Easy, Delicious Meals For Your Baby And Toddler:
Thursday, September 30
6:00pm – 9:00pm
Bloomingdales, Friendship Heights
Level 2
10% of sales from all purchases during the event
will be donated to BabyLove DC.
R.S.V.P. required.
Please call 240.744.3806 by Monday, September 27
Space is limited
Baby Love is a non-profit, grass roots organization dedicated to providing our
Nation’s Capitol’s infants and children in need with essential clothing and gear.
www.babylovedc.org
My Body Rocks!
What a creative, empowering way to share your birth story or meditate on the experience...My Body Rocks workshops start Tuesday 9/28.
All classes are taught by critically-acclaimed playwright, yoga nidra teacher and mother Karen Brody. http://www.mybodyrocksproject.com/page05.html
The My Body Rocks Project's Fall Workshops for moms and moms-to-be include:
My Body Rocks Pregnancy Circle
Mondays @ 6.30-7.30pm starting September 27
My Body Rocks Storytelling/Performance Workshop
on Cesareans and VBAC stories
Tuesday nights 5.30-7.30pm starting September 28
Private Guided Meditation Sessions for Moms
Bethesda and Chevy Chase, DC locations
For More Information: visit our website or call 646-460-9924.
DC Global Mala
The DC global mala is an amazing celebration of yoga, community and peace -- all for a good cause. Not to mention our very own Sarah Walter is helping to organize it. Read more to learn what it's all about...
Join DC yogis and activists of all traditions in 108 Sun Salutations for peace and healing. Composed of 108 beads, the mala is symbolic of the prayer for peace, hope and charity. The purpose of the Global Mala is to unite the global yoga community from every continent, school or approach to form a “mala around the earth” through collective practices based upon the sacred cycle of 108. This year's Mala will include a Dharma Talk, Demos, Fundamentals Clinic, 108 Sun Salutations, Yoga Nidra, Family Fun Activities and more!
Sept 26, 2010
10:30 – 2:30pm
Josephine Butler Center and Meridian Hill Park
11:00 – noon Dharma Talk and meditation @ The Josephine Butler Center
12:30 – 2:30pm 108 Sun Salutations and more in Meridian Hill Park
The Global Mala is open to everyone. You can buy tickets for individual portions of the day, or fundraise to $108 for 108 Sun Salutations. All proceeds will support the work of Anahata Grace.
BESO FIT!
Our favorite personal trainer and former lil omm "TOUGH" teacher Elleni has her fall schedule posted....
What: Boot Camp, $15 per class
When: Thursdays 9:10-10:10 am
Where: Turtle Park
What Do I Need: A mat and one set of dumb bells
I lead a number of in and out-door fitness classes around the DC and Norther VA areas. I specialize in circuit training and bootcamp style classes, as I am a firm believer in total body conditioning every time you work out, even if you only have 20 minutes a day. Interval training is the foundation for every program I create as it is the key to transforming your metabolism for sustained fat-burning through out the day. All of my routines have a strength training and cardio component each designed to shape your physique, raise your metabolism, and improve your energy. We generally work both core and accessory muscle groups using bands, weights, stability balls, and the BOSU. We also perform a variety of bodyweight exercises that work the core, quads, glutes, shoulders and chest such as planks, lunges, squats, and push ups. The cardio components are always changing and can include anything from jumping squats to jumping rope and mountain climbers.
What: In Home Personal Training, $75 per session
When: Whenever You Want
Where: Your Home
What Do I Need: All equipment is provided
I use a holistic approach in assessing your needs and creating a fitness program that is specific to your goals. Before creating a program, we would have a consultation and do some assessments to learn more about your diet, sleep patterns, current exercise patterns, you goals, as well as your past injuries and areas of concern. From there, I would create a fitness program that is specific and unique to you! Regardless of your individual goals, all of my fitness programs are designed to increase your metabolic rate, build strength and increase your cardiovascular endurance. My goal for all of my clients is to FEEL better and stronger and to lead an active and healthy lifestyle.
About Me: I am an NSCA certified personal trainer and ACE group fitness instructor. My area of expertise is in boot camp/circuit training and outdoor fitness programs. I also work one-on-one with clients at Fitness on Run in Old Town Alexandria, VA and have created individual running and strength training programs for endurance sporting events. For more information on me check out my blog at
http://www.besofit.blogspot.com.
Waldorf Inspired Class
Classes for infants and toddlers in DC--Starting September.
Saplings Garden – Fall 2010
Saplings Garden is a class for parents and their toddlers, inspired by
the principles and practices of Waldorf education.
