Urban Views Weekly, April 6, 2016

Apr. 6, 2016

Scholar of the Week - Taliah Gilliam

RVA’s Bill McGee flying high on airwaves around the country

E X Q U I S I T E R E N TA L S

Civic Beat FUNdraising Good Times

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Health News

sponsored by VCU Health J. Chevonte’ Alexander

Worry is the Work of Pregnancy Benefits of Yoga for Pregnant Women

Welcome to Urban Views Health News, a bi-monthly article focusing on health, specific health-related issues, fitness, fun and tips on how we can become healthier individually and as a community.

as well. It is a nice gentle way to start moving and be aware of what the body needs.

“Mind-body therapies like yoga encourage breathing, mindfulness and physical activity. Yoga is a tool in the toolbox and teaches us how to be resilient in the face of stressors in our lives. In yoga, we focus our breathing, and this can be done in real life as well. I can stop and take a breath if I am feeling stressed,” comments Kinser.

“Yoga brings more centeredness and helps you to find what you need at that moment to be the best you can be.”

Namaste.

If you have taken a yoga class, you are very familiar with this word, but for those who have not, namaste is a respectful greeting.

In this week’s Urban Views Weekly Health News, we chat with Dr. Patricia Kinser, Assistant Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing in the Department of Family and Community Health.

Dr. Kinser is a board-certified women’s health nurse practitioner and her research focuses on women’s mental health issues. She has always worked in free clinics for underserved populations and she notices an immense burden of stress and depression on women, particularly during pregnancy, coupled with socioeconomic and social stressors. These stressors have an effect physically and mentally on women. Pregnancy is a huge transition in a woman’s life and knowing how to deal with this transition can enhance health during and after pregnancy.

Kinser suggests yoga as a possible way for pregnant women to build resilience and deal with a changing body and lifestyle.

“I became really interested in helping women that were having these chronic pains or depression symptoms,” comments Kinser. “A lot of women needed something

that empowered them to engage in self-care versus prescribing a pill. What other options are there for women?”

As a certified yoga instructor, Kinser witnessed women using yoga to deal with stress from at home-life, work, divorce or just life period. “I put my two passions together and began research on how mind-body therapies like yoga can help pregnant women.”

Prenatal yoga, when taught by a trained instructor, is appropriate for anyone - even those who never practiced yoga before. Instructors teach a gentle form of yoga adapted to the expecting mothers’ changing bodies.

Prenatal yoga is a great introduction to physical activity

Yoga encourages one to pay closer attention to one’s body and emotional state. Yoga is moving, breathing and practicing techniques to help you physically and emotionally. There is no doubt about it - a woman’s brain is always racing...what to wear, what time to pick up your child, what time is this meeting, clean this or I am gaining weight - yoga addresses whatever that stressor may be. Yoga helps you focus on something else that can put your mind and body at ease. This is why prenatal yoga is so good for expectant mothers.

Now that you have had the baby, what about continuing with yoga?

Postpartum depression is, unfortunately, quite common.

The new family structure and dynamic, the role of motherhood, and continuing changes in the body can continue to be stressors in a woman’s life. Yoga and other mindfulness practices, whether or not one has depression, may help to builds one’s capacity for self-management of continues to page 11

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Urban Views Weekly | April 6, 2016

3

ViewPoints

By Dr. T

Do #AllLivesMatter… really?

When there is a terrorist attack in a European city, the worldwide media rushes to the scene and focuses its attention on reporting the story. The victims are humanized and even identified as someone’s father, son, daughter, husband, sister, mother or friend.

The coordinated terrorist attacks in Brussels recently became the focus of media attention and once again invited our interrogation into the nature of terrorism and reignited both our fears and our sympathies. Coming only weeks after the coordinated attacks in Paris, the most recent on-the-scene reports of the March 22nd bombings at the airport and on a metro train in Brussels provided 24-hour news coverage for an entire week.

killing 65 people and leaving over 136 injured. Reports say more than 20 people were burned alive in their homes. This atrocity targeted and victimized many defenseless women, children and elderly people. Where was the press? Imagine the level of coverage had the attack taken place in England or France, Belgium or Germany. Boko Haram has overtaken Isis as the world’s deadliest terror group. In 2014 alone, the terrorist group killed 6,644 men, women and children who were merely attempting to live their lives.

