Yoga is a fantastic way to prepare your body and mind for birth and mother hood. The classes comprise of a series of exercises that will help you're your body cope with the huge changes going on and prepare for the birth. Specifically:

• Yoga helps you learn to relax. We can't really teach you how to give birth. The exquisite way your body is designed, means you already know how to give birth, all you need to do is relax and let nature take its course.
Relaxation techniques can help you cope with the stresses of motherhood, but more importantly, the pain of labour.
• Flexibility is helpful if you are going to let your body open during birth. Yoga postures can help loosen tight muscles and joints, allowing you the freedom to adopt what ever positions you like in labour.
• Keeping up with a regular exercise program in pregnancy is important. Carrying a child is like doing a mini marathon over those nine months. You need to keep up your strength for whats coming and to help prepare your body for birth.
• Many pregnant women feel their posture suffers from the additional weight of their baby and their new boobs. Yoga can help stretch out and strengthen your body.

Finally, being in a group of pregnant women can provide many good tips and friendships. Who knows, you might meet each other on a labour ward. It's happened a few time to our mothers.

Classes are suitable for all pregnant women in their second and third trimester.

BIRTH PREPARATION WORKSHOPS

Week by week these workshops will prepare you mind and body for the best birth possible. The childbirth preparation course is designed to provide each woman with knowledge, breathing, relaxing and coping techniques. There will be a wide range of topics discussed, including how to break the fear-pain cycle during labour, nutrition during pregnancy, breastfeeding, pelvic floor exercises, the use of sound during labour, bonding with your unborn child and bonding in the first few minutes of birth, postures for labour and birth, the anatomy of what happens in labour, natural remedies during pregnancy and labour, medication and analgesia information, setting the right atmosphere during labour plus much much more.

The main focus of the course is to respect individual values and choices and strive to make each pregnancy, labour and birth experience a special and positive adventure. This course is also a good refresher for expectant mothers having a 2nd child or for those who haven't given birth in a while!

Each week we will bring you through different breathing and focusing exercises to help build on a positive focus for birth and provide you with tools to get through. We will be bringing you positive birth stories to bring a belif back to trusting yourself and your instincts. Each week we will have a warm up and a relaxation in the class so dress in lose comfortable clothing with a warm top to relax in.

Week 1:
Breathing exercises, positive birth stories, yoga warm ups, Pelvic Floor exercises, Nutrition in Pregnancy and Post pregnancy, Tools for positivity and relaxation basics
Week 2:
Straw Breathing/Spiraling/Energy downwards breathing, positive birth story, explain what happens in labour(1st/2nd/3rd Stage), more relaxation.
Week 3:
Sound Breath, Bonding with baby during pregnancy and post pregnancy, breastfeeding tips and info, releasing your hips, using postures with sound and relaxation
Week 4:
Centering with visualization, birth story, Setting the right atmosphere in labour and post, Drugs pros and cons, natural remedies, Hormones during labour(adrenaline/endorphines), relaxation
Week 5:
Pelvic floor exercises, Postures for labour and birth, massage points for labour, positions a baby can be in and postures to help, relaxation.
Week 6:
What is pain and how it has been exaggerated, natural pain relief methods, the importance of relaxation, useful tips for aftercare. Video's of beautiful births.

 

PRE-NATAL MASSAGE

Pre-natal massage is a natural, touch therapy treatment aimed at alleviating pregnancy related symptoms, offering a wide range of benefits, which include the following:

• Eases backaches, headaches, shoulder and neck aches that may be caused by muscle tension and shifts in posture to accommodate increasing weight
• Decreases pain in the pelvic/hip area
• Increases circulation
• Reduces fatigue
• Improves skin elasticity that can help reduce stretch marks
• Helps reduce swelling in such places as the hands
• Stabilises hormone levels by lessening anxiety

All expectant mothers should check with their doctors prior to getting a massage. If you have diabetes or high blood pressure, or are on the early stages of pregnancy (the first trimester), pre-natal massage may not be recommended. It is important to share information about your condition and your preferences with your therapist when you arrive for your appointment.

REFLEXOLOGY

Reflexology is a natural healing art, based on the principle that there are reflexes in the feet and hands which correspond to every part of the body. By stimulating and applying pressure to the feet or hands, you are increasing circulation and promoting specific bodily and muscular functions.

Reflexology can be used as a self healing art as well. It can be used to balance emotions, restore circulation throughout the physical body, and increase spiritual awareness. While increasing circulation in the brain, it can improve concentration and the ability to meditate. Reflexology can relieve insomnia and help in lowering blood pressure.

Book appointments directly using our online booking form, by calling 01-6779859 or e-mailing us at info@the-elbowroom.com

PRE-NATAL DISCOUNTS

Once you go on maternity leave, you qualify for 20% discounts on yoga classes and massage therapies. This discount applies until you decide to return to work (if you ever do!).

To avail of this offer you need to buy a 8 class yoga pass which we will discount at 20% along with any subsequent passes or massage therapies.