Okonomiyaki Makes Me Happy

September 10, 2012
Posted by Sharon
Leave a comment

Okonomiyaki is a comfortable and magnificent treat—salty, smooth, savory, warm and a culinary cuddle if I’ve ever had one.  When I left New York, I thought I might not ever have the opportunity to feast upon this little Japanese treat again as we were moving so far away from my favorite Geido restaurant in Park Slope (Or are they calling it Way South of Williamsburg now?).

Pittsburgh, the most wonderful thing has happened…Teppanyaki Kyoto has opened on Bryant Street in Highland Park.  They offer a wide selection of fillings (including vegetarian options) for Okonomiyaki and I am delighted to say that they do it “right.”  Now, Okonomiyaki can make you happy too!

This is an intimate restaurant and reservations are highly recommended if you wish for a table.  I suggest sitting at the counter so you can watch your Okonomiyaki being made right before your eyes.  There are all kinds of other little treats—noodles, ginger pork, fried chicken, octopus balls (don’t ask, just eat), seaweed salad, avocado and shrimp and much, much more.  Everything is beautiful in presentation and sure to bring joy to your little mouth. 

Teppanyaki Kyoto
Phone Number: (412) 441-1610

Posted by Sharon Fennimore Rudyk, owner of Yoga Matrika and Matrika Prenatal.  Sweet little yoga and meditation classes to help you maintain your okonomiyaki induced happiness! 

5808 Bryant St
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Neighborhood: Highland Park

 

Pregnancy and Beyond

September 1, 2012
Posted by Sharon
Leave a comment

Please check out our Matrika Prenatal Website for all our fertility, pregnancy and postpartum classes, workshops and services.

Sign-up for our pregnancy and/or postnatal e-mail newsletter!

Matrika Prenatal Yoga & Exercise Class Schedule

All prenatal yoga classes are offered on an ongoing basis and you can start at any time.

 

WEDNESDAY
6:00 to 7:00 pm Prenatal Yoga & Exercise at YOGA MATRIKA
Pay online and enroll HERE.

THURSDAY
7:00-8:00 pm Seated Meditation at YOGA MATRIKA (2nd & 4th Thursdays)
[Note: this is not specifically a pregnancy class, but meditation is a safe and relaxing practice for women during pregnancy. A great class to share with a friend, partner or husband during your pregnancy!]
Pay online and enroll HERE.

SATURDAY
9:30 to 10:30 am
Prenatal Yoga & Exercise at YOGA MATRIKA
Pay online and enroll HERE.

 

Benefits of Yoga and Meditation During Pregnancy

Physical

  • Gentle movements improve posture so that you carry baby correctly and prevent backache
  • Improved circulation mean less varicose veins, hemorrhoids and fluid retention
  • Relieve fatigue
  • Alleviate minor discomforts such as heartburn, pain in hip joints and ribs, muscle cramps and headaches
  • Strengthen the body and learn poses that you can use during labor for comfort
  • Learn pelvic floor exercises and other techniques for strengthening your body for birth
  • Stay toned and fit during pregnancy. Fit moms recover faster from birthing.

Emotional

  • Balance mood and learn to center body and mind
  • Connect deeply with your baby before they are born

Social

  • Meet other expectant mothers
  • Be a part of a supportive community
  • Have fun!

Spiritual

  • Take the time to be quiet during this pregnancy
  • Access your own strength
  • Become aware of your fears and learn to work with yourself, your baby and your care providers with confidence
  • Know yourself and be better equipped to communicate your needs and desires to your birth partner, care providers and family
  • Create a sacred and special time to relax, hope and dream

What to Expect in a Matrika Prenatal Class

We do not expect prenatal yoga students to have any experience with yoga. Our prenatal yoga classes are appropriate for women in all weeks of pregnancy. Although each instructor has their own style and may provide a different emphasis or tone to their class, all classes include some stretching and breathing exercises, some asana (yoga poses) that will tone and strengthen the body and relaxation. There is no wrong way to do yoga and the more often you practice, the more familiar you will become with the poses. As you become more familiar with the poses and exercises, then you can turn your focus inward. Although some poses may be challenging and you will feel the stretches as you create greater flexibility in your body, you should never feel pain in a yoga class. This is true in any yoga class and not just prenatal yoga! If you are ever uncomfortable or have questions, your instructor can help you modify a pose or answer any questions that you might have. Our classes are intimate and non-competitive so you can receive personalized attention from well-trained instructors.