The way in which active "on-the-go" toddlers experience the
world is through constant movement and direct experience with everything
they see, hear and touch. With the understanding that their senses are
wide open, this program is designed to be a peaceful time for toddlers
to explore, play and engage with one another in a safe and nurturing
environment and for parents to observe their child(ren) in a relaxed
way. Teachers will demonstrate a calm and quiet way to spend time with
children of this age and facilitate a classroom rhythm (including circle
time and singing songs) that children will come to participate in
naturally. The space will have open-ended toys made of natural
materials to encourage imaginative play and provide a sensory experience
that is not overwhelming. A fresh, organic snack will be provided.
Jeanne Feeney will teach this class with an assistant.
When? Wednesdays 9:30 -11:00am
September 15th – December 8th (no class on November 24th –
Thanksgiving break)
Two parent evenings – Tuesday, September 14th, 7:30pm (the other is
TBD)
Where? Josephine Butler Parks Center
http://www.washingtonparks.net/parkscenter
Cost? $380 for 12 week session of 1-1/2 hour classes & two parent
evenings
Who may attend? Children in the age range of crawling to 2 years, 3
months old accompanied by one or more parent(s). A grandparent or
caregiver is welcome to join the family in attending the class at no
additional charge, space allowing. Please inquire if you are interested
in this option. Enrollment will be limited to 10 families, on a first
come first serve basis.
How do I enroll? Fill out attached enrollment form and send with
payment to City of Trees Enrichment, 1628 New Jersey Ave NW, Washington,
DC 20001
Seedlings Garden - Fall 2010
Seedlings Garden is a class for parents and their infants inspired by
the principles and practices of Waldorf education.
Class will provide a supportive environment for new parents to discover
ways to observe and learn about their babies and explore various topics
related to parenting and child development through facilitated
conversation and readings. Parents will learn simple songs and games
for engaging their babies. A fresh, organic snack will be provided
along with opportunity for informal discussion.
When? Wednesdays 11:30am-1:00pm
September 15th – December 8th (no class on November 24th –
Thanksgiving break)
Two parent evenings - date and time TBD
Where? Josephine Butler Parks Center
http://www.washingtonparks.net/parkscenter
Cost? $360 for a 12 week session of 1-1/2 hour classes & two parent
evenings
Who may attend? Expectant parents and parents with pre-crawling babies.
More than one adult may accompany the infant for the same cost. Maximum
enrollment is 8, on a first come first serve basis
How do I enroll? Fill out attached enrollment form and send with
payment to City of Trees Enrichment, 1628 New Jersey Ave NW, Washington,
DC 20001
Teacher and additional information
Jeanne Feeney is a registered movement therapist and a graduate of
Sophia's Hearth, a Waldorf early childhood teacher training program. In
2004, she helped initiate the first classes for parent and infants and
parent and toddlers at the Washington Waldorf School where she
continues to work. As a movement specialist and dancer/choreographer,
Jeanne holds classes and workshops under the auspices of Movement
Laboratory, where she also has a private bodywork practice.
To learn more about Waldorf Education: http://www.whywaldorfworks.org/
City of Trees PCS is an initiative to create a Waldorf-inspired
public school option for the students of DC. Visit us at
www.cityoftreespcs.org
Questions? Please e-mail Adrienne at adrienne.gallo@cityoftreespcs.org
Saplings Garden and Seedlings Garden
Fall 2010
Enrollment Form
Class size is limited and early registration is recommended.
Registration is not accepted without payment.
Please check one:
o Saplings Garden, Wednesdays, 9:30am-11:00am
o Seedlings Garden, Wednesdays, 11:30am-1:00pm
Parent__________________________________________________________
Parent__________________________________________________________
Address__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Cell phone______________________Phone_________________________________
E-mail address_________________________________________________________
Child's
name__________________________________________________________
Child's date of
birth______________________________________________________
Does your child walk or crawl?_____________ Is your child
talking?_______________
Age(s) of siblings in
household_____________________________________________
Any allergies? (please describe)
___________________________________________
Are there particular topics you would like to see included?
_______________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Please send completed form with payment to:
City of Trees Enrichment, LLC
1628 New Jersey Ave NW
Washington, DC 20001
City of Trees PCS is an initiative to create a Waldorf-inspired
public school option for the students of DC. Visit us at
www.cityoftreespcs.org
Cost? $380 for 12 week session of 1-1/2 hour classes & two parent
evenings
Who may attend? Children in the age range of crawling to 2 years, 3
months old accompanied by one or more parent(s). A grandparent or
caregiver is welcome to join the family in attending the class at no
additional charge, space allowing. Please inquire if you are interested
in this option. Enrollment will be limited to 10 families, on a first
come first serve basis.
How do I enroll? Fill out attached enrollment form and send with
payment to City of Trees Enrichment, 1628 New Jersey Ave NW, Washington,
DC 20001
Seedlings Garden - Fall 2010
Seedlings Garden is a class for parents and their infants inspired by
the principles and practices of Waldorf education.