What difference is there in the terrorism perpetrated upon the people of Turkey, Africa, and Palestine from those who live in Europe? It is painfully clear that worldwide attention focuses on the tragedies differently and that the lives lost, people maimed, displaced and traumatized in countries where the bodies are predominantly black and brown do not get monuments made of flowers, global vigils or Facebook pages dedicated to their eternal memory. Our hearts do not bleed for their cities or countrymen, and we do not hold them up with the same collective prayers for peace, or stand with them in solidarity for the terror they face in their daily lives.

“When there is a terrorist attack in a European city, the worldwide media rushes to the scene...”

Just 3 days prior to the terror unleashed in Brussels where 34 people were killed and 198 injured, there was an attack in Turkey where 5 innocent people were killed and 39 injured. That attack came only 6 days after a suicide car bomb exploded in the heart of the capital city Ankara, claiming 37 lives. In February, a car bomb killed 29 people in the same city. Where was the international outcry, the nonstop on-the-scene coverage from the international press? Where were MSNBC, CNN or any other USA media coverage to ignite the sympathy and passions of the world, prompting them to mark the place of death and No #AllLives Do Not Matter for as the saying goes, “actions speak louder than words”, destruction and memorialize the victims? Exactly one year ago on April 2nd, a terrorist and by our actions we have demonstrated a resounding silence, lack of knowledge, care or attack left 148 people dead in Kenya. The brutal massacre was carried out at Garissa concern for some lives over others. To say ALL Lives Matter and to actually believe that University College in the eastern part of Kenya it’s true are two entirely different things. The close to the Somali border. Again, only a muted outcome is easily measured by the distinction Tawnya Pettiford-Wates, Ph.D. response from the media and no worldwide that is made when what we say is NOT coverage or outcry. Do #AllLivesMatter, really? demonstrated by what we DO. Founder and Artistic Director In February, this year, Boko Haram attacked a village in Nigeria and set the homes on fire

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Urban Views Weekly | April 6, 2016

5

Bill McGee – he’s livin Bill McGee, a long-time trumpeter, isn’t your average Central Virginia musician. CEO and recording engineer of The 804 Music Group, Bill brings the live feeling of jazz, gospel, and soul to listeners all over—right from his music studio based in Richmond.

Born in Virginia, but also raised in Atlanta, McGee used many sources who have contributed to his music career.

He started his early music work in Atlanta and played in many music groups. He learned the music industry and mastered performance to eventually work alongside artists like The Sugarhill Gang, Grandmaster Flash, and D’Angelo.

McGee grew up in Atlanta during the Vietnam War era.

“Everything was really fast paced,” he said. He followed many of his friend’s footsteps that also ended up in the professional music industry. He eventually decided to move back to Virginia where life was a little more laid back.

McGee graduated from Virginia State College (University) with a degree in Music Education. He earned a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Norfolk State University. In addition to his musical performance and recording career, McGee has been a public school Instrumental Music Teacher in Petersburg and Richmond; Director of the Recording Engineering and Technology Program, Elizabeth City State University 6

Urban Views Weekly | April 6, 2016

(NC); Director of Instrumental Music, Morehouse College (GA); and a recently retired Richmond public schools administrator.

Still Bill is McGee’s fourth and newest album. His latest and most popular track is titled “Cantaloupe and Watermelon.”

All music content was produced in his personal studio where he manages his own record label, The 804 Music Group. The genres and ages that the label manages vary. And though this was McGee’s fourth album, he says it is his most special because of all of the people that participated in it. Still Bill is a collaboration of many musicians in the 804 area. McGee noted, “I think when I put together a list, there are at least 18 people on this album and that doesn’t even include my grandchildren.”

He continued to explain, “There’s a core group of musicians and the age range is real wide.” Ayinde Williams, a pianist who is featured on the album is 18 years old and just graduated from high school. McGee also features a drummer who is 15 and a 16-year-old saxophone player.

