Prenatal yoga really helped me through labor. I brought many breathing and relaxing techniques, as well as poses, into the delivery room. My labor progressed really smoothly, and I was able to deliver in less than 4 hours with no drugs. The biggest thing I learned in yoga—beyond realizing that I could do this and had nothing to fear—was that to relax my body I needed to relax my jaw! So simple, so important, so helpful! It worked!
--Laura T.
Prenatal classes helped to expand the love I had for my developing baby by offering new and mindful ways to connect with him.
--Lenore M.
Uplifting, strengthening, reassuring, grounding! In prenatal yoga, I gained confidence in my body's ability to nurture and birth my son. The poses and breathing techniques that I learned were essential during labor and even helpful later as I adjusted to the demands of becoming a new Mom.
--Sara A.
Couples yoga validated our anxieties about new parenthood while it brought us useful information and peaceful energy that calmed and comforted us.
--Michael R.
The one thing I was not looking forward to about pregnancy was slowing down my yoga practice! When a friend suggested prenatal yoga, I was skeptical. I envisioned a group of women sitting in a circle, singing lullabies to their bellies, perhaps throwing in the occasional modified downward dog. How wrong was I?? We did Warriors! We did Tree Pose! We even did chatarunga time and time again! Not only was it every bit as challenging as my regular class, but it included the perfect balance of mother/baby bonding that I was craving in the form of pre- and post-class meditation.
To my surprise, the best part was the end of class, when we would lie on our sides and just be with our babies, feeling the roll and rumble in our bellies as we held them with each breath. I never missed a class after that first one, going twice a week. And lucky for me that I did: Were it not for that invigorating workout twice a week, I would have been toast going back to my regular practice postnatal!
--Roxanne S.
The couples yoga workshop gave me and my husband a sense of deep connection with our baby before she was born, as well as prepared us to relax during labor. The prenatal yoga classes gave us a sense of peace, security, and direction when we ventured into the complete unknown of birthing our baby. At the end of that journey we couldn't have imagined going through that without having the practice of breathing, positioning, and the knowledge of believing in ourselves and knowing we were strong enough to do it. Even after our daughter was born, the breathing came back to me when I was trying to relax when attempting to breastfeed, or falling back asleep in the middle of the night, or even when just relaxing in the bathtub.
--Luanne R.
Sarah Longacre's prenatal yoga class is one of the highlights of my week. It gives me an hour and 15 minutes to take time for myself. I can let go of the stressors of the week and give myself over to my practice. Sarah guides us with our wonderfully swollen bellies through positions that both challenge and relax. She is such a delightful, bright woman who has changed my outlook on birth and has given me options for my second pregnancy that I would have never considered. I encourage everyone to experience the warmth and kindness that Sarah brings to each and every pregnant woman she encounters.
--Jenny D.
I met Sarah Longacre when I was pregnant with my first child. I was really happy to know that she was a doula, because I am an OB/GYN Nurse Practitioner, and I was excited to pass her name on to patients. Our paths crossed several times over the following couple of years, and when I became pregnant with my second child, I went back to Sarah's prenatal yoga class. From my 12th week on, I didn't miss more than a couple of classes over several months of pregnancy; Sarah had such a way about her during the class and I found it to be the one moment during a busy life with a toddler where I could focus on this new being without distractions. My best friend took the class with me, and it was a fun bonding experience with her and with all the other pregnant women we got to know in the class.
My husband and I also took a couples' yoga/birthing class from Sarah and loved it! She made us all feel really comfortable and it was a GREAT thing for the dads! My husband even admitted it was a fun way to spend a Saturday morning.
There is no doubt that if we go for number three, I will be attending prenatal yoga classes again!!
--Krista M.
Sarah's prenatal yoga class was the highlight of my week during pregnancy. I started going when I was about 12 weeks pregnant and went faithfully through my 41st(!) week. Sarah's classes are perfect for whatever you're looking for. If you want to feel nurtured and comforted and cared for, you can find that in her class. If you want to feel tough and strong and get a great workout, you can find that in her class. Sarah is a wonderful teacher and immediately makes everyone feel at ease. Sarah's classes made me feel more in touch with my body and my baby. As my shape gradually changed, I was empowered by all the amazing things my body could do in yoga class. Prenatal yoga helped prepare me for labor and birth, both physically and emotionally. Now that I'm no longer pregnant, I truly miss Sarah's class. A friend and I recently joked that we needed to get pregnant again so we could go back to Sarah's class!
--Erin S.
