Toronto Yoga Mamas Blog

2019 Yoga Mamas Holiday Social Recap

12/18/2019

Festive Fun!

On Friday December 6th, we held our first Holiday Social! It was such a lovely event. We hosted 2 sessions with 2 special pop-up vendors: The Urban Nursery and Genuine Health as well as 70 mamas and mamas-to-be!

Our guests were treated to hot chocolate, healthy and sweet treats and retail discounts! Plus we held a raffle for door prizes provided by our amazing sponsors: Fitness Connection and Pingo Apparel

We had an amazing photographer Tara Noelle running our baby photobooth. You can view some of these photos below.

We are so thankful to be apart of such an incredible community of beautiful Mamas and Mama-friends. Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate the holiday season with us. We hope you all enjoyed yourself and we look forward to seeing you again at our upcoming Winter Social.

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3 Ways To Prepare For The Upcoming Holiday Season

11/4/2019

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The holidays are a wonderful time where we get to see family we haven't seen in awhile, eat some of our favourite foods and show gratitude for those we love! With that said, it can also be somewhat stressful trying to juggle activities and follow traditions. It is therefore important that we create a plan of action now so that we can ensure we are able to stay present and enjoy all of the wonderful things that come with the holiday season.

Here are 3 things you can do to ensure you are happy and healthy this holiday season:

1. Get Organized
Whether you are an old fashioned list writer, or Google Calendar enthusiast, set aside some time to get clear about everything you need to complete this holiday season. Break down each item into bite size tasks with realistic due dates that you feel comfortable with. By having the information stored in one place you will feel more in control and better equipped to deal when the busyness of the season takes over.

2. Schedule Self Care In Advance
Often the times when we are our busiest are the times we need self care the most, so be proactive and schedule your self care in advance! Register for a yoga class, book a relaxing massage or plan a date with yourself and put it in your schedule the way you would any other task you need to complete. When the time comes you will be thankful to have a break where you will return refreshed, grounded and ready to take on the next round of festivities!

3. Set An Intention
Setting an intention is a powerful tool in helping to manifest your desired outcome and can be used as a gentle reminder of how you wish to feel when you get thrown off by stress. An intention can be as simple as a word such as 'harmony' or can be a sentence such as 'I intend to lead from a place of compassion this holiday season.'

Remember, the holidays are supposed to be fun, so release any pressures around what you should or shouldn't be doing and instead relax and enjoy!

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My Top 4 Pregnancy Books

9/24/2019

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By Jamie Kalynuik, Founder/CEO of Toronto Yoga Mamas

I LOVED reading during my pregnancy. I would slow down after a busy day, make a cup of warm water with lemon and honey {my fave}, cuddle up with a book, and connect with babe. Here are a handful of my top pregnancy books. I'd love to hear what books you are reading on your journey. Feel free to comment too in the section below.

The Birth Of A Mother: How the Motherhood Experience Changes You Forever
By Danielle N Stern

I loved this book because it covers the inner transformation a woman goes through - how the mother is born psychologically during her pregnancy and after the babe is born. I found this book perfect to read during my first trimester when so much of the pregnancy I was experiencing was emotional.

Healthy Holistic Pregnancy
By Jesse Lane, CNP

This book reads almost like a pregnancy journal by author, mama and Holistic Nutritionist Jesse Lane. I found myself relating to many of the symptoms, emotions, questions she talked about while I followed along on her journey. I really like that she focused on natural solutions for many pregnancy ailments and pregnancy. Bonus: she included yummy pregnancy-friendly recipes for the first trimester and beyond. Super Bonus: she is a member of Toronto Yoga Mamas and speaks to the benefits she enjoyed by practicing prenatal yoga.

The Rebel Mama’s Handbook For Cool Moms
By Aleksandra Jassem and Nikita Stanley

This book made my shoulders relax and my heart smile. Authors Nikita and Aleksandra did a great job covering everything from pregnancy to toddlerhood in a straightforward and non-judgemental way...all while making made me laugh at the same time. I love that these mamas are from Toronto and have an active instagram account that compliments all the feels that the book gives.

Bountiful Beautiful Blissful
By Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa

This book was gifted to me by my friend Christine and arrived during the perfect time in my pregnancy when I was looking for more spiritual way to connect with my journey and babe. I read this book in the last part of my third trimester when I was feeling quite pregnant...and bountiful. I really loved reading the meditations in this book while I was slowing down and turning inwards.

I would love to know which books you enjoyed during your pregnancy and why. Please feel free to share in the comment section below.

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7 Healing Crystals for Mama

8/16/2019

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New to motherhood or not, being a parent can throw you off your game--on a daily basis! The ups and downs are frequent and struggling to find balance simply becomes par for the course. As mothers, we might never attain perfect balance between self-care and servitude, but we can deepen our connection to “self” with a little help from Mother Earth. Certain naturally occurring rocks—known as healing crystals—are believed to offer support on many fronts including love, self-esteem, and mental clarity. The list of applications is long and people all over the world have used healing crystals of all kinds for thousands of years.

Today we’re sharing our top 7 healing crystals for Mama to help you integrate a little healing and self-love into motherhood.

