Relaxation for Pregnancy MP3
£3.00
Pregnancy Yoga
Pregnancy yoga classes
Bernadette currently offers the following pregnancy yoga classes in the borough of Greenwich:-
Alderwood Children’s Centre, Rainham Close, SE9 2JH. Time 10:00-11:00 – view map
They are open to women in the South Greenwich area, who are registered or will register at Alderwood, Storkway, Eltham, Shooter’s Hill, Greenacres & Vista Fields Children’s Centres or who attend midwifery clinics at any of these centres.
Call 0208 850 5927 to book your place each week These very low cost classes are open to any woman from 16 weeks onwards & will offer a range of yoga practices , which help to promote strength & flexibility, address some of the common ailments of pregnancy & equip you with ways of helping to relax both in pregnancy & labour.
The Greenwich Centre, Lambarde Square, SE10 9GB
These are on Saturday mornings 10:15-11:15. Just turn up and pay at reception.
All equipment is provided in both locations. Suitable from 16 weeks onwards
Pregnancy yoga
Pregnancy yoga is an ideal way of enhancing pregnancy by strengthening, toning and preparing muscles particularly those which are used during labour. Each course teaches techniques which help with pregnancy ailments.
Deep relaxation and breathing techniques are central themes of her approach and time is given to strengthen the connection between mother & child. A range of techniques is taught to enable women to enter into labour with less fear and more confidence in how to manage this singular event in life.
Empowering Labour workshops
Pelvises are like a set of fingerprints! Although similar in many ways they are also unique to each individual.
By familiarising yourself with the shape of your own pelvis, choices can be made regarding which positions and movements you use throughout labour & birth that work with your unique structure. Thus optimising the space available to birth your baby. The positions you use throughout the day and night in the last trimester can also encourage or discourage your baby into the optimal fetal position. Alignment matters!
Bernadette offers 2-hr workshops which explore the impact that muscle tension has on reducing space, increasing the perception of pain and wasting valuable energy.
So by simple, effective use of the breath, visualisation & positions suitable for your own pelvis you can feel empowered to help normalise the labour & birthing process, in simple yet highly effective ways.
The courses are suitable for women who are at least 12 weeks pregnant, whether or not they have any experience of yoga
Benefits of antenatal yoga
Results of a study funded by baby charity Tommy’s, and published on Pubmed, show that UK researchers have studied effect of Antenatal yoga on pregnant women, finding that it can help reduce the risk of them developing anxiety & depression, and concluding that:
“Antenatal yoga seems to be useful for reducing women’s anxieties toward childbirth and preventing increases in depressive symptomatology”
Details can be viewed in full at:
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24788589
Some words from Bernadette about her pregnancy yoga course:
The course offers suitable and relevant yoga practices to promote a sense of well being during this important time and are an ideal way of practicing an energising, effective, subtle yoga practice, reaping benefits for both mother and unborn child.
Conditions either associated with pregnancy or other on-going health issues are always taken into account so that the emphasis is on what’s best for the individual, rather than a “one size fits all” approach.
Along with yoga asanas, there is emphasis on using the breath well, both throughout pregnancy and with a view to applying some techniques to manage labour, as well as practicing movements, positions and visualisation.
Although no-one can say for certain what kind of labour you and your baby will have, I can guarantee that you will learn key practices which will empower you both physically and mentally.
These will give you confidence in your ability to birth your baby, whether this is your first labour experience or not. Over the years I have been privileged to have taught thousands of women and their babies and am thrilled to be in the position of supporting women in their second, and even third pregnancies.
Course includes all materials and yoga equipment is provided.
The course includes:
- Practicing yoga asanas and energy-block releasing exercises
- Practicing a range of breathing techniques to promote emotional balance and good energy levels during pregnancy as well as also looking in detail how to use these techniques during labour & birth
- A range of pelvic floor exercises to both tone, strengthen & relax
- Experiencing deep relaxation and visualisation techniques to promote calm and ease physical, mental and emotional tension and anxiety and to enhance connection with the unborn child
- Optimal fetal positioning
- How to manage fear in labour and the impact on the body
- Visualisations and relaxation
- Mapping your pelvis
- Using water for labour
- Using ‘birth ball’ in pregnancy, labour & beyond
- Practice of labour positions, movement & sound
- A supportive, friendly environment where the opportunity is given to raise any issues relating to this significant time of life
- A place to connect with other local women
These courses are an ideal complement to NCT or parentcraft classes – they do not have the same content, particularly the labour techniques.
Please note: Women can book for part of the course if their baby is due before the end of the course and pay accordingly. And if you want to ensure your labour supporter has some idea of how very useful they could be to you both come to Space & Breath birth rehearsal workshop.
Bernadette is a member of FEDANT (Federation of Ante Natal Teachers) and Birthlight.