“I just wanted to let you know that I had a beautiful wee boy on Sunday night. The labour/birthing was quite rapid, only 6:50 from start to finish. We are all fabulous and truly believe that all of the squatting and breathing learned in class helped in my delivery.”

“I really think that your classes helped me through the birth and were a huge reason as to why i didn't use any pain relief.”

“... I used the golden thread breath (during first stage of labour) and even my two friends commented on how well my breathing was...”

“... I had her naturally which I am very proud of with no drugs! The first stage was not as bad as I thought and the breathing techniques definitely helped. I stayed at home for most of the day and by the time I got into the hospital I was 9cm ... ”

"Before I began pregnancy yoga I was afraid of giving birth, it was something that I believed would be the most painful experience I would ever have to face, and that I had to birth at Christchurch Women’s as things would go wrong and that pain relief was essential.  Pavitra’s classes not only prepared my body physically, but more importantly opened my mind to the reality that this was a completely natural process, my body was designed to do this and that it was only my mind preventing it from it being one of the most beautiful and empowering experiences of my life. I am now just days away from giving birth and instead of facing this time with fear, I await with excitement and curiosity as to how far can I push myself physically but now more so, mentally.

My resolve: To birth with my body and not with my head. “  ... “ I did have an amazing, drugfree and unassisted waterbirth. ”

“I thought I would drop you a line to say that I really enjoyed the yoga yesterday.

I have been creating some energy blockage in my hips and pelvis and having bad dreams and last night I had the best night sleep I have had in weeks! No dreams and my hips and back have not been hurting. Big sigh.”

“I loved how the sessions were so relaxing. The breathing of course helped tremendously during labor. I loved the ending of the session, the journey through the body, that was extremely relaxing. It was nice to meet other pregnant ladies interested in yoga. I wish I lived in Christchurch or closer to yoga classes I would continue on going. They told me in the hospital it was good I had an open mind to all the things that happened to me, and a determination to breast feed. They were impressed I was even able to get my milk supply in with all that happened. I think yoga really teaches that, to let go and experience things and to work through them. I'm very glad I was able to find your class. Thank you for having it.”

“I really did enjoy the pregnancy yoga sessions that I did attend with you. The Monday sessions were great for getting in tune with important muscle groups and I also found the meditation/relaxation part just wonderful. The breathing and meditation will surely be of use too.”

“Knowing that my yoga instructor had been through the pregnancy and childbirth experience herself gave me a lot of reassurance.” 

“I loved the yoga classes. It was really nice to have a full yoga class where we were constantly reminded that there were two of us doing the practice. It was a special time in the week where it was set aside for me and the baby. I knew I was nurturing my own body, preparing it for birth but at the same time nurturing my baby and giving him some room and doing some stretches that he liked. “

The breathing techniques really helped me get in touch with my breath. It wasn't so much any specific technique just the general pranayama that helped me connect with the breath. This helped A LOT in labour as I felt more of a connection with my breath and knew that we could work together. The meditations were my favourite. I loved visualizing my baby's body and I'd get so excited about meeting this little body one day and seeing and touching it in the flesh. It helped me to connect more with the baby in a physical sense.”

Each pregnancy, each child born, is a special opportunity for a woman to discover within herself greater strength as well as flexibility; greater power as well as surrender; greater compassion as well as detachment ... and above all a greater capacity to love

Pam England

(Birthing form Within)

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Pam England (Birthing form Within)

Result of recent survey conducted at Yoga for You (Sep 2011):   90% of women felt more confident about birth after attending one term of Pregnancy Yoga with Pavitra