Rose Quartz – Promotes Love
Known as the stone of unconditional love, rose quartz is a fitting treasure for Mamas. Not only does this pretty pink rock promote love of all kinds—including self-love—it also supports emotional healing. Weather you have experienced a loss of pregnancy in the past, or are feeling disconnected with your former self now that you are a mother, rose quartz is a beautiful reminder that love is all around, AND most importantly, within you. Keep this stone visible as a reminder to take care of yourself, even in little ways, everyday. Whether you take a minute (guilt-free!) to put your feet up, or simply allow yourself a few cleansing breaths throughout your day, know that to love others you must first love yourself.

To Use: Rose Quartz corresponds to the heart chakra. Wear a mala close to your heart to amplify expressions of love in your life—especially those that nourish and heal you.

Aquamarine – Brings Courage
Possessing the calming powers of the sea, aquamarine is said to reduce stress and quiet the mind. Mamas feeling overwhelmed by responsibility can keep this stone near to support their inner strength and to find courage in this new season of their lives. Meditating with aquamarine can also help Mamas increase tolerance and overcome judgment of self and others—a reminder that every Mama is simply doing her best! And, as if aquamarine wasn’t sounding great enough, it’s also known in ancient folklore as the treasure of mermaids!

To Use: Keep aquamarine in your bath or shower to honour water as the origin of life on this planet (and feel like a gorgeous mythical creature while doing so!)

Himalayan Salt Rock – Elevates Mood
If you’ve ever thought of your body as a vessel, then you know it’s essential to “refill” once in a while! Pink Himalayan salt rock (used in lamps to simulate the electromagnetic charge that comes after a rainstorm) is said to elevate moods, and dispel negative energy. This rosy salt contains trace minerals and helps your skin retain moisture when combined with H2O, making it the perfect addition to your bath time routine. Keep an apothecary jar in your bathroom filled with pretty pink salt to encourage a spa-inspired self care ritual a few times a week.

To Use: Grab a good book and get ready to relax! Sprinkle ½ cup Himalayan salt into a warm bath. Combine with magnesium flakes to increase mineral absorption.

Clear Quartz – Amplifies Intentions
A crystal like no other, clear quartz is believed to hold onto the energy of your intensions, while dispelling negativity. For Mamas that hold secret wishes and blessings in their hearts for their children (and really, isn’t that every Mama?) clear quartz is listening. Not only does this crystal embody your intensions, but it also amplifies them into the universe—like turning up the volume of your inner voice. Clear quartz is also known as the ultimate manifesting stone, because it amplifies the healing qualities of the stones that surround it! So, Mamas looking to build a crystal collection will want to make sure they include this one.

To Use: Place clear quartz in areas of your home where you spend time formulating intensions such as next to family photos, upon alter, or in a bowl with other healing crystals.

White Jade – Realizes Potential
Entering into motherhood is the unfolding of a new self. Every Mama-to-be has the desire and potential to be a loving, nurturing parent, and white jade can be a supportive stone while stepping into this new role. Associated with the crown chakra, white jade channels intuition and supports focus towards the things that matter most in your life by warding off unwanted distractions Use this stone to realize your potential in all areas of life, whether your aim is to be a more mindful parent, better support your family by getting a raise at work, or connect with your creative side.

To Use: Keep white jade close to your workplace (office or home) to help you reach your goals, while maintaining perspective on the things that matter most.

Sodalite – Calms the Mind
From the unfamiliar world of giving birth, to welcoming your Little One home, being a new Mama can be overwhelming, and self-doubt is totally normal. Even the most serene mother will experience anxiety from time to time when it comes to her caregiving abilities! Enter soladite; the stone of rational thought, truth, and intuition. Royal blue and often speckled with sandy yellow, soladite quiets the mind and fortifies self-trust. The calming power of soladite is a wonderfully supportive energy as you navigating motherhood--you got this!

To Use: Because this is one of the best crystals for soothing stress and anxiety it’s helpful to have close by. Wear soladite as a bracelet, or keep some in your purse for calming support.

Moonstone – Grounds Emotions
Shimmering with ethereal hues of blue and cream, moonstone is believed to be a powerful healing crystal for women. Not only is this crystal beautiful to look at, but it also helps to stabilize and ground emotions while supporting hormonal balance. Just as the moon moves through it’s cosmic cycle, moonstone reminds Mamas that their bodies are rhythmic in nature, and that life is cyclical like the seasons. This is the perfect crystal for inspiring mindful moments as Mama goes-with-the-flow of motherhood.

To Use: Keep moonstone near your bedside to inspire sweet dreams and to help you align with the unique rhythms of your female body.

For thousands of years, people have looked to crystals formed by the earth for healing, guidance, and support. Whether you choose to wear a crystal mala to promote self-love, or keep a selection of rocks arranged on your bedside table for serenity, there’s bound to be a healing crystal that speaks to you as a Mama.

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2019 Yoga Mamas Holiday Social Recap

3 Ways To Prepare For The Upcoming Holiday Season

My Top 4 Pregnancy Books

7 Healing Crystals for Mama

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