All posts tagged: Matrika Prenatal

Tension Relief for Pregnancy

Published by Sharon

Tension Relief for Pregnancy Tele-Workshop and Recording Tuition: $15 (Includes  MP3 download so you can enjoy the relaxation as many times and as often as you like!) Thursday, August 1, 2013 10:30 to 11:30 am (USA, Eastern) Recording available a few hours after the event through August 7, 2013.   Relieve tension in head, neck and shoulders Release water retention and discomfort in hands and wrists Learn a simple breathing exercise to help you relax at any time Experience a deep relaxation and yogic sleep that will refresh your body, mind and spirit even more than a nap (yes, really!)   Traditional pregnancy yoga and meditation classes and workshops require you to set aside time to attend that single event. Unfortunately, this means that you only have one chance to attend and perhaps you are exhausted that day or childcare for your toddler or older children falls through.  Matrika Tele-Workshops are simply fabulous because you can enjoy the workshop when it is most convenient for YOU and practice relaxation techniques with the guided recording as …

Meet Me at The Market

Published by Sharon

This Saturday I am so very excited to be a vendor at I Made it Healthy Market!  Please come and see me while you are there. It would also be really great if you visited the event page on Facebook and RSVP’d that you were coming.  That way, I can get even more excited knowing that I’ll see you there!   FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE EVENT: I Made it Market (both things for wee ones and also healthy home/body) PLACE: Bakery Square (both indoor and outdoor) DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 20, 2013 from noon to 4:00 pm What am I selling? Catnip toys for your kitty friends ($2 each) Lavender sachets for your drawers, purse or to prevent moths in your yarn stash ($12 bundle of 3) Wool lavender sachets to bring beauty to little corners of your world ($8 each) Lunch box napkin sets for adults and kiddos ($12-18 each set) Organic lavender and flax seed eye pillows with washable cover ($15 each) I will also have treats including discounts on introductory packages and yoga spa sessions …

What Does Matrika Mean?

Published by Sharon

What does ‘Matrika’ Mean? What’s In a Name? There are many different styles of yoga and new traditions are being created each and every day. If you are new to yoga, all of the different names for yoga classes, different studios and teachers can seem confusing at worst and unclear at best. If you have practiced yoga for some time, you may only be familiar with one style or perhaps you have a teacher or studio that you loved in a different city and can’t seem to find what you are looking for. As we grow in our practice and as the circumstances of our lifestyle and our bodily realities shift and change, our yoga practice changes. Therefore, the best advice that I would give anyone is to be open to new styles and new teachers and trying new things—-you never know when you might find the perfect fit for where you are right now. If you take a yoga class that you don’t like or with a teacher you weren’t particularly fond of, try …

Prenatal Yoga Pittsburgh

Published by Sharon

Matrika Prenatal Yoga & Exercise Class Schedule All prenatal yoga classes are offered on an ongoing basis and you can start at any time. $18 drop-in, 6-classes for $90 or 12-classes for $175. Pay with check or credit card at studio. No registration required. Just arrive 10-15 minutes before class.   SATURDAY 9:45-11:00 am Prenatal Yoga & Exercise   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 …

Prenatal Yoga Pittsburgh

Published by Sharon

Yoga Matrika has been providing high quality yoga-based services for expectant women, their partners and families, new moms and families with infants in Pittsburgh for almost five-years now.  We were really lucky last week to have the amazing, generous and talented Sandy Yetter of Red Lotus Photography come to the studio last week to capture some of the wonderful energy at the studio in a Mom and Baby class and a Prenatal Yoga class.  Thank you to all the moms who agreed to be present and share their experience with Sandy.  I think that you, dear reader, will agree, there are very special things happening at The Mat! I think a course in photography from a graphic design college may be just the thing I have been looking for!

Red Lotus Photography

Published by Sharon

I don’t like having my picture taken because the way I see myself reflected in photographs is not generally how I think of myself—-is my hair really that gray? Are those four folds in my neck skin? You get the idea.  Yesterday, Sandy Yetter of Red Lotus Photography came to take individual pictures of Team Matrika and she’s changed my mind forever about being photographed.  It seems that, with a talented photographer, it is possible for me to see myself in a photograph and have it resonate with how I feel about myself.  Sandy is incredibly talented working with a diverse group and managed to get my exhausted, hungry and seriously cranky daughter to smile and cuddle with me on camera.  It seems that all ages feel the great power that is Sandy!  Just from the previews, everyone on Team Matrika really felt that Sandy captured their personality and took photographs that were complementary, warm and pleasing.  Red Lotus Photography and Yoga Matrika are partnering up to support both great yoga and capturing your most …

New Preeclampsia Research

Published by Sharon

Matrika Prenatal, Pittsburgh’s premier yoga studio dedicated to prenatal yoga, postnatal yoga, family yoga and childbirth education,  is always trying to stay on top of new research in women’s health.  Here is a very interesting study that discusses the role of trophoblasts (a father directed cell) in preeclampsia. Posted by Sharon Rudyk, Director of Yoga Matrika and Matrika Prenatal, an intimate, community-based yoga studio in Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Meditation Series

