O Mamma Moon Birth Doula Services

This Childbirth Yantra is an ancient tool used by Indian midwives for healthy birthing experiences. Symbolizing the path of the baby out from the mother’s womb, this labyrinthine image provides a visual focus that calms the mind of the laboring woman, allowing her to access her body's inner wisdom.

Creating a Safe, Sacred Space for your Birth.

Our bodies have the inner wisdom that can guide us through the labyrinth of childbirth. As a doula, I create a safe, sacred space through supporting the mother's physical, emotional and spiritual wellness, combining my Western training in physiotherapy and my practice of the Eastern healing arts of Yoga and Ayurveda. In this space, both parents can listen to their inner wisdom, and the experience becomes an amazing rite of passage (even when medical intervention is required), initiating both mother and father into parenthood.

More details on my birth doula services will be posted soon, but please feel free to email omammamoon@gmail.com or call 613-728-0213.

Preparing for Birth with Yoga

o p e n i n g

Breath, movement, stillness, voice and silence to open your body and mind for a deep birthing experience. Join Tanya for an exploration of the yogic practices of asana(postures), pranayama (breathing), vocalizing and meditation to increase your pelvic floor integrity and help you experience the sensations of birth.

Wednesdays, July 2nd - 30th, 7:30pm-9:00pm

sliding scale fees
$50-100 preregistered (five classes)
payment must be received by June 30th.
drop-in (if space allows) $15 - $20

Tanya Nash, n.d., BScH(PT)
yoga instructor, ayurvedic naturotherapist

613-728-0213; omammamoon@gmail.com

This workshop will show you techniques to prepare your body and mind for birth including:

• movement and sound for pelvic floor awareness, release and strengthening
  
• upper body movement to enhance your breast health and maintain healthy posture while breast feeding
• concentration and relaxation techniques using breath, visualization and sound

YogaRoo - Summer Yoga in the Park

Taking yoga off the mat and into the forest! Young children are worn in infant carriers suitable for their age as we combine walking yoga with traditional postures and breath work. Alternative indoor location available for inclement weather.

Thursdays, July 3rd - 31st, 9:00am-10:00am

sliding scale fees
$50-100 preregistered (five classes)
payment must be received by June 30th.
drop-in (if space allows) $15-$20

Tanya Nash, n.d., BScH(PT)
yoga instructor, ayurvedic naturotherapist

613-728-0213; omammamoon@gmail.com

Preparing for Birth with Partner Yoga

c o m m u n i c a t e

Saturday, July 5th; 2:30pm - 5:30pm
$100 per couple; $80 if preregistered before July 1st

"Women, when they are in an environment that supports them and are with people who trust them, will birth exactly as they need to in order to birth their babies. We have forgotten that we remember. " from Birth Stories: The Instinct of Birth, by Candace Whitridge.

The foundation of a woman's ability to birth instinctively is the connection she feels with her partner. In this experiential workshop, couples will explore their ability to communicate with their own body and then each other with yoga practices that have been used since Vedic times for healthy birthing experiences.

For more information, or to preregister, email omammamoon@gmail.com or call 613-729-0213.

YogaPlay

YogaPlay is a class for moms! All children 4 years and under children are welcome (no need for a babysitter!). Yoga is taught to the moms, while children are free to play (young babies can be worn in a carrier) - focusing on pelvic floor integrity, core strength, relaxing those overworked breastfeeding muscles and life long breast health, as well as nurturing the feminine mind and spirit.

Yoga with the kids? Yes, its not the candlelight & incense experience that you may imagine yoga to be (if that is what you need, checkout the Goddess Yoga classes). There are quiet moments, but these classes can also be quite chaotic. However, as a mother of young children, cultivating the ability to relax and nurture yourself amidst the pandemonium of childhood is the most valuable gift you can give to yourself and your children.

Something magical starts to happen as the moms stretch, breathe and relax. First the older of the children will start to join in, and slowly the younger ones start to imitate. Because the children are given little instruction, it is an excellent opportunity to develop their motor planning skills as they figure out how to do the postures that they are called to on there own. Given that the sensorimotor systems are sensitive in the first years of life, this approach also creates a real positive environment where the child can celebrate their achievements without the pressure to do something with their bodies that just doesn't feel right in the moment - a rare opportunity for a child in today's world.

Thursdays 11am

next session : July 3rd-31st
please register early, space is limited
pre-registered: $10/class
drop-in: $15/class

Yoga for Moms - a gift for the whole family.

Goddess Yoga

Classes take a feminine approach to yoga; nurturing your inner wisdom and reconnecting you to your inner rhythms. Goddess Yoga enhances reproductive & digestive wellness, including pelvic floor integrity and lifelong breast health, while nourishing the mind & spirit of the feminine. Classes are appropriate for women of all ages, including women who planning to conceive, pregnant women, new mothers and grandmothers.

