Mary Oscategui, Founder of The Baby Planner and IABPP Launches a Greenproofing Training Program and Announces Her Latest Book

Mary Oscategui, a baby planner who specializes in health, fitness, and going green, launches greenproofing training program and announces her latest book: “The Baby Planner’s Guide to Greenproofing your Home”, releasing in the Fall of 2010.

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) April 5, 2010 — Writer, speaker, educator, and coach, Mary Oscategui, introduces a greenproofing training program for The International Academy of Baby Planner Professionals and announces her latest book, “The Baby Planner’s Guide to Greenproofing your Home.” releasing in the fall of 2010.

As a baby planner who works with expecting and new families, Mary feels it is a large part of her responsibility to educate and inform her clients about the potential threatening substances that exist in and around the home when preparing for a baby’s arrival. As a business consultant and educator, who works with baby planner start-up businesses, Mary feels passionate about providing professionals with an in depth look at the world of greenproofing.

Just as babyproofing is designed to prevent children from injuring themselves or doing damage around the home, greenproofing is designed to prevent unsafe exposure to potentially harmful substances around the home. In the same way that nutrition plays a significant role for a woman and her baby’s health during and after pregnancy, environment plays an extremely vital role to health and safety of moms and babies.

“Greenproofing compliments many already existing businesses and professionals such as baby planners, babyproofers, childbirth educators, interior designers, and eco-lifestyle consultants”, says Mary.

Mary’s greenproofing training program and book will provide a step by step and simple guide to greenproofing a home. It will also include a wealth of materials, tools, resources, and tips to incorporate greenproofing services into new and existing businesses.

Mary Oscategui, CBP [IABPP] is a baby planner who specializes in health, fitness, and going green. She is founder of TheBabyPlanner.com and The International Academy of Baby Planner Professionals, (IABPP.com). Her mission is to empower, educate, and support expectant and new parents throughout their journey so that they may confidently make the best decisions for themselves and their baby in the most objective, healthy, safe way; and on their terms. She introduced a new approach to the baby planning industry by focusing on the needs of her clients through parental education and emotional support and established the first and only certification program in the baby planning industry that is designed to train future baby planners to educate and support expectant and new parents. She is the author of “The Baby Planner: A Guide to Becoming a Baby Planner and starting your own business,” which provides those interested in a baby planning career with all the tools and support necessary to get started in the new industry of baby planning. Her latest book, “The Baby Planner presents a Guide to Greenproofing your Home”, is due to release in the fall of 2010.

Mary is a writer, speaker, educator, coach, certified yoga and pilates instructor, certified personal trainer, holistic nutrition consultant, going green consultant, greenproofer, and birthing options advocate. She also advises baby planner start-ups businesses offering a wealth of knowledge and support. Prior to becoming a baby planner, Mary worked exclusively in the health and fitness industry for 15 years and has a multitude of certifications. She coached and trained a variety of clients through the modalities of yoga, pilates, personal training, mom and baby health, holistic nutrition, and weight management. She managed a Group Exercise and Fitness Department for an upscale health club, and owned her own fitness and yoga company, Physical Awakening. She is fluent in Spanish, a single mom, and resides in Marin, California with her two year old daughter Bella Luna.

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The Baby Planner reviews Ingrid & Isabel’s Organic BellaBand

I happily received Ingrid & Isabel’s organic BellaBand this week and tested it out on Lisa Murphy of Mill Valley, CA who is due in just a few weeks! She fell in love with BellaBand right away. The two advantages that stood out for her was the length of the band and the softness of the material on her skin. She also mentioned that she could use the BellaBand in combination with her gym wear so that she wouldn’t have to buy a whole new gym wardrobe.

Ingrid Carney, President of Ingrid & Isabel, created the BellaBand during her pregnancy when she wasn’t big enough to fill maternity wear, yet there was no possibility of buttoning her pants. Safety pins were bulky, rubber bands were uncomfortable, larger sizes looked sloppy, and when her blouse rose it exposed her poor attempts to hold up her pants. Finally, she tried a tube-top over her waistband. It was thick and not sized properly for a growing belly, but it worked! She un-tucked my blouse, left for the office and no one knew her pants were undone. Hence, the BellaBand was born!

The BellaBand also works very well after pregnancy, while you are still unable to fit into your pre-pregnancy clothes.

I think the BellaBand is wonderful and very hip.

For more information or to purchase one for yourself or loved one, please visit: http://www.ingridandisabel.com/

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CSN Baby Go Green Product Review!

I received three product samples from CSN Baby’s Go Green line, a retailer based out of Boston who sells baby gear, baby toys, and nursery furniture.

The first item is the Baby Star – Quick Change Pouch in Spring Green.

To be honest I never thought I’d be needing a baby quick change pouch or using one, however this is fabulous. It’s easy to take in and out of my bag without having to dig through all my things, and it’s environmentally safe.

