Share this site with friends ...
Author Archives: Lisa Wilkinson
Top 11 tips for sucessfull breastfeeding
Women often spend so much time reading books preparing for birth but little time getting ready for breastfeeding. If you think about it we spend a few hours in labour but maybe months breastfeeding.
To help you along the way we have prepared these helpful hints and also have FREE breastfeeding workshop on Sunday 1st of April.
Whilst some women find breastfeeding straightforward, the vast majority of us may have some form of struggle. Even on my second baby, and as a doula supporting breastfeeding women, I had issues. So here goes:
- If you are having problems ask for help from your hospital’s lactation consultant. These are very very busy women, so rather than depend on staff midwife to chase her up. Get her phone number at your next prenatal visit, save it into your phone and ring her from your bed. If you are at home or the hospital staff are too busy, call up your local independent lactation consultant.
- Don’t forget that for the first 2 weeks or so, that breasfeeding can be a bit uncomfortable on the nipples and take your breath away! Some people recommend preparing them for that babies vice-like gummy grip by roughing them
Posted in Pregnant
Kickstart Bootcamp
Have you Kick started your healthy eating / exercise regime in 2012? Or did all you good intentions crash and burn with the reality of January. Don’t fret we can help you get back on track.
Join us for an intensive bootcamp of tailored classes and healthy eating. We’ve combined the best of our pilates, yoga and body conditioning with a delicious detox lunch included.
- Delicious fresh detox juices, and lunch with a healthy eating presentation.
- Strengthening and energising yoga with Melanie Taylor
- Expertly-led Pilates mat classes with Damian Poder
- A body sculpting conditioning class for an all over tone with Grainne Hand
Only €40 or €30 for concessions for the day - includes delicious detox lunch and green smoothie… Read More
Posted in Pilates and Fitness
What’s on in January
Whether you are a into yoga, fitness, are a new mum or mum to be we have a load of new classes and workshops going on in January – Kick start bootcamps, Yoga Beginners Course, Kettle bells course, Ashtanga workshops, new lunch time Iyengar class, extra Zumba classes, new ashtanga classes, breastfeeding workshops, birthing workshops, mini jam and baby jam and lots more.
For full details and booking information see our events page here.
Here is a summary for your enjoyment:
Workshops
Kickstart Bootcamp – Saturday 14th January – 10:30am – 2:45
Join us with an intensive bootcamp of tailored classes and healthy eating. We’ve combined the best of our pilates, yoga, body conditioning, and meditation classes. All with a delicious detox lunch and juice.
Kettle bells course – Saturday 28th January – 2:00pm – 2:50pm
Burn a staggering 1000 calories a class! See those inches fall away!
Beginners Yoga Course – Thursday 19th January 7:50pm – 9:05pm
For those completely new to yoga or haven’t been in a while and would like to refresh. Learn the basic postures, breath work and get a great yoga foundation.
Ashtanga Primary Series workshop – Sunday 22nd January – 11:10am – 1:10pm… Read More
Posted in News
Trust in Birth – Active Birth Workshop – The fundamentals
Empower and Informing for Birth
Attending this workshop will empower both you and your partner to be more actively involved in your birth.
The workshop is split into two sessions. This part, The Fundamentals gives you the grounding you need to best prepare you for birth.
Topics covered include:
- how to get up to 28% extra space in your pelvic outlet
- the anatomy and physiology of birth including the cocktail of hormones and the wonder of the pelvis,
- films of natural birth,
- breath and relaxation techniques to increase your ability to maximise your own pain relieving hormones and keep labour progressing,
- labouring and birthing positions,
- practical tips on stress reduction in the hospital environment,
- partner’s role and ideas for maximising their support
Workshop costs €149 or €125
… Read More
How to get the best hospital birth possible
Physiological birth in hospital
Here are some of my tips to inspire and assist you in enjoying your baby’s birth in hospital. If you need that extra helping hand join me at the Trust in Birth – Active Birth workshop on the 23rd of October.
Following the natural rhythms of labour, the vast majority of mothers with normal pregnancies are free to let their bodies’ normal physiological functions birth their babies. Many women birth in hospitals avoiding any medication and medical intervention unless medically necessary. We have used the term physiological birth to steer away from some of the different interpretations of ‘natural’ birth. By physiological birth, we mean a healthy mother with an uncomplicated pregnancy giving birth with no medical interventions. Of course some births will necessitate assistance from your caregivers but we mean to differentiate necessity from hospital procedure or managed birth.
Book with an independent midwife or a midwifery led unit
(domino or community midwives)
Midwives are highly skilled and trained to look at birth as a physiologically normal and magical event in a woman’s life. The rate of women expressing birth as a satisfying experience, and success rates of physiological birth, is often far greater with … Read More
Posted in Pregnant
FREE Breast Feeding Workshop
A hands on breast feeding class for expecting mums & new mums with a breast feeding clothes sale!
