“Shasta, your knowledge and calming manner helped me through most scary part of the day our Amelia was born. For myself, I hope that you will be there again if we have another baby one day. Thank you so much for being there for us!”
Charles
“Even though I practiced yoga for many years before falling pregnant, there are many benefits for attending Pregnancy Yoga with Shasta. She has an incredible knowledge of the human anatomy and specifically in relation to pregnancy, child birth and post-natal recovery. I found her expertise and challenging yoga classes gave me the comfort to undertake my daily activities in a way that are not harmful to my baby. As a first-time mom I was often anxious about doing something unsafe, especially in the early stages of pregnancy when a doctor’s scan was the only confirmation I had that everything was ok. Now I feel strong and confident and I can still do everything I used to do before pregnancy but for some modifications to accommodate a growing belly!”
Joni
“I don’t know how I would have coped without pregnancy yoga. It was a safe space in which I could look after myself, both emotionally and physically. And, after I had my baby, I was even more grateful that I was physically strong and healthy - which was in large part thanks to yoga.”
Sarah Wild
“I discovered Shasta's Vinyasa Flow classes about 8 months after I had my first baby and without exaggeration, they changed my life. I was suffering from post partum depression at the time and her classes made me feel strong and in control of my own body and mind again. What a relief. I am from the United States and have lived in countries all around the world, and as a result have had many different yoga teachers over the years. Shasta is hands down the best teacher I have ever had. She challenges you to grow and change, but is always respectful of your limits. You later find that she pushed you beyond those limits without feeling pushed -- you discover it through reaping the benefits of increased strength, focus, agility, and flow. I am now pregnant with my second and am thrilled to be joining her prenatal yoga community and having her join me in childbirth as my doula. I can think of no one better to have on your side than Shasta.”
Meredith McCormac, Ph.D.
Shasta's classes have really helped me to my manage my hip and back pain throughout my pregnancy. Every time I attend a class, I feel fantastic and wish I had the time to go more often! She is incredibly knowledgeable about the human body and about pregnancy in particular, which really shines through in her practice. But it is her warmth and kindness and the safe preggie community that she has created that really make her practice special for me. I can't wait to continue the post-natal classes after my baby arrives in May.
Kelly Adami
“I started out preggy yoga as an unsure and very lonely new mama. Since starting yoga, not only am I physically stronger but I am emotionally stronger too. I met my best friend and a group of ladies that walked this journey of pregnancy and motherhood with me. Your pregnancy and birth are a journey that you embark on. You don't just have a baby ... Shasta leads you along your journey with the wisdom of a 1000 years. She gives you strength when you need it - both physical and emotional. Shasta's yoga is hard work. I am not a very strong or supple person. She has guided me; pushing me when I needed to be pushed and given me leeway when I needed that too. Her yoga is so much more than just yoga. It is a preparation for life with your new baby. Shasta was my doula for my second birth and she was an amazing calm, strong presence in the room. She gave me the strength to admit that I needed to indeed have a cesarean and helped me so much afterwards when I was in a world of pain from a back spasm. She goes above and beyond what would be considered normal and even came to see me after hours to try help alleviate the back spasm I was having following my caesar. Shasta is a font of knowledge and can answer all your question pre and post natal! Her wisdom surpasses anyone else I have met. Thank you Shasta for being one of the most instrumental people in my life. You are amazing! I love you so much.”
Aimee Topp
“Shasta you are such an amazing person. Thank you for the love, support, yoga and guidance throughout both my pregnancies. Thank you for being my voice and advocate during labour. Thank you never leaving my hand and for encouraging me when I felt like giving up a couple of times. You are a wonderful doula and friend and I wouldn’t have been able to have an unmedicated birth without you.”
Leanne Bouwer
"Pregnancy classes: As a regular yoga practitioner, I became frustrated as my pregnancy progressed. When I found Shasta’s classes, it was as though my body said “finally, this is what I have been asking for”. She helps woman find beauty and strength in their evolving bodies and embrace the honour of growing humans.
Postnatal Yoga: Postnatal yoga has helped my grow as a mother. Not only did the classes provide my body with a safe path back to power in my body, but also guidance on embracing motherhood. Shasta’s classes reinforce that it is not about how you look, but rather about growing beauty through your new role in the world and strength as a woman on this incredible journey.