The next item is Wonderworld’s – Peek-A-Boo-Ball

The features include:

•Bright blue wooden baby toy with multi-colored faces
•Smiling faces pop in and out when the ball is rolled
•Helps to develop hand-eye coordination
•For ages 12 months and up
•Made from environmentally friendly rubberwood and non-toxic water-based paints

Bella loves this ball and has a fun time playing with it.

Lastly, I received Wonderworld’s – Duck Family Pull Toy

A fun and safe toy! I think the picture says it all

Features include:

•Pull toy with three bright multi-colored ducks
•Ducks are flexible twisting as they move
•Encourages young child to walk and exercises arms and legs
•For ages 18 months and up
•Made from environmentally friendly rubberwood, non-toxic water-based paints and biodegradable fabrics

For more information or to purchase these items visit http://www.csnbaby.com

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Stay tuned for a CSNstore AllModernBaby review coming soon!

I am really excited to be receiving sample products from CSN stores eco-friendly line at

http://www.AllModernBaby.com

They also carry eco-friendly nursery furniture including chaning tables, high chairs, wall art, bassinets, and much more.

Stay tuned!!!

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NYC EarthFair 2009

Today I attended the 2009 Earth Day EarthFair held at Grand Central Terminal. I connected with Angelique Ledoux, founder of Jade’s Toy Box located at 19 Beach Street in Tribeca, http://www.jadestoybox.com. They specialize in eco-friendly, educational, theme-based toys & books, devoid of tv characters and electronics, but with particular attention to child safety, our environment and fun. I also discovered the Green Depot located at 222 Bowery , http://www.greendepot.com. Founded in November 2005, Green Depot is a leading supplier of environmentally friendly and sustainable building products, services and solutions. Its primary goal is to facilitate green living and building in communities so that it is accessible, affordable and gratifying.

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Happy Earth Day with gratitude…

A thanks to all of you who are committed to your health, and the health of everyone around you, especially our mother earth A special thanks to all the green companies and organizations who are supporting families and families to be.

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Interview Debra Flashenberg CD(DONA), LCCE – Prenatal Yoga Center NYC

How long have you been in business and how did you get started?

I began teaching prenatal yoga in January of 2002.  I started out as a Bikram yoga teacher in September 2000 and then continued my education and got certified in prenatal yoga with Colette Crawford in 2001.  At that point I began moving away from Bikram yoga and studied vinyasa yoga with Shiva Rea and Cyndi Lee and received certifications from both Shiva Rea and OM yoga in 2004. 

So my story into prenatal yoga is really quite coincidental.  I was hanging out with a few friends between yoga classes and one of the other teachers mentioned she was interested in prenatal yoga.  I thought it sounded interesting and did a little research about it. I had never even thought about it before my friend Dianna mentioned it.  At that time there were not a lot of prenatal yoga teacher trainings and the ones I did find were only a few days, 3 at most.  But then I found the Seattle Holistic Center.  They offered a 10 day, 60 hour intensive prenatal training. And I thought- that is the one for me! 

I first renting a small studio within the Bikram yoga studio I was teaching at.  I was offering 2 classes a week, and within a few months, I was up to 5 classes a week.  Things were going well until the owners of the Bikram studio told me they were restructuring there studio and decided to make my rented studio space into a dressing room.  I then found a few partners to help me open a bigger space.  So within a few months, the Prenatal Yoga Center was born. We opened our doors the weekend before Labor Day 2002.

 

What was your inspiration for creating a center for expecting and new moms?

My vision for the Prenatal Yoga Center was inspired by OM yoga and the Seattle Holistic Center.  I was certified through both these studios and highly respected their commitment to a well- rounded experience; I also appreciated that they offered workshops and classes that went beyond just asana.  Having taught at a yoga studio that only offered yoga classes, I knew I wanted the Prenatal Yoga Center to be more of a community-builder with classes that supported the new and expectant mom in more ways than just yoga.  New and expectant mothers are such a unique population to work with and their needs are very specific. 

 

My inspiration and vision definitely grew as I grew as a teacher and childbirth advocate.  I was invited to a hospital to witness births, having never seen one at that time.  I was horrified how mechanical a very natural event became. That experience truly changed the way I taught and the mission of the studio.  I became a certified labor support doula and a certified Lamaze childbirth educator.  My intention definitely shifted beyond teaching yoga poses appropriate for pregnant moms, to creating a yoga class that interweaved asana, childbirth education, sense of community and confidence.  I am not attached to how these women give birth, but I am attached to the idea that they choose how to birth from a sense of confidence and empowerment.

 So I guess you can really say my students inspired me to create a center just for new and expectant moms.  It is about serving them, not me.

What were you doing prior to running the Prenatal Yoga Center?

