Yoga | Birth | Babies

Sometimes, the most challenging aspect of parenting is the work we do on ourselves. It involves reflecting on our own childhood experiences and understanding how they shape our view of parenthood today. It also requires taking emotional accountability- managing our reactions and behaviors instead of blaming others or projecting our issues onto them. It might seem overwhelming just to read that, so today we're breaking it down with the concept of Conscious Parenting. In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I am joined by Bryana Kappadakunnel. Bryana is a seasoned professional in the fields of perinatal, infant, and early childhood mental health. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who primarily focuses on 0-5 year old children, Bryana has worked in a therapeutic preschool, community mental health settings, and now runs her own private practice and online community called Conscious Mommy. In our conversation, we define Conscious Parenting, explore the importance of reflecting on our emotional reacti

When today’s guest reached out to me about bringing a pediatric physical therapy conversation to the table, I was all in. Apart from my well-known love for all things anatomy and my own experience with PT, I was really curious how it even works with newborns and babies! For this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I am joined by Dr. Emily Schlict. Emily is a pediatric physical therapist who primarily treats patients from birth to 5 years old. She is trained in dynamic movement intervention (DMI) and Schroth Therapy for Scoliosis. Emily is also a Board Certified Autism Specialist. Emily is the owner of EMpower PT, which provides pediatric physical therapy to children in their homes throughout Manhattan. In this conversation, Emily goes over the reasons a newborn may need to see a physical therapist, what PT looks like for a newborn or baby under three, and how to recognize when it may be time for parents to seek out PT for their child. We even discuss some general things, aside from PT, that you can do with yo

Having a child with special needs can be both an isolating and challenging experience, but it also offers endless opportunities for learning, acceptance, and education. There are many different kinds of special needs, but today we're focusing on the “unseen” disabilities of neurodiverse children and the unique experiences of their parents. Joining me today on Yoga | Birth | Babies is Susanna Peace Lovell. Susanna received her B.A. from UC Berkeley and is an author, speaker, disability rights advocate and certified professional life coach dedicated to the health and wellness of disability families everywhere. This is also her lived experience raising a teenage daughter with a myriad disabilities and diagnoses including ASD (autism spectrum disorder), ADHD, anxiety and severe food allergies. If you're a parent of a child with disabilities, I hope this conversation offers you support and validation. For those who are close to families with disabilities, this episode aims to show how you can be a supportive a

Today, we're diving into a community birth story that’s far more than just a tale of delivery. Ready for some intriguing details? My guest recently welcomed her third baby. She’s been a dedicated student at PYC for nine years, and she’s been featured on the YBB podcast three times, sharing insights from all three of her births. But there’s even more… each of her births involved induction, each for different reasons. Today on Yoga | Birth | Babies, I have Yali Szulanski. Yali is an educational wellness consultant, a trauma-informed emotion specialist, teacher, and writer. She received her master's in psychology and education from Teachers College, Columbia University, with a special certification in spirituality mind-body integration. Yali is currently on track to receive her rabbinic ordination in 2025 and is also the youth director at the Hebrew Institute in Riverdale, where she lives with her family.  Yali brings a wealth of philosophical wisdom and life perspective to our conversation that I can’t for yo

Today we are speaking on a hot topic: tongue tie. The reason tongue tie is a hot topic is because it has been a controversial subject for a while now! Naturally, I wanted to understand why- which brought us to the guest and interview you’ll hear today. To have this conversation with me on Yoga | Birth | Babies, I have Stephanie Heintzeler. Stephanie is a German educated midwife and acupuncturist as well as US-educated birth doula and Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).  Stephanie comes to this conversation with so much knowledge, and I know you will learn so much in this episode. If you’ve ever been curious or confused about tongue tie, sit back and relax because this episode will take away the mystery and fill in the blanks. Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: prenatalyogacenter.com (*hyperlink episode link from Wordpress!) Don’t forget to grab your FREE guide, 5 Simple Solutions to the Most Common Pregnancy Pains HERE  If you