The babies are mesmerised by Shasta. When she first rocked my baby for 90 minutes giving me the opportunity to practice, it felt like the greatest gift of all time. Her classes and the community they offer have been my salvation."
Daniella Fourie
"Shasta was my Doula, craniosacral therapist and yoga teacher during my first pregnancy. She has been invaluable to my partner and myself during this intense but magical part of our lives. She has supported me throughout all the different phases of pregnancy and has always provided us with wise, insightful and reassuring advice. I am now 38-week pregnant and feel empowered and strong to give birth to my first child naturally. And I know this is a lot thanks to Shasta's magical hands and tricks! We cannot thank her enough."
Camille Agnon
“Shasta's prenatal yoga classes have been an amazingly empowering experience for me. There is a strong focus on strength and stamina, physically and mentally, preparing the body for the birthing process. She has helped me to recognise that the trampoline-like pelvic floor muscles need to be strong, resilient and flexible in preparation for natural childbirth. Through attending the classes regularly, I have started to feel confident in my body as a strong, she-wolf birthing machine. Before attending the classes, I felt a little fragile in my 'delicate state'. Now I feel capable, vital and ready for action. Throughout the class, there is also a constant stream of education about the poses, breathing techniques and positions that will assist baby, mom and the labour process. This has been very helpful. I am deeply grateful for Shasta's insight, guidance and obvious passion for what she does.”
Georgie Hattingh
“Cranio: Shasta transformed my child into a noticeably calm happy baby after one cranio session. You could see the work happening while Shasta was working through discomfort. It was so much easier for me to deal with her after she had let go of the anger. It was like magic.”
Daniella Keat
“Shasta’s pre-natal classes are so useful, enlightening and inspiring, especially if you are planning to embark on an active, natural birth. Her experience of the birth process as a mother and as a doula really inform the way that she teaches the classes and, give you insight into how to practice to allow your body, physically, energetically, and emotionally to do what it was made to do. Her post-natal classes are a life saver in those weeks and months after birth. Again, her experience as a mother and as a doula give her a deep and embodied understanding into what the body, mind and heart need in order to come back into balance. The classes are a beautiful, fun and safe space for women to unravel and re-connect with themselves. Very often Shasta sits holding five or six babies while teaching a full class in order to allow the moms to get in a good and desperately needed practice. I don’t know what I would have done without these classes and am so grateful that I found her space. Added to this is the brilliant postnatal WhatsApp group, a wonderful community of moms sharing knowledge, wisdom, experience and compassion with each other. Thank you Shasta, your classes both pre and post natal were an absolute blessing.”
Alexia
“I feel privileged to have had Shasta accompany me through my pregnancy. She was able to connect with me wherever I was at, tuning into my needs, both physical and emotional, along the way. I know I was (and still am) in the safest, most capable of hands with this most angelic, genuine, special lady who takes the time and effort to know each of her students and share her wealth of knowledge so appropriately. Having only had my baby 7 weeks ago, I look forward to continuing my journey with Shasta in her post natal classes and also as part of the wonderful community she has created. Thank you Shas for empowering me to be strong in body and in mind, for believing in me, supporting me and caring for me every step of the way.”
Amanda Pollack
“Through her prenatal yoga classes and also as a doula, Shasta has helped me tremendously in building the confidence I needed for a serene birthing experience. Her prenatal yoga classes are not only excellent to prepare physically and emotionally for birth and motherhood, but also provide a joyful gathering of women at different stages of pregnancy. I definitely recommend Shasta’s energy, experience and passion in any transition to motherhood.”