Class will provide a supportive environment for new parents to discover
ways to observe and learn about their babies and explore various topics
related to parenting and child development through facilitated
conversation and readings. Parents will learn simple songs and games
for engaging their babies. A fresh, organic snack will be provided
along with opportunity for informal discussion.
When? Wednesdays 11:30am-1:00pm
September 15th – December 8th (no class on November 24th –
Thanksgiving break)
Two parent evenings - date and time TBD
Where? Josephine Butler Parks Center
http://www.washingtonparks.net/parkscenter
Cost? $360 for a 12 week session of 1-1/2 hour classes & two parent
evenings
Who may attend? Expectant parents and parents with pre-crawling babies.
More than one adult may accompany the infant for the same cost. Maximum
enrollment is 8, on a first come first serve basis
How do I enroll? Fill out attached enrollment form and send with
payment to City of Trees Enrichment, 1628 New Jersey Ave NW, Washington,
DC 20001
Teacher and additional information
Jeanne Feeney is a registered movement therapist and a graduate of
Sophia's Hearth, a Waldorf early childhood teacher training program. In
2004, she helped initiate the first classes for parent and infants and
parent and toddlers at the Washington Waldorf School where she
continues to work. As a movement specialist and dancer/choreographer,
Jeanne holds classes and workshops under the auspices of Movement
Laboratory, where she also has a private bodywork practice.
To learn more about Waldorf Education: http://www.whywaldorfworks.org/
City of Trees PCS is an initiative to create a Waldorf-inspired
public school option for the students of DC. Visit us at
www.cityoftreespcs.org
Questions? Please e-mail Adrienne at adrienne.gallo@cityoftreespcs.org
Saplings Garden and Seedlings Garden
Fall 2010
Enrollment Form
Class size is limited and early registration is recommended.
Registration is not accepted without payment.
Please check one:
o Saplings Garden, Wednesdays, 9:30am-11:00am
o Seedlings Garden, Wednesdays, 11:30am-1:00pm
Parent__________________________________________________________
Parent__________________________________________________________
Address__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Cell phone______________________Phone_________________________________
E-mail address_________________________________________________________
Child's
name__________________________________________________________
Child's date of
birth______________________________________________________
Does your child walk or crawl?_____________ Is your child
talking?_______________
Age(s) of siblings in
household_____________________________________________
Any allergies? (please describe)
___________________________________________
Are there particular topics you would like to see included?
_______________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Please send completed form with payment to:
City of Trees Enrichment, LLC
1628 New Jersey Ave NW
Washington, DC 20001
City of Trees PCS is an initiative to create a Waldorf-inspired
public school option for the students of DC. Visit us at
www.cityoftreespcs.org
Yummy...
"The Summer Day" by Mary Oliver
Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean-the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down-
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?
(From The House of Light, Beacon Press, Boston, 1990)
Magazine of Yoga Article on lil omm
Today we were featured in The Magazine of Yoga.
It's quite a spread and we want to thank all of our teachers and students and community members who practice yoga at lil omm and who are part of our community.
Thank you, love to you all!
http://themagazineofyoga.com/
My Journey into Kundalini Yoga
Thanks to Shoshana Rosenbaum for sharing this honest and personal perspective. A great reminder that trying new things can bring the best surprises! Join Shoshana this weekend to explore Kundalini and invigorate your practice.
Kundalini yoga found me right when I needed it, although I came to it somewhat late, in terms of my yoga life. I started doing yoga as a child with my mom, who caught the wave of yoga that came to the U.S. in the 1960s. She faithfully did her sun salutations every morning, and with the advent of VCRs, she and I wore out a 1980s Raquel Welch yoga video.
I tried various hatha yoga styles as I moved around in the years after college, checking out studios that taught iyengar, ashtanga, vinyasa, anusara, Bikram, hot yoga, power yoga, you name it, but no one style particularly stuck with me.
Early in my pregnancy with my first child, I felt awful. Starving but nauseous, exhausted, crampy. Yoga and physical activity of any kind fell by the wayside as I wallowed in how miserable I felt. I only cracked a smile when I came across a book called “Pregnancy Sucks.”
Then one day, a different book arrived in the mail. A friend who had recently had her first child sent me “Bountiful, Beautiful, Blissful” by Gurmukh, a Kundalini yoga teacher. As soon as I read the first few pages my attitude began to transform.
I had never heard of Kundalini yoga and the book contained only a few postures and meditations, but I knew with all my heart that I need to find Gurmukh and study with her. My heart sank when I discovered she lived and taught in L.A. Perhaps I could find a teacher in D.C. who had studied with her, I reasoned. A little research led me to a prenatal Kundalini yoga class in Georgetown.