Matrescence, A.K.A. becoming a mother/parent, is a developmental milestone that brings forth a major identity shift within us. Every parent’s personal definition of this milestone will be wildly different, and each journey will look a myriad of different ways, but a universal perspective we can adopt about matrescence is that it can be an opportunity to grow more into ourselves. To have this conversation with me today on Yoga | Birth | Babies, I have Emese Parker. Emese is a board-certified women’s health nurse practitioner, pregnancy & motherhood support specialist, award-winning author, public health geek, mama, and matrescence activist. She has been in the healthcare field for over 20 years and is passionate about supporting and empowering women, promoting perinatal mental health wellness, and walking with women through various life transitions—especially pregnancy and motherhood. I’m so excited for you to hear this conversation on matrescence. Although this life transition can be full of new-baby bliss,

If you’re looking at the title of this episode thinking, “I’ve never heard of cholestasis”… you’re not alone! That being said, it’s important to know about as it can occur in 1-2 in every 1,000 pregnancies. So let’s talk about cholestasis in pregnancy- the symptoms, the treatment, how it is diagnosed, and how one can deal with this in pregnancy.  To have this conversation with me today on Yoga | Birth | Babies, I have Donna Benavides. Donna is a mother who experienced Cholestasis of Pregnancy and is now blessed with two healthy teens, Branden & Evan, and her angel baby Jorden. She’s dedicated her time and advocacy to Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy (ICP) and is the Founder of ICP Care 501(c)(3) nonprofit. She is also a registered prenatal yoga teacher! Donna has had ICP in all 3 of her pregnancies, and she graciously shares the knowledge and experience she’s gained on the diagnosis through our honest conversation. If you have ICP or it comes up later on in your pregnancy, we want you to know how to ad

Today, we have a community birth story that will literally take you on a wild ride. In just one short but juicy hour, you’ll find an illustration of pregnancy over 40, preparation for birth from a yoga teacher perspective, and multiple twists and turns in a birth story. Today’s Yoga| Birth| Babies, I have with me Renata DiBiase. Renata is a book designer and yoga teacher residing on eastern Long Island with her husband and newborn baby. She is also a PYC Prenatal Teacher Training alumni! Believing in yourself isn’t always an easy feat, but Renata exemplifies just that in her birth. Throughout this conversation, so many lessons of resilience, strength, and staying in the present can be found. I hope you leave this episode feeling just as inspired as I did. CW: In this conversation, there is mention of a miscarriage and a premature birth. Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: prenatalyogacenter.com (*hyperlink episode link from

Did you know that the number of babies born to first time parents in the US who are over 35 has been steadily increasing? I see countless parents in the PYC community (including myself) have their first child over 35. So why have we heard that it’s difficult and more dangerous to conceive after 35? What happens (or doesn’t happen) at 35 to the body and how might this affect your pregnancy and birth? To answer this question I invited Dr. Nicole Rankins back to Yoga|Birth |Babies. This is my third episode with Dr. Rankins. She’s an incredible guest. As an OB/GYN she’s helped over 1,500 babies into the world. She also has an amazing podcast All About Pregnancy & Birth that I turn to for grounded scientific information that feels like it’s coming from a dear friend. In today’s episode Dr. Nicole and I talk about the risks and benefits of having babies over 35. We talk about fertility, how care may or may not be different for those over 35, and how managed or not managed your birth may need to be. Dr. Nicole dis

Today, we’re delving into a universal experience: the challenge of control. Have you ever wondered why it can be so hard to let things organically happen? Or questioned what it is that’s behind the desire to control in the first place? As much as it would be fabulous to control everything, it simply isn’t possible. And, you guessed it; this rings especially true in pregnancy and parenthood.  Today on Yoga| Birth| Babies, I have with me Dr. Britta Bushnell to have this conversation. Britta is the author of Transformed by Birth, a childbirth educator, a mentor to other birth professionals, and a now 3rd-time guest on this podcast! Throughout this conversation, we dive into the ins and outs of control: why we want it, how we try to get it, how it shows up as we prepare for pregnancy and beyond, and whether or not it actually serves us to have it. Furthermore, we explore the idea of how to stoke the curiosity of something without trying to manage it in a certain way. So join us as we unpack these layers, promis