Lara Martens
“A friend recommended Shasta's prenatal yoga class. I started going in my second trimester. Taking time to slow down and be guided through the yoga flows by Shasta helped me feel more connected to my pregnancy and my body. The classes were physically challenging but also relaxing. When I found out that Shasta was also a doula (even though I hadn't heard of a doula before), I knew I wanted her to help me with the birth. She brought the same supportive kindness and calm energy as she always has in class to my home and then the hospital when I went into labour. After the yoga classes, I felt very comfortable having Shasta lead me through breathing techniques. Even my husband, who was unsure about having a midwife and doula deliver our baby instead of a doctor, was in awe of Shasta using her arm as a rolling pin to help me push when I was having a hard time during the birth. With the help of Shasta and our midwife, I was able to have a natural birth. My baby and I are now enjoying Shasta's postnatal yoga classes. I don't know if I could have done it without Shasta, and I know I wouldn't have wanted to do it without Shasta :)”
Greta
“Shasta completely changed our path through pregnancy and birth, and I will be forever grateful to her for this gift. Shasta is passionate about birth, educating and empowering women. An amazing yoga teacher, an incredibly experienced and calming Doula, and a beautiful person. Yoga with Shasta four times a week prepared my body for birth. Breathing, stretching and strengthening - Shasta’s classes are designed to move and celebrate being pregnant. It gave me confidence in my body and I felt beautiful, capable and ready. I loved being pregnant. I was strong and relaxed, but also emotionally supported as a member of Shasta’s community of women, sharing pregnancy ups and downs, birth stories, postnatal and baby advice. The turning point in our pregnancy was attending Shasta’s Workshop where we learned about natural birth and its benefits versus an obstetrician-led hospital birth that we had booked by default. Finally armed with the right information (we barely knew what a doula was beforehand) my husband I decided immediately to move to a Midwife at Genesis Birthing Clinic with Shasta as our Doula and a plan to have a natural vaginal birth. One of the most important and best decisions we'll ever make. I remember feeling like a weight had lifted off my shoulders and I knew in my heart this was the right thing to do. When my due date came and went, Shasta helped me to be patient and feel confident to let our baby come in his own time. I was grateful for her knowledge and advice throughout my pregnancy. We had a long, intense labour but I felt so well supported the whole day. We were able to minimise interventions and deliver naturally, dealing with pain through breath, vocalising (I was very loud!) hard work and determination. I distinctly remember Shasta whispering to me to reach down and feel my baby's head as I was pushing and it gave me the strength to keep going. I literally gave birth in Shasta’s arms - sitting in her lap - we were trying it all! It was so beautifully intense and the most amazing day of my life. Shasta helped me to get baby feeding and within an hour of giving birth we were laughing and eating vegetarian pizza and gazing at our beautiful boy. I will always treasure this moment. For such an important event - arguably the most important thing we do in life - most people are hopelessly under-educated about birth. Shasta helped me to have a pregnancy and birth that I never knew was possible. With Shasta's insatiable passion for birth she delivers lives but also changes lives every day. What an amazing woman, I feel so blessed to have in her in my life.”
Kelly Douglas
Charles
“Even though I practiced yoga for many years before falling pregnant, there are many benefits for attending Pregnancy Yoga with Shasta. She has an incredible knowledge of the human anatomy and specifically in relation to pregnancy, child birth and post-natal recovery. I found her expertise and challenging yoga classes gave me the comfort to undertake my daily activities in a way that are not harmful to my baby. As a first-time mom I was often anxious about doing something unsafe, especially in the early stages of pregnancy when a doctor’s scan was the only confirmation I had that everything was ok. Now I feel strong and confident and I can still do everything I used to do before pregnancy but for some modifications to accommodate a growing belly!”
Joni
“I don’t know how I would have coped without pregnancy yoga. It was a safe space in which I could look after myself, both emotionally and physically. And, after I had my baby, I was even more grateful that I was physically strong and healthy - which was in large part thanks to yoga.”
Sarah Wild
“I discovered Shasta's Vinyasa Flow classes about 8 months after I had my first baby and without exaggeration, they changed my life. I was suffering from post partum depression at the time and her classes made me feel strong and in control of my own body and mind again. What a relief. I am from the United States and have lived in countries all around the world, and as a result have had many different yoga teachers over the years. Shasta is hands down the best teacher I have ever had. She challenges you to grow and change, but is always respectful of your limits. You later find that she pushed you beyond those limits without feeling pushed -- you discover it through reaping the benefits of increased strength, focus, agility, and flow. I am now pregnant with my second and am thrilled to be joining her prenatal yoga community and having her join me in childbirth as my doula. I can think of no one better to have on your side than Shasta.”
Meredith McCormac, Ph.D.
Shasta's classes have really helped me to my manage my hip and back pain throughout my pregnancy. Every time I attend a class, I feel fantastic and wish I had the time to go more often! She is incredibly knowledgeable about the human body and about pregnancy in particular, which really shines through in her practice. But it is her warmth and kindness and the safe preggie community that she has created that really make her practice special for me. I can't wait to continue the post-natal classes after my baby arrives in May.
