PRENATAL YOGA
Kara Mears, Registered Nurse, Full-Spectrum Doula and Certified Prenatal Yoga Instructor, has created this series of three workshops to support women in their exploration of the larger underlying concepts of the major, beautiful, at times overwhelming, and life-changing transition, from maiden to mother. Because preparing for pregnancy, birth, and motherhood is about more than mentally assimilating informational facts about the phases of labor and how many wet diapers to look for. Making space for all that comes up, cultivating radical compassion, and emboldening ourselves to face our fears are essential tools for our Mama Toolkit; resources we can call upon from conception throughout our entire motherhood experience to stay awake, in-tune and empowered.
The workshop format is a one-hour laid-back lecture/round table discussion followed by an hour and a half hour yoga asana practice to support students physically integrate the main theme—think shoulder openers for making space, hip openers for radical compassion, and strong standing postures for facing fear. The studio will be a comfortable 75-80 degrees. Students will enjoy a guided meditation, deeply restorative postures, and an extended savasana with gentle hands-on assists as part of each practice. Discussion prompts will be offered, so a journal is encouraged to get the most out of the workshop.
These all-levels workshops are designed for expectant new mothers, both new yogis and seasoned practitioners alike, with a focus on pregnancy and birth, though new mothers are also welcome to attend. Our time together will foster integration, self-reflection and care, and community.
Kara holds a Bachelor of Arts in Photojournalism & Magazine Writing from Emerson College in Boston and studied documentary photography at the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies in Portland, Maine. She earned her Bachelors of Science in Nursing at Simmons College in Boston and is currently working as a Registered Nurse. Fascinated by the commonalities of journalism, birth work, and yoga, she finds joy and fulfillment in the creative process of witnessing a story, watching the action unfold in real time, and calling upon her keenest observation skills. Kara is passionate about empowering women on their journey into motherhood and welcoming babies into this world
***Please register at least five days early if you need a bolster***
Saturdays 2:00-4:30pm
(March 9 - Making Space)
(March 30 - Compassion)
April 20 - Cultivating Courage
You are welcome to join us for Kara’s final workshop in this series!
A la carte - $85 includes a bolster, $40 in advance if you have your own, $45 at the door with your own bolster
Kara Mears Billey, Registered Nurse and founder of SweetMama Doula, has been practicing and teaching yoga for over a decade. With a focused interest in birth and all aspects of a woman's natal year, she is a Certified Birth Doula (CBD) and a Certified Pranakriya Prenatal Yoga Teacher (CPYT). Kara received her birth and postpartum doula training from Certified Professional Midwife, Michelle L'Esperance of Warm Welcome Birth Services in Northampton, Mass. From 2010-2011 Kara was a prenatal yoga apprentice under Kat Whitney after which she completed her prenatal teaching certification at Kripalu.
Please email us with any questions!