Join Samantha Gilbert at Metta San Rafael for Goddess Yoga!

Gather with us for an afternoon of movement, ritual, and connection. Step into a space created intentionally for women, to move differently, breathe deeper, and reconnect with parts of yourself that may feel tucked away in the pace of everyday life.

Goddess Yoga is a homecoming for women. With influences from belly dance, hula, sensual movement and vinyasa, this practice is circular, playful, primal & focuses on opening the hips, heart, & throat. You’ll begin with rituals: gathering in a circle, anointing with oils, and pulling cards. 

These rituals serve as a profound way of dropping in & simply catching up to wherever we are at in life. You will then delight in liberating somatics & yoga flow that emphasize heart circles, hip circles, breathwork, and dance.

Every Goddess Yoga class is held with the utmost reverence and respect for women, for sisterhood, and for the complex lives we live.

Come as you are and leave feeling lit up, inspired, radiant, connected and capable. This practice is life changing, but don't just take our word for it - come find out for yourself!

COST: $45 (10% off for Metta Yoga members applies automatically at checkout)

FOLLOW THE STEPS TO BOOK:

Step 1) Purchase the credit for this event:

Step 2) Reserve your spot for this event on our class schedule (Do not forget this step!):

About the Instructor:

Samantha is an electric force in the Wellness World. As a 500hr Yoga Alliance certified teacher who has traveled the Globe and worked as a commercial salmon fisherman for half a decade, Samantha brings a unique sense of depth, grit & playfulness into her Spiritual practices. She is a dedicated, talented, and fiercely passionate teacher, who shows genuine interest in her students well being and transformation. Her classes are smart, fun, juicy, and Samantha brings a fresh energy that’s entirely her own. Samantha's love for yoga is paired with an affinity for space holding, storytelling, and empowering those around her. Come as you are and leave relieved and inspired. Bay Area born and raised, Samantha now returns to California and is exuberant about joining the Metta Team.

Samantha also hosts retreats, workshops and writing circles and can be found at www.wildsoulcraft.com

Workshops this year will be held on June 13 & October 3

For many of us, the only images or stories of labor we’ve seen come from movies and TV shows. The woman is in pain, yelling at her partner for “getting” her pregnant, flat on her back, and somehow goes from no contractions to full-on labor in minutes. Her water breaks dramatically. Often at the worst possible time.

This is not representative of real labor. Only about 15% of women experience their water breaking before labor begins, and labor rarely unfolds in a sudden, chaotic way.

More importantly, labor does not have to be a scary, painful, or overwhelming experience.

A productive labor begins when your body feels safe. When you feel supported, grounded, and regulated, your nervous system can shift out of fight-or-flight and into the parasympathetic state where labor hormones flow more efficiently. This sense of safety allows the body to soften, the pelvis to open, and contractions to work with you rather than against you.

This workshop is designed to help you feel at home in your body, understand what is happening physiologically, and learn how to regulate your nervous system so labor can unfold with more ease, confidence, and trust. You will be empowered to make your labor and delivery an experience that aligns with your values, your body, and your vision. You’ll learn how to recognize and respond to the signals your body sends to your brain, strengthening your connection to intuition and your body’s innate intelligence so you can make informed, embodied choices during labor.

In this workshop, you will learn:

• What exactly happens in your body when labor begins, and how proper pelvic alignment can support your baby’s descent and reduce the need for interventions

• How nervous system regulation plays a critical role in productive labor and how to create a sense of safety in your body

• Strategies to soften the body and quiet the mind so you can let go and allow labor to begin when the time is right

• How to strengthen the muscles that support endurance, stability, and effective pushing during labor

• Kundalini “keep up” exercises to train your mind and nervous system for the intensity, overwhelm, and fatigue that can arise during surges

• Mental strategies to shift focus away from fear and intensity and into presence, rhythm, and trust

• Meditations to move from a mindset of scarcity and fear into one of abundance, confidence, and inner support

• How to set up your hospital or birth space so it feels calm, intimate, and supportive rather than clinical and stressful

• Connection with other pregnant mamas in a supportive, grounded community

This workshop is not about controlling labor, it is about learning how to work with your body, your nervous system, and your baby so you can meet labor feeling prepared, supported, and deeply connected.

