by Sharon Ruyak, Certified Ma Yoga® Instructor
My journey to Ma Yoga Certification began as a young nursing student. It was the first time I had the honor of being present for a birth. I knew immediately that this was my purpose, to serve women during pregnancy, birth and new motherhood.
As soon as I was able to, I began working as a labor and delivery nurse. I loved every minute of supporting women and families during this season of their life. However, I also witnessed many women who were not supported to lovingly turn inward and remember their own inner wisdom and strength. It was during this time that I was introduced to nurse-midwives.
Nurse-midwives practice holistic care that honors the emotional, physical and social needs of individuals. After working with a nurse-midwife during my first pregnancy and birth, I knew this was the next step in my journey.
As a nurse-midwife, I saw first-hand the incredible difference prenatal yoga made for women during their pregnancy, birth, and motherhood journey. Importantly, this difference encompassed both the emotional and physical body.
The women I cared for who participated in prenatal yoga were able to connect with their inner wisdom and trust in their strength. They experienced the most beautiful pregnancies and births. Beyond this, they found a nurturing community in their prenatal yoga group. Many of them developed strong and lasting friendships during this time. In 2024 I completed my 200hr RYT training, and I knew my next step was to become a prenatal yoga instructor.
That was when I found the Ma Yoga Prenatal Certification Program. The Ma Yoga Five Sacred Steps provide me with the tools I need to help women connect with the feminine wisdom, power and nurturing energy that already resides within themselves.
This training goes beyond teaching safe poses providing the tools to guide women to nurture themselves physically, emotionally, energetically, and spiritually. It’s about birthing your most powerful and wise “Ma” Self, Through the practice of yoga, women step into their power and their highest, authentic self.
Now, when I imagine teaching prenatal yoga, I don’t just picture guiding women through poses. I picture offering them a space where they can hear themselves again. A space where they can feel strong and soft at the same time. A space where they can reconnect with the wisdom that pregnancy naturally awakens, but that our culture often rushes past.
I want to help women feel at home in their changing bodies. I want to help them trust their intuition, even when the world is loud. I want to help them feel supported – not only by me, but by their own inner alignment and by the community around them.
More than anything, I love guiding women toward their own highest, powerful and wise Ma Selves.
