When I headed off to India back in 2009 to begin my yoga teacher training course I had no idea that we would be given training on how to support women during pregnancy. It was so much fun getting strapped up with blankets to help us understand what it's like to be carrying a lot of weight at the front of your body.
It wasn't until I had my son in 2012 that I realised how important the breathing tools of the yoga teachings would be to help me find my journey through labour.
I remember the midwives asking me after he'd safely arrived after a really fast stage 2 labour what breathing it was I'd been doing. I said " My yoga breathing" Having not given birth before I did not know that this was going to be the fundamental tool to get me through contractions and help me to open in body and stay calm in mind.
Since that really positive water birth, and peaceful entry into the world that all babies and mums deserve I have been offering sessions to local mums in public settings since 2013 and also online since 2020. Inspired to see if I could help others have a similar experience I've been offering them since and love supporting mums of first, second and sometimes third babies.
Wanting to learn more and to be as best prepared for my class members I've taken many additional training courses, which I feel very lucky to say were often led my practising midwives. Their knowledge and tips have helped me to support a lot of mums through the rollercoaster of pregnancy, help to turn breech babies and I'm really proud to say quite a few other water births.
Most importantly what I feel is really important about my class is that it provides mums with a safe and shared space to slow down and spend time focusing on the little miracle that is growing inside them, feeling what they feel and developing every day from their whoom experience. Society does not support mums to be, especially in the Western World. We have forgotten how vulnerable and sensitive they can be on a day to day basis, no two days are the same as are pregnancies and births. If mums aren't allowed to slow down and relax from their work and family expectations it can often result in babies being born earlier than they should, which creates unnecessary stress on both sides.
One of the most profound things I've learnt since I started my classes is that a baby decides within the first hour of it's birth if the world is a safe place or not. Surely we have to do everthing we can to make sure that this special time is given the love and attention it needs for our future generations.
Babies are developing their language skills from within the woom, what they are hearing and feeling is creating memories. Are mums really allowed to provide them with a rich experience when they're constantly pushed and demanded to work more and more ? Sadly most of the time this isn't even taken into consideration.
More to come on this subject very soon....
If you'd like to join me for an online or public session for some time with you & your baby then please email me to arrange. It's always my absolute pleasure to relax a mum and baby, something the world needs a lot more of.