Our classes are not just gentle yoga classes modified for pregnancy. Our prenatal programs are designed specifically for pregnancy and we use yoga to prepare for birth and for being a mother. Labor, birth and mothering a newborn are not easy tasks. The focus, strength and awareness that you learn in prenatal yoga classes will give you the skills you need to meet these tasks with confidence. We support one another and the entire Matrika community is here for you now and after you have your baby.

Thank you to Red Lotus Photography for the beautiful photographs of Matrika Mammas. Check here for deals on fabulous pregnancy and newborn professional photos just for Matrika students.


CLICK on BANNER to shop for cloth diapers and great products for baby! New customers use code NEW2HBC and get 10% off their first order of $30 or more. Free shipping!

Matrika Mom & Baby Yoga Class Schedule

MONDAY
11:00 to noon Little Om Play Group
Adults with infant 9-months to toddler 2-years
Class starts SEPTEMBER 10, 2012. Class is ongoing and you can start at any time

WEDNESDAY
10:45 to 11:30 am Mom & Baby Yoga/Infant
Mothers or female care givers (this is a women only class) with infants from 4 weeks to one year.
Class starts SEPTEMBER 5, 2012. Class is ongoing and you can start any time

SATURDAY
10:30 to 11:45 am Mom and Baby Yoga/Infant
Class is ongoing and you can start any time

Already have a class package? Register Online HERE.

Matrika Mom & Baby Yoga Class Tuition

Your first class at Yoga Matrika is $5

Single Mom & Baby Class $10
[Valid for 12-months from date of purchase]

7-Class Package $70
[Valid for ALL classes at Yoga Matrika for 12-months from date of purchase]

CLASS DESCRIPTION

Mom & Baby Yoga

This is a yoga class for moms to share with infants up to one year of age. Toddlers and older children are welcome, but the yoga activities will focus on yoga for babies (gentle stretches, songs and playful movements). Yoga for moms is postnatal appropriate and we will always offer modifications for moms who have had surgical birth or need a more gentle practice for any reason. This is a breastfeeding supportive environment and we support all mothers, no matter how you choose to feed your baby, in feeding baby on demand.

Toddler Om

This is a class for moms and babies between 9-months (active crawling, cruising and early walking) and approximately 18-months. The yoga poses for baby are more active and there is less time and attention given to yoga for mom. Classes are 30-minutes and are a beautiful activity for moms and pre-toddlers and young toddlers to share. We schedule the class back to back with Mom and Baby yoga so you can catch up with all the other Matrika Mammas and babes in between classes. Moms, if you are looking for a class with more yoga for you, we highly recommend finding a way to take an adult yoga class on your own. If you need a recommendation for where to start, just give Sharon a call (412) 855-5692 or ask Rachel during class.

What to wear? What to bring?

You should wear comfortable clothing that you can move and stretch in. We practice in bare feet. You will want to bring everything you need to feed baby, diapers, a receiving blanket and any toys or snacks that you need to keep older babies and toddlers happy and comfortable. For your own comfort, please bring a yoga mat and a water bottle. You should bring a towel and burp cloths to pick up spills and thrills.

Mom & Baby Yoga Benefits

  • Increased strength, energy and endurance for mom
  • Recover physically & emotionally from pregnancy and childbirth
  • Stabilize strength in pelvic floor and abdominals
  • Learn yoga techniques to calm and delight baby
  • Bond with your baby and share an activity that brings you both increased health and happiness
  • Network with other new moms and share ideas, resources and support. Make new friends too!
  • Reduce anxiety, stress and some of the aches and pains of motherhood: sore shoulders, back and neck especially
  • Learn ways to cope when you feel overwhelmed and exhausted

Doing Yoga Together:
Preparations and Expectations

You love yoga and now you want to make it a part of your child’s life too. We are delighted that this is the case and we have a few things to keep in mind that will help you and your child enjoy the experience.

Keep an Open Mind

We find that it takes a couple of visits to the studio for children (ok, it’s actually true for adults too!) to understand what the activity is and what is expected of them. You might find that your child acts bored or is not interested in doing yoga. The way that babies and children enjoy yoga classes may be different from the way that you enjoy them. What we know is that, over time, sharing yoga together with your child creates beautiful memories and is time that you will cherish forever.

Prepare for Class

As much as possible, make sure that you and baby have had a snack and are wearing comfortable clothing. Try to leave enough time to get the studio so that there isn’t a lot of stress before class. Bring your little ones favorite toy or comfort item and some snacks as appropriate. Bring a receiving blanket for newborns and pre-crawling infants and a change of clothing and more diapering supplies than you think you need. For young children, after the first class, make sure that you talk with them about it and start talking about it again a few days before class—–remind them of the teacher’s name, another child’s name or some feature of class that they remember (a story, a sound or ritual).