Wednesdays 6:30-8:00pm; July 8nd-30th

sliding scale fees
$40-80 preregistered (five classes)
payment must be received by June 30th.
drop-in (if space allows) $15 - $20

Tanya Nash, n.d., BScH(PT)
yoga instructor, ayurvedic naturotherapist, doula

613-728-0213; omammamoon@gmail.com

Massage Special - for the Mother Goddess in us All - offer ends this week!

How do you honour the Mother Goddess in you?

To celebrate all of the women in my life, I am offering a 60 minute Ayurvedic Massage for $49 - that is $50 off the regular price - until June 1st.

You will feel the Goddess inside as your body, mind and soul are nurtured with organic herbalized oils in the luxury of the organic linens and towels. A great gift for mom (gift certificates are available) and all of the women in your life, including you!

Email omammamoon@gmail.com or call 613-728-0213 to book your appointment or order your gift certificate.

New SLIDING SCALE Fees for Yoga Classes!

In order to make my yoga classes more accessible, while continuing to offer the classes in an environmentally sound way, I am now introducing a pilot sliding scale fees for some classes.

Yoga teaches us the law of Karma. Simply put - every action has an equal and opposite reaction - when we are generous to others, the generosity will be returned to us. As a result, it is customary for students to make an offering towards the teacher that not only reflects the direct benefit to the student, but also ensures that the teacher is able to teach to those who have less resources. In this way, the student is attracting more generosity to herself, her family and community.

Here is how it works. At each class, you will be required to sign the attendance sheet, on which you will indicate how much you have paid for the class (if you preregister, the attendance sheet will be filled out for you ahead of time). Where on the scale you need to pay is up to you, keeping in mind that the lower end of the scale was established for single, low income women. Those paying towards the high end of the scale will be contributing to the maintenance and replacement of the organic pillows, bolsters, and blankets, as well as to establish a fund for a set of earth friendly yoga mats. To make this work, I will also be accepting donations of cash, beeswax tealights and nag champa incence as students feel called to.

I would like to thank Cat Matlock, owner of West Asheville Yoga Studio - whose successful model this sliding scale has been based.

If you have any questions, please contact me at omammamoon@gmail.com.

Gifts for Mom

Still looking for a meaningful gift for Mom? What better than a gift of health made especially just for her? Each gift will come with a custom made label for her.

Being Balms are organic herbalized ayurvedic oils blended with organic beeswax - a wholistic and natural alternative to lotion. The beeswax helps the herbs and oils absorb quickly, moisturizing your skin and nourishing your whole being. Choose from rose, lotus, jatamansi, vertiver, holy basil, sandalwood or traditional herbalized blends made just for your Mom.

Wildcrafted Loose Teas. A bouquet your Mom can drink. Blends can be made just for you or Mom.

Rose evokes in us an ancient memory of well-being, softness and divine sweetness. It awakens within us the mystery of Love and the promise of more Love. Rose opens the heart and mind both spiritually and physically, gently cleansing and nurturing.

Hibiscus flowers are sacred to Ganesha, the god of wisdom who destroys all obstacles, who dwells in the first or root chakra. This tea nourishes the first and second chakras, while energizing mantras (sacred prayers or affirmations used for meditation) and enhancing meditation.

Jasmine flowers are said to radiate the vibrations of mantras – invoking love and compassion. Often added to black or green tea, these flowers are also delightful on their own, cooling and cleansing the body and mind.

Lotus is the most sacred flower of all, perhaps because of its many medical and spiritual gifts. Beloved by Lakshmi, the goddess of Nature’s abundance, this flower harmonizes both the root and heart chakras. A subtle, yet powerful tea.

Detox Blend - organic ginger, tumeric and licorice make for a delightfully naturally sweet way to gently cleanse and nurture at the same time. Make a pot in the morning and sip all day for optimal health.

Summer Spice Blends. More than a delicious, aromatic accent to foods, this blend of organic and fair trade spices invigorates digestion and strengthens the life force. Ground by hand, these spice mixes will balance your body, mind and spirit, keeping you healthy and happy. Traditionally used in bean and lentil dishes, these blends can be used with almost every dish - from hot breakfast cereals to soups, breads, casseroles and stir-fries. A base of coriander, fennel and saffron cools the summer heat, with either a combination of cumin, white pepper and tumeric or cardamom, poppy seeds and clove for zing!

Gift Certificates can be used for any product (including spices, herbs and massages oils) or services (massage, energy healing and holistic bodywork).

Email omammamoon@gmail.com or call 613-728-0213 to place your order.

The Goddess Within: An Introduction to Meditation

Meditation is the practice of cultivating quiet and awareness to reintegrate our bodies, minds and spirits into wholeness and health. Through meditation, we can rediscover our authentic selves.

In this course, meditation will be experienced through mantra - sacred yogic sounds. Sound as a healing force is the cornerstone of all great Spirit traditions. Mantra is the use of specific sounds to create deep peace in our bodies and minds for healing and growth. With mantra, we will explore the three aspects of our Divine Feminine Nature: our creative, sustaining and transforming powers. Beginning and experienced meditators welcome.

