Wknd Workshops: Prenatal + Boot Camp for Dads!

The chance to help raise money for a new birth center in Uganda continues this weekend! We're offering two special workshops in which all the proceeds will benefit Blooming in Uganda.

On Saturday from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., we want to see every pregnant mama in the house for a special 2-hour Prenatal Yoga and Chiropractic Workshop with Sarah Longacre and Dr. Tim Fargo. He'll talk about ways to reduce pain and discomfort associated with pregnancy by using safe and natural techniques. He will also give instruction in The Webster Technique, an effective technique that helps balance the pelvis which, in turn, can ease pregnancy pain, reduce incidence of breech births and shorten labor time. (Most doulas I know swear by the Webster Technique!) The suggested donation is $15-$30. Sign up now.

Dads, don't think we've forgotten about you! We're holding a Boot Camp for Dads this Sunday from 3-5:30 p.m. with personal trainer Anthony Arnold. The Vikings kick off at noon, and Arnold will be ready and waiting with a post-game workout. Go ahead: Tailgate all morning, then get your tail kicked (in a good way!) all afternoon! Sign up now.

Love,
Alisa, Sarah & the women of Blooma

When should I start prenatal yoga?

A newly-pregnant mama e-mailed us a great question about when to start prenatal yoga. Jennifer Colletti, one of Blooma's many wonderful yoga teachers, answers below. To join one of Jennifer's classes, check out these times: Mondays at 5:30 p.m., Fridays at 8:30 a.m., Saturdays at 11 a.m., and a week-long outdoor prenatal camp beginning Aug. 17 (today!).

Q: I just found out that I'm pregnant. When should I start going to prenatal yoga classes instead of my regular class?

A: You can start right away! Of course, always check in with your doctor first. It's nice to connect with a prenatal teacher early in your pregnancy, for many reasons. The practice is slightly different than your regular practice and prenatal teachers are well-versed in the best postures to do for your changing body and growing baby. The prenatal practice (although still challenging) is generally a bit gentler on the body than a traditional class, which is important with the hormones increasing and softening the joints in your body.

Another reason to start prenatal classes early-on is to start building community with other pregnant women. It is amazing to connect with other women going through the same process that you are!

If you have had a history of pregnancy complications or a history of miscarriages (two or more), take it easy through first trimester. This is a great time to work on a meditation routine which will help the labor and delivery process. This is a critical time of development for baby, so holding off on yoga or other vigorous activity through this trimester is important. Check in with your doctor, and see if they are comfortable with you starting yoga second trimester.
**A very light yoga routine may be possible first trimester with approval from your doctor, please contact Jennifer to discuss.

Love,
Jennifer, Alisa, Sarah, & the women of Blooma

LOTS of prenatal classes with Sarah this week!

OK sweet yogi mamas, I am teaching lots this week! Come and play with me—and bring a friend!

• Tuesday 9:15 & 6:00
• Wednesday 9:30 & 7:00
• Thursday 9:15 & 6:00
• Saturday 9:30
• Sunday 8:30 & 10:00

Sign up at Blooma.com now!

Love,
Sarah

Blooma OPEN this weekend!

Blooma is happy to share that we will be open during the upcoming holiday weekend, with the exception of two class cancellations: BYOB on Saturday and BYOB Crawlers on Sunday.

Begin your 4th of July this Saturday with any of the following classes:

8 a.m. Early Bird Yoga For You! with Kim Bosanko
9:30 a.m. Prenatal Yoga with Sarah Longacre
11 a.m. Prenatal Yoga with Cori Levin

Reserve your spot now and you'll be sparkling from the inside out.

Love,
Alisa, Sarah & the ladies of Blooma

Welcome to the Blooma blog!

Today we’re relaunching the Blooma blog, and we’d love for you to think of this blog-o-sphere as an extension of the community you’re a part of when you’re at Blooma in person. Welcome!

Since Sarah Longacre opened Blooma in October 2007 with her loving arms, talent for inspiring moms and moms-to-be, and cadre of gifted teachers and body workers, I have come to feel a special affection for Blooma. (We hope you feel that way, too.)