I didn’t love the physical part of Kundalini at first. Although some postures were familiar from hatha yoga, others seemed at first awkward and strange. Some didn’t necessarily feel good as I did them. It helped when my teacher reminded me to connect to my breathing and to a silent mantra. It also helped when she shared a quip from Yogi Bhajan, who brought the Kundalini tradition to the West: “The best part of Kundalini yoga is when it’s over.”
The “tuning-in” mantra that we did at the beginning of class seemed at first like a tongue-twister in an ancient language, but I liked that it meant “I honor the divine wisdom within me.” The idea that my body contained divine wisdom resonated with me, and I began to count on that divine wisdom to get me through childbirth.
In other yoga classes, my mind would often wander while my body ran through the poses. I would wonder about the other people in the room, or think about what I needed to buy at the store. In Kundalini class, because we kept our eyes closed and were continually reminded to reconnect to the breath and a mantra, I began to learn to stay internal and notice what my mind was doing.
Kundalini class always ended with a meditation, unlike other yoga classes I had attended. I had tried zen meditation years before, and while I liked the idea, I had trouble connecting to the practice. Kundalini meditation was different. There was more to do – a mudra (hand position), a drishti (eye focus), a breathing pattern, sometimes a mantra – which helped focus my mind. Some of the meditations were physically and mentally challenging, often because they involved holding my arms up for what seemed like endless minutes. I began to notice how I felt and what
thoughts ran through my mind when my body was uncomfortable. My teacher reminded me
that surrendering to uncomfortable physical sensations would be excellent practice for natural
childbirth.
She was right. I went into childbirth feeling relaxed and prepared for the unknown, confident that my body could open up to whatever experience lay ahead. While I liked the Bradley childbirth class my husband and I took, for me the best childbirth preparation was the mental training of Kundalini yoga. I took the advice in Gurmukh’s book to heart and trusted that I was more powerful than I might realize, and that staying present for this miracle I was lucky enough to experience would guide me through any difficulty. Gratitude was my touchstone whenever I lost
my way.
I credit that that first prenatal class with helping me have two natural births (the second at home.) In addition, a door opened for me into a new world of yoga. While I had always enjoyed and been attracted to the physical practice of hatha yoga, Kundalini yoga allowed me to experience my consciousness and my spirit in a way that I had never done before.
Almost four years after that first prenatal class, I entered a Kundalini teacher training program. The training helped me uncover levels of strength, self-discipline and peace of mind that I didn’t know were deep inside me. I use the tools I learned every day, not only in my yoga practice, but in my work and my home life. The training gave me the foundation to continue to study this rich and ancient tradition and to continue to develop myself as a yogi and a person. It also gave me the sincere desire to share Kundalini yoga with others, in the hopes that they will find it just as
valuable.
Kundalini Yoga in Practice...
My Journey into Kundalini Yoga
Kundalini yoga found me right when I needed it, although I came to it somewhat late, in terms of my yoga life. I started doing yoga as a child with my mom, who caught the wave of yoga that came to the U.S. in the 1960s. She faithfully did her sun salutations every morning, and with the advent of VCRs, she and I wore out a 1980s Raquel Welch yoga video.
I tried various hatha yoga styles as I moved around in the years after college, checking out studios that taught iyengar, ashtanga, vinyasa, anusara, Bikram, hot yoga, power yoga, you name it, but no one style particularly stuck with me.
Early in my pregnancy with my first child, I felt awful. Starving but nauseous, exhausted, crampy. Yoga and physical activity of any kind fell by the wayside as I wallowed in how miserable I felt. I only cracked a smile when I came across a book called “Pregnancy Sucks.”
Then one day, a different book arrived in the mail. A friend who had recently had her first child sent me “Bountiful, Beautiful, Blissful” by Gurmukh, a Kundalini yoga teacher. As soon as I read the first few pages my attitude began to transform.
I had never heard of Kundalini yoga and the book contained only a few postures and meditations, but I knew with all my heart that I need to find Gurmukh and study with her. My heart sank when I discovered she lived and taught in L.A. Perhaps I could find a teacher in D.C. who had studied with her, I reasoned. A little research led me to a prenatal Kundalini yoga class in Georgetown.
I didn’t love the physical part of Kundalini at first. Although some postures were familiar from hatha yoga, others seemed at first awkward and strange. Some didn’t necessarily feel good as I did them. It helped when my teacher reminded me to connect to my breathing and to a silent mantra. It also helped when she shared a quip from Yogi Bhajan, who brought the Kundalini tradition to the West: “The best part of Kundalini yoga is when it’s over.”
The “tuning-in” mantra that we did at the beginning of class seemed at first like a tongue-twister in an ancient language, but I liked that it meant “I honor the divine wisdom within me.” The idea that my body contained divine wisdom resonated with me, and I began to count on that divine wisdom to get me through childbirth.
