Seventh Series | ashtanga yoga and family life Gaynor Stanicic | ashtanga yoga teacher

Kerstin Bilgmann is an Authorized Level II Ashtanga Yoga teacher living in Sydney Australia. In this episode Kerstin shares the experience of her pregnancy, birth and postpartum recovery after the birth of her son Jai.
After immersing herself in yoga, travelling and teaching yoga around the world, Kerstin met her partner Andrew later in life. When she and Andrew decided to have a child, she was over 40 years old. Kerstin was advised that there could be some challenges at her age to conceive. However, she was able to conceive without medical assistance.
Kerstin is a practitioner of the third series, Advanced A, and shares how she approached her ashtanga yoga practice during her pregnancy. Following her intuition, with some guidance from other teachers and friends, Kerstin shares the details of the postures she included in her practice, the modifications she made to postures she was practicing, and what postures she chose not to do. 
Being pregnant over the age of 35 is considered "advanced maternal age", limiting some choices in birth. While her pregnancy was healthy, and there were no complications, Kerstin shares details of how she was feeling. In Australia, when a woman is advanced maternal age, the preference is for labor to be induced after 40 weeks of pregnancy. Kerstin describes in detail her birth and how this unfolded.
With a background in Marine Science, Kerstin's research of birth techniques and philosophies included Active Birthing, observing a Fourth Trimester.
Links
Yoga Sadhana for Mothers - Sharmila Desi
Active Birth - Janet Balaskas
Dr. Howard Chilton Neonatal Paediatrician
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Meghan Kirk is an Authorized Level II ashtanga yoga teacher living in Philadelphia, USA. Meghan shares her pregnancy, birth and postpartum recovery after the birth of her daughter Maggie. 
Meghan brings a wealth of knowledge to her yoga teaching, being an Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultant and a Birth arts trained Doula (birth and postpartum). She is also currently completing a course on Ayurvedic care specific to postpartum. Meghan shares how she used Ayurvedic practices when preparing to conceive, and during the postpartum period.
In this episode, Meghan shares her pregnancy, modifications to the practice, prodromal labor and birth, and the recovery through the post partum period, including recovery from a internal tear during birth. Having a history of bipolar, Meghan touches on her experience of managing hormonal changes when having her daughter.
For more information on Meghan, or to find out more about Ayurvedic practices, Baba Hari Das the Four Purifications or her teaching program, her website is:
Mysore Philadelphia
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Michelle Papa has been practicing yoga since 2004, she is a yoga teacher and birth educator. She has a ten year old daughter, Cassie. Michelle and her family reside in Sydney Australia.
Michelle has completed a Diploma of Childbirth Education and is the Co-Founder of Mindful Birth, a Pregnancy and Post natal yoga teacher training course, which aims to empower women and families as they navigate life from pregnancy, birthing and parenting.
In this episode Michelle shares her journey with fertility, it took some time for her to become pregnant. She discovered she had endometriosis, however despite considering IVF, she became pregnant without medical assistance.
During her pregnancy, Michelle educated herself on birth, and had a doula to support her for her birth. Michelle’s labour spanned three days, and meconium was found present when her water was broken. She was transferred from the birthing centre to the hospital, and although she had been experiencing strong contractions, her labour stalled. Despite her best intentions and birth preparation, Michelle had a caesarian birth.
Michelle shares how the experiences have provided richness in her teachings of prenatal and post natal yoga, and birth education.
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Alys Pardoe is an Authorized Ashtanga Yoga teacher, with two grown up daughters, and lives in Margaret River in Western Australia.
Alys started her family when she was very young, and soon after discovered Ashtanga Yoga. Living in the small town of St Ives in Cornwall, UK she was first introduced to Ashtanga Yoga by renowned teacher John Scott. After he moved from the area, she found it challenging without a teacher, and her physical practice waned, however she maintained a spiritual connection with yoga.
Alys and her family moved to the surf town of Margaret River in Australia, pursuing the lifestyle that aligned with their beliefs. Her journey with Ashtanga Yoga continued to unfold. When she moved to Australia she connected with Eileen Hall's student Leilah Whiteman, who further guided Alys in the physical practice, as well as nurtured her journey with philosophy and other aspects of yoga. It was her teacher Leilah that gave her the support to travel to Mysore, and confidence to become an ashtanga yoga teacher.
This episode follows Alys through her 22 year journey with Ashtanga Yoga, and how she was able to stay connected to Ashtanga Yoga throughout this time, while balancing her role within her family as a mother and partner.
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Karyn Grenfell is one of the few Certified Ashtanga Yoga Teachers globally, and lives in Melbourne Australia. Karyn is the mother of six year old Hamish, and step mother to Bess, with partner Travis.
Karyn shares her journey into motherhood. After dedicating herself to her yoga practice through her twenties and thirties, as she approached her forties, she felt pressure from others asking if she would start a family. After some consideration with her partner Travis, soon after deciding they would, Karyn soon found she was pregnant.
Karyn shares her journey through building an advanced ashtanga yoga practice, her pregnancy and birth. She also shares her approach to parenting, holding space for her son as he learns his emotions. Karyn is also aware of being conscious of her own relationships to help her son see how to relate to others.
Links
Ashtanga Yoga Melbourne
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Tina Bock is an authorised ashtanga yoga teacher and lives in Abu Dhabi. In this episode she shares her journey of pregnancy, birth and postpartum recovery with her son James.
Tina has been practicing and teaching yoga since her early 20s. She developed her connection with ashtanga yoga after moving to Abu Dhabi and not being able to find a teacher or studio. She has established a strong self practice, and travels to Mysore to practice with Sharath Jois.
During her pregnancy, Tina continued to practice and travel during her second trimester. Her birth was unmedicated and a vaginal delivery, through her ability to say "no" as interventions were offered.
After the birth of her son, living abroad, Tina missed having the support of her family. She also shares how she experienced anxiety around the safety of her son.

To connect with Tina, or find out more about her yoga teaching visit: Tina Bock Yoga
Listen to Tina on Heartbreak Kids podcast with Taylor Hunt
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