Readers of Durham Parent voted Balanced Life Yoga  NUMBER ONE for Pre-Natal and Post-Natal Yoga and Fitness Provider in 2011!

Experience our team’s winning ways and know you are in highly skilled hands with teachers who are kind, compassionate and understanding as well as great resources of information!

Join us today.

“Attending yoga at Balanced Life was pivotal in my journey to get pregnant, to enjoy my pregnancy and then to face labor with greater knowledge and resources.  Yoga classes helped to keep me centered through an extremely challenging journey to conception – a time when I needed an incredible amount of patience, love and compassion for myself.

I was then thrilled to “graduate” into prenatal yoga.  I loved that the teachers were able to teach me what was safe for me and my baby, every step of the way.  This gave me the confidence to continue with developing a healthy mind and body over 40 weeks.  Yoga at Balanced Life has always given me a sense of community.  I am certain that feeling will continue in the post-natal classes and beyond.  I am so grateful to have had this support and guidance for myself and my new daughter Jamie.  Thanks to all!”  – Jodi A.

Join us today to experience the same feeling!

Pre-Natal Yoga

Prepare for birth and motherhood with prenatal yoga postures and breathing that strengthens muscles needed for birth, helps release tension and increases relaxation. Suitable for any stage of pregnancy. This eight week pre-registered class is a wonderful way to experience a healthy, happy pregnancy and a happy healthy YOU and baby.

Our pre-natal classes are a flowing series that builds strength in all the areas you will need it and brings relaxation to the areas of strain. As well we also incorporate breathing and rest to ensure balance and relaxation. You will leave class feeling refreshed and renewed. Register Today!

Partner Pre-Natal Yoga: Experience the joy of yoga for two during pregnancy. Prenatal Partner Yoga is great way to bond, laugh and enjoy all stages of pregnancy with your partner. In this practice you will be guided through partner yoga poses and support techniques that will help during pregnancy as well as the labour and delivery process. Meditation, massage and breath work will also be included. No yoga experience necessary, all levels of flexibility welcome. Please note class fee includes both partners. A partner can be a loved one, friend or family member. $40 per couple. Register Now!

Pre-Natal Yo-gaah: Gain physical, mental and emotional balance and harmony as Krista Bromfield leads you through a gentle prenatal yoga flow while enjoying hands-on massage by a registered massage therapist. Immensely nurturing and relaxing for Moms-to-Be. $25 Register Now!

Preparing for your Pre-natal Class 
Please eat something light one hour before class and drink plenty of water. We practice in bare feet and comfortable stretchy clothes are recommended. Please inform the teacher of any health concerns or issues before the start of class.

When do I start Pre-natal Yoga?
There are varying opinions on when to begin a Pre-natal Yoga class. Some recommend waiting until the second trimester while others believe that when the woman is ready, it is time. It is a decision we ask that you make for yourself. We have had many women practice with us from 6 weeks to term.

MOM AND BABY OFFERINGS

Check out these photos…Everyone is having fun!

You can attend postnatal yoga as early as you and your provider deem appropriate. Some women start yoga the week after birth, others come three months postpartum! We know how hard it can be to get out the door with a little one(s). We also know that you’ll leave postnatal yoga feeling revitalized and supported by the teacher and community of mothers. We ask that you bring a blanket for your baby to protect our yoga props. You are welcome to nurse, feed and change your babies in the class. It is also OK if they cry!  Wear clothing that is comfortable for you to both move and nurse in.

Mom & Baby Yoga Boot Camp
Strengthen muscles that tend to get weak and stretched with pregnancy and post partum activities. New moms can feel stronger, more energetic and start a life long partnership of sharing a healthy lifestyle with baby!  Register now

Stroller-Fit for Mom’s and Baby
Join us in this fitness program for moms involving stroller walking on local trails, resistance training and yoga all taught by a certified Yoga Teacher and Fitness Professional. What you’ll need: A stroller, comfortable attire and shoes, a hat and sun block for you and your baby, and a towel or mat for abdominal work/yoga/pilates. Register now

KIDS YOGA

Yoga & a Story Kids PJ Party:

Kids breathe, stretch, laugh and play while enjoying a yoga related story in their P.J’s with their parent(s)! Kids and parents will learn breath practices to reduce stress and explore yoga poses designed for children to stretch and strengthen their bodies (and mom and dads too!). Suitable for children ages 4-11 | Register now

OUR TEAM

Krista Bromfield: Krista believes that yoga and wellness should be accessible to people of all ages. Krista helps your prepare for birth and baby as one of our certified Prenatal Yoga teachers. She is a the creator and teacher of Mom and Baby Yoga Boot Camp – a unique blend of Post Natal Yoga and Strength Training Exercises that help to get moms back into shape after baby. Krista also teaches Stroller Fitness to promote camaraderie and cardiovascular exercise for moms and babies on the move.  Krista believes that sharing yoga with family and friends is the key to healthy active living. She and her husband Dwayne Bromfield often partner up to teach ‘Partner Yoga Workshops’ that promote loving kindness, team work and foster deeper communication while practicing yoga for two.