In other yoga classes, my mind would often wander while my body ran through the poses. I would wonder about the other people in the room, or think about what I needed to buy at the store. In Kundalini class, because we kept our eyes closed and were continually reminded to reconnect to the breath and a mantra, I began to learn to stay internal and notice what my mind was doing.
Kundalini class always ended with a meditation, unlike other yoga classes I had attended. I had tried zen meditation years before, and while I liked the idea, I had trouble connecting to the practice. Kundalini meditation was different. There was more to do – a mudra (hand position), a drishti (eye focus), a breathing pattern, sometimes a mantra – which helped focus my mind. Some of the meditations were physically and mentally challenging, often because they involved holding my arms up for what seemed like endless minutes. I began to notice how I felt and what thoughts ran through my mind when my body was uncomfortable. My teacher reminded me that surrendering to uncomfortable physical sensations would be excellent practice for natural childbirth.
She was right. I went into childbirth feeling relaxed and prepared for the unknown, confident that my body could open up to whatever experience lay ahead. While I liked the Bradley childbirth class my husband and I took, for me the best childbirth preparation was the mental training of Kundalini yoga. I took the advice in Gurmukh’s book to heart and trusted that I was more powerful than I might realize, and that staying present for this miracle I was lucky enough to experience would guide me through any difficulty. Gratitude was my touchstone whenever I lost my way.
I credit that that first prenatal class with helping me have two natural births (the second at home.) In addition, a door opened for me into a new world of yoga. While I had always enjoyed and been attracted to the physical practice of hatha yoga, Kundalini yoga allowed me to experience my consciousness and my spirit in a way that I had never done before.
Almost four years after that first prenatal class, I
entered a Kundalini teacher training program at Yoga House Studio in
DC, with Elizabeth Greathouse. The training helped me uncover levels of strength, self-discipline and peace of mind that I didn’t know were deep inside me. I use the tools I learned every day, not only in my yoga practice, but in my work and my home life. The training gave me the foundation to continue to study this rich and ancient tradition and to continue to develop myself as a yogi and a person. It also gave me the sincere desire to share Kundalini yoga with others, in the hopes that they will find it just as valuable.
Posted by Shoshana, lil omm's Kundalini Teacher
Give a Little, Take a Little...lil omm Swaps
It's almost time for that big fall cleanup. As the days get shorter and school approaches, we all look around, take stock, and think, "where did all this stuff come from?"
lil omm to the rescue! Don't forget about two swaps always happening at the studio...
Playroom Toy Swap
Our playroom room isn't that different from your pile of toys at home. The kids have favorites, only to love something else the next week. To keep everyone happy, all are invited to bring toys/books your kids no longer love, and take toys your kids love now. And then repeat, repeat, repeat for happy campers all around (and fewer trips to the toy store).
Book Swap
In the reception area, you'll find a big basket of books and magazines. Feel free to bring some you'd like to share, and take what you'd like to read. Anything is fair game...share and share alike!
Stay tuned for other one-day swaps this fall: clothes, baby gear, etc...have an idea? Share it with us!
Take a Look Around
It's hot. It's been a long summer. It's times like these that our patience can be tested. Funny enough, there are a few things I came across this week in my online travels that were like small little messages for compassion. Maybe I was looking for them, or maybe they found me...but that's reason #165 of why I love yoga: it gives us the gift to find those small things, to have a moment of awe, and remind ourselves of life's pleasures...even in the simplest of actions (and even in 100 degree heat!).
First, on the Yoga Journal blog, Enlightened Motherhood - writer Jessica Burger Gross quoted her teacher with something I found to be so true, so real, so affirming (and so very lil omm!) "In yoga class, we practice how to practice, but at home--we practice."
WOW. And here I thought I was all amazing for being able to work up to headstand in my basement. Class as the traditional idea of "practice" (as in "how do you get to Carnegie Hall") and our real-life, up and down, hectic life being the real deal...not only empowering, but completely perspective-shifting in every way.
Then, I read lil omm teacher Kelly Newsome's blog, Higher Ground Yoga, which brought something else close to home into full-focus: "Kids have a way of reminding us what’s new and possible." As Kelly shares her experience with an adorable 4 year old, she reminds us all that children really are the eyes of the world for anyone who will allow them to show the way.
And finally, I'm reading The Happiness Project (shameless plug for this week's summer reading and seva series). In the chapter on Marriage, the author is seeking more patience and less nagging in her marriage. To get started, she sets her own marriage mantra, "There is only love." So far, it's helped me 12 times since Wednesday. The idea that the unfolded laundry, the dishes, the kids' tantrums, and the frayed nerves are all just semi-insignificant against the bigger reason it's all there? Well, the very basic and simple idea that a reminder of the love can put things in perspective isn't revolutionary, but it is so very necessary.
So as you go out into the world this weekend, remember there are inspirations and lessons all around you! Look to your family, friends, children, your dog. It's those simple pleasures that remind us what yoga - and life - is all about.