Many of McGee’s other featured artists are in their 20s, 30s, and the rest in their 60s. He’s worked with many of the musicians over the years and said that is what has made it special for him, “There is lots of love going on in this CD.”

Photo: Tom Reaves

“Cantaloupe and Watermelon” is now a top 30 hit on billboard charts. McGee exclaimed, “We

thought by the time April came around we would be getting ready to put out our second single. We didn’t anticipate this song being as successful as it is.”

Billboard lists the top 30 songs in the country. Right now Cantaloupe and Watermelon is listed as the 24th most popular song in the country. McGee continued to say, “And hopefully it’ll keep going higher.

But just to get on the billboard top 30 is the first time that ever happened for me as a solo artist. All of the people that I’ve worked with in the past have had big hit records.

I’ve played on a lot of hit records, but always as a backup musician. So this record is the first time I’ve made it on the charts as a solo musician.”

McGee’s album wasn’t titled Still Bill for just any reason.

McGee said, “People would say, you still got it Bill. I’d say back, I know I still got it! So I said ok, I’m still Bill, and that’s just the way the name came about.” McGee mentioned that another artist influenced his album title, too. Singer-songwriter Bill Withers released his own Still Bill in 1972. McGee added, “Well I thought, hey if it’s good enough for Bill Withers it’s good enough for me.”

McGee’s Still Bill is composed of ninety percent live music.

His previous CD was predominately used with sequencing.

Sequencing is when a computer is used to play drums or the rhythm track. McGee reworked his studio after retirement to include live drums. Shortly after, he brought

ng on top of his world

By Janice Millan

in a few of his drummer friends to make new music. Though McGee used live musicians before, most of the rhythm and drums were used through sequencing on his previous albums.

This time, live drummers made those tracks.

“I love this area because I think that there is a lot of talent.

There aren’t a lot of outlets but the industry has changed so much with everything being online now. If you really have a good product and you know what to do, you can really do fairly decent from just right here in Richmond. My new record is an example of that. This week we’re number 24 with a bullet and hopefully we’ll be in the Top 20 soon; we are number 14 on the SmoothJazz.Com chart. That’s the highest we’ve ever been on any chart. On the national billboard chart—and that’s all done from right here in Richmond. It’s all about social media and working the Internet and being in communication and creating websites and all of that. The world has just changed. A lot of people used to just run to Atlanta or New York or LA. The music industry has just changed to the point that you don’t necessarily have to do all that running around anymore.”

McGee recorded local gospel artist Reverend Cora Harvey Armstrong’s album with live instruments too. Her CD was right before Still Bill was created. McGee explained that her CD was 99% live. He continued to explain, “Gospel

music…you want drums. You want to get that feeling going!” McGee went directly from finishing Armstrong’s cd to finishing Still Bill and thinks that it is the ‘live feel’ and groove that people enjoy.

Still Bill wasn’t a quick project, though. McGee took a nine-year hiatus before his latest release.

“We have nine grandchildren. In the last nine years we’ve had seven of them. I have two grandchildren that are older than nine. One is 12 and one is 11. The other seven are younger than nine. We’ve been doing a lot of granddaddy and grand-mommy stuff. We’ve become real big time grandparents as the number of grandkids is concerned.

I always use that as kind of an excuse when people ask me ‘Why haven’t you put out a record in nine years?’ Well, because I’ve had nine grandkids! But I didn’t have any grandchildren; the mothers had them we just play with them (laughs).”

But with McGee being CEO of The 804 Music Group, engineering and producing were always constant. He helped release other artists in the past decade including two albums by James Saxsmo Gates, a CD by Dr. Weldon Hill, and Armstrong’s album. He explained, “Even though we didn’t release a CD by me, I released music from the record label.”

For the future of music in Richmond, McGee sees a bright future. He believes there is a ton of talent in Richmond, saying “A friend of mine told me once that there are a lot of talented people everywhere, but I think that Virginia has per capita some of the most talented people that you

would find anywhere.” Further elaborating, “I know a lot of people like bigger cities like Atlanta, but that’s because a lot of people move there. Richmond, VA is not really a mecca for people to come to, so if you’ve got any talent it’s usually homegrown talent. I feel homegrown because I was actually born in Richmond even though I grew up all over the place.”

