Toronto Yoga Mamas Blog

12 Bedside Essentials for an Easier Postpartum

6/11/2018

By: Rebecca Brunette

Look to social media and the glamours of pregnancy and motherhood are endless! Mamas-to-be glow with anticipation for their Little One’s arrival, and new mothers snuggle their sleeping 3 month olds while sipping herbal tea. But rarely do we see photos of Mama and Baby during the first weeks postpartum—that’s because Mama is usually in bed, exhausted, and un-showered. We live in a society that holds little appreciation for rest & recovery, but if there is ever a time to slow down and take care of yourself, it’s during your postpartum journey! We’ve put together a list of 12 essentials to keep next to your bedside as you recover from delivery and navigate the first weeks of Motherhood. So stay in bed, get comfy, and focus on caring for your newborn without sacrificing your own comfort and wellbeing!

1. Good Reads
New babies sleep often throughout the day, which will give you a chance to indulge in your favorite magazine or book. You might also like to keep a Baby Book handy, so you can record these sweet early moments together—but don’t forget to fit a nap in yourself!

2. Swaddling Blanket
Perfect for wrapping Baby when he/she needs comforting, or as a light blanket in warmer weather. If you’re planning to breastfeed, a muslin cloth can also be draped over your chest if you prefer to cover up when visitors drop by.

3. Burp Cloth
Your newborn will want to eat every 2-3 hours, and it’s good practice to give them a gentle burp after every feed to prevent a gassy tummy later on. Save yourself a ton of laundry (and multiple wardrobe changes) by using a burp cloth!

4. Medications
Postpartum recovery often comes with bed rest and a pain management plan recommended by your doctor or midwife. Keeping daily medications and vitamins close-by will ensure you remember to take them as prescribed so you stay as comfortable as possible while you recover.

5. Healthy Snacks
In your first weeks of Mama-hood you will be so focused on nourishing Baby it can be easy to forget about feeding yourself! In the event that mealtimes are less than regular, be sure to keep a handful of healthy snacks at your side such as fruit, granola bars, and snack bites.

6. Breast Pads
It can take your body a while to regulate the quantity of milk it needs to produce to feed your baby. It’s normal for New Mamas to have leaky breasts, and no one wants to sit around in wet clothes! So, if you’re planning to breastfeed, save your bras and clothes from soaking through by using breast pads.

7. Facecloths
A little stack of clean, soft facecloths are ideal for wiping Baby’s cheeks when he/she spits up. Dampen with a little water to clean your Little One’s face in between bath days.

8. Gum
Between feeding, changing, and rocking your newborn around the clock, you can expect a few of your usual self-care routines to fall by the wayside. Not only is it normal to miss a shower or two, but you may also forget to brush your teeth! Keep gum handy to instantly freshen your breath—perfect for when visitors drop by.

9. Phone
Even self-proclaimed introverts and homebodies can find the early weeks of motherhood lonely. Make sure you have your Mama community to lean on by creating a group chat before your babies arrive. You’ll be glad to know you’re not the only one awake during those 2:00 AM feedings!

10. Water Bottle
Keep your favourite water bottle next to your bed to ensure you stay well hydrated. Drinking enough water will help revive you on sluggish days.

11. Nipple Balm
Sore, sensitive nipples are common for breastfeeding Mamas in early postpartum (as if there weren’t enough hurdles to climb!). Do your best to prevent more serious damage by applying a nipple balm a few times throughout the day.

12. Lip Balm
Sometimes a swipe of your favorite lip balm is all it takes to feel a touch of pampering! Choose a flavour that makes you smile, and enjoy the thought that Baby will associate your fragrance of choice with your tender Mama kisses!

Caring for your newborn will be one of the most challenging and beautiful tasks you undertake as a new Mama. Not only are you recovering from the delivery of your baby, but you are also learning what it means to be a mother (and there’s no handbook for that!). A little pre-planning for your personal wellbeing in the weeks following Baby’s arrival will help you feel as relaxed and comfortable as possible throughout your unique postpartum journey. Good luck Mama!

I Have Completed My Postnatal Yoga Training, Now What?

6/10/2018

So you've taken our Postnatal Yoga Teacher Training Course. It was a fun weekend, and yes you've learnt so much - but now what?

What happens after you leave our studio with your beautiful new qualification?

Since we announced the Toronto postnatal yoga training we have been chatting with tons of ladies about their participation in the training and the questions we hear the most often are...

What will I do after my postnatal yoga training? How do I get a job? What else can I do?

For starters - come work with us! Our yoga studio is growing and we would be excited to have new amazing postnatal yoga teachers to join our team. Please email our Teaching Lead Jane to learn more.

What else can you do? SO MUCH! Check out the list of amazing things previous Postnatal Yoga Teacher Training graduates have done:

Started teaching private postnatal yoga classes
Started teaching postnatal yoga in a public studio
Decided to become a birth doula or postpartum doula
Used their their new knowledge to enrich their existing doula practice
Went on to take their pretnatal yoga training
Had a richer post-birth experience to share with mothers
Opened up their own yoga studio
Took additional classes to further their education

Thank you so to all the women who attended this year's training. We hope your new qualification will take you on a journey filled with fun, love and peace. Learn more about our professional trainings here.

3 Unique Benefits of Partner Yoga

6/5/2018

Partner yoga connects and relaxes us. Both partners can be fully engaged in the experience and can support each other in maintaining focus. It enhances communication, trust, intimacy and more. Together you can help each other relieve stress, increase strength and flexibility, and bond.

Here Are The Benefits To Partner Yoga

1) Sharing moments together

Partner yoga is about giving and receiving. Think about two people moving together. You will learn to try new things and trust others with your physical body and your emotions/heart. Plus you can do new, unique poses with your body because of the help, creating new special moments. Your partner’s presence provides the comfort and safety to stay present in areas of physical or emotional discomfort and supports you to move into places that are difficult to access on your own

2) Cultivates stronger communication:

The connection with your partner easily and naturally goes deeper because you are communicating directly, through touch and presence. Partner Yoga helps you work through verbal misunderstandings and provides an opportunity to be more real, honest, and vulnerable with each other in a fun and light way.

3) Intimacy, Trust and lots of fun

Partner yoga brings people together through movement, play, and breath. It creates a beautiful sense of release, and letting go and allows you to not take yourselves and each other too seriously! Practicing with your loved ones can really help to bring you closer.
It’s an excellent way to increase your awareness of each other, and to open yourselves up to greater depths in your bodies and minds. Plus in learning to trust another person, you deepen your ability to trust yourself.

We are super excited to be running our first Partner Yoga class Friday July 13th from 7:15 - 8:30PM! Click the button below to sign up!

12 Bedside Essentials for an Easier Postpartum

I Have Completed My Postnatal Yoga Training, Now What?

3 Unique Benefits of Partner Yoga

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