“Birth is not only about making babies. Birth is about making mothers: strong, competent, capable mothers who trust themselves and know their inner strength.” 
- Barbara Katz Rothman

This Childbirth Education Series is a mind, body and soul series that is unlike any class offered in Bend. It is an 8 week class starting January 7th-February 25th 2018 for 10 families. This series is facilitated by Catherina Simones RYT, Birthing From Within Mentor, The Khalsa Way Prenatal and Shanti O'Connor, MS, NCC, QHHt
We will teach expectant parents how to prepare for birth through Birthing from Within, Prenatal Yoga, Art Exploration and Circle Time. Every activity is meant to be thought provoking and engaging. We will use art and circle time to explore the limiting fears/beliefs around birth in order to move past them for a healthy and safe birth experience. This series will allow for vulnerability, truth, openess and deep connection with yourself and your partner. 

Here is a list of activites and why we will be using them.

Yoga
Prenatal yoga encourages a mother to shift out of a thinking-led mode and down into her body for a deeper, feeling-being awareness. The movement and poses (asana) help to strengthen, stretch and increase awareness of the birthing muscles. Yoga helps a woman build physical and mental stamina for birth and mothering, as well as speed physical recovery post-partum. I’ll lead a gentle yet challenging, alignment focused practice to warm and open the body and focus the mind. 

Birth Art
Like yoga, these short drawing projects help the mother move out of her usual patterns and encourages a gentle inquiry into our subconscious beliefs about ourselves and birth. With open-ended prompts we will explore this process of “creating” on paper as a metaphor for approaching the unknown of birth. We’ll follow each art session with time for reflection and guided discussion. Topics we’ll cover include the myriad of cultural and social expectations/pressures pregnant women feel and the intrinsic knowing that every woman already possesses about birth and mothering.

Education
Much of the education comes during and through the yoga, art and the ensuing discussion. Topics we’ll explore will include: 
-breath-awareness and pain-coping techniques
-phases of labor
-the compassionate use of medications and intervention
-caesarean births
-planning labor and postpartum support

Circle
When in circle we put all our attention on one woman (or man), and we explore what her experience is like, essentially getting into deep relationship with what is most true and alive for her/him.
The experience of being seen for who we are is one of the most fullfilling experiences we can have. Being in circle teaches us exactly that­, how to see and celebrate each person for the uniqueness she/he brings to the world.
We don’t give advice or try to fix anyone. Rather, we welcome and stay with what is so we can relax into the truth of our experience, feel supported, know we are not alone and allow the experience of this to change us.


During each week we will hold circle time for either the fathers or the mothers. Circle time will be a chance for the fathers to connect with other fathers without the moms and for the moms to connect with the moms without the fathers. Both mother and father will participate in the Birthing from Within Childbirth Education Class. While the moms do prenatal yoga the fathers will be participating in a father circle. Just about every other week the moms will join the other moms for circle time.

Here is the weekly schedule.
January 7th, 3-5 pm Mama Circle
January 14th: 2-5 pm Birthing From Within/Prenatal Yoga/Father Circle
January 21st, 3-5pm Mama Circle
January 28th: 2-5pm Birthing From Within/Prenatal Yoga/Father Circle
February 4th:2-5pm Birthing From Within/Prenatal Yoga/Father Circle
Feburary 11th, 3-5pm Mama Circle
February 18th, 3-5pm Mama Circle
Febraury 25th: 2-5pm Birthing From Within/Prenatal Yoga/Father Circle

Investment: $300 per couple
Full payment reserves your spot.
This series is open to 10 couples.
Payment plans available, please email

To avoid online fees mail a check to
Rooted&Open
21212 Limestone Ave.
Bend, OR 97703

For questions email
rootedandopen@gmail.com