McGee plans to work on many more projects this year.

He hopes to release at least two or three other CD’s this year. McGee, with the help of The 804 Music Group artists, is collaborating on an upcoming compilation CD. A lot of different background musicians who are featured on McGee’s single will have songs of their own released this time. Tom Reaves, a guitarist who has played on all four of Bill’s albums is one of them. A couple of associate producers (E J Shaw and Brandon Lane) will have their own features. McGee plans to participate in album production, but no track will be listed under his name.

He said the main goal is to keep trying to expand their base and make hit records.

“We didn’t anticipate this much success. It’s a really big deal.

We feel so blessed.”

Ric Braun and Bill McGee www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

7

Scholar of the Week

Taliah Gilliam

of Petersburg High School GPA: 3.4 College of Interest: Johnson C. Smith University Major Community Service: Marathons, 5K Runs and the Food Bank Strong Interests: Political Science Favorite Activities: Play sports, go to assemblies and volunteer

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Urban Views Weekly | April 6, 2016

By Janeal Downs

As a child, Taliah Gilliam always had an interest in history and government. The ways in which the government worked intrigued her and she made it a mission to learn as much as possible. She plans to further this goal by going to college and majoring in political science. “Political science will make me influential in the lives of everyday people,” Taliah wrote in an essay. Her dream profession would be to work her way up to a position as a U.S. senator and even the president of the country. Taliah is interested in meeting people of different ethnic backgrounds and diverse views.. As a politician she looks forward to meeting people with different backgrounds. Taliah believes that a career in politics will allow her to give back to society as she makes good policy decisions for everyone.

With only a few months before she graduates, Taliah plans to attend Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina.

She was attracted to the school because it is a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) and also the family-oriented feel she gets from the university. ”I want to go to a school where I can feel like they’re my family, not strangers,” Taliah said. “It’s a smaller campus so the professors will be more involved with the students.”

One lesson she will take with her from high school to college is to study more.

Scholar0

While Taliah hopes to one day influence the community and nation, one of her own inspirations is her mother. ”My mom got her degrees, she went to college twice and she’s in the profession she wanted to be in,” Taliah said. Politically, Senator Rosalyn R. Dance (D) is another one of her inspirations. Dance, who is also from Petersburg, reminds Taliah that someone from the area can make it politically and influence others.

™ Currently in high school, Taliah prepares ek e W e h t f o for a life as a politician as a volunteer for marathons, 5K runs and the Food Banks.

She also searches for ways to improve her public speaking skills, keeps up with world news and follows the current presidential race. She believes a As a politician Taliah will be exposed to diverse situations, woman president would be good for the country and would open influence the everyday lives of people, improve her own skills and a lot of doors. She will be voting in this year’s election, something “help preserve the nation’s sovereignty.” The number one thing she that is very important to her, an honor. “I think it’s very important would like the community to know “is that it’s a challenge being a to vote. A lot of people think, well it’s just one less vote, but when young black woman in Petersburg. I want them to know that I’m you don’t vote it really does make a difference,” Taliah said. ”It going to push as hard as I can to reach my goals. Nothing’s going breaks ties, it makes a difference, it really means a lot to America to stop me, no obstacles, nothing.” for everybody to vote.”

Watch for our Scholar of the Week segment, Wednesdays at 6:30 PM on 

www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

How to Guide

TanyaFree.com/Urban Views Weekly Poll

How to Choose a Pool or Spa Going to a spa is indeed a refreshing way to relax. But repeated visits can add up.

Which is why installing a home spa or pool is a great way to feel like you’ve been on vacation without ever leaving home.

There are medical benefits as well. Many people who suffer from chronic back pain or circulatory issues find relief in a spa.

Contrary to popular belief, home spas have become quite affordable in recent years. As a result, they are also very popular. There are easy-toinstall models and even portable ones that you can take with you on vacation.