Thursdays, May 1st - 15th
7:30-9:00pm
$50

please RSVP to reserve your space
613-728-0213
omammamoon@gmail.com

invoking the goddess - lunar meditation for women

invoking the goddess

lunar meditation for women

In Vedic tradition, women gather together on the third evening of every full moon to bask in the moonlight.
This practice unites the community of women in song and meditation, aligning the powers of the feminine
spirits with the rhythms of Mother Moon.

Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008 7:30pm - 9:00pm
suggested donation of $11

please rsvp
613-728-0213
elementalayurveda@gmail.com

Earth Day Mantra Yoga - Returning to Mother Earth

The prevailing cosmic energies are to be experienced in the presence of Nature, where we learn to listen to the rhythm of the cosmic forces. Nature is the primal, original sacred space, which nourishes and cherishes us through Mother Earth. Nature heals us, emotionally, spiritually and physically, revealing our true godhead that breathes life into every minuscule atom that wills its energy to enter into form.

- Shambavi Lorain Chopra

The powerful resonance of mantra accompanied by crystal bowls will lead us through asana, pranayama and meditation to nourish our connection with Mother Earth. This will be a gentle, but deep session drawing from the tradition of Yin Yoga - beginners and experienced yoga practitioners are welcome.

Tuesday, April 22th 7:00pm - 9:00pm
suggested donation of $30

Jeremy Sills BA - Tanya Nash n.d., BSc(PT)

please RSVP
613-728-0213
omammamoon@gmail.com

Nine Nights of the Goddess

April 7th begins the festival of Chaitra Navratri - the Nine Nights of the Goddess. To celebrate, each night I will be leading a mantra meditation (repetition of sacred sounds out loud or silently) to invoke different aspects of the Divine Feminine.

Monday, April 7th - 7:00pm sunset meditation
Tuesday, April 8th - 9:10pm - following Goddess Yoga
Wednesday, April 9th - 9:00pm
Thursday, April 10th - 7:15 pm sunset meditation
Friday, April 11th - 7:15 pm sunset meditation
Saturday, April 12th - 7:15pm sunset meditation
Sunday, April 13 - 7:15pm sunset meditation
Monday, April 14th - 9:00pm
Tuesday, April 15th - 9:10pm - following Goddess Yoga

All willing to come into stillness to experience the Divine Feminine are welcome (including men and those who have not meditated before). Women are invited to drop in to the Goddess Yoga class before the Tuesday meditations for a full evening of Goddess bliss. In the tradition of the teachings, you are asked to bring an small offering of flowers, fruit, beeswax candles and/or a financial contribution. Come for one night or all as you feel called to.

Please RSVP as times may change:
613-728-0213
omammamoon@gmail.com

If you cannot come to the meditations, consider taking time on each day to honour the Goddess within - a moment of silence, going for a massage or a yoga class, cook a special meal, light a candle or incense, buy flowers or a flowering plant or plant some seeds. One tradition involves planting barley seeds in damp soil indoors, harvesting them on the 10 day as blessings of the Goddess. Jai Ma - Victory to the Divine Mother!

Relax for Health, Relax for Hope

Massage for Health

Massage for Hope

Each week, one ‘pay-what-you-can’ Ayurvedic massage ($99 value) will be offered at our eco-spa. Proceeds from this massage will be donated to Mother Om Mission, a nonprofit organization providing holistic health care to at-risk communities around the world

Invoking the Goddess

invoking the goddess

moonlight songs and silence

lunar meditation for women

Wednesday April 23th, 7:30 - 9:00pm
suggested donation of $11

please rsvp
613-728-0213
omammamoon@gmail.com

In Vedic tradition, women gather together on the third evening of every full moon to bask in the moonlight. This practice unites the community of women in song and meditation, aligning the powers of the feminine spirits with the rhythms of Mother Moon.

Happy Belated Women's Day

Happy Belated Women's Day!

I spent Women's Day in Jaipur, India at the 'Making Way for the Feminine' conference - a perfect ending to my 2008 journey to India. Shambavi Lorain Chopra was the most inspiring of all of the speakers for me.

The Goddess is depicted in many different forms - yet every aspect of the Goddess is alive within us. All we need is to acknowledge and trust in Her presence.

And to celebrate, I would like to share this inspiration from my teacher, Swamini Mayatitananda:

THE FIVE ASPECTS OF GODDESS KALI

1. I am Beauty - passionate protector of life
2. I am the Dancer - bestower of creation and restorer of equanimity
3. I am Wisdom - dispassion that cuts through ignorance
4. I am Shakti - primordial energy of creation
5. I am Rebirth - cosmic memory of all that exists

These five aspects exist in us all. Acknowledge them, trust them, enjoy them!

Jai Ma!