Pregnancy is a special season in ones life. You are not only feeling the changes in every system of your body, but the shift in your very identity. My approach to prenatal yoga is to hold space for you to be in mindful communication with your changing body, cultivate intuitive listening and trust. In addition to the weekly classes, I have two workshops offerings, one geared toward educating your partner in how to support you in labor, and the second one is vital education for your early postpartum time.
I am so glad you are here, and I am honored should you practice with me and choose to invite me to be a part of your journey.
“The best decision I made during my pregnancy was to take prenatal yoga classes with Annemaria. She helped me understand the changes my body was going through and how to handle the pain points. The cherry on top was having her class recorded so I could practice anytime. As a FTM who’s normally very active, I found myself in a struggle when I had to quarantine and could not practice any of my regular workouts during pregnancy. Thanks to Annemaria I felt strong and confident for labor!”
“I’ve been practicing and teaching for many years but since becoming pregnant I did not feel like my old tricks were serving my pregnant body. It’s as if Annemaria’s perinatal yoga knowledge absorbs straight into my muscles and joints - and it feels like magic. Even though it’s not live, I am so comforted having the 1h Prenatal Recorded Practice to turn to when the random aches and pains of pregnancy start to visit me. Five minutes into the class, I can already start to feel the effects and I’m always so proud of myself for preparing my body for this eventual birth! It eases my anxiety in so many ways.”
PRENATAL CLASSES
Cultivate trust and intuitive listening in your body in preparation for birth. Explore movement to develop balanced suppleness and strength, learn breathwork helpful for labor, examine the biomechanics of pelvis and movements that can aid in making room for the baby to position well, as well as how to move with baby in labor.
In-Person @Green Yogi Telegraph (sign up here)
SAT @ 11.30AM PT
WED @ 10.00AM PT
MOVING TOGETHER THROUGH LABOR
A Partner Workshop
When your body and mind are relaxed, this give a signal to the baby that it is safe to enter. Loving touch from your partner can facilitate a state of calm and relaxation and a release of the necessary hormones to begin labor or move it along. Movement while laboring helps baby move as well and having a variety of resting stations around the birthing space gives the laboring person a chance to fill up energy reserves between surges so they can keep going. While in “labor land” the communication turns non-verbal, so when the partner has tools, they can assist the laboring person in a way that feels loving, supported and connected.
I built this workshop with two incredible women Torrey Mansur and Julie Anne Stathis. We often teach this workshop together when schedules (and the state of the world) allows, but sometimes separately. If the dates that I offer don’t work, please check Torrey’s and Julie’s websites for the same workshop.
PLAN TO THRIVE
A Recorded Workshop About Your Fourth Trimester
You’ve prepared for your birth, but what about the important weeks and months right after birth? This life-altering time can present unforeseen challenges, but with a care plan and access to resources for your early postpartum time, you can make your transition into early weeks of parenting a smoother ride.
We draw from our own experiences as Mothers, Karen provides her expertise as a Women's Health Physical Therapist and I provide the postpartum practicals. Together we hope that the information we provide will give you a chance to THRIVE in the early days and weeks right after birth!
This recorded workshop includes:
Tools and techniques to use while pregnant to set you up for a successful transition
A short Prenatal Yoga Practice and guided experience of your Pelvic Floor. No yoga mat or props needed
How to care for your postpartum body and timelines for healing
Common issues that might affect you in the postpartum period
A handout that includes further reading and resources to support your postpartum time.
Annemaria Rajala, E-RYT 500, RPYT, YACEP teaches weekly classes and leads workshops in the Bay Area, and is a guest lecturer for yoga Teacher Trainings in Pre and Postnatal Yoga. She teaches a wide range of styles, from Restorative and Gentle Yoga to more vigorous Vinyasa and Pre and Postnatal Yoga. She is known for her grounded and nourishing classes that invite you to cultivate trust and intuitive listening in your body. Annemaria is a mother to a lively little boy and deeply passionate about creating and offering practices to any birthing person for the transformational journey of pregnancy and early parenthood.
Karen Hodges, DPT, received her doctorate in physical therapy at UCSF/SFSU and then went on to become a Certified Functional Manual Therapist (CFMT) through the Institute of Physical Art. As a lifetime athlete, she is dedicated to helping patients get out of pain and meet their fitness goals. After becoming a mom, she pursued pelvic floor therapy to be able to uniquely address therapy needs of moms. She works closely with birth practitioners to help mothers throughout the entire peripartum period. https://bayovistapt.com/
Engage with the Practice Library in two different ways, rent a class for 24h (cost $5-$7) or become a Monthly Subscriber for $25/month and access all of the content and new practices as soon as they are uploaded, plus exclusive content just for subscribers. You can select this Subscription during the checkout process.
I hope these practices can support your journey, let me know how they feel!
Looking for a comprehensive overall prenatal practice? The Movements for Pelvic Stations or the Full Body Practice are a great places to begin.
Looking for something more targeted? Explore the other videos and choose based on how you are feeling on a given day.
Need more help choosing what will be most beneficial? Please get in touch!