Kelly Adami
“I started out preggy yoga as an unsure and very lonely new mama. Since starting yoga, not only am I physically stronger but I am emotionally stronger too. I met my best friend and a group of ladies that walked this journey of pregnancy and motherhood with me. Your pregnancy and birth are a journey that you embark on. You don't just have a baby ... Shasta leads you along your journey with the wisdom of a 1000 years. She gives you strength when you need it - both physical and emotional. Shasta's yoga is hard work. I am not a very strong or supple person. She has guided me; pushing me when I needed to be pushed and given me leeway when I needed that too. Her yoga is so much more than just yoga. It is a preparation for life with your new baby. Shasta was my doula for my second birth and she was an amazing calm, strong presence in the room. She gave me the strength to admit that I needed to indeed have a cesarean and helped me so much afterwards when I was in a world of pain from a back spasm. She goes above and beyond what would be considered normal and even came to see me after hours to try help alleviate the back spasm I was having following my caesar. Shasta is a font of knowledge and can answer all your question pre and post natal! Her wisdom surpasses anyone else I have met. Thank you Shasta for being one of the most instrumental people in my life. You are amazing! I love you so much.”
Aimee Topp
“Shasta you are such an amazing person. Thank you for the love, support, yoga and guidance throughout both my pregnancies. Thank you for being my voice and advocate during labour. Thank you never leaving my hand and for encouraging me when I felt like giving up a couple of times. You are a wonderful doula and friend and I wouldn’t have been able to have an unmedicated birth without you.”
Leanne Bouwer
"Pregnancy classes: As a regular yoga practitioner, I became frustrated as my pregnancy progressed. When I found Shasta’s classes, it was as though my body said “finally, this is what I have been asking for”. She helps woman find beauty and strength in their evolving bodies and embrace the honour of growing humans.
Postnatal Yoga: Postnatal yoga has helped my grow as a mother. Not only did the classes provide my body with a safe path back to power in my body, but also guidance on embracing motherhood. Shasta’s classes reinforce that it is not about how you look, but rather about growing beauty through your new role in the world and strength as a woman on this incredible journey.
The babies are mesmerised by Shasta. When she first rocked my baby for 90 minutes giving me the opportunity to practice, it felt like the greatest gift of all time. Her classes and the community they offer have been my salvation."
Daniella Fourie
"Shasta was my Doula, craniosacral therapist and yoga teacher during my first pregnancy. She has been invaluable to my partner and myself during this intense but magical part of our lives. She has supported me throughout all the different phases of pregnancy and has always provided us with wise, insightful and reassuring advice. I am now 38-week pregnant and feel empowered and strong to give birth to my first child naturally. And I know this is a lot thanks to Shasta's magical hands and tricks! We cannot thank her enough."
Camille Agnon
“Shasta's prenatal yoga classes have been an amazingly empowering experience for me. There is a strong focus on strength and stamina, physically and mentally, preparing the body for the birthing process. She has helped me to recognise that the trampoline-like pelvic floor muscles need to be strong, resilient and flexible in preparation for natural childbirth. Through attending the classes regularly, I have started to feel confident in my body as a strong, she-wolf birthing machine. Before attending the classes, I felt a little fragile in my 'delicate state'. Now I feel capable, vital and ready for action. Throughout the class, there is also a constant stream of education about the poses, breathing techniques and positions that will assist baby, mom and the labour process. This has been very helpful. I am deeply grateful for Shasta's insight, guidance and obvious passion for what she does.”
Georgie Hattingh
“Cranio: Shasta transformed my child into a noticeably calm happy baby after one cranio session. You could see the work happening while Shasta was working through discomfort. It was so much easier for me to deal with her after she had let go of the anger. It was like magic.”
Daniella Keat
“Shasta’s pre-natal classes are so useful, enlightening and inspiring, especially if you are planning to embark on an active, natural birth. Her experience of the birth process as a mother and as a doula really inform the way that she teaches the classes and, give you insight into how to practice to allow your body, physically, energetically, and emotionally to do what it was made to do. Her post-natal classes are a life saver in those weeks and months after birth. Again, her experience as a mother and as a doula give her a deep and embodied understanding into what the body, mind and heart need in order to come back into balance. The classes are a beautiful, fun and safe space for women to unravel and re-connect with themselves. Very often Shasta sits holding five or six babies while teaching a full class in order to allow the moms to get in a good and desperately needed practice. I don’t know what I would have done without these classes and am so grateful that I found her space. Added to this is the brilliant postnatal WhatsApp group, a wonderful community of moms sharing knowledge, wisdom, experience and compassion with each other. Thank you Shasta, your classes both pre and post natal were an absolute blessing.”