Shawna Fujiki is a certified 200 Hour Yoga Teacher and Pre-natal Yoga Teacher.  Also experienced with teaching Mom and Baby Yoga Boot Camp as well as participating in these classes as a student with a new baby, Shawna knows that practicing Yoga with baby tops of the list of the joys of being a new mom!   With her athletic background and niche as a Yoga for Runner’s Teacher, Shawna brings a motivational energy into the yoga classroom, combined with a caring clear focus on ensuring safety and working within one’s own limitations.  Motherhood and yoga are natural soul mates…Shawna will show you there is no better way to strengthen your body and the mother/baby bond all at once! Shawna is also one of our Prenatal Yoga teachers whose classes help you feel at home in your body and in our community.  Join her today.

Laura Avard, 200 Hour RYT, Pre-Natal Certified & Rainbow Yoga Kids Certified

Laura loves teaching both children and adults.  She completed her 200 hour Inspiring teacher training at Balanced Life Yoga well as her Pre-Natal Yoga Certification and she is a certified Rainbow Kids Yoga teacher.  Laura knows that yoga is amazing for your kids because  it increases flexibility, balance , and strength as well as self-confidence and positive body awareness and allows them to do a physical activity in a non-competitive environment with other children. And kids love Laura! She works as a special education teacher for the Durham Board of Education and has a passion for helping to create healthy, happy families.

Program Director: Shasta Townsend was trained and certified by Skyler Hill-Jackson, of Mom and Baby Fitness and now trains teachers herself. Shasta has a keen interest in women’s health and well-being. When she created Balanced Life Yoga in 2003 it was always with the intention to create a place where women could feel safe, welcome and cared for.  Pre and Post-natal classes are a key part of this vision in Shasta’s desire to serve all through the power of Yoga, health & wellness and great community. Balanced Life Yoga Pre/Postnatal Yoga Program was founded in 2004 by Shasta Townsend.

Testimonials

“I loved stroller fit!  Not only was it a reason to get up and out of the house to spend time outside, it was a chance to meet and make friends with other new moms in our community!  I went to a lot of other programs with Henry during our year off together, but stroller fit was where we were the most active and had the best conversations.  I love how the group became so close and great friendships were formed – and don’t forget the Yummy Mummy Facebook page (teehee!), what a great way to keep in touch, especially now that some of us have gone back to work. Thanks for making it such a fun experience Krista” – Tracee, Ajax

“Attending yoga at Balanced Life was pivotal in my journey to get pregnant, to enjoy my pregnancy and then to face labour with greater knowledge and resources.  Yoga classes helped to keep me centered through an extremely challenging journey to conception – a time when I needed an incredible amount of patience, love and compassion for myself.  I was then thrilled to “graduate” into prenatal yoga.  I loved that Krista and Amy were able to teach me what was safe for me and my baby, every step of the way.  This gave me the confidence to continue with developing a healthy mind and body over 40 weeks.  Yoga at Balanced Life has always given me a sense of community.  I am certain that feeling will continue in the post-natal classes and beyond.  I am so grateful to have had this support and guidance for myself and my new daughter Jamie.  Thanks to all” – Jodi A.

“I loved the class and feel richer for having met some great mums. I am the kind of person that needs an excuse or a reason to get out and do something good for myself so this was perfect for me.”
- S.P.

“Nice introduction to a fitness program – friendly, non-intimidating positive environment, fun people and great progression from one week to the next. You were very motivating and positive and of course, it was fantastic for me to meet, share stories, oh yes…did I mention just simply leaving the house was a feat in and of itself?!! Looking forward to more baby/kid focused classes again in September.”
- T.M.

“I think the fact I just bought a jogging stroller is the best feedback I can give! I loved the class…It was so great to meet local moms, too — probably my favourite part of the class itself.”
- C.F.

“I loved the class…I found the class to be a good work-out. It wasn’t too strenuous, which is good for beginner exercisers like myself. I was able to get my heart rate up for the walking, and I really liked the stroller lunges, squats, tip-toes walking etc. and use them outside of class…I also really enjoyed the social aspect of the class, it was nice to meet such interesting, outgoing and friendly women.”
- E.A.

“My objectives for joining were to meet some great women from the UX (mission accomplished)…and to get out of the house for some quality conversation and outing time during the nice summer mornings (done!). i think you did a great job making sure that we covered a number of muscle groups throughout the workout, as well as making recommendations for all the class participants to vary the levels of difficulty. good job! and i loved the one yoga class that we got to do, and i think its going to motivate me to sign up for a session in the fall term!”
- C.B.

“I had a great time and it was great to meet other moms.”
- R.M..