Where are you originally from?
I am from Highlands, N.J., a small town on the Jersey Shore.
What brought you to the Capital District?
I moved to Saratoga Springs from Washington, D.C., in 2014 after my husband, Steve, accepted a job with General Electric in Schenectady. We instantly fell in love with the friendly vibe of Saratoga Springs and the beauty of the Adirondacks.
How many children do you have and what are their ages?
My son, Henry, was born in June 2016, one year after we lost his big sister, Susannah, after a 20-week pregnancy.
Where is your favorite place to go as a family in the Capital District?
We love walking to the Saratoga Springs Public Library and Congress Park, then stopping for a latte (me and my husband) and a fruit cup (Henry) for the walk home.
What is one piece of advice that you would pass along to other moms?
Know your kid, and trust your gut. Parenting isn’t a one-size-fits-all endeavor, and only you know what’s right for your kid and your family.
When/where did you first take a yoga class?
My mom, a longtime yogini herself, introduced me to yoga almost as soon as I could walk.
When did you decide to become a yoga instructor?
After losing my daughter in 2015, I attended Kim Beekman’s yoga class at the Wilton branch of the Saratoga Regional YMCA pretty much every Sunday morning. When Kim announced that she was holding her first-ever 200-hour yoga teacher training, I was among the first to sign up. I was pregnant with my son by that time, and the tools I learned during teacher training gave me the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual fortitude I needed to get through the emotional roller coaster that is pregnancy after loss.
How did you come to teach Yoga + Meditation for Healing at KindNest?
After my son was born, I wasn’t sure if I would actually teach yoga. Caring for a newborn and squeezing in a few hours of work for my day job as a freelance writer felt like more than enough to juggle! Then, Kim introduced me to Sarah Denio, who dreamed of creating a place where women could access a variety of holistic resources for pregnancy, trying to conceive and healing after pregnancy loss. While our two rainbow babies—babies born after a loss—gummed bananas in my living room, Sarah and I co-created this class, which started when KindNest Pregnancy Empowerment opened in March 2019.
Where is the class located?
KindNest Pregnancy Empowerment is located just off I-87 Exit 10 in Ballston Lake. It’s a calming, peaceful environment.
What is the class like? Do you need to have experience to take the class?
No experience necessary! It’s super-beginner-friendly. We start with a couple minutes of breath work, followed by a gentle vinyasa flow and some restorative poses before a guided meditation. It’s a small class, so attendees can enjoy a personalized approach.
What is your hope for those attending the class?
My hope is for people attending the class to learn some simple breathing techniques and yoga poses to help calm their minds and ease their bodies after a pregnancy loss, and to give them a space where they can feel safe sharing their stories and feeling difficult emotions, if needed. Those who have taken the class also say they have found meaning and comfort connecting with others who have been through a similar experience. Most of all, my hope is that everyone who walks through the door feels acceptance and compassion.
Are there any other resources in the Capital District that you would recommend to someone who has suffered a pregnancy loss?
KindNest also has a Ceremony for Honoring Loss the first Sunday of every month and offers many other services including reiki and massage. Additionally, I am a board member of Angel Names Association, a nonprofit based in Saratoga Springs that provides assistance to the families of stillborn children nationwide. We will be hosting our 14th Annual Memorial Walk on Sept. 28 2019 in Saratoga Spa State Park. It’s a family-friendly, uplifting day to raise awareness of pregnancy loss and infant death.
Where can people learn more about KindNest?
Instagram@KindNestEmpowers
Where can people about more about Amy?
Photo Credit:
Family Photos taken by Gallery Nine North
Follow Gallery Nine North on Facebook@G9NPHOTO or Instagram@galleryninenorth