Alexia
“I feel privileged to have had Shasta accompany me through my pregnancy. She was able to connect with me wherever I was at, tuning into my needs, both physical and emotional, along the way. I know I was (and still am) in the safest, most capable of hands with this most angelic, genuine, special lady who takes the time and effort to know each of her students and share her wealth of knowledge so appropriately. Having only had my baby 7 weeks ago, I look forward to continuing my journey with Shasta in her post natal classes and also as part of the wonderful community she has created. Thank you Shas for empowering me to be strong in body and in mind, for believing in me, supporting me and caring for me every step of the way.”
Amanda Pollack
“Through her prenatal yoga classes and also as a doula, Shasta has helped me tremendously in building the confidence I needed for a serene birthing experience. Her prenatal yoga classes are not only excellent to prepare physically and emotionally for birth and motherhood, but also provide a joyful gathering of women at different stages of pregnancy. I definitely recommend Shasta’s energy, experience and passion in any transition to motherhood.”
Lara Martens
“A friend recommended Shasta's prenatal yoga class. I started going in my second trimester. Taking time to slow down and be guided through the yoga flows by Shasta helped me feel more connected to my pregnancy and my body. The classes were physically challenging but also relaxing. When I found out that Shasta was also a doula (even though I hadn't heard of a doula before), I knew I wanted her to help me with the birth. She brought the same supportive kindness and calm energy as she always has in class to my home and then the hospital when I went into labour. After the yoga classes, I felt very comfortable having Shasta lead me through breathing techniques. Even my husband, who was unsure about having a midwife and doula deliver our baby instead of a doctor, was in awe of Shasta using her arm as a rolling pin to help me push when I was having a hard time during the birth. With the help of Shasta and our midwife, I was able to have a natural birth. My baby and I are now enjoying Shasta's postnatal yoga classes. I don't know if I could have done it without Shasta, and I know I wouldn't have wanted to do it without Shasta :)”
Greta
“Shasta completely changed our path through pregnancy and birth, and I will be forever grateful to her for this gift. Shasta is passionate about birth, educating and empowering women. An amazing yoga teacher, an incredibly experienced and calming Doula, and a beautiful person. Yoga with Shasta four times a week prepared my body for birth. Breathing, stretching and strengthening - Shasta’s classes are designed to move and celebrate being pregnant. It gave me confidence in my body and I felt beautiful, capable and ready. I loved being pregnant. I was strong and relaxed, but also emotionally supported as a member of Shasta’s community of women, sharing pregnancy ups and downs, birth stories, postnatal and baby advice. The turning point in our pregnancy was attending Shasta’s Workshop where we learned about natural birth and its benefits versus an obstetrician-led hospital birth that we had booked by default. Finally armed with the right information (we barely knew what a doula was beforehand) my husband I decided immediately to move to a Midwife at Genesis Birthing Clinic with Shasta as our Doula and a plan to have a natural vaginal birth. One of the most important and best decisions we'll ever make. I remember feeling like a weight had lifted off my shoulders and I knew in my heart this was the right thing to do. When my due date came and went, Shasta helped me to be patient and feel confident to let our baby come in his own time. I was grateful for her knowledge and advice throughout my pregnancy. We had a long, intense labour but I felt so well supported the whole day. We were able to minimise interventions and deliver naturally, dealing with pain through breath, vocalising (I was very loud!) hard work and determination. I distinctly remember Shasta whispering to me to reach down and feel my baby's head as I was pushing and it gave me the strength to keep going. I literally gave birth in Shasta’s arms - sitting in her lap - we were trying it all! It was so beautifully intense and the most amazing day of my life. Shasta helped me to get baby feeding and within an hour of giving birth we were laughing and eating vegetarian pizza and gazing at our beautiful boy. I will always treasure this moment. For such an important event - arguably the most important thing we do in life - most people are hopelessly under-educated about birth. Shasta helped me to have a pregnancy and birth that I never knew was possible. With Shasta's insatiable passion for birth she delivers lives but also changes lives every day. What an amazing woman, I feel so blessed to have in her in my life.”
Kelly Douglas
