I started taking classes at Firefly Family Yoga when I was about 5 months pregnant. When I arrived for my first prenatal yoga class, I was greeted by Ellen, the owner of the studio and teacher of the class. Ellen was so friendly, she made me feel welcome right away. The studio is lovely, clean and comfortable, with a fun mural painted on the studio wall. I was welcomed just as warmly by the other students in class. Prenatal yoga at Firefly very quickly became the highlight of my week. Not only did I feel so much better after stretching out all of those aches and pains, but it was so nice to have a chance to talk to other pregnant women. We commiserated on weeks when we weren't feeling well, and celebrated together when one of us had good news. Being in a class with women in all stages of pregnancy was great. I learned what was to come from the women who were farther along than me, and before I knew it, I was that very pregnant woman that all of the newly pregnant women in class were looking to as a taste of what was to come for them! These prenatal friends are now my "mom friends", and I am so glad to have them. It is much easier to start out life as a new mom with a community!
When I went into labor, I was so grateful for all of those prenatal classes! I was in labor for many hours at home, before it was time to go to the hospital. The yoga poses that we learned in class really helped get me through that time. I even had a friend from prenatal class in the hospital at the same time as me, we had our babies only a day apart! When we brought our baby girl home, I had several people from Firefly call, email, or come over to bring me food and make sure we were doing well. Ellen herself was one of the first people to email me and make sure that I was doing alright! I can't even begin to tell you how much it means in those early days, to know that you have a whole community of people who care about you and want to help!
Firefly offers so much more than just yoga. I went to workshops on infant CPR and starting baby on solid foods, for example. It was nice to start out motherhood feeling like I had learned some very valuable skills! La Leche League also meets at the studio, and they are such a valuable resource for new breastfeding moms. Ellen had encouraged me to attend one of their meetings while I was still pregnant, and I am so glad that I did! Their meetings (and emails with the wonderful leader) were an amazing help, particularly in the early days of nursing. It is also another great opportunity that Firefly provides for meeting other moms.
I could not wait to start Mommy & Me classes after my baby was born, and we did as soon as she was six weeks old. It was so nice to get out of the house, reconnect with some prenatal friends, and also make some new friends. The yoga helps us stretch those sore muscles from carrying baby around all day, and I always leave feeling better. I've taken classes from a few instructors at Firefly, and they are all fantastic! It is so much more than just the yoga. If we are having any issues (sleep, teething, anything!), we talk about it in class. It's great to have other moms, including Ellen, who has been through this with her two girls, to talk to. We share what has worked for us, what hasn't, and everything in between! As my daughter is becoming a bigger baby, it is fun to see her sit and interact with the other babies and moms in class. I think this early socialization is so important for her! Over the summer, Ellen organized some hikes through the studio. Those were a great opportunity to get out of the house with my baby, get some fresh air and have some fun! I love that my daughter has the opportunity to learn yoga right from the start. It is such a wonderful thing for our bodies and minds, and no matter what she decides to do in her life, I know that yoga is helping give her a great, healthy start. I will always be grateful to Firefly Family Yoga for the opportunity to give her that start, as well as all of the support that I've received as a new mom!
