Action Requested October 9, 2021
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Changing Perspectives, Gratitude, Life, Yoga.Tags: American Heart Association, Carry app, Marie "Bluebird" Lamfrom, Maya Page, prenatal yoga
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“Research proves that these tools lower anxiety, pain, depression, and even help birth outcomes.
And the good news is that anyone can breathe with intention… and anyone can move their body in simple yoga shapes….”
– Maya Page, co-founder of the Carry app
As many of you know, I am a big believer in every body having a yoga body and there being a yoga practice for everybody. That doesn’t mean that every body should do the same physical practice and/or the same poses. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. It means that I believe yoga is (and should be) inclusive and accessible. My belief in the inclusivity and accessibility of yoga is one of the main reasons I offer variations on poses (and themes); build poses and sequences from the ground up – which is consistent with Patanjali’s instructions and Dianne Bondy’s “Bus Stop Method;” and suggest modifications when needed so people can find what works for them.
When we were in person, I would typically adjust to accommodate the people in the room. That meant including modifications if someone indicated they needed to skip the arm balancing. That meant that if someone had a hip replacement, I might not suggest a ton of internally rotated poses and if someone had knee issues, I would offer different ways to cushion the knee, support the shin, and/or suggest an alternate pose. Naturally, if someone was pregnant, I included prenatal variations. Sometimes I even added specific prenatal elements that I knew would be appreciated by everyone with hips.
As we’ve spent the last year+ online, I’ve offered people the opportunity to practice with a recording. Since I don’t always know who’s using the recordings, there are certain elements, like modifications to skip the arm balancing and prenatal variations, that are now incorporated into every practice. However, if you’ve ever been pregnant or thought about being pregnant, you know that sometimes you want a space that is just for you and where you are on your journey. You want a space that’s dedicated to you and where you are in your journey. Whether you are pregnant, working on or struggling to get pregnant, post partum, and beyond, you want a community that supports you, even (sometimes) carries you. And, these days, you need to be able to carry that community with you.
Several years ago, one of my “yoga mamas” (Maya P) asked if I would be interested in working on a new prenatal yoga app that would included movement and meditation practices, as well as education resources, for every stage of a person’s journey. Naturally, I said yes. Now, along with Carry co-founder Heather Christine, I am a featured teacher on the Carry app (which is available on Apple platforms).
I am telling you all of this because the Carry app won an American Heart Association startup grant that was awarded as part of the EmPOWERED to Serve Business Accelerator for Oregon and Southwest Washington. Maya and the app are now in the running for a national grant from the Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation. The current and (hopefully) future grant will go towards outreach and the creation of more content. Maybe even more content featuring yours truly. Anyone with an email address can vote for the app – and you can vote multiple times (as long as you only vote once every 24 hours).
A Joyful Practice 