I want to share the things that helped me to enjoy a healthy and happy pregnancy. Things you won’t read in a book and won’t be on your midwives list of information to impart, it’s a perfect way to meet other mums-to-be in your area who are going through the same challenges. By practicing a few things beforehand, they’ll become automatic. You can start classes at any time from 14 weeks and you can do as many or as few as you like. Here are a few of our favourites… Midwives often comment they know when a mum has been to a pregnancy yoga class that focuses on breathing and movement as they are able to manage the sensations with more control. We all know the importance of taking care of yourself, so why is it something that is always pushed to the sidelines? Before you start exercising, check with your midwife or health care practitioner. Covidence systematic review software, Veritas Health Innovation, Melbourne, Australia. Lauche R, Hunter DJ, Adams J, Cramer H. Yoga for Osteoarthritis: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Studies will be categorised as effectiveness or efficacy studies and this continuum of efficacy versus effectiveness will be incorporated into the full review. Active and strong muscles will cope with the changes to your body during pregnancy and aid recovery after the birth of your baby. Plus, the many stretching and strengthening moves can improve your delivery experience and your recovery (from either a vaginal birth or C-section), since your core and other important muscles will be stronger and more toned. Yoga can help ease pregnancy aches and emotional worries as well as prepare for the labour and any recovery after the birth of your baby. A chance for you and your partner to work together as you might in labour. We do a combination of traditional yoga poses that have been adapted for pregnancy, some work with therapy balls to help with sciatica and pelvic pain, guided relaxations and effective breathing techniques for birth and beyond. I offer a powerful combination of Active Birth, Hypnobirthing and Yoga - invaluable resources whatever path your birthing takes.

What sets our classes apart is their unique blend of Birthlight techniques, active birthing positions, hands-on skills, positioning techniques, and hypnobirthing techniques suitable for pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. Janet Balaskas brings her unique wisdom, warmth and experience to these inspirational pregnancy yoga classes which combine the benefits of yoga and preparation for your birth. Your classes were an inseparable part of our life changing experience - a big thank you for all that you are! The benefits of exercise during pregnancy are:- Maintaining your fitness so you can continue with normal everyday life as your body changes and to prepare you for the birth of your baby. 3) Can you tell us more about your role as a Doula? It literally brought us ‘in touch’ and made us more loving partners and more relaxed parents. It is such a great way of introducing partners to yoga during pregnancy and birth. It’s also about being in charge of your decisions and keeping your options open, working toge ther with your birth partners. What is Active Birth?

Thursdays 7.00 - 9.30pm at the Active Birth Centre. Active Birth is about welcoming your baby with love and joy and having a positive experience of birth. Janet’s unique approach to hypnobirthing draws on decades of experience as a birth educator to complement the benefits of Active Birth. There are many benefits to exercise during pregnancy, and some more so than others. For a more relaxing child’s pose, rest your arms by your sides. Janet Balaskas has been training birth professionals for more than three decades, influencing birth education and midwifery practice across the globe. Janet guides you on an inspirational journey from the start of labour to first hour after birth. It may teach you breathing techniques you can use during labour. Relaxation and breathing techniques teach how to release tension from mind and body and are extremely useful tools to take into labour! We teach you methods of yoga application and its effects on a pregnant lady as well as on her baby. Yoga has been found to promote better sleep quality because of the physical and mental exertion the muscles experience.