First I came as a newly pregnant mama who found a nurturing, supportive community where I learned to embrace my blooming belly and made new friends. Sampling the various prenatal classes gave me the chance to figure out which teachers would challenge me (sometimes seriously challenge me!) and which would give me a relaxing wind-down at the end of an intense day. I also adored my prenatal Maya abdominal massages (and that awesome massage table with the holes for my belly and boobs that actually allowed me to lie face down—bliss!).

After my son Graham—now 13 months old—was born, we hurried back to Blooma, looking for familiar faces. In our BYOB (Bring Your Own Baby) classes, Graham and I reconnected with mamas I’d done sun salutations next to when he was in my belly. We also got to admire my prenatal yoga friends’ beautiful babies who were on the outside now. We shared stories, new mama woes, and some of us began to meet outside of class, too. It’ll be just a few more months until we’re ready for Tot Yoga, and meanwhile I’m back into my own yoga groove with Yoga For You! classes. Not all cities have a place like this and I am grateful that I can boast otherwise.

As a birth doula and certified infant massage instructor, I’m into all this mama + baby stuff anyway. But when I was pregnant, and now as a mother, I came to appreciate even more what Blooma offers to my family. My husband has come to partner workshops with me, and my mother-in-law has practiced with me side-by-side, learning how to do simple yoga poses with her grandson at home. I’ve since trained with Lisa Bergley, developer of YogaBonding, and now teach BYOB at Blooma on alternating Mondays and Saturdays. I teach an occasional infant massage class, too. If I haven’t already, I hope to meet you soon!

Please subscribe to the blog, too. I’ll be blogging regularly about everything mama- and family-related including:

• upcoming Blooma workshops + classes
• the latest pregnancy + parent-related health news
• links to hip, funny, or informative parenting stories
• pregnancy + parenting blog postings (send me your own blog links!)
• guest blogs from Blooma teachers and body workers, midwives + OBs
• postings from Sarah and other doulas, who will share their favorite tips + tricks for labor
• "Blooma Bookclub" reading recommendations
• and of course we’ll keep you in the loop with the ever popular “Blossoms” updates: photos of Blooma babies (and preferably their mamas, too) as they make their grand entrance into this big, beautiful world.

So that’s a little something about me, your Blooma blogger. I’d love to learn about you, too. Leave a comment and tell us what Blooma means to you—we’d love to hear your thoughts!


Love,
Alisa, Sarah, & the women of Blooma

Prenatal Indulgence includes yoga + massage

Monday, May 11
Special 2-hour Prenatal Indulgence, 7-9pm
with Sarah Longacre and Stacy Seebart

You've told us how you love Blooma Belly Prenatal Yoga (we're so delighted!) ... but you've also said "we want more savasana!" and "rub my shoulders just a little longer" plus "more meditation, please" and even "a few more squats would do me good."

Massage therapist Stacy Seebart and Blooma founder Sarah Longacre team up to bring you an amazing evening of prenatal bliss. Enjoy the love, mamas!

Please pre-register ~ Just a few spots left! ~ Fee: $18 or Class Pass

Metro Magazine's got us covered

METRO magazine ran an awesome story about prenatal yoga and Blooma this past summer. Check it out if you haven't seen it already!

Stretch, Breathe, Namaste

By Jen Sandbo

(Photo by Marshall Long)

Pregnant Yoga

For many expectant mothers, the exercise of choice is yoga. “We are a family studio,” says Sarah Longacre, owner of Blooma, a studio where prenatal and postnatal women as well as their families can practice yoga.

Prenatal yoga classes focus on helping women feel strong in their bodies while also surrendering to the fears of birthing and connecting them to their breath. However, don’t think this means an easy workout.

“There are days when I kick their butts,” Longacre says. “They look at me and say, ‘Really, another set of push-ups?’ [I say,] ‘You will thank me when you have your baby carrier and all of the gear.” In addition to upper-body exercises, Longacre incorporates squats, core strengthening and other yoga poses into the classes.

Blooma, which opened in 2007, also offers education and wellness opportunities, including massage, acupuncture and chiropractic care for Mom, Dad and Baby.

“The education is key to me because with the caesarian rate rising and with so many women questioning their own bodies, we really need to come back to how we birth,” Longacre says. Hypnobirthing and lamaze classes are two educational options available for soon-to-be parents.