Enjoy the Moment

When we release our expectations, we can enjoy whatever is happening. This is yoga! Yoga together is very different from adult yoga, but it allows us to stay fit and take time to meet our own needs as adults while sharing something that is very important to us with our children. Sometimes it goes as planned and sometimes it is a bit of a disaster, but know that you and your child are never judged at Yoga Matrika. There isn’t one of us who haven’t had a child tantrum during a Mom & Baby class or who didn’t have a baby who cried through an entire class——we welcome you and your little one, even if you are having “one of those days.”


CLICK on BANNER to shop for cloth diapers and great products for baby! New customers use code NEW2HBC and get 10% off their first order of $30 or more. Free shipping!

For everyone who has requested my class play lists for relaxing music for home yoga practice, resting, labor and just to enjoy, here is the mix that I played in class this past Tuesday (listed by artist, album, and song name):

Wah!, The Best of Wah!, Gayatri(Luscious Chill Mix)

Deva Premal, Embrace, Om Namo Bhagavate

David Newman, Love, Peace Chant, Ganesh Gayatri/Rising Sun

Deva Premal and Miten, Satsang-a Meditation in Song and Sil…, Sunrise

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Most Relaxing Classical Music…, The Planets: Venus

Yo-Yo Ma, The Silk Road Ensemble, Silk Road Journeys…, Sacred Cloud Music

Yo-Yo Ma, The Silk Road Ensemble, Silk Road Journeys…, Distant Green Valley

Jean Marie Hays, Deep Relaxation, Music to Relax

Yoga for Fertility

September 1, 2012
Posted by Sharon
Leave a comment

Yoga Benefits that Optimize Fertility and Reproductive Health

  • stress relief
  • hormone balance
  • endocrine system support
  • increased circulation to reproductive organs
  • enhanced quality of sleep
  • decreased anxiety and fear

For IVF Support, Click HERE

For yoga for fertility that you can do at home, Click HERE

GROUP CLASSES in YOGA and MEDITATION

Yoga is a magnificent form of preparation for all creative activities and having a regular yoga practice is a beautiful way to support optimum fertility and reproductive health for men and women. Rather than think of yoga as one more thing you can do to help get pregnant or as an addition to any treatment you may be receiving for an “infertility” diagnosis, we believe that yoga should be something that you do for yourself. Enjoy!

Our classroom environment is kept to a comfortable temperature and we offer non-competitive classes that are ideal for women and men that are actively trying to conceive. All yoga and meditation classes on the schedule are excellent for supporting reproductive health. Check here for this week’s schedule of yoga classes. Tuition for group classes and private sessions can be found here.

YOGA for OPTIMUM FERTILITY

Next workshop scheduled for 5/5/2012 at 2:30pm. Register HERE.

Approximately four times a year, Sharon Rudyk offers a 2.5 hour workshop ($45 or $35 when you pre-register online) for women who wish to use yoga to support optimum fertility and reproductive health. In this 2.5 hour workshop, designed for women, we look at the creative energy of fertility and explore ways to support that creative energy through yoga. The type of yoga that supports fertility is nourishing and helps women release stress through movement, gentle stretching, breathing exercises and deep relaxation. The active poses and stretches help to release deeply held tension in the body, support the endocrine system and tone all of the interior organs. In addition to a discussion on how a regular yoga practice can help with fertility, we will practice a 45-minute yoga session together and a deep relaxation technique called Yoga Nidra. All participants will leave with a hand-out that provides a 20-minute yoga practice that they can do at home on their own and suggestions for books, CDs and DVDs that may be of help. This workshop is excellent for all women who are considering pregnancy. It may be of particular benefit to women who are experiencing or who have experienced fertility challenges. This type of nourishing practice is also beneficial to women who have irregular menstrual cycles, endometriosis, pelvic pain or pms. This workshop maintains the individual integrity and privacy of every woman participating and no one is asked to divulge their reasons for attending or to discuss their personal fertility experience or condition. The entire goal of the practice is to find comfort and joy in the body as it is, release tension and leave feeling calm, relaxed and hopeful. Absolutely no experience with yoga is required for this workshop, but all women should be cleared for physical exercise by their physicians.

PRIVATE SESSIONS

Sharon offers a variety of private session packages that might be of interest to students, male and female, that are opening their lives to the possibility of children. Please see the private sessions page for information and pricing can be found here. For a free phone consultation with Sharon regarding the right path for your specific needs and goals, please call (412) 855-5692.

E-BOOK

This e-book on yoga for fertility is $17 and contains easy to follow instructions for gentle practices you can do at home or on the go. The author is also available by e-mail for consultation if you have any questions about the practices and there is a no-risk money-back guarantee.

