Embrace Mindfulness in Your Movement Journey with Freya Movement!

At Freya Movement, we believe that true wellness extends beyond physical exercise. That's why we integrate mindfulness and brief meditation into each of our classes, providing a holistic approach to fitness and well-being. Whether you’re navigating the beautiful journey of pregnancy or embracing the postpartum period, our unique blend of movement and mindfulness offers profound benefits for both body and mind.

Why Mindfulness Matters

Mindfulness is more than just a buzzword; it's a practice that can transform your entire experience of movement and self-care. By incorporating mindfulness and meditation into our classes, we aim to create a space where you can connect deeply with your body, enhance your mental clarity, and foster a sense of calm and balance.

Here’s how mindfulness and meditation are woven into our classes:

1. Mindful Warm-ups: We start with deep, foundational breath work and make our way into mindful movements that help you tune into your body’s needs, and ultimately turn on your diaphragm, which is directly linked to your parasympathetic nervous system - which is also known as relax, release and restore mode.

2. Focused Breathing: Throughout the class, we guide you through intentional breathing and pair the breath with our exercises to enhance your oxygen intake, reduce stress, and keep you focused on what’s going on and how you’re feeling in your body.

3. Mind-Body Connections and Visualizations: One of the aspects of the Freya Movement workout is that we incorporate a cardio section of class which we call “labor training.” Our goals during labor training are to teach you, your body, and your baby how to do something hard for up to two minutes at a time and, perhaps even more importantly, how to recover. These waves of intensity followed by moments where we coach you through breath work, moving recovery, empowering mantras and visualizations act as practice for the mind and body to connect via muscle memory to make your recovery during labor between contractions as useful for your stamina and confidence as possible.

4. Guided Meditations: At the end of each class there’s a brief moment of mindfulness to help you relax, reflect, and cultivate a sense of gratitude. This moment allows us to end our classes the same way we started, tapping into our parasympathetic nervous system to literally kick off the restoration and recovery process that we want to begin in your body after your workout.

Overall Benefits of Meditation for Pregnant and Postpartum Individuals

Meditation and mindfulness are particularly beneficial during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Here’s a closer look at how these practices can support you:

Reduces Stress and Anxiety: Pregnancy and the postpartum period can be filled with emotional highs and lows. Regular meditation helps manage stress levels, promoting a calmer, more balanced state of mind.

Enhances Emotional Resilience: Meditation fosters emotional resilience by teaching you how to observe your thoughts without judgment, which can be invaluable when navigating the challenges of motherhood. We find this one works well for NYC subway schedules and perhaps your boss or some colleagues as well. 😉

Improves Sleep Quality: Many pregnant and postpartum individuals struggle with sleep disturbances. Mindfulness and meditation can improve sleep quality by calming the mind and reducing insomnia.

Promotes Physical Comfort: By encouraging relaxation and body awareness, meditation can alleviate physical discomfort associated with pregnancy and postpartum recovery, including tension and muscle pain.

Strengthens the Mind-Body Connection: Meditation helps you become more attuned to your body’s signals, which is especially important during pregnancy as you learn to listen to and care for your changing body.

Supports a Positive Birth Experience: Mindfulness techniques can help you approach childbirth with a more positive and prepared mindset, contributing to a smoother birth experience.

At Freya Movement, our goal is to support your journey with more than just physical exercise; we aim to nurture your whole being. By embracing mindfulness and incorporating meditation into each class, we provide you with tools to enhance your well-being, find balance, and connect more deeply with yourself and your baby.

Join us at Freya Movement and experience the transformative power of combining mindful movement with holistic care. Your journey toward wellness and empowerment begins here.

We look forward to supporting you on your path to health and happiness!

Happy Meditating,

Jenny