Once a mainstay in the West Village, now the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan is lucky enough to house this prenatal/postnatal/baby/child yoga/education powerhouse - Karma Kids Yoga.
On our way home from the office we stopped in to say hello to Juliana Secches, the Prenatal Yoga Director of the studio. An inviting front desk and retail area welcomed us, opposite a large sunlit studio with individual mats waiting for their next yogis to arrive. 
Everything in this studio is perfect for the niche of client it serves - from a Stroller Valet to colorful hand-painted wall art to the availability of 2 large bathrooms and a kitchen.
"We have a lot of pregnant and postpartum clients who work in Chelsea," says Juliana, "They come during their lunch break or after work, but they don't necessarily live in the neighborhood or even in Manhattan." In fact, both new and repeat clients include moms from New Jersey and Brooklyn who commute.
And it's easy to see why! The schedule at Karma Kids Yoga is jam-packed with useful programs like Yoga for pregnancy, Mom & Baby, Kids, and Teens. Unique classes like American Girl Doll Yoga and Superhero Yoga stagger between music, story time, and even Family Yoga. (Dads too, of course) Private classes and birthday parties are also in the mix. A second large studio equipped with Pilates accessories sits at the end of the hall to accommodate pre and post natal classes.
On top of extensive yoga backgrounds, a handful of the Karma Kids Yoga instructors are also doulas. They teach Yoga for Labor and Childbirth Education Classes. "How can you be empowered for something if you don't understand it?" says Secches, a doula herself. She stresses the importance of expecting the unexpected in labor and trying to prepare in the best way we can through breathing and strengthening techniques. In fact, the next workshop is on Saturday, June 18th! 12 lucky attendees will receive gift bags with goodies that include a Pretty Pushers labor gown.
Best of all, Karma Kids Yoga is all about good Karma! No need to stress a new mom out...the class packages (in packs of 5,10, or 20) never expire! Owner and founder Shari Vilchez-Blatt has got a good thing going here. Thanks for having us over, girls!