Cost: $55 for one person or $85 for you & your partner (10% off for Metta Yoga members applies automatically at checkout)

TO BOOK:

Step 1) Purchase the credit for this event:

Step 2) Reserve your spot for this event on our class schedule (Do not forget this step!):

Reviews from previous workshops:

"Ashley was a great guide making the group feel comfortable to share their stories. It was a great environment where I learned so much about labor and delivery and tips on how to make the experience better. I myself was able to release my own fears I was struggling with and came out feeling more prepared for my baby’s birth. Ashley is a wealth of knowledge  regarding pregnancy, the body, labor, and delivery. I highly recommend her classes!" - Heather Abramson.

“This workshop was incredibly transformative! Ashley created such a safe and supportive space, allowing us mamas to openly share our very real fears about labor and delivery. Through her guidance, I was able to reframe many of those anxieties, replacing them with a profound sense of appreciation and wonder for my own body's amazing capabilities. The practical stretches and movements she taught were invaluable, giving me a clear understanding of how I can naturally support my body through the birthing process. I now feel so much more confident and prepared for this part of my pregnancy journey.” - Teresa Collins

“Ashley hosted a wonderful workshop where we learned all about preparing for childbirth, and addressing our fears surrounding labor and childbirth. The setting was an intimate group where each of us could openly share our story, and I left feeling both empowered and validated. Ashley shared a wealth of knowledge on tools to use during labor that covered breathwork, positioning, movement and mindset. We learned about what to expect for each stage of labor, and which tools are most useful for each stage. She shared tips for a variety of types of birth, so that we can be prepared for whatever is to come. I went into the workshop not realizing some of the fears that I was carrying around birth. Having a dedicated time to write them out and then discuss with the group really eased a lot of my anxieties. Knowledge truly is power. I highly recommend anyone preparing for any type of birth to attend this workshop..” - Chelsea Wiley

Meet yourself exactly as you are. This philosophy is at the heart of Ashley’s work. She came to yoga in 2004 as a former competitive gymnast, initially drawn to the physical challenge, and over time discovered a practice rooted in alignment, presence, and nervous system support. She became a certified yoga teacher in 2012, and her path deepened after becoming pregnant in 2016, leading her to specialize in supporting women through fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, and early motherhood.

Ashley is the Director of Metta Mama, where she supports women through the matrescence journey by teaching fertility, prenatal, and postnatal yoga classes and labor support workshops. Her work centers the lived experience of motherhood, holding space for the physical, emotional, and identity shifts that come with conceiving, carrying, and raising children. She also teaches oncology yoga and yoga for healing. Across all of her work, her approach is grounded in nervous system support, helping individuals regulate stress, rebuild trust in their bodies, and move through life’s transitions with greater ease. She has experienced first hand the importance of creating a community of strong women that can support each other and she is honored to do that work at Metta Mama.

After navigating her own breast cancer diagnosis and 14 months of treatment at 43, Ashley experienced firsthand how practices like breathwork, movement, and mindfulness can support healing on every level. This deepened her commitment to creating space in people’s lives to build stress resiliency through her coaching and her work with But You Are So Healthy.

Ashley supports mothers through the daily realities and deeper transitions of motherhood by working from the body up, using somatic practices, breath, and intentional movement to unwind stored tension, regulate the nervous system, and create a felt sense of safety in the body. From this place, long-held patterns and habitual responses that no longer serve can begin to shift, allowing for greater ease, clarity, and sustainable change.

Yoga is an excellent way to prepare the mind, body and spirit for the many transitions of pregnancy, childbirth and parenthood. 

In this popular workshop with Perinatal Teacher and Trainer Jane Austin, you and your partner will :

• Learn techniques for breath awareness, massage and partner poses, which can help strengthen and relax your body, and soothe your mind during the birth process.

