Business & Tech
Algonquin Yoga Studio Offers Wellness for Moms, Babies
Physical, mental and emotional needs are the focus at Radiant Heart Yoga in downtown Algonquin.
When Nichole Churchill of Algonquin experienced her own pregnancies, the yoga instructor realized how beneficial yoga would be for other moms, and their babies. The owner of , 123 S. Main St. Churchill now shares yoga with her students in pre- and postnatal classes.
“For prenatal women, not only is it preparing the woman for labor, physically and mentally, but it also offers a sense of community,” said Churchill. “It’s a whole bunch of women who are pregnant in one place, and I encourage them to build friendships.”
Churchill said the group is “almost like an intimate playgroup,” because her students have said the classes fill a gap in emotional care that just is not met with traditional doctors’ visits. The mother of two has been teaching yoga since 2005 in Chicago and in suburbs including Barrington, and just last fall started classes in Algonquin.
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With strengthening and conditioning the body, several steps come into play for the prenatal yoga, Churchill explained.
“We do a lot of hip openers, preparing women for birth,” she said. “We just get your body ready to go into those labor positions. A lot of the yoga positions use the same muscles as birthing muscles.”
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Specific core strengthening work actually “teaches women how to push their babies out,” she said.
Prenatal classes are held from 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. Tuesdays; and from 8 to 9:15 a.m. Sundays.
After babies have arrived, Churchill’s postnatal classes address different needs. Moms bring their babies to yoga class as early as six weeks after delivery.
“Then they get to do yoga with their babies,” she said. “It’s focused on strengthening the post birth body, working on core muscles, rebuilding your body.”
For some of the poses, the women hold their babies as they are in form.
Postnatal classes are from 9:30-10:30 a.m., and since the class is full, Churchill plans to add another one during the week this winter. Class sizes are between six and 10 students.
More information is available at radiantheartyoga.com.