I was a musical theater performer. I started when I was 8 years old and officially left the business when I was 28 to open the Prenatal Yoga Center.  I have a degree from the Boston Conservatory with a major in musical theater.  I have absolutely no background in business!  But after 7 years of running the studio, I think maybe that earns me an honorary MBA!

What do you enjoy most about running the Prenatal Yoga Center?

I LOVE teaching and working with the students!  I am filled with such pride and excitement when I hear back from the students after they give birth that the yoga classes helped them in their labor and delivery.  Or if one of the blog articles I wrote made them stop and think about how they want to give birth and what is right for them and their family.  Making a difference in someone’s life is beyond description.

What are your locations?

Our main studio in on the UWS (251 W 72^nd st 2f).  However, we have three satellite studios where Prenatal Yoga Center classes are offered.  Flatiron at Appleseeds, SoHo at Rosie Pope Maternity and Brooklyn at Easeful Body.

Are you planning on expanding beyond NYC?

Not at this time.  But we are offering teacher training courses.  So maybe I will either collaborate with one of our graduates and open a center outside of NYC or one the graduates will open her own space.

 

for more information please visit: http://www.prenatalyogacenter.com.

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Interview with Julie Elkshen CityMommy

How were you introduced to CityMommy?

I had a very good friend that was on the initial LA site.  She called me one day and was raving about how much she loved the site and how helpful it had been.  She mentioned that she thought that Dayna was looking for someone to expand to San Francisco.  I had just moved back to the city (my native city) after four years living in other places and was feeling the city needed a site like CityMommy so the timing was perfect!  Dayna and I talked and the rest is history, 25 cities later!

2. What were you doing prior to CityMommy?

Well, we move a lot because of my husband’s job, so after my first child…I became a stay at home mom. Prior to that I was a Director of Training and Development with a big hotel company.  I always had the passion to do something from home, to keep me sharp and to round out being a SAHM.  It was difficult to find “legitimate” jobs that I could do from home and that would be flexible enough to remain committed to raising my children, which was my first priority.  CityMommy turned out to be perfect!

3. What do you enjoy most about CityMommy?

There was nothing like CityMommy when I had my first child eight years ago.  I was living in a new city, my friends were all still single…I really had no where to ask questions, bounce off ideas and search for advice.   The whole social networking thing has just really exploded in the past five years or so.  The internet has changed my world as a mother and CityMommy is a social networking site designed especially for moms.  I am addicted to the site, but what is great…its my job!  My desk is in my kitchen so I work around everything, the kid’s school schedule, dinner making or whatever my day throws at me.  Most of what I do is through email, most other WAH moms understand that, I rarely use the phone to conduct business.  I have advertisers and community members that I have been working with for over two years, that I have never met face to face, but feel like they are dear friends.  I have found business moms to be really supportive and kind.

I would say the thing I love the most about CityMommy is feeling connected to the community, other moms and most of all being able to provide a wonderful resource to local moms.  I believe that the transition to being a SAHM or WAHM mom is a challenging one for most moms….having a community to rely on, ask questions of and feel a part of can make all the difference in the world!  CityMommy has been the second best job in the world….second of course to being a mom!

 
–
Julie Elkeshen
Director of Operations, CityMommy SF
(415)310-5522

http://sf.citymommy.com
invite code: libramedia

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TheBabyPlanner.TV and radio show to launch soon!

I am very excited to introduce TheBabyPlanner.TV and TheBabyPlanner talk radio to launch this summer.

My college years studying film and mass communications came very handy. Who knew? I will be showcasing many products and services for new and expecting parents and may be coming to a city near you!

It has been my dream to share and communicate the wonderful resources available to make your pregnancy a more healthy, safe, and enjoyable experience.

Stay tuned!!!!!

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My Milkies, Milk Saver Happy Moms. Healthy Babies.

I am so excited to share with you a wonderful new product, Milkies (Milk-Saver)!

Milkies was found by registered nurses who know the benefits of breastfeeding and want to help you do it successfully and as long as you choose. It is a milk-saver, moms slip it into your bra or snug tank on the non-nursing breast, then just breastfeed.

The milk-saver collects the ejected milk in a 2 oz reservoir, or attach
a sterile breast milk storage bag for heavier leakage, up to 4 oz.

1.The milk-saver is great for baby, he gets every drop of mom’s milk.

2.Mom stays dry and comfortable and is able to stockpile up to 8-10oz
per day without depriving her baby of any precious breast milk.

3.Moms will use fewer disposable nursing pads and have no milk-soaked
towels or leaked-on shirts to wash and dry, adding to families utility
bills and mom’s workload. Impact on the environment is also decreased.
The milk-saver is very durable, and is 100% recyclable, just put the
milk-saver at the curb with other plastic recyclables.

The design is comfortable, discreet and simple to use. The material is
FDA approved and BPA and pthalate free. Every milk-saver comes in a hard
plastic storage case for portability, cleanliness and protection.

For more information, please visit: www.mymilkies.com

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