Prana Prenatal Yoga and Education
  • HOME
  • ABOUT US
    • SCHEDULE
    • INDOOR CLASSES
    • CLASS DESCRIPTIONS
    • RATES
    • MEMBERSHIP & CLASS CARDS
    • TEACHERS
    • FAQs
    • FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
    • GIFT CERTIFICATES
    • PRESS
    • CONTACT US
  • I'M EXPECTING
    • SCHEDULE
    • PRENATAL YOGA
    • BIRTH PREP WORKSHOPS >
      • BIRTH PREP WORKSHOPS
      • YOGA FOR LABOR
      • CHILDBIRTH ED
      • TAKING CARE OF MAMA
    • SUPPORT GROUPS
    • PRANA DOULAS
    • PRIVATE LESSONS
    • EXPO
    • REIKI
  • BABY'S ARRIVED
    • SCHEDULE
    • MAMA AND BABY CLASSES
    • SUPPORT GROUPS
    • POSTPARTUM DOULAS
    • TAKING CARE OF MAMA
    • LACTATION CONSULTATION
    • EXPO
    • POSTNATAL YOGA WORKSHOPS
    • SLEEP CONSULTING
    • TODDLER YOGA
    • CPR COURSES
  • MORE OFFERINGS
    • PRIVATE LESSONS
    • GROUP LESSONS
    • EXPO
    • EVENTS
    • CAREER WORKSHOPS
    • TEACHER TRAINING >
      • PRENATAL TEACHER TRAINING
      • POSTNATAL TEACHER TRAINING
      • MEDITATION TEACHER TRAINING
    • REIKI
  • SUPPORT GROUPS
  • PRANA PRACTITIONERS
  • BLOG

Prana Blog

Black Maternal & Mental Health Summit 2022

8/6/2022

0 Comments

 
Last month, I joined forces with mental health advocates, medical practitioners, organizational leaders, parents, and caregivers from across the country to advocate for change during Black Maternal Mental Health Week. I had the honor of presenting at the Black Maternal & Mental Health Summit in Houston, Texas.

Hosted by The Shades of Blue Project and The UT Health School of Public Health, the summit was dedicated to promoting health equity for more Black birthing individuals across their birth experience. The main theme of the event was collective effort, as we are collectively working for greater community impact and change.

My presentation, “Prenatal Yoga’s Impact on Mind, Body, and Baby,” tied in perfectly with the summit’s theme. I highlighted the importance of movement during pregnancy, since It’s been well proven that exercise can positively impact overall mood and has been shown to reduce anxiety and feelings of depression. I also discussed how prenatal yoga supports the ever-changing body during pregnancy while naturally increasing serotonin and reducing cortisol. I emphasized that prenatal yoga helps to develop a connection with the baby, and how studies show women who regularly practiced prenatal yoga were less likely to have pre-term labor or to deliver a low birthweight baby.

After leading everyone through prenatal-friendly breathing and movement exercises, the bulk of my presentation shifted towards one of the biggest benefits of prenatal yoga – community. Poor social support is an important risk factor for depression in pregnancy. Prenatal yoga classes improve social support by connecting with other pregnant women in a safe, supportive environment. Whether you attend an in-person or a virtual class, the connection is undeniable. There’s something powerful about being in a space with people who are facing this magical, sacred, stressful, uncomfortable, and confusing journey called pregnancy at the same time you are. A strong support system makes childbirth and postpartum easier, and with postpartum depression impacting 1 in 8 mothers and 1 in 10 fathers, we need to be doing everything we possibly can strengthen support systems in our communities.

Thank you for continuing to support Prana Prenatal Yoga and for being a part of our community. Thank you for supporting the Momnibus Act. And a very special to Kay Matthews and the entire Shades of Blue Project team for hosting this transformative event.

In solidarity,
Marissa

To find out more about Shades of Blue Project, click here.
Picture
0 Comments

    By: Prana Practitioners and Other Experts

    Experts answer all your questions about pregnancy, birth, motherhood, and beyond.

    To ask a question email
    info@pranaprenatalyoga.com

    Archives

    February 2023
    October 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    April 2020
    June 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Join Our Email List
Picture
LOGIN/REGISTER
Photo Credit for Site: Tiffany Brown
  • HOME
  • ABOUT US
    • SCHEDULE
    • INDOOR CLASSES
    • CLASS DESCRIPTIONS
    • RATES
    • MEMBERSHIP & CLASS CARDS
    • TEACHERS
    • FAQs
    • FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
    • GIFT CERTIFICATES
    • PRESS
    • CONTACT US
  • I'M EXPECTING
    • SCHEDULE
    • PRENATAL YOGA
    • BIRTH PREP WORKSHOPS >
      • BIRTH PREP WORKSHOPS
      • YOGA FOR LABOR
      • CHILDBIRTH ED
      • TAKING CARE OF MAMA
    • SUPPORT GROUPS
    • PRANA DOULAS
    • PRIVATE LESSONS
    • EXPO
    • REIKI
  • BABY'S ARRIVED
    • SCHEDULE
    • MAMA AND BABY CLASSES
    • SUPPORT GROUPS
    • POSTPARTUM DOULAS
    • TAKING CARE OF MAMA
    • LACTATION CONSULTATION
    • EXPO
    • POSTNATAL YOGA WORKSHOPS
    • SLEEP CONSULTING
    • TODDLER YOGA
    • CPR COURSES
  • MORE OFFERINGS
    • PRIVATE LESSONS
    • GROUP LESSONS
    • EXPO
    • EVENTS
    • CAREER WORKSHOPS
    • TEACHER TRAINING >
      • PRENATAL TEACHER TRAINING
      • POSTNATAL TEACHER TRAINING
      • MEDITATION TEACHER TRAINING
    • REIKI
  • SUPPORT GROUPS
  • PRANA PRACTITIONERS
  • BLOG