It’s no secret that getting good sleep is vital in living a healthy life. However, sleep becomes crucial in the fourth trimester- the newborn phase! When baby and you develop healthy sleep patterns, it benefits the whole family. But I know what you’re thinking: “Easier said than done.” Well, to have this conversation with me today on Yoga| Birth| Babies, I have Kristine Petterson. Kristine is a birth doula, a Pre/Postnatal yoga instructor, and a Mindful Sleep and Parenting Educator. And, as a sleep consultant, Kristine’s knowledge on fourth trimester sleep proves promising. Throughout the conversation, we dive into the importance of a healthy sleep relationship, Kristine’s belief in babies' ability to self-soothe, and we go over some tangible tips in creating better sleep hygiene for you and your newborn. Trust me, you’ll want to listen to this conversation (even a couple of times) to take some notes! Cheers to getting better sleep. Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with link

One of the best things about founding and developing Prenatal Yoga Center has been getting the chance to foster and grow our perinatal community. Throughout the months during (and after) their pregnancy, our students and staff get to know each other through rich dialogue where we work through things that come up, connect on shared experiences, and learn from different ones! Being so invested in their journey leading up to birth, I always feel fortunate when I get to hear how baby came into the world. So today, we have one of my favorite episode types: a community birth story. On today’s episode of Yoga| Birth| Babies, we have former prenatal student Alicia Krakauer. Alicia is a born and bred New Yorker, a musical theater actress, and singer songwriter. After finishing her graduate degree at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London, she met her husband Liam back in 2014. They now live back in her hometown of NYC, and have just welcomed their first baby boy, Alastair, who was born at Lenox Hill just like hi

Have you ever thought about the importance of having your body internally balanced for labor and birth? Today we discuss The Body Ready Method and how it can assist you in your birth, because let’s be honest: so much of a functional birth is the work we do ahead of time! On today’s episode of Yoga| Birth| Babies I’m speaking with Taylor Lee Bello, a Body Ready Method Professional and Birth Doula serving NYC and the tri-state area. Her practice enhances the body for birth, empowers new parents, and ultimately supports optimal labor and delivery experiences through hands-on work, comfort measures and emotional support, while advocating for her clients to experience their desired birth outcome. If you’ve ever wondered about where to open the pelvis to help baby through, as well as what to do when/if labor stalls, then this episode is for you. Bringing so much insight into the conversation, Taylor gives new and expectant parents the advice to always ask why! She stresses the importance of seeking options and af

Today we’re talking about how to overcome, and avoid, traumatic childbirth experiences. My guest for this conversation, Rebecca, shared with me a statistic that blew my mind: 35-45% of people report having a traumatic birth… An absolutely enormous number! Throughout our conversation, Rebecca shares some key factors that play a role resulting in traumatic birth experiences, red flags to keep an eye out for when working with your care provider, and 3 top-tier tips for preparing for childbirth. Additionally, we go into her expert’s take on elective labor induction, how to advocate for yourself, and different birthing positions. We round out our wonderful conversation with how parents and those in the birth team can learn to advocate for themselves if they are feeling pressured or coerced by their care provider. The information in this conversation is so rich and I’m hoping that by the end of this conversation, you’re going to feel so much more ready to move into that experience and have the confidence of your te

Today I am so excited for you to hear this conversation on one of my favorite subjects: diastasis recti. This is a conversation I especially wanted to have because I love learning and teaching about diastasis and the pelvic floor! We talk about what diastasis is, the misconceptions, how to heal, and what we can do to strengthen the linea alba. Anna and I dive right in, and full disclosure: we get a little geeky. We have a special guest today on Yoga | Birth | Babies, Anna Hammond. Anna has her doctorate in physical therapy and has been a physical therapist (DPT) for 15 years. She’s an orthopedic certified specialist and a certified strength and conditioning coach. She’s now the head PT at Core Exercise Solutions, where she assists in program development, creating continuing education, mentorship, 1:1 consultations, and leading their Learning Through Applications membership. I myself completed the Pregnancy and Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist certification program a few years ago when I wanted to le

