My take on prenatal vitamins + supplements, A Guest Post from Emily Tennison of Healing Corner

Pregnancy is such a special time. For me, it was also crazy-making: not feeling great between weeks 6-12, dealing with weird food aversions (red peppers!) and worrying about eating correctly while warding off cravings was a lot to handle. Doing the best I could nutritionally, while safeguarding with vitamins and supplements, helped ease my anxiety. I truly believe it helped grant me the healthy baby boy that I have today. Here are the supplements that I enjoyed while pregnant as …

BfB’s First Trimester (Again)

pregnancy exercise seattle bodies for birth logo

One of the most exciting things about being an entrepreneur is having the opportunity to reinvent the business as it evolves. Ā It’s also one of the most exhausting and rewarding parts too; not unlike motherhood! Since day one, I’ve promised that I would evolve Bodies for Birth to fit the needs of the community. Ā With opening the doors to our Phinney location, I’m continuing to do so. I knew that a new location would bring change, but I didn’t anticipate …

“I Don’t Need to be Quick Fixed, Thanks Though!”

postpartum fitness

So, hands up if you saw the NPR interview (what felt more like an infomercial) last week, ā€œFlattening the ā€˜Mummy Tummyā€™ with 1 Exercise, 10 minutes A Day.ā€ I first heard about it when I was at a fitness supply store doing some pricing for the new studio. Ā When learning of my fitness specialty, the sales manager excitedly exclaimed, ā€œHey, did you know that thereā€™s one exercise that can totally fix that pooch moms have after birth? Ā I was listening …

Why I’ve Been So Quiet Lately

If you’ve been a part of this community forĀ awhile, you may have noticed that it’s been a bit quiet on my end for some time now.Ā  I apologize for the silence, but I’m happy to be back! The past six months or so have brought a tremendous amount of personal struggle. …including a miscarriage, witnessing my mom experience both a heart attack and receive life saving treatment in our own home, a move to Edmonds and the relocation of my …

Meditate Your Way!

You know Iā€™m a huge fan of meditation and if youā€™ve attended group training, youā€™ve likely given it a try! It seems like everywhere you turn, thereā€™s a ā€œmindfulnessā€ meme and/or someone else is shouting the benefits from the rooftops. Itā€™s kind of like when someone begins exercising for the first time and then goes around telling everyone how amazing it is and the benefits they feelā€¦even to those people who have been exercising foreverā€¦any maybe to the very people …

When Self-Care Becomes Toxic

Iā€™m totally guilty of this.Ā  We all know the seasons of life when our focus on wellness/health/healing, comes naturally.Ā  Perhaps youā€™re focused on a specific goal:Ā  trying to conceive, training for an event, weight optimization etc. The list is well intentioned and itā€™s created with great enthusiasmā€¦but itā€™s only sustainable for so long.Ā  During these times of focus, the self-care to do list can become REALLY lengthy and really overwhelming. Iā€™m talking about those rituals and routines that we would …

Your Unique Self-Care Prescription

What are you doing for yourself today? Ā What does your morning ritual look like? Ā Do you have one? Setting the tone for each day with energizing, mind clearing rituals, with gentle movement, with meditation,Ā journaling, breathing…or simply with intentionĀ can make a huge difference. I know it can sound positively daunting–especially if you’re a new mom. Ā So where do you start? Ā Well, you just simply begin and take it one step at a time. My mom alwaysĀ references a beautiful book by Anne …

Abdominal Separation FAQs: Part I

Today Iā€™m talking about abdominal separation orĀ diastasis recti to which it is formally, orĀ medically referred. Ā This separation can lead to the appearance of a “mummy tummy” or “pooch”…the “mommy belly.” Speaking from personal and professional experience, I know that some days it’s easier than others to refer to and interact lovingly with this pooch that may remain! Below are five FAQs I often hear about abdominal separation. Ā This is Part I of a two part series, so stay tuned for …

What is Holistic Pelvic Careā„¢? Guest Contributor: Beth Rubin, MSOM, LAC

WHAT IS HOLISTIC PELVIC CAREā„¢? The primary goal of Holistic Pelvic CareĀ (HPC) is to empower a woman to inhabit her pelvic space and occupy her feminine ground physically, energetically, emotionally and spiritually. HPC is a technique consisting of physical and energetic tools designed to evaluate and restore balance in the pelvic space of the female body. Holistic Pelvic Care is for women of all ages (18 and older) to address pelvic symptoms or enhance general wellness. It was developed by …

Physical Therapy in the Perinatal Time: Guest Contributor, Aimee Lake, DPT

Physical therapy can be very helpful for maintaining a healthy level of physical activity during pregnancy. It can be helpful for managing and solving some of the physical challenges of pregnancy. It can also be a great resource for preparing for birth and post partum recovery. People often think of physical therapy in terms of getting rid of pain or the rehab thatā€™s needed after a surgery. But as a Womenā€™s Health physical therapist, I like to think of my …