Published by Sharon

This fall, Yoga Matrika is offering a 12-week Meditation Series facilitated by Bhante Pema. This is a very unique opportunity in Pittsburgh to study and practice meditation. By making a 12-week commitment, you will start to see the benefits of regular practice over the course of three-months. Dr. Josephine Briggs, the Director of the National Institutes of Health, National Center for Alternative and Complementary Medicine, says that, “It is now well established that the meditative state can be associated with changes in electrical function of the brain, and recent imaging studies suggest that there may actually be neuroanatomic changes as well.”  In addition, a new study by the Public Library of Science suggests that regular meditation can have a significant impact on stress related illnesses. “The study found that in comparison to a control group of people who had never meditated, a group of regular meditators actually suppressed twice the number of genes that induce stress responses such as high blood pressure and inflammation in the body.Long term effects of the expression of stress-related genes …

A View of Homebirth

Published by Sharon

For many years, way before her beautiful daughters were even a twinkle in her eye, I took yoga classes with Schuyler Grant in New York at Kula Yoga.  She’s a truly gifted yoga teacher and has been an inspiration for me personally and professionally.  While I am not personally the poster-child for homebirth, I was just delighted to come across this YouTube video of Schuyler talking about her personal home birthing experiences that also included these images of her own birth experiences.  They are a reminder of how strong we are and how beautiful it is to give birth.  When the internet is filled with scary stories and terrifying images are everywhere, what a gift it is to have Schuyler share these images that communicate her strength and adoration of her children in every slide. Thank you Schuyler and I hope that all the Matrika Mammas out there ENJOY!  Watch the video by following this link. Posted by Sharon Rudyk, an independent yoga, meditation instructor and childbirth educator in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Find more information on …

Prenatal Yoga Pittsburgh

Published by Sharon

MATRIKA PRENATAL YOGA & EXERCISE Group Class: Sundays from 12:15 to 1:15 pm at Mookshi Wellness Center $5 for your first class Private Classes: Available at your convenience.  Schedule by calling Sharon (412) 855-5692.  FREE phone consultation for all expectant women.  Call to schedule yours today! Matrika Prenatal is a practice available to women in all weeks of pregnancy and does not require any prior experience with yoga or meditation.  This unique combination of yoga, meditation, exercise and childbirth preparation supports expectant women through a healthy pregnancy, labor and birth preparation and beyond.  Gentle stretches and movements ease tension, improve circulation and help relieve common minor pregnancy complaints from insomnia to low back pain. Strengthening exercises and squatting help prepare the pelvic floor for labor and help mom maintain excellent cardiovascular health and endurance. We visualize birth, practice breathing and sounding techniques and discuss birth options including pain management through movement, breathing and sounding.  Of course, we also have a lot of fun and it’s always lovely to connect with other pregnant women in your …

Mom & Baby Yoga

Published by Sharon

Mom & Baby Yoga Thursdays 11:15 to noon  $10 (exact cash, check or credit cards accepted on site) This is a class for moms to share with babies up to 6-months or crawling (whichever comes first).  We start our practice with some gentle stretches for mom to relieve head, shoulder, neck and head tension and some exercises to prevent or support healing of carpal tunnel pain.  Then, we move on to yoga for baby.  Yes, you read that correctly—yoga for your baby!  Babies love being gently touched, singing songs and mindful movement.  Then, we close with some stretching and stretches for mom and a deep relaxation for everyone. No experience required!  Just pack some diapers, be prepared to feed your baby on demand during the class and bring a blanket for baby to lie on during class. 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 …

Holiday Yoga: A Prenatal Practice

Published by Sharon

Yoga Matrika is going to be offering a limited number of prenatal yoga classes during the holidays.  In case you don’t live in Pittsburgh and have found this practice online, Yoga Matrika offers prenatal yoga classes in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  The good news about this practice is that you can do it anywhere! We all know that even a few stretches and relaxation exercises can make a huge difference in how we feel during pregnancy.  During the holidays, our diets and schedules change and this makes it even more important that we maintain our practice.  Here is a very short practice that is appropriate for pregnant women that you can do at home, if you are traveling or wherever you roam.  For all you Pittsburgh-based Matrika Mammas, I look forward to seeing you again in person for class in the new year! Center & Breathe First step, find a comfortable seat.  You do not have to be sitting on the floor and if you are at all swollen or feel any aches, it may be best …

Matrika Prenatal

Published by Sharon

As Yoga Matrika was inspired by the birth of my sweet and passionate son and my interests and expertise in prenatal yoga and supporting moms with young children continues to grow, it is only fitting that our programs in this area now have their very own beautiful website.  Please check out the brand new: www.matrikaprenatal.com Yoga is a practice that supports transformation and pregnancy, childbirth and parenting a newborn are certainly transformative experiences!  It is my sincere desire that every pregnant woman in Pittsburgh have access to a supportive yoga community that will provide the love, guidance and support that make such a positive difference in the experience of pregnancy.  There are many wonderful prenatal yoga instructors here in Pittsburgh and a wide range of options in terms of style, location and personality.  The resources page of www.matrikaprenatal.com lists classes that are outside of the city and I hope that expectant moms will seek out classes that are convenient and reasonable for them.  We will continue to update the resources section of the website and …