For nearly 20 years, Kimberly Motill has helped Stamford parents breathe easier through pregnancy, birth and beyond
Years ago, Kimberly Motill set out on a quest to support families through “every season of life.” The founder of Family Tree Yoga & Wellness in Stamford has been helping expectant and new parents for almost 20 years, with classes that range from prenatal yoga and birth education to doula and perinatal wellness coaching.
A mother of four and a new grandmother, Motill has years of life experience in every phase of family growth, and she weaves that knowledge into everything she does. This includes the classes she gives all over Stamford—in churches, hospitals, coffee shops and even a studio on Hope Street. She moved to Stamford in 1999 from Manhattan and truly loves where she lives.
“Owning a business here has been so rewarding,” says Motill. “Stamford has so much to offer and so many resources I can share with my families. I love meeting pregnant clients and then seeing them with babies in their arms. There is nothing that gives me greater joy than witnessing that transition.”
Her work with parents and children has taught her many lessons, and she’s generous with advice. “Prenatal yoga provides participants with physical relief from many of the discomforts that come with pregnancy,” she says. “Emotionally, the classes provide expectant mothers with a place to slow down, connect with their babies and meet others who are on the same journey.”
The physical benefits of prenatal yoga range from less back pain and nausea to increased stamina prior to labor, better sleep and circulation. “After birth, many of our mamas come back for our new-mother’s group, or what we call the ‘fourth trimester,’ ” she says. “They can see the same faces that they saw at prenatal yoga and deepen that connection to create lasting friendships. Later, many will attend our baby-and-me classes, where they extend their community foundation.”
Motill also offers Empowered Pregnancy and Birth Education courses, where participants have access to comprehensive learning in one place. They’re taught CPR, baby-care basics, breast feeding, nutrition and more. “I love to care for parents who are so invested in their pregnancies,” says Motill.
Family Tree also has courses for toddlers, ranging from yoga to music to sleep education. “Community is the main thread,” says Motill. “Everything we do is to foster community. I bump into people all over town who are still in touch with the core group of people they met at the prenatal stage. They have a special place in each other’s hearts.”
When she’s not teaching or attending a birth, Motill likes to spend time with her children and husband at Scalzi Park. “I also love being at home,” she says. “Our house was built in 1840, and we’ve put a lot of TLC into it. After I’ve been hopping around all day to teach, coming home feels wonderful.”