A healthy pelvic floor provides a strong and stable foundation for the entire body. When the muscles of the pelvic floor have either too much or not enough tone it can result in pelvic dysfunction such as urinary or fecal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and pelvic pain. Yoga, including movement (asana) and breath work (pranayama), can help create a balanced and optimally functioning pelvic floor. This workshop will focus on bringing awareness to the pelvic floor and will use asana and pranayama to soften and strengthen the three layers of pelvic floor muscles.

All those who identify as women are welcome.

Date & Time: Sunday, March 22nd @2-4 pm

Cost: $35

About the instructor: Shelley Curtis

I started taking yoga classes after a minor back injury, partly to heal but mainly to strengthen and stretch my body to prevent hurting myself again. I loved the way yoga made my body feel and sensed there was more to it for my mind but didn’t understand the mental and emotional benefits until I was introduced to viniyoga just before I became pregnant with my first son (now 5 ½).

After I found out I was pregnant I started going to prenatal yoga classes at Whole Life Yoga and practicing at home almost daily. This is really when I started to get the body-mind connection that yoga, especially viniyoga, has to offer. By practicing viniyoga regularly throughout my pregnancy I was able to connect with my body and my baby in a way I don’t think I would have otherwise. The breath work and linking breath and movement allowed me to be fully present and helped me to ride the emotional roller coaster of pregnancy in a much more mindful way. The same held true for labor – and motherhood. I used the same tools during my son’s birth and then again as I struggled with being a new mom.

A couple of years (and many viniyoga classes) later, my dear friend and mentor, Sharon Beaudoin, urged me to consider enrolling in Whole Life Yoga’s teacher training program. I hadn’t ever thought about teaching yoga but met with Tracy anyway and decided to enter the program mostly as a way to enhance my home practice. Then came baby number two! I was lucky to experience the teacher training during my pregnancy for many reasons, one of which is that it ignited in me a passion for teaching prenatal yoga.  And of course I fully experienced the many benefits of viniyoga throughout my pregnancy, labor and transition to mother of two!