• Connect more deeply to yourself, your partner and your baby.

• We will also explore visualization and relaxation techniques that can further assist you during childbirth.

Please eat a light meal one hour before class, and have a snack and water close by. Please wear clothes you can move in. Jeans are not recommended.

This workshop is limited to 20 couples, so please register early. 

If the workshop is full, you can be placed on a waitlist, and we will contact you if space becomes available. Jane offers these events every month as well, in addition to a pre-recorded version of the course that you can take via Udemy if the timing does not work for your schedule.

Investment: $120/couple( 10% off for Metta Yoga members applies automatically at checkout)

TO BOOK:

Step 1) Purchase the credit for this event:

Step 2) Reserve your spot for this event on our class schedule (Do not forget this step!):

About the instructor:

Jane Austin has worked with pregnant people and their families since 1990. She weaves her experience as a midwife, doula, childbirth educator, and a mother into all of her offerings. She teaches prenatal and postnatal yoga classes in San Francisco every week to over 200 mamas and pregnant folks.

Jane also teaches the Yoga in Pregnancy component of many yoga teacher training schools and served as the perinatal director of Yoga Tree in San Francisco for many years. Her mission is to offer pregnant folks and new parents a mindful, supportive and nourishing environment using both humor and compassion to create a sacred but authentic place to connect to themselves and their babes inside and out. Learn more at JaneAustinYoga.com. 

Presented by Fox & Cub Family Wellness in collaboration with Metta Mama

Feeding your baby is one of the most natural parts of parenting — and also one of the most commonly misunderstood. Many families are told breastfeeding will “just happen,” yet most challenges occur in the first days simply because parents weren’t shown what to expect beforehand.

This workshop prepares you for real life feeding, not just ideal situations.

In this supportive, small-group class led by an IBCLC, you will learn how breastfeeding actually begins, what newborn behavior looks like in the first hours and weeks, and how to prevent the most common struggles before they start. Rather than memorizing rules, you’ll learn how to read your baby, understand your body, and adjust with confidence.

Our goal is not perfection — it’s confidence. Whether you plan to exclusively breastfeed, combination feed, pump, or just want to understand your options, you’ll leave knowing what is normal, what needs support, and how to get help early.

Partners/support people are strongly encouraged to attend so they know exactly how to help during the early postpartum days.

What We Cover

• How milk production actually works

• The first hours after birth and why they matter

• Newborn feeding patterns & hunger cues

• Positioning and latch (what comfortable feeding should feel like)

• Preventing nipple pain and early complications

• How to know your baby is getting enough milk

• Pumping basics and when to introduce bottles

• Partner support roles during feeding

• Common challenges (engorgement, supply worries, sleepy babies, cluster feeding)

• When and where to seek help after baby arrives

You’ll also have time to ask questions and talk through your individual plans and concerns.

Your registration includes a take-home digital resource guide.

Cost: $150 per couple (10% off for Metta Yoga members applies automatically at checkout).

FOLLOW THE STEPS TO BOOK:

Step 1) Purchase the credit for this event:

Step 2) Reserve your spot on our class schedule (Do not forget this step!):

Facilitator

Cherie Visconti — IBCLC

Cherie Visconti is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant with over 16 years of experience supporting families through feeding and early postpartum adjustment. She has helped hundreds of parents navigate everything from the first latch to ongoing feeding challenges with patience, reassurance, and practical guidance.

Cherie is known for making breastfeeding feel approachable and manageable. Her teaching focuses on helping families understand normal newborn behavior so they can respond with confidence rather than worry. Parents appreciate her calm presence, realistic expectations, and ability to troubleshoot concerns before they become overwhelming.

Her goal is for families to leave feeling prepared — not pressured — and knowing support is always available.

This workshop takes place on 4/18/26 and 6/27/26

Presented by Fox & Cub Family Wellness in collaboration with Metta Mama

We recommend completing childbirth education by about 36 weeks of pregnancy so you have time to absorb the information, practice techniques, and enter labor feeling prepared and confident. Many families find taking a class between 28–34 weeks ideal.