For women who already have kids, there are many offerings, too. On-site child care helps new moms take a class—check out Yoga for You—without worrying about a babysitter, and the BYOB—Bring Your Own Baby—yoga class bonds parents with their little one in a unique way.

“To be a better person, to love your husband more and to love your family, [simply] to be able to give, you need to receive,” Longacre says. “And, receiving is what yoga is; it’s receiving the practice.”

More Prenatal on Saturdays!

Last week, Blooma made history with its biggest class ever! 35 mamas and at least 35 babies ... the 70 of us were so cozy! Wellllll, maybe a little *too* cozy! Practicing mat to mat was something special, but let's be realistic: It's more comfortable to have some space for those pregnant bellies!

We're making room for baby by making some adjustments to the schedule. Starting the weekend of December 6, we're adding another prenatal class to Saturday mornings. And keep in mind that we have prenatal on Sunday morning, too!

Here's what the new schedule will look like:
weekend prenatal classes
Saturdays 9:30 - 10:45am with Sarah
Saturdays 11 - 12:15pm with Sarah
Sundays 9:30 - 10:45am with Bridgett

We also encourage you to pre-register for class to guarantee your spot. To keep the studio comfortable, we're going to limit the class size to 26 mamas. Sign up online or call (952 848 1111) to reserve your spot. Of course, you can still drop in. Here's how it works: We'll give priority to all the mamas who pre-registered for class, and we'll give you a 5-minute grace period if you're running late. But if you aren't there by then and there are other mamas waiting to get in to the class, you'll lose your spot. So sign up in advance, arrive on time, and enjoy your practice!

Sweet Words for Blooma

One of our sweet Blooma mamas-to-be shared these very kind words about her experience at the studio...

This is my first pregnancy and I have been attending Blooma prenatal yoga classes since being 12 weeks pregnant. I leave Blooma after class feeling relaxed, stress-free, loose, limber and truly like a Princess! Sarah has created an environment for women to feel comfortable and welcome. She has also created a place where I can go to feel happy in my pregnancy. Pregnancy can be difficult, but at Blooma you feel like you are wearing a crown when you set foot in the door. During class she aids you in connecting with your baby, and just breathing calm into your life! It's also wonderful to chat with other Moms-to-be and Moms who have experience, and ask advice or just commiserate when needed. Being pregnant, it has been an escape to stop by Blooma. Sarah is an amazing, warm and savvy person who has found a necessary place for pregnant women, and I am sure Moms (I'll have to let you know!). Thank you Sarah! I cannot imagine being pregnant without Blooma.--Katherine McMillan

Blooma Belly Prenatal Praises

Hope springs eternal this time of year, and that seems to be inspiring all kinds of happy emails here at Blooma. Here's a little love note from Blooma mama Heidi S.:

I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the prenatal class … it truly was the best way to start my weekend! This is my third pregnancy, so the class really gave me the chance to just stop and enjoy the life growing inside me. With two other small kiddos at home, it was just what I needed to savor this pregnancy!

Thanks also for making it feel like such a safe environment, and for making the first-timers, like me, feel so welcome and at home. It’s been months since I’ve done yoga, and just the assurance to focus on yourself was wonderful.

I look forward to my next yoga session with the other “mamas to be”!

New Mamas at Blooma

We're always thrilled to find a little love for Blooma out in the blogosphere -- and to send a little Blooma love back in return. Here's what new mama-to-be Emily had to say about her first experience at the studio, surrounded by a bunch of other mamas ...

"After putting in a brief appearance at work this afternoon, I headed over to my Tuesday night prenatal yoga class at Blooma. The instructor also happens to own Blooma and was highly recommended by my friend Rachael. The whole experience has been terrific, and tonight's class was even better because Keri, my friend who is due June 18, joined me. I'm pretty impressed with the women in my class who are only days away from their due dates. I'm hoping it's the motivation I need to continue these classes until June!"

Namaste Meets Nightclub

Wow, we couldn't have asked for a better story about what it's like to practice prenatal yoga at Blooma! Alisa B. -- blogger extraordinaire, doula, and mama-to-be -- dubbed Sarah Longacre's Blooma Belly class a namaste-meets-nightclub experience. Boogie on!