Surrender and the Art of the Creator
I didn't have the easiest pregnancy. This comes as a surprise to so many people who see me only as a yoga teacher...forgetting that before I was a teacher, I was (and still am) a human being. I had issues with anxiety, heartburn, backaches, pelvic floor pain...I was even placed on modified bedrest at the end of my pregnancy after being admitted to the hospital to be tested for preeclampsia. Nope, at the time, I didn't feel like the beautiful and blissful pregnant woman. It's from this perspective, though, that I approach this newly-revealed branch of my path that of a doula/labor and birth assistant.
In retrospect, I feel like my experiences during pregnancy and childbirth gave me insight into the wide range of experiences during the transformative journey into motherhood. From the fear of the hospital interventions to the bliss of feeling my daughter emerge from within me, under water, in the sacred space of my own home...yes, it was all there. It seemed like a whirlwind at the time, but it was necessary for me to understand the profound significance of being Woman, Mother, and Creator.
The following reflection guided me during the last days of my pregnancy...
I am aware of what I see, watch, and witness in my daily life. Vision and acceptance are intertwined with my intentions. I celebrate my inner vision ad learn to use visualization to conquer and manage the waves of contractions. By seeing myself as a beautiful expression of the Divine, ready to see the beauty in others, I give life to an artist. I am fully Spirit, and it my right to see and be seen as I truly am: a perfect expression of the Divine. I am grateful for my vision. I am thankful for my sight. I release these words into the cosmos. It is done, and so it is. Amen.
- Giuditta Tornetta, from her book Painless Childbirth: An Empowering Journey Through Pregnancy and Birth
-- posted by Kristin Maresca, lil omm Co-Director and new Professional Doula
A Guide to Home Practice
Did you miss the Building Your Home Practice Workshop but wish you could have been there? Or are you just starting to dive (or down dog) into a home practice? Look no further - Lil Omm yogini (and workshop leader) Sarah Walter has posted a Home Practice Guide for all on her own website, Feel Good Yogini.
Not only will her information inspire you to jumpstart your home practice, but it's also filled with other great inspirations, musings and reflections on how we can incorporate our practice into our daily lives.
Thanks, Sarah! Lil Omm loves FeelGood Yogini. ;-)
Acupuncture & Meditation for Moms
Are you in a need of a little soothing yourself? The Breastfeeding Center of Greater Washington is coming to the rescue! On July 22nd, they will be holding FREE acupuncture and guided meditation sessions courtesy of DC MindBody in exchange for unopened packs of diapers.
To set up an appointment or if you have any questions, please call The Breastfeeding Center at 202.293.5182.
We look forward to seeing you there!
P.S. - in case you haven't crossed paths with BCGW, it's an amazing place with incredible resources on breastfeeding, baby care, etc. All classes are donation-based and incredibly informative. They have lactation consultants, baby/nursing-related products, one of the best selections of nursing bras in the area, etc. And it's all for a great cause - spreading the word about the benefits of breastfeeding!
The 30 Day Challenge: Time is Running Out!
This July, lil omm is joining with the rest of DC yoga community to support the Citizen Effect 30 Day Yoga Challenge — an effort that aims to fully fund a foster home for children in South Africa. As a studio, we are sponsoring the challenge, and as a community, we hope to have strong participation. Please think about joining this effort for yourself, for the cause, and to connect with others in the lil omm community! Here's how it works:
1. Register at Citizen Effect for $30 and set your fundraising goal.
2. Work on getting friends and family to sponsor you and donate on your personal page.
3. Enjoy free or discounted classes at DC's top yoga studios.
4. Get started at the kick-off event on June 30th with free yoga in Meridian Hill Park.
5. Celebrate your achievement at lululemon athletica Georgetown on August 5th.
And...don't forget about all that will be happening at lil omm!
Building Your Home Practice
Saturday, June 26th
1 pm - 3 pm
We'll discuss how to build a flow, how poses compliment one another, and how to be safe when you can't make it to the studio.
Cost: FREE for Yoga Challenge participants, suggested donation of $10 for anyone else - all are welcome!
Yoga Challenge participants will enjoy FREE classes on Fridays.
Yoga Challenge participants will get 10% off a 5-class pass for the month of July — in addition to great deals at other DC studios.
Remember: 100% of the funds raised will go to The Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project to build and maintain a foster home in Cloetesville, South Africa. This is a great cause and will prove to be an amazing experience for anyone who participates. Just think about all you can learn about yourself, your practice, and the world simply by taking the time to focus on your practice each day.
We hope you'll join us! Stay tuned for more information, including who else in your classes is taking the challenge...don't forget to sign up by Friday June 25th!!!