How to Register for Classes

August 16, 2012
Posted by Sharon
Leave a comment
Convenient Links for ALL students:
1) See the class schedule here.  You can register for classes using this schedule.  No matter what week it is now, you can scroll to future weeks and sign up for as many classes in the future as you like.
2) You can purchase a series package here.  Payments are not accepted at the studio.  You must pay for classes online or call Sharon (412) 855-5692 to make arrangements before coming to the studio.
REGISTRATION INFORMATION for ALL Yoga Matrika students
Due to the intimate nature of the space at Yoga Matrika, we limit class size to 6-8 students.  We allow six students to register online and have an active waiting list for two other sudents and we accept students from the waiting list on the day of class.  It is likely if you are placed on the waiting list that you will get a spot in class.  If you are not able to get on the waiting list, check back the day of class and see if something has opened up, but it is not likely that there will be space.  If any class has less than four students enrolled in any given week, that class is cancelled. As space is limited, we suggest enrolling in classes that you wish to take as soon as possible.  You can cancel your reservation for any individual class a minimum of 24-hours before that class is scheduled to start without any penalty.  Cancellations made after 24-hours will be charged one class visit regardless of your actual attendance (example: you have a 5-class package and you try to cancel your reservation 2-hours before class, you will then have a 4-class package because we will penalize this late cancellation with one class from your package.)
REGISTRATION INFORMATION for MATRIKA PRENATAL CLASSES
Our prenatal classes are offered in both 6-week series for $60 (these require registration for a specific series of 6-consecutive classes with no make-up classes for missed classes) and as drop-in classes.  Drop-in classes are paid for as single classes or with a series package: $5 first class, $18 single class, $80 5-class package valid for one year, $140 10-class package valid for one class per week for 12 weeks, $220 for a 20-class package valid for two-classes per week for 12 weeks or a 30-class package valid for three-classes per week for 12 weeks.  If you REGISTER for a SERIES, then you are automatically enrolled in all 6-classes in that series.  You do not need to check in each week and modify your registration and if you can’t make it, you don’t need to un-enroll.  If you purchase a CLASS PACKAGE, then you must go to the class schedule and enroll in each individual class you wish to take a minimum of 24-hours before that class is scheduled to start.  We regret that we can not guarantee space in any individual class.  Basically, if you purchase a 10-class package and wait to enroll in your prenatal class, you might find that it is full—-it would then be up to you to find some other suitable class to take or you forfeit that week’s class.  There are no refunds and tuition is not transferable.  In the unusual and unlikely case that you are put on medical bed-rest during your pregnancy, we are happy to apply your remaining 5 or less classes to your account as a Mom and Baby class package that will be valid for six months after your actual birthing day.  We are not able to refund series registrations or apply that tuition to a future package.
In summary, it is most convenient and cost effective for you to register for classes in 6-week series ($10 per class), but this is also the least flexible option.  If this is not possible for you or you are late in your pregnancy and know you can’t attend most of the series or if you are early in your prenancy and want the flexibility to take other classes, then buy a class package that allows you to take any one (10-class package for $140) or two classes a week (20-class pacakge for $220).  If you need complete flexibility and your schedule and life are not predictable, then purchase a 5-class package that is valid for a whole year.

Cosy Makes Studio: Events

July 12, 2012
Posted by Sharon
Leave a comment

 

Cosy Makes Studio Events

Read about all these events in detail

Tuesday Mornings starting July 24, 2012
Sit and Knit: Open Knitting Group
10:00 to 12:00 noon
No charge. Babies and children warmly welcome.

Sunday, September 16th
Cosy Makes Studio
GRAND OPENING EVENT

Sunday, September 30th
Open Studio
4:00 to 8:00 pm
Suggested Donation $5-$10 (all cash donations in any amount accepted)

 

Knitting in Pittsburgh

July 12, 2012
Posted by Sharon
Leave a comment
Cosy Makes Studio

Cosy Makes Studio will start offering knitting and spinning classes for all levels in August 2012.  Start your creative fiber arts adventure!  Cosy’s studio website is still under construction, but you can find her blog here. 

 
Classes open for registration NOW are listed here.
 
 

Small Group Yoga Classes

June 13, 2012
Posted by Sharon
Leave a comment

In Pittsburgh, we have many options for taking yoga classes with beautiful places to practice, great teachers and dedicated studio owners that work really hard (emphasis on REALLY) to provide our communities with high quality practice opportunities.  In addition, we have some specialized independent studios and teachers who offer more therapeutic and individualized instruction in their home studios, living rooms and at a variety of locations around the city.  Basically, we’ve got options!

