Congratulations to one of our students for her big win at Today’s Parents Baby Seminar 2013 that was held on 27 & 28 April at Crowne Plaza Hotel, Changi Airport!  Yogeswari Preshant was lucky enough to be selected for the grand prize at the fair - a Star Cruise vacation package for two worth $3,000!  She also won the cutest Nikon couple on Day Two of the fair.  We send out big congratulations to her and her partner for winning these great prizes, and for continuing to practice yoga with us as she nears her due date!

For pictures of the event, please visit the Today’s Parents website here:
http://www.todays-parents.com/todays-parents-baby-seminar-2013-pictures/

Join Vanda for a Hatha yoga session on Sunday May 12, 2013 at 3:30pm during the Mind Body Spirit Festival to be held May 11-12 at the Singapore Flyer! Vanda and many others are coming together for a two day celebration of love and good health.  Registration for the festival is now open and will close on May 8th. In addition to the Hatha yoga session with Vanda, the Festival will include yoga and Pilates workouts, a fitness marathon and other workshops.  
So, get ready to grab your mat and spend a weekend nurturing your mind, body and spirit!   
Register on the website: http://www.mindbodyspirit.com.sg/ or call Tel: 65 6842 6198 for details.

We are pleased to introduce our new Prenatal Yoga day time classes!
It will be on Tuesdays 11:30am-12:30pm, 12:30pm-1:30pm and Thursdays 11:15am-12:15pm, 12:15pm-1:15pm at Level 3, 90B Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088511, walking distance from Tanjong Pagar MRT.
One time trial classes are available for newcomers at least 16 weeks pregnant.

This is great for ladies working nearby and would like to attend Prenatal Yoga classes during lunch breaks. This also suits ladies who prefer to start the day with some stretches to keep themselves energised.
Class size is kept small to ensure more personalised attention, so spaces are limited!
A minimum class size is required before commencement.
Please contact us today to book your space!  

Prenatal Yoga Demo

April 28th at 12pm
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Come join Vanda for a one day only Prenatal Yoga Demo on April 28th at 12pm during the Baby Seminar Fair at the Crowne Plaze Hotel at Changi Airport. The two day fair is a seminar aimed at new parents and parents- to-be.

In addition to the Prenatal yoga demo, which will last 30-40 minutes, Vanda will also be at the fair to answer any questions you may have about Prenatal Yoga. Stop by the demo on April 28th, or be on the lookout for Vanda to talk to her anytime during the event!

For more details on topics and registration for the fair, please call May at 6672 6002 or visit the event's website at www.todays-parents.com.

Are you looking for a gift for a new mother to be? Or sourcing for a baby shower gift? Consider vouchers for Prenatal Yoga classes with VandaYoga - a most practical and beneficial gift! We offer ten Prenatal Yoga sessions at our group classes at China Square Central or private Prenatal Yoga classes at the mother to be's convenience. Pregnant ladies starting Prenatal Yoga should be least 16 weeks pregnant.
This is the perfect gift for pregnant ladies preparing themselves for labour, childbirth and motherhood.  
No prior yoga experience is required!
For enquiries, please drop us a line!

October saw the inaugural Global Congress on Maternal Nutrition organised by Abbott Nutrition.
Dr Kelly Loi, Medical Director of the Health and Fertility Centre for Women, Singapore, shared that "A developing baby's tissues, organs and systems are extremely sensitive to conditions in the womb. A lack of nutrients or an oversupply of them may programme a baby's development and set the subsequent stage for health or disease later in adulthood," she explained. For instance, when the baby is faced with a poor food supply, it shunts nutrients to its most important organ, the brain, while the heart, kidneys, muscles, bones and other tissues do not develop as they should. This may result in one or more chronic diseases years later. On the other hand, pregnant mothers who are obese may also put their offspring at a higher risk of chronic diseases later in life.
Based on the Institute of Medicine Guidelines, the recommended pregnancy weight gain for women of a normal pre-pregnancy BMI (between 18.5 and 24.9) is around 11.3kg to 15.9kg.

"To ensure that the baby gets optimal nourishment, an expecting mum should focus on the quality of her diet. Cut back on fat, salt and sugar but increase intake of whole-grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes and low-fat dairy products," advised Dr Loi.
Examples of legumes include alfalfa, clover, peas, beans, lentils, soybeans, peanuts amongst many others.

If you like to receive our Prenatal Yoga tips in your inbox, please subscribe to our newsletter by sending us an email with "subscribe".

Baddha Konasana
The Butterfly Hips pose (or Baddha Konasana) is an excellent Prenatal Yoga pose for opening up of the hips, facilitating an easier delivery.  
 
Linda Neo demonstrates by sitting on the floor with her knees bent and feet sole to sole. Pull the feet as close to your body as you feel comfortable to. Let your hands hold onto the calves.
 
We draw our baby and our belly in towards the spine and the ceiling to maintain a tall spine. From here, we inhale and draw the knees upwards.  As we exhale, we lower the knees downwards. We continue this movement for another twenty times. At the end of the movement, we rest by stretching our legs out in front of us and place our hands behind us for support. Take a break and enjoy the benefits of the pose!  
 
 
Notes
The poses here are recommended for expecting mothers in their second trimester and later and have been cleared for exercise by their doctors.  

You would probably recognize Linda from our monthly Prenatal Yoga Tips newsletter. She has just given birth to a healthy baby girl! Both Linda and her baby are doing great! Linda and Andrew made use of their Prenatal Yoga learnings and went through the childbirth without any epidural!
I am so happy for them!
Best wishes to them and their baby princess!!

We are excited to announce our new Sunday Prenatal Yoga class at 1104A Serangoon Road! This is perfect for mothers-to-be who prefer evening classes or are looking for a location walking distance along the MRT NorthEast (NEL) line! Pregnant ladies in their second trimesters or later can sign up for this class happening every Sunday 6-7pm starting 8 July 2012. One time trial class is available. Please contact Vanda for signups at 9108 1799 or vanda@vandayoga.com.

Look forward to seeing you on the mat!
Namaste!