Meet Roberta

I have always been an active person. I love staying active. I was motivated to begin playing golf at an early age with my parents. I tumbled, ran, biked, swam, anything to stay fit & active. This lifestyle continues today, although with some limitations and modifications,  I have learned how to listen to the gentle whispers within my body in order to hush out the loud sometimes deafening screams.

 

I awoke one morning in July of 2008 unable to move my body. My mind immediately asking, “What the hell is wrong with me?” As I tried to lift myself from bed to make my way to the bathroom, I realized it was not going to happen. Calling out to my husband for assistance, he came to my bedside helping me sit upright. Together we slowly shuffled toward the bathroom where he lovingly assisted me in bringing my pajama bottoms down over her hips to fall gently toward the floor. The day began, not as typical as others, but it began, it continued. After nearly 30 minutes of movement, life was normal once again. Thinking it was just sore body muscles from some very tough training using light weights and daily swimming as I prepared for Senior Olympics, it was shrugged off.

 

I chuckled to myself that pushing was maybe not such a good idea after all. Until I sat down later in the day, things had been normal for my activity. But when finally I came to rest on the couch after a long day of physical movement I found once again I could not move. The body was stiff, unpliable, rigid, unrelenting. I decided after a few days of this repeated mobility issue to consult my doctor. The doctor explained he would be making a referral to a Rheumatologist as he was unable to properly diagnose what was happening within this body. PMR. Poly Myalgia Rheumatica. Never heard of it before. An umbrella of autoimmune disease? What are you talking about? These thoughts swirled through my mind as the Rheumatologist explained the dis-ease. Steroid treatment? Side effects? One year? It made no sense. But doctor orders were followed. Research began. That forever teacher, student, learner delved into how to make this go away! Unfortunately, it never did. It just developed into something else.

 

The steroid treatment, weight gain, hatred toward a body that was quitting, made me feel so defeated.  Then one day I received an email from a local yoga studio announcing a summer BOOST class. I seized the moment signing up for this 3 month class. I had never felt so out of my body, so disgusted with the weight gained. This was NOT my body. Yes, I was able to move more freely now but with that came horrible side effects of medication. I felt this was the universe showing me a new path, taking me on a new journey, the journey where I eventually found my breath, trust in this body, encouragement, support, and new self-love rituals. Within time I noticed my body responding to the cardio, the strength training, the yoga, the breath. So I bought my own mat and the grand adventure began!

 

Discovering I would be dealing with Autoimmune Disease for the rest of my time on this earth, I found a yoga practice helped me cope with my own physical pain. Wanting to teach others these benefits, I trained and received my 200hr RYT in 2012.  Since receiving my 200 hr certification I continued to long for more in-depth training,  I finally took the journey to become a 500 hr RYT in the fall of 2018 with coursework being completed in June of 2019.

 

I journeyed that fall of 2012, to my first Yoga Festival  eager to continue on the adventure. I decided that some of the workshops were still a bit advanced beyond my abilities. Perusing the festival information I found a weekend intensive being offered on Prenatal Yoga. A quick decision was made to switch my schedule. And this is where the story begins.

 

My love of children and passion for prenatal yoga led me to further my education, receiving my RPYT certificate in 2014. Realizing that

restrictions would never be eliminated from this body, I found acceptance for what I now call “the gift of autoimmune disease” making a decision to focus exclusively on prenatal yoga class offerings.

 

Roberta’s knowledge and instruction of safe prenatal poses to practice before, during, and after birth are just a small part of each class she offers. Incorporating positive affirmations and the most-up-to date pregnancy information, she will assist you as you travel through a variety of poses that build strength and stamina necessary for labor and birth. Her classes not only prepare the physical but also the emotional as you embark on one of the best journeys of your life!

 

Roberta is known as an authority on prenatal yoga. She has nurtured the tiny souls of hundreds as they enter into the world. Roberta

empowers women to trust their bodies, believe in their ability to birth their babies, to ride their surges like waves on a shore. To

breathe. 

 

And so it is. And so I am ........ Born to Breathe