As a mother, one of the best things that only you can do for your baby is to breast feed. While breast feeding isn’t the only option for feeding your baby, every mother has the potential to succeed and make it a wonderful experience. This course is a great preparation for succeeding in breast feeding with real hands on experience. A great opportunity to learn about fundamentals of breast feeding or share your breast feeding tips with other mothers.
Be prepared. If possible we recommend not waiting until your little bundle is in your arms to educate yourself about this very natural but often tricky affair! Also, Boob our fab nursing clothes range is worth investing in before you find yourself surrounded by relatives and friends in all your finest.
*Delivered by a registered midwife and or doula this workshop is FREE
Future Course Dates
February 19th 2012… Read More
Try the reformer – no charge
Pilates Reformer Open Days Oct 1st and Oct 8th
Love Pilates? Wait until you try the Reformer!
The Pilates Reformer is a specialised piece of equipment to help people perform Pilates exercises more effectively. Known as the ‘workhorse’ of the Pilates exercise regime, the Pilates Reformer can help to build your core strength, correct bad posture and help alleviate back pain. Stabilizing, stretching and pulling routines are designed to lengthen and tone your musculature and you will appear taller and leaner, more toned and flexible.
Benefits of the Reformer include improving posture, increasing spinal flexibility, enhancing range of motion and strengthening abdominal and back muscles.
Our Reformer experts Brian and Damian look forward to introducing you to our custom built reformer studio on our 2 open days Sat Oct 1st from 11am to 1pm and Sat Oct 8th from 12 noon to 2pm.
SPACES FREE
Reserve your space at reception by putting your name down in an available slot or email us with a preference.
Drop in and see how you can improve your fitness and flexibility through Pilates resistance training!… Read More
Posted in Pilates and Fitness
Vacancies for Centre Assistants
The elbowroom is always looking for voluntary centre assistants to support the work of our committed team of professional teachers and therapists. In exchange you will:
- gain valuable experience of the day to day management of a busy studio and clinic,
- earn credit for classes or clinic appointments in exchange for work,
- develop knowledge of holistic healthcare, and be part of a friendly team,
- get out and about if you are going stir crazy at home,
- help fill up gaps in your C.V. with valuable work experience.
We are looking for people who are enthusiastic, and have the ability to use their initiative to enhance the development of the Elbowroom’s studios and clinic.
This experience provides an ideal opportunity for teacher trainees, anyone interested in yoga, Pilates and alternative therapies, or looking to be involved in being part of a team dedicated to providing a busy schedule of workshops, classes and activities for our clients. Shifts are either 2 or 4 hours and are available weekdays and weekends at all times.
The roles are varied, from working on reception, to preparing delicious lunches for our students, minding our younger visitors while their parents take classes, and ensuring our centre is … Read More
Posted in News
17 signs of stress + Online Relaxation
Feeling the effects of stress? Physically and mentally?
Many of us, myself included, have felt the overbearing ramifications of letting stress in your life and work pile up. Earlier this year I thought I was going nuts!
And you really do need to do something about it. Left unchecked it can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.
Here we have listed signs of stress for you to check over. Followed by a free online relaxation I recorded just for you. One of the best things you can do to help reduce your stress is to learn to relax and reduce your adrenalin levels. This relaxation is aimed at beginners and focuses on breathing meditation. Try it and let me know what you think.
Signs that stress might have got the better of you *
On your body
- headaches
- muscle tension
- fatigue
- change in sex drive
- sleep problems
- stomach upset
On your mind
- anxiety
- restlessness
- lack of motivation
- inability to focus or concentrate
- irritability or anger
- sadness or depression
On your behaviour
- Overeating or under-eating
- Angry outbursts
- Drug or alcohol abuse
- Tobacco use
- Social withdrawal
*American Psychological Association – Stress report
There are many things … Read More
Posted in Health
Logo design competition
We are looking to run a competition for a new design of a logo. There is an online site in the US to which I can submit my design to a group of designers and only the chosen design gets paid for. However, in light of buying Irish – we are going to do the same thing here.
The name of the initiative is Trust in Birth and we are going to move it to it’s own facebook page along with showing it on our parents related web page http://www.the-elbowroom.com/pregnancy-postnatal/
Submit your design and the winner will get two months of free classes, 3 free clinic treatments or €150 cash.
Here is a logo we were using before
And here is the palette of colours we want to use
Criteria
It will need to sit along side our elbowroom logo in some situations so keep that in mind. Keep it contemporary and stylish.
Please submit all logo’s by the 20th of August for entry into the competition. Send entries to info@the-elbowroom.com. If we need any tweaks we will let you know. Once we have picked the winner, all ownership of the … Read More
Posted in General