2. Work on getting friends and family to sponsor you and donate on your personal page.
3. Enjoy free or discounted classes at DC's top yoga studios.
4. Get started at the kick-off event on June 30th with free yoga in Meridian Hill Park.
5. Celebrate your achievement at lululemon athletica Georgetown on August 5th.
Building Your Home Practice
Saturday, June 26th
1 pm - 3 pm
We'll discuss how to build a flow, how poses compliment one another, and how to be safe when you can't make it to the studio.
Cost: FREE for Yoga Challenge participants, suggested donation of $10 for anyone else - all are welcome!
Yoga Challenge participants will enjoy FREE classes on Fridays.
Yoga Challenge participants will get 10% off a 5-class pass for the month of July — in addition to great deals at other DC studios.
Free Prenatal Yoga with Pleasance and Rayna!
Come support Pleasance and Rayna and many other yoga teachers @ Lulu Logan! A week of free classes and events celebrating babies and the adults who love them...
No pre-registration required.
Email or call with questions: autumn@yogachai.com, 202-746-YOGA(9642)
All classes/events at LuLuLemon Logan Circle, 1461 P St. NW
Schedule of Events:
Tues. June 15, 9-10am Pilates for Mommies (Rayna from Lil Omm)
Tues. June 15, 10:30-11:30am Stroller Tour of U St. Neighborhood (Autumn from YogaChai)
Weds. June 16, 9-10am Baby & Me Yoga (Carol Collins)
Thurs. June 17, 9-10am Itsy Bitsy Yoga for Babies (Autumn from YogaChai)
Thurs. June 17, 10:30-11:30am Stroller Tour of Dupont Circle (Autumn from YogaChai)
Fri. June 18, 9-10am 9-10am Prenatal Yoga (Pleasance from Lil Omm)
Fri. June 18, 3:30-5pm Baby Happy Hour Meet and Greet!
*All classes are intended for newborns through pre-crawlers.
*Babies and kids of all ages are welcome at the stroller tours and the Baby Happy Hour.
Bringing Ayurveda into the Home
In follow up of the inspiring Holistic Moms Network meeting about Ayurveda, we wanted to pass along that the fabulous speaker, Brigid Rauch, is offering a number of classes that will dive deeper into the subject of Ayurveda, the "sister science" of yoga.
Brigid is a resident of the Shanti Yoga Ashram in Bethesda. MD since 2007. She has been practicing yoga since 1999 and teaching prenatal, post-natal, and children’s yoga since 2007. In gratitude for the benefits that Ayurveda and Yoga have imparted to her roles as a mother and teacher, she shares this important knowledge with other yoga teachers, moms, and moms to-be.
Classes being offered at the ashram on East-West Highway in Bethesda include:
Ayurveda Basics
Ayurveda for Pregnancy Weekend Intensive
Ayurveda for Mothers Part I
Click on the classes above for more information about content, registration and scheduling. And learn more about Brigid and the Shanti Yoga Ashram at yogamamadc.com!
Lil Omm...coming to a neighborhood near you!
It's summer, which means it's time to get outside and connect with our neighbors! Visit us at these local events in the coming weeks, come support the community, and have a great time with your family.
Glover Park Day
Date: Saturday, 6/5
Time: 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Location: Guy Mason Recreation Center
Join us for a free outdoor Family Yoga class @ 2:45pm!
Celebrate Mama DC
Date: Sunday, 6/13
Time: 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Location: University Yard on the GW campus (20th & H NW)
Come support mom-owned businesses and businesses that provide support for families! Plenty of activities and music for the little ones.
Palisades July 4th Parade!
Date: July 4th
Time: 10:45 AM
Location: Line up at the Safeway on Mac Arthur...the parade runs down MacArthur to the rec center (Palisades Park)
If you haven't experienced the Palisades 4th of July, it's an event not to miss. You'll never believe you're in the middle of the city (Firetrucks! Mayor Fenty throwing candy to the kids! A neighborhood cookout after the parade!) with its great small-town vibe. Lil Omm will be joining the rest of the community and marching in the parade - join us with your family for an experience you'll never forget!!!
Want to get involved? We are also looking for volunteers to help us at these various events. You can help us spread the love of lil omm by giving an hour or two of your time to help set up, talk to people with questions about our studio, or join us for the parade.
Interested? Get in touch with Pleasance @ info@lilomm.com
Free Newborn Photo Session
Karen Colbert (of KDC Photography/Bellies & Births) is offering a free photo session for families of newborns in June! Here's how it works:
- Baby must be less than 2 weeks old
- Session will be in the comfort of your home
- Photos will be of baby and parents only
- Your free session will include 2 5x7 prints and a set of wallets ($245.00 value)
- You'll have the option to also purchase additional photos
If you are interested, contact Karen for details or to schedule an appointment.
Karen Colbert
KDC Photography
Karen@belliesandbirths.com
www.belliesandbirths.com
410-788-5605
Welcoming Perspective...shifting your paradigms
One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, “How was the trip?”