Five years ago, I added Yoga Matrika to the list of options and have tried a number of different methods for managing the schedule, instructors, payments and the studio in general.  For those of you who have been with me for this entire wild ride, you’ve experienced it all—–from index cards in a little box to an online web-based service to sign-in notebooks and sheets and…..well, you get the idea.

Almost one year ago, my family’s dear Josephine was born through us and her presence in our lives influenced me and my entire family to make some changes.  In the process of considering how to keep the studio alive while also honoring the required changes to my lifestyle and ability to be present for the studio, I took some time to really think about what I loved about Yoga Matrika and what I didn’t like about Yoga Matrika.  Once I got the list of what I loved, I started to think of ways to emphasize the love and diminish the non-loveable aspects.

What do I LOVE?  I love teaching.  I love spending time in this warm and friendly space with people that I admire and care about.  I love practicing yoga, studying and learning through my interactions and experiences with students, other teachers and everyone who offers teachings in our space.  I love the wonderful and talented teachers that find their way to Yoga Matrika and share everything they know and love about yoga, healing and meditation with me and with the entire community. 

What am I not in love with?  I am not in love with arguing about class card expiration dates with students, doing data entry and wrestling with the consumer culture that has developed around yoga.   I am frustrated by teachers who send me e-mails three-hours before their class is supposed to start telling me that they can’t make it to teach—and I am not in-love with having to beg for forgiveness from students who are left out in the cold (sometimes quite literally) when this happens. 

So, after much consideration, I have decided, with the support of my team, to stop offering drop-in classes starting in the fall.  Instead, we will offer classes in a series for a semester that require pre-registration.  Prenatal yoga and yoga for moms and babies and children together will be offered as six-week series.  Meditation and yoga classes for adults will be offered in twelve-week series.  Instructors are making a commitment to their series and we are leaving a minimum of 1-week at the end of each series for instructors to offer a make-up class if, during the series, the instructor needs to cancel at any time.  We will have a maximum of 8-students in each series (some instructors have smaller maximums).  If you miss a class in your series, you will be able to purchase a make-up class for the difference between your tuition and the full price of a class and then you can sign-up, as space is available, to take any other class on the schedule to make up for it.  If you do not choose to take this option, then missed classes are just “lost.” 

What you lose in “freedom” that you may feel with a drop-in class package, you will gain in quality and consistency of experience.  You will no longer have to worry if your package is going to expire or remembering to sign-in for class online or if you are getting the best deal or not.  Yoga Matrika will no longer participate in GROUPON or LIVING SOCIAL voucher deals and there will never be a special deal, coupon code or any other offers made.  You can feel confident when you enroll in a series that:

1-You are making an investment in your practice that reflects the true costs of your experience (instructor, environment, equipment, etc.).  You love your teacher!  It will make you feel warm and fuzzy inside knowing that they are getting compensated for their time, knowlege and expertise.  Good karma all around!

2-You get a small-group class where you can have your unique needs met and the instructor can provide individualized attention to you.  This makes practice safer.

3-You will have a consistent student-group and be able to build a sense of community and a deep relationship with your teacher.  The student-teacher relationship is very powerful and potentially therapeutic when nourished in this way.

4-You will never be squished, crowded or lacking in the tools and equipment you need for a comfortable and safe practice. 

5-You are making a commitment and that commitment will be met by your instructor who will be there each and every week in that series.  No more worries about cancelled classes, substitute teachers…..for at least the length of your series, you are guaranteed the class you signed up for with the teacher you signed up for it with.

How much is a series:
12-Weeks  $160  ($13 per class)
6-Weeks $75 ($12.50 per class)
Drop-In $20 (drop-in will be permitted as space permits)
Make-Up Class $7

Yes, you can take less expensive yoga classes elsewhere.  What I would like you to consider is that the cheapest yoga class isn’t necessarily the best value.  When you decide how much you have to invest in your yoga practice, please consider all the benefits that you receive from yoga and the value of the experience you have at Yoga Matrika specifically.  Absolutely no student will be turned away due to an inability to pay full tuition.  If you are not able to pay the full tuition, Sharon is truly delighted to make alternative payment arrangements with you.  Please do not be shy!  Send an e-mail to: sharon@yogamatrika.com and we’ll work something out—sliding scale, payment plan, student rate, work-study/exchange—-there are lots of options. 

Offering inexpensive packages, deals and tuition that is lower than our actual cost of doing business hurts everyone and it is not in line with the principle of “Satya” (truth) and puts students in a situation in which they are literally stealing from their teachers without even realizing it.  It is my most sincere desire that offering small-group classes by registration will help us all stay in love!