The home-spa industry has worked hard to incorporate innovations, such as ozonators and aromatherapy fragrances. Spas often found in high-end hotels and resorts are now available for the average consumer.

You may be able to purchase some of these models at your favorite big-box or homeimprovement center.

You can also purchase a home spa with a media center, along with therapeutic and LED lighting. Watch your favorite DVD or TV program while relaxing in the tub.

The best spas include hydrotherapy, which will help you heal and repair your body.

Tubs with water jets will massage muscles, improve circulation, relax nerves and ease pain. The water suspends your tired muscles in weightlessness, allowing them to rest. People with chronic back problems often report relief.

Custom spas are also available. You can have it built to meet your specifications.

Everyone has a different reason for www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

installing a home spa, and manufacturers are happy to accommodate your requests.

At-home swimming pools are another favorite for healthconscious people.

These pools are not like your typical in-ground blue bathtub. Natural stone, manmade waterfalls and landscape detailing will make your pool into a private oasis.

Before purchasing your pool, decide whether you would like an in-ground or above-ground pool. Above-ground pools are less expensive, but many people prefer the durability and overall look of an in-ground pool. Take time to think about your decision. After all, your pool is a major investment. It will be a part of your home for many years.

Consider the landscaping around your pool. There are many possible finishes for the decking alone. You can also choose the materials, style and features. Sometimes the environment around a pool can seem as relaxing as stepping foot in the water.

It’s a fact that most people build their dream pool over a number of years as it fits their budget. You don’t have to do everything at once. Just start with a highquality installation and a vision of what you want the area to become. You can add more features later.

With so many advances in home spas and swimming pools, combined with their affordability, it makes sense to install one on your property. After all, wouldn’t it be nice to have your own private resort without the hassle of leaving home?

Is the 40 hour work week a thing of the past? A recent survey of full time employees revealed that while responsibilities at work have increased, wages have largely stayed flat.

Company supplied smart phones, tablets and remote work software have brought more flexibility, but forced many of us to work seven days a week to keep up.

How about you? Do you regularly work more than 40 hours per week?

Check out the story and respond to this week’s poll at TanyaFree.com and the Urban Views Weekly FACEBOOK Page. Listen to the Tanya Free and Friends Talk Show Wednesdays @ 2pm on WCLM1450AM streaming LIVE @ TanyaFree.com and BlackTalkRadioNetwork.com.

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Urban Views Weekly | April 6, 2016

9

The Deal

By Nathaniel Sillin

When Changing Jobs, Should You Leave 401(k) Money Behind?

With the average American spending only 4.6 years at any given job, it’s never been more important to have a plan for any retirement funds you’ve accrued at any employer.

A big problem that began during the 2008 recession but continues today involves loans, hardship withdrawals and complete cash-outs of 401(k) plans. A 2015 Boston College study reported that 1.5 percent of retirement assets “leak out” of 401(k) plans and personal IRAs each year, reducing an individual’s wealth at retirement by about 25 percent.

Meanwhile, a 2014 Fidelity Investments study sounded a particularly urgent alarm about 401(k) cash-outs and workers under the age of 40. The mutual fund giant noted that 35 percent of all participants were simply cashing out their 401(k) assets when leaving a job. However, for workers aged 20-39 – indeed, those with the longest savings horizons – that number jumped to 41 percent.

So what should you do? A great deal depends on your age, time to retirement and specific needs.

Start by taking an inventory of your retirement assets.

Either alone or with the help of a qualified financial or tax expert, put together an official list of current and former 401(k) plans, personal IRAs or, depending on your years of work history, assets from traditional defined benefit retirement plans that were popular more than 20 years ago.

Then see where you are.

Make sure you always review retirement options whenever you change a job. If an employer is highly motivated

to get you on board, query the company about the retirement savings options that would fit the position you’re interviewing for. Ask hiring managers in general terms about how well their retirement options have performed and if you would have the option of rolling over your 401(k) assets to that employer. If, for example, your prospective employer has a more generous matching feature than your current employer has, that could create a favorable environment for transferring those assets. If not, you may want to keep your money in your employer’s existing plan or consider a rollover to a personal IRA with the features you’re looking for. Ask plenty of questions.

