FAQ - Classes

Q: WHAT ARE THE CLASSES LIKE ?

Pregnancy yoga classes are gentle, safe and beneficial for you and your growing baby. Along with practising pre natal yoga and breathing exercises that prepare you for birth, these classes explore topics that will increase your potential of achieving a natural and empowering birth. You will practise classical Pregnancy yoga sequences throughout each class.

When do I Start?

You can start at any stage in your pregnancy.  Even just a few classes will guide you towards a more confident and empowering birth experience.  

What is involved in a class ?

As well as exploring Active Birth Skills such as Breathing in Labour, you will be moving in the class, releasing tension from your pelvis and strengthening your buttocks & legs.  You will be  practicing yoga postures that are relevant to birth like standing, squatting, lunging, all fours and resting postures.  Mindfulness and relaxation techniques are included in every class. There is clear evidence that using upright positions in the first stage of labour reduces the duration of labour, the risk of caesarean birth and the need for an epidural.

The classes are primarily for you to learn the skills involved in birthing your baby naturally.  Learn active  birth skills  and keep healthy by learning mind-body techniques to keep calm, respond creatively, reduce fear and the experience of pain,  increase focus and confidence.  

WHAT Active birth skills ARE covered in the pregnancy yoga and active birth workshop for pregnant mums?

  • Relaxation skills 

  • Affirmations

  • Optimal baby positioning

  • Visualisation in pregnancy & labour 

  • Breathing for pregnancy, labour & birth 

  • Vocalisation in labour & birth

  • Labour : first stage using active birth positions 

  • Birth: second stage using upright birth positions 

FAQ - Workshops

WHAT ARE THE WORKSHOPS LIKE?

Our Active birth workshops are led by  advanced childbirth educator and senior yoga teacher, Suzanne Swan.  Suzanne has been doing this work for over sixteen years and her experience affirms that having the partner involved in the birth process, working hands on as a team with the mother, promotes a positive birth experience and enhances family bonding.

This small group education education class explores practical ways to assist the labouring woman at birth.  The attention is on the partner's participation during the labour and how the birth itself is as much a team effort as the conception. It covers practical mind-body techniques not taught in other hospital classes (ie. breathing, massage and birth positions) and focuses on an undisturbed physiological birth, describing the benefits of an active birth for the mother & baby. 

This workshop complements hospital antenatal classes or other classes such as Hypnobirthing, and is also an excellent refresher for parents. There is clear evidence that using upright positions in the first stage of labour reduces the duration of labour, the risk of ceasarean birth and the need for an epidural.

"Birthing is both an internal and a learned experience. Women benefit greatly in birth with this self-knowledge and with a partner and/or support team* who help her work with her body. When a woman experiences the love, attention and touch of her partner during labour she will easily relax and these feelings are passed to the baby." - Suzanne Swan, yogababy founder.

  WHAT ARE THE WORKSHOP PRACTICES?

  • Natural forms of pain relief such as breath, touch, massage, water, heat, movement, and sound

  • Breathing skills to release inner tension and stay focused

  • Relaxation skills to enhance the natural hormones of labour

  • Massage techniques to ease pregnancy discomforts and enhance labour

  • Use of movement to reduce the effect of stress

  • Use of sound to connect with a woman's strength and power

  • Active birth positioning for 1st and 2nd stage

  • Releasing fears and creating positive birth affirmations

  • Understanding the birth process and what to expect

  • Decision making model for dealing with the unexpected

WHEN ARE THE WORKSHOPS HELD?

There are two workshops to choose from. The Pregnancy Yoga and Active Birth Workshop for Pregnant Mums (Saturday 1/2 day) held bi-monthly and the Couples Active Birth Workshop (Sundays One day). Both workshops are held bi-monthly, and you can attend both under the Better Birth Bundle and SAVE $.

TRY OUR ACTIVE BIRTH BUNDLE

Better Birth Bundle – includes

+ Couples Active Birth workshop for pregnant mum and birth partner
+ Pregnancy Yoga & Active Birth Workshop

Check the calendar for available dates

*COUPLE/PARTNER/SUPPORT TEAM

Your couple/partner/support team can include:

  • Birthing mother and father

  • Same-sex couples

  • Single mother with support person/doula

  • Mother and daughter (birthing)