This one-day immersive workshop is designed for families who want thorough, practical preparation without committing to a multi-week series. In a supportive and relaxed environment, we guide you through the entire birth process from early labor through the first hours after your baby arrives.

Rather than overwhelming you with rigid rules, this class focuses on helping you understand what is happening in your body, what your options are, and how to make decisions that feel right for your family. We combine evidence-based education with real-life experience so you leave feeling capable — not fearful — about birth.

Our goal is not a specific type of birth, but a prepared and supported one. Whether you are planning an epidural, an unmedicated birth, induction, cesarean, hospital birth, or birth center experience, you will learn how to navigate the process with confidence.

Throughout the workshop, partners/support people learn exactly how to help during labor, not just how to watch it happen.

What We Cover (12:30–5:00 PM)

• Understanding labor physiology and what your body is doing

• Signs labor is beginning & when to call your provider or go in

• Stages of labor and what they feel like

• Comfort measures, positioning, and coping techniques

• Partner support skills and communication tools

• Pain relief options (natural and medical)

• Common interventions and how to make informed decisions

• Creating flexible birth preferences

• Cesarean birth preparation

• Immediate newborn care and the first hours after birth

• The first days postpartum & recovery expectations

The class includes discussion, demonstrations, movement practice, and real-life scenarios so you can actively learn rather than just listen.

Your registration includes a digital resource guide and allows one support person to attend with you.

Cost:$200 per couple (10% off for Metta Yoga members applies automatically at checkout).

FOLLOW THE STEPS TO BOOK:

Step 1) Purchase the credit for this event:

Step 2) Reserve your spot on the FIRST class on our class schedule (Do not forget this step!):

Facilitators

Rebecca DeMartini: Doula with Fox & Cub

Rebecca DeMartini is a highly experienced birth and postpartum doula with over 30 years of supporting families through pregnancy, birth, and the early postpartum period. With a deeply nurturing and grounded presence, Rebecca has guided countless families through a wide range of birth experiences, offering steady, compassionate support every step of the way.

Her approach blends practical, evidence-based education with intuitive, heart-centered care, helping parents feel informed, confident, and truly supported as they prepare to welcome their baby. Rebecca is especially known for her ability to create a calm, reassuring environment, empowering families to trust their instincts and navigate both birth and postpartum with greater ease.

Through her decades of experience, Rebecca brings invaluable wisdom, real-life insight, and a genuine passion for supporting growing families. In this childbirth education workshop, she is honored to share her knowledge and help you feel prepared, supported, and excited for the journey ahead.

Olivia Fox: Educator, Doula & Founder of Fox & Cub Family Wellness

Olivia Fox has over ten years of experience educating and supporting families through pregnancy and the postpartum period. As the founder of Fox & Cub Family Wellness, she has worked with a wide range of families across the Bay Area, helping parents feel informed, supported, and capable as they enter parenthood.

Olivia’s teaching style blends evidence-based education with real-world practicality. She focuses on helping families understand not only what can happen during birth, but how to navigate decisions, communicate with providers, and transition into the early days with a newborn.

Her goal is for every parent to leave class feeling calmer, more prepared, and able to approach birth with clarity rather than uncertainty.

Set down the weight of your week and surrender to sound.

Join us at Metta Yoga for an immersive two-hour sound bath: a deeply restorative, women’s-only experience designed to quiet the mind, release tension held in the body, and guide you into a state of profound stillness. No experience necessary. All you have to do is arrive and let go.

You’ll rest in a comfortable supported position while layers of live sound wash over and through you — singing bowls, gongs, chimes, and other resonant instruments creating a healing sonic landscape that shifts your nervous system out of stress and into restoration. Many participants describe the experience as the deepest relaxation they’ve ever felt, with effects that linger long after they leave the mat.