“It was great, Dad.”
“Did you see how poor people live?” the father asked.
“Oh yeah,” said the son.
“So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?”, asked the father
The son answered:
“I saw that we have one dog and they had four.
We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end.
We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.
Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.
We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.
We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.
We buy our food, but they grow theirs.
We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them.”
The boy’s father was speechless. Then his son added…
“Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are.”
Sharing the Love
Our blog is now posting real-time to our Facebook page! Be sure to "like" our Fan Page to get the latest info on events, classes, promotions, news and more.
Save the D.C. Healthy Schools Act!
Read on to learn more about this important bill and how you can sign the petition to show your support.
Last year, the DC Health Department found that 43% of students enrolled in city public schools were overweight or obese — one of the highest rates in the nation. On May 4, the DC City Council unanimously passed a groundbreaking piece of legislation called the ‘DC Healthy Schools Act’ to fight this problem. The Act raises nutritional standards, brings fresh, local fruits and vegetables to schools, triples the amount of physical and health education, creates school gardens, and expands school-based health and wellness programs.
The D.C. Healthy Schools Act is a landmark bill that will:
* substantially improve health, wellness, and nutrition in our schools
* raise the nutritional standards and improve the quality of school meals
* bring more fresh, local fruits and vegetables to schools
* triple the amount of and vegetables to schools
* triple the amount of physical and health education by adopting national standards
* create school gardens and support other environmental initiatives
* expand school-based health and wellness programs
* Ensure that low-income students have access to a nutritious breakfast every day
Despite these incredible efforts to grow healthy children, the corporate lobby is fighting to stop this initiative. Coke, Pepsico and Dr. Pepper-Snapple and their super-sized lobby firm the American Beverage Association (ABA) are fighting the means to fund this bill: an additional penny-per-ounce of soda dedicated to healthy schools. ABA has already spent $5.4 million nationwide this year on expensive advertising and backdoor lobbying gimmicks. That’s why we need your help!
The proposed D.C. Healthy Schools Revenue Act would fund this initiative by:
* adding a one-cent-per-ounce tax to sugar-sweetened beverages to fight obesity
* the tax WOULD NOT include diet soda, non-caloric beverages, juices, milk, and water
* the soda tax would be imposed on distributors - NOT our small, local businesses. It would not apply to concentrated syrup, which is primarily sold to restaurants and bars
If you support this bill, sign the petition and share the link with friends! Every signature counts.
Holistic Moms DC: Ayurveda for the Family
Interested in how you can incorporate yoga into your family's life off the mat? This event fits perfectly with lil omm's mission. HMN is a great organization. Check it out and learn more about other HMN activities!
What: Holistic Moms DC June 2010 Meeting
When: Tuesday, June 1, 6:30-8:30 pm
Topic: Ayurveda for the Family
On Tuesday, June 1, the DC Chapter of the Holistic Moms Network will welcome Anne Thiel, Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultant, who will teach us how to incorporate the healing science of Ayurveda into the care of our families.
Ayurveda is an ancient Indian healing science that is often considered the “sister science” of yoga. It was developed by “rishis” (seers) through observing the world and human beings around us. Also coined “medicine of nature”, at its core, Ayurveda seeks to teach us how to live in harmony with nature, with its cyclical rhythm, but also with the way nature’s energies manifest in us. Ayurveda captures this manifestation of energies and how it plays out in human beings in the concept of doshas, or constitutional body types. Understanding yours and your child’s body types can go a long way toward preventing illness and furthering health and even happiness. In this session, Anne will discuss the basic tenets of Ayurveda and the three main forms of constitutional body types. She will teach us how to determine our and our childrens’ body types, imbalances that are likely to occur for each type, and how we can be proactive about preventing them.
Anne Thiel is an Ayurvedic lifestyle consultant. She was first formally introduced to Ayurveda in an Ayurveda/Thai Yoga training in 2005 and completed Kripalu’s School of Ayurveda program in 2007. Anne is passionate about the wisdom of this ancient Indian healing science and seeks to help clients identify lifestyle changes that allow them to find more balance and harmony in their lives. Anne has been offering workshops in the DC area for the past few years and also works with clients on a one-to-one basis.
Our "Ayurveda for the Family" meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 1, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Cleveland Park Public Library, 3310 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008. There is street parking in Cleveland Park, and the library is also metro accessible through the Cleveland Park Metro/Red Line.
Kids are welcome!
Share your knowledge, experiences, and questions!
For more information, or to RSVP, email holisticmomsdc@gmail.com.
Also, see our website and blog!
Website: washingtondc.holisticmoms.org
Blog: holisticmomsdc.blogspot.com
Email: holisticmomsdc@gmail.com
Phone: 202-290-1855
Holistic Moms Network National Website
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