Evaluate IRA choices carefully. If you are considering rolling your former employer’s assets into a personal IRA, evaluate your tax situation, both Traditional and Roth IRA options and their performance and fee levels before you arrange for a transfer.

H

Go for the best-performing investment options that fit your needs and anticipated retirement date. Employer-based 401(k) plans generally disclose investment choices and investment fees. It may be a good idea to get qualified help to review those documents. Age is important. There’s typically a 10 percent penalty if you withdraw money from a 401(k) or IRA before age 59½. But if you lose or leave your job at age 55 or later (or earlier for certain public employees), you can generally take 401(k) withdrawals without penalty. An IRA rollover requires the account holder to be at least 59½ years old before they can take a penalty-free IRA distribution. While keeping your money invested as long as possible is key to a successful retirement, withdrawal issues are also important to consider based on your age and time to retirement.

Invest on your own. It’s important to do parallel personal retirement planning with any employer-based retirement options available to you. Again, get qualified help to assist you in evaluating the retirement savings and investment decisions you make on your own and at work.

Bottom line: Frequent job changing can derail anyone’s retirement planning. Whether you roll over a former employer’s retirement assets every time you switch or decide to keep your money in certain plans, get help if you need it.

Nathaniel Sillin directs Visa’s financial education programs.

To follow Practical Money Skills on Twitter: www.twitter. com/PracticalMoney.

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Classifieds

FUNdraising from page 2

enough time for this person to review and edit your work. Don’t ask your proofreader to drop everything and edit. They should have time they can dedicate to your writing, giving it their complete attention.

• Contract with a copyeditor. This is a worthwhile investment. Be sure to communicate your expectations, and the audience you are writing for so they can look for nuances that can “make or break you.” Over time they will find the right balance between over-editing and under-editing; they will learn your voice; and you will begin incorporating their suggestions into your first drafts.

• Write proposals that clearly respond to a funder’s guidelines.

As with letters and reports, be sure these are reviewed in advance of submission. Your reviewer should have a copy of the funding guidelines, and ideally should be from outside your organization. When we are

close to a project we don’t realize that a reader may not understand acronyms, processes, or the need for specific services. We’ve also noticed a tendency to “throw in the kitchen sink” when writing a proposal.

Filling a proposal with too much information that is not relevant, and not presented in a logical fashion, can be overwhelming for a reader causing one’s eyes to glaze over!

We close with two suggestions you can implement immediately. Use the spell check function in all programs, including email. Plan your important writing so you can set it aside for a few days, coming back to it with “fresh eyes.” You will be amazed by what you see when re-reading a document.

We want your writing to be right on.

Copyright 2016– Mel and Pearl Shaw For help growing your fundraising visit www.saadandshaw.com or call (901) 522-8727.

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Yoga from page 3

stress and related symptoms. Again, yoga is a tool in our toolbox we can draw upon to help us deal with internal and external stress.

that research suggests that physical activity, even gentle, can have a profound positive effect on one’s body during this transformative time.

During postpartum, Kinser suggests mom and baby yoga classes because it is great to build support and relationships outside the home with women experiencing similar lifestyle changes.

Although research is new in this field, studies are beginning to suggest that there are multiple benefits of practicing yoga during pregnancy.

For example, studies show that yoga may be helpful for:

“For women who practiced prenatal yoga, we see them engaged in more self-management of their health and intrinsic motivation to engage in physical activity. They bring this into the postpartum period as well.” comments Kinser.

Kinser also stresses that it is important to note www.UrbanViewsWeekly.com

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enhancing sense of well-being

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decreasing anxiety and depressive symptoms

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building flexibility, strength, and endurance of muscles needed for childbirth

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improving symptoms for patients with asthma and hypertension

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decreasing ligament and joint pains

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building a sense of community with other expectant mothers

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increasing a sense of connection with the baby

So, if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant soon, prenatal yoga is the way to go to strengthen, center, and calm your mind and body.

Namaste.

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Urban Views Weekly | April 6, 2016

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Urban Views Weekly | April 6, 2016

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