Sound has been used for centuries as a tool for healing and meditation. Modern research supports what ancient traditions have long known — that sound and vibration can reduce cortisol, lower blood pressure, ease anxiety, and promote deep rest.

This offering is held as a space for women to come together, soften, and be supported in a shared, intentional environment.Whether you’re navigating a stressful season, struggling to slow down, or simply craving stillness, this evening is for you.

What to bring: A yoga mat, blanket, pillow, and anything else that helps you feel cozy and at ease. Props are available at the studio.

Doors open 15 minutes before so you can settle in, breathe, and arrive fully before the sound begins.

Space is limited — reserve your spot to secure your place in this intimate experience.

Cost: $35 per person. (10% off for Metta Yoga members applies automatically at checkout)

FOLLOW THE STEPS TO BOOK:

Step 1) Purchase the credit for this event: 

Step 2) Reserve your spot for this event on our class schedule (Do not forget this step!):

About the instructor:

Coco McKenzi passionately supports Mothers and families. As a psychedelic guide, doula, and yoga and breathwork teacher, Coco has cultivated an authentically joyful way of living and leading others. Those who work with Coco consistently describe her presence as grounding, intuitive, and profoundly refreshing. She inspires bravery and helps women cultivate self-acceptance on this transformative journey of Mother and Family-hood. Coco regularly facilitates group experiences, private retreats, and community gatherings. Coco loves self-expression, cherishes time with her family, and finds deep meaning in those unexpected "aha moments", especially when experienced under a starry night sky. She looks forward to creating meaningful connections and sharing space with you and, hopefully, your family too.

Starting April 16th, join us for a Neuroscience Pregnancy Circle!

The Nurture Neuroscience Circle is a pregnancy circle that blends the latest neuroscience with intuitive, relational practices and the support of a community of mothers-to-be. It’s designed for anyone at any stage of pregnancy—from newly pregnant through those due in June and beyond—whether this is your first baby or you are an experienced mother.

Each week, we explore how early experiences and maternal well-being shape both your brain and your baby’s developing brain. You’ll learn research-backed strategies to regulate stress, support emotional health, and foster a strong parent–baby connection alongside gentle, intuitive practices that help you slow down, feel grounded, and trust yourself as a mother.

The circle is a space to come together with other mothers, share experiences, ask questions, and feel held in a community of like-minded peers—both in person and through an online community of other Nurture Neuroscience Circle mothers.

Every session includes:

• A short grounding or nervous-system-support practice and connection with your baby

• A science-informed topic such as:

• How your baby’s brain develops in utero

• How pregnancy reshapes the maternal brain

• Supporting sleep, stress regulation, and early bonding

• Creating safety, connection, and predictability for long-term resilience

• Space for discussion, reflection, practical application, and community support

This is not about “doing pregnancy right.” It is a research-informed, relational, and community-based approach that helps mothers—first-time and seasoned alike—feel informed, supported, and confident, while laying a strong foundation for both maternal and infant well-being.

COST: Full Series: $560. Early Bird (until March 30): $490.

(10% off for Metta Yoga members applies automatically at checkout)

FOLLOW THE STEPS TO BOOK:

Step 1) Purchase the credit for this event:

Step 2) Reserve your spot for this event on our class schedule (Do not forget this step!):

Linda Fitzgerald is a mother, infant & child sleep consultant, and gentle parenting guide who supports families through pregnancy, infancy, and early childhood using attachment-based, neuroscience-informed care.

She facilitates Nurture Neuroscience Circles for pregnant and newborn mothers and supports families from pregnancy through age 5, offering 1:1 sleep and parenting guidance. Her work blends current neuroscience, intuition, and compassionate presence—always prioritizing the parent–child bond.

Linda is a Certified Nurture Neuroscience Practitioner, trained by neuroscientists Greer Kirshenbaum, PhD, and Rocío Zunini, PhD, and has also been trained and mentored by sleep scientist Lyndsey Hookway, PhD. As a mother herself, understanding infant brain development has profoundly shaped her parenting and continues to inform how she supports other families.