Today we have a beautiful community birth story from Prenatal Yoga Center graduate, Courtney Vasserman! I personally loved this story and think it will be inspiring, relatable, and encouraging for our community to listen to. Courtney takes us through how she prepared for birth, including the methodology and tools she found incredibly impactful from classes at PYC, along with the coping skills she used and how those varied from early labor, to active labor, to transition. This story is absolutely beautiful, as Courtney speaks on the empowerment and trust she found in her body, yet honest in the sense that she doesn’t shy away from describing her postpartum challenges- pelvic floor issues, breastfeeding struggles, and feelings of isolation. I appreciate how she opens the curtain to what a lot of people experience, and offers affirmation to those who need know they aren’t alone and will get through it. Sharing her birth story today on Yoga | Birth | Babies, Prenatal Yoga Center graduate Courtney Vasserman grew

Have you thought about what happens right after baby is born?  Today we dive into what to expect following baby’s birth and how to navigate the first 12 weeks of life.  We discuss many topics including umbilical cord care, circumcision care and even how to bathe your baby.  We also dive into the subject of feeding and what to anticipate the first week.  Although the newborn phase may be overwhelming, our guest Dr. Wendy Hunter, approaches this conversation in an accessible way that makes it easy to follow and understand.   Dr. Wendy Hunter joins us to have this discussion today on, Yoga| Birth| Babies.  Wendy Hunter, MD is a pediatrician in San Diego, CA. She rounds on newborns at Scripps Hospital. Her podcast “The Pediatrician Next Door'' mixes the science of medicine with the realities of parenting.  She incorporates integrative therapies into her practice. Dr. Hunter would like to normalize the anxiety parents may feel during the newborn phase.  She encourages parents to recognize the anxiety they feel d

You may be more aware of what you are eating during pregnancy, however, have you considered how nutrition may affect your birth and postpartum?  In today’s discussion we explore gut health and how your body works during the prenatal and postnatal phase.  We look at gut issues and the treatment for these issues.  We also dive into a conversation around bowel movements because this can tell you so much about your digestive health.  This is an informative discussion that will help you make the connection between what you eat and how it affects your body, especially during pregnancy.  On this episode of Yoga| Birth| Babies, we welcome Bridgitte Mallinson to have this conversation.  Bridgitte is a functional medicine dietitian, business mentor and the founder and CEO of GutPersonal, a supplement company that empowers everyone to eliminate gut issues for good through a personalized approach.  After healing a lifelong struggle with her gut, she has spent a decade studying functional medicine and nutrition as a regis

Do you find it harder to create friendships as an adult?  Today we talk about friendships and how they can be difficult to navigate, especially during parenthood.  Our guest discusses common conflicts that arise between parents as well as ways to better maintain these connections.  If you are a parent or an expectant parent, this conversation will shed light on why friendships are more complex during this phase.  Our guest Danielle, is easy to talk to and gives great advice for parents navigating these new waters.   To dive deeper into this topic, on Yoga| Birth| Babies, we have Danielle Bayard Jackson.  Danielle is a female friendship coach and educator who speaks nationally about the science of women’s platonic connections.  She is also the author of Fighting for Our Friendships (May 2024).  Danielle’s coaching business, Friend Forward, is dedicated to teaching women how to create and maintain better female friendships.  Danielle recommends that parents should be intentional with their time.  She says it’s

Have you considered how your endocrine system might affect your fertility or pregnancy?  Today we dive into the topic of endocrine disruptors and how they may adversely affect your system.   Although these endocrine disruptors are everywhere in our environment, the good news is there are ways to limit your exposure.  Our guest today shares practical tips that you can use immediately to limit your exposure to these environmental factors.  She gives great advice on how to find a healthy balance that will benefit your family and the next generation.   To have this conversation, we welcome Sarah Thompson on this episode of Yoga|Birth|Babies.  Sarah is a board-certified diplomat of oriental medicine, certified functional medicine practitioner, and birth doula. She is also the author of Functional Maternity – Using Functional Medicine and Nutrition to Improve Pregnancy and Childbirth Outcomes. Sarah recommends that parents should try to control what they can in their environment and let go of what they cannot contr