YogaBellies® on Dragons’ Den ...... 1
AUT UMN
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Mum & Baby Yoga what you didn't know........................ 2
YogaBelles® for women throughout life…. 3
THE YOGA AND HEALTH MAGAZINE FOR WOMEN EVERYWHERE Where has the summer gone?? Autumn is my favourite season with the trees turning a beautiful gold and the sky a calming blue and grey.. Autumn is a good time for fresh starts, resolving any unattended issues and clearing away the old to make way for changes ahead… Namaste Cheryl x
magazine Winners
YogaBellies® on BBC Dragons’ Den You m ay recently have seen founder of Y ogaBellies® Cheryl MacDonald, with her husband and pregnant YogaBell ies® teacher Sophie Keil , on BBC Two Dragons’ Den. The trio wowed the Dragons’ using the unique Y ogaBel l ies® techniques and received an offer of £50,000
from Duncan Bannatyne. The busy mum and author of the recently published Birth ROCKS, started YogaBellies® after the birth of her son three years ago and now has almost 100 YogaBellies® franchisees internation ally. Dragon Duncan Bannatyne offered YogaBellies® £50,000 investment for
Your own Birth ROCKS Book FREE We are giving all of our lovely YogaBellies® ladies the opportunity to download Cheryl MacDonald’s book Birth ROCKS at no charge for one day only. You will be able to download the book from Amazon.co.uk which will be yours to keep, onto your Kindle device or onto your phone or laptop using the Kindle Reader app. You can download for free on Friday 11th October. All we ask is that if you like the book, that you kindly leave a review on the Amazon website to let us know how if you enjoyed it :) To find our more about Birth ROCKS visit www.birthrocks.co.uk
35% of the company (going down to 20% after two Winners years) admitting “this is a no brainer for me”. Deborah Meaden also showed a great interest in the company but felt that Duncan had better resources to offer YogaBellies® ® as a whole. “We are so excited to find out how Duncan can help YogaBellies® grow, to help other women across the world using our yogic techniques and therapies and helping others to own their own socially-conscious YogaBellies® business,” said Cheryl, “The response from DD has been overwhelming and has confirmed that women across the world need YogaBellies® to help support, encourage and empower women.” I f you would like to find out more about becoming a YogaBellies® franchisee you can find out more by visiting www.YogaBelliesteachers.co.uk
YogaBellies® Mummy Therapists soothe the way for new mums YogaBellies® Mummy Therapists across the country are working with pregnant and new mums to offer them tender loving care during a time when their bodies and souls are working hard and especially deserve to be cared for. Our Mummy Therapists receive world class therapist training in Swedish and Perinatal massage accredited by The Guild of Beauty Therapists and have specialist knowledge of working with and caring for mum and her unborn child. Our therapists offer a range of treatments from:
Pre and post-partum massage, Beauty treatments for mummy A specialist combination of holistic therapies such as Reflexology and Reiki.
Our therapists can travel to the comfort of your own home or you can visit their therapy spa’s. The photos shown are of one of our Mummy Therapists in Glasgow, Lynsey MacFarlane (lynsey@yogabellies® .co.uk) and one of her clients enjoying a pregnancy massage and facial deluxe treatment. To find your nearest YogaBellies® Mummy Therapist click here or to join our team of therapists visit www.YogaBellies® .co.uk/teach
Win a pair of tickets to attend to The OM Yoga Show London 25th-27th October -Join Lisa Logan and Cheryl MacDonald for YogaBellies® sample classes; -Attend Cheryl’s talk on ‘Yoga as an ethical business proposition;’ -Come and chat to us at stand C19 or at the OM Yoga Business Conference (which YogaBellies® are sponsoring this year;) Email teachers@yogabellies .co.uk now to be entered in the prize draw!
5 things you didn’t know about Mum & Baby Yoga
YogaBellies® for Pregnancy
Vrrkasana Tree Pose
Mother and baby yoga is becoming increasingly popular as postpartum mothers discover the benefits of being able to ‘work out’, bond with their baby Simone Garner, CYT, Ayrshire and relax, all in one session.
YogaBellies® for Mum & Baby
1. Yoga is the safest soothe. YogaBellies® way to start rebuildbaby yoga strengthing mum’s abens their little limbs dominal muscles and is great for lesspost-partum. Breathening the effects of ing and colic. pelvic floor “Yogic breathing mas4. Baby yoga work are a postures sively reduces the proOur classes are suitable gentle and have the duction of stress horfor all levels of yoga praceffective same benemones in new mums” way to fits for babies titioner in a welcoming, Cheryl f ounder YogaBellies® start. as asanas for fun and safe environment 2. Yoga can adults. (with most importantly help you relax and 5. Post natal yoga can tea, biscuits and chat at bond with baby Yes prevent and allevithe end.) it is possible and yoate post natal dega can help you find pression through the To find your nearest Certipeaceful time toenergizing, strengthfied YogaBellies® for gether. ening, baby bonding Mum & Baby teacher 3. Yoga for baby can and social aspects of click here. help ease common the classes. baby ailments and help them self
classes, combine post natal yoga for mum with yoga for baby from 6 weeks post partum (8-10 weeks after a C-section.)
in schools and nurseries! YogaBellies® Kidz sessions are making a real impact in schools and nurseries across Europe, taking kidz on a fantastic journey through the universe using yoga postures, breathing and relaxation techniques in a fun-loving environment. Here is just some of the amazing feedback we’ve had: “Just a short note to thank you for coming in to the Nursery, we had a fantastic time and the children were all very motivated to follow your instructions. You spoke to them in a way they found easy to understand, and entertaining. It's obvious you have put a lot of thought and work into preparing your sessions. 'I liked the flat beds' Eva 'I like being a rocket. I felt tired after, my muscles were strong' Conor ' Yoga was good. I liked being an alien. Gillian is kind' Max “ Feedback from Bishopbriggs Village Nursery. Contact Gillian@yogabellies .co.uk for YogaBellies® Kidz, Little Angels and YogaBellies® Baby Massage in Bishopbriggs.
Sophie Keil, CYT Belfast
Tree Pose during pregnancy brings a sense of balance and calm to our ever changing pregnant bodies. It allows us to build strength and stamina for birth. As our center of gravity moves during pregnancy, balancing poses such as tree are best practiced near a wall. If we have high blood pressure or find it too challenging or unsteady with hands above head we can take the hand to the hips instead. Please avoid practising Vrrkasana if you are suffering from pelvic girdle pain or SPD. Find a YogaBellies® for Pregnancy class here.
Our different styles of YogaBELLES® class offer women something different depending on where they are in their own life. So where one class may be flowYogaBelles® are our classes created by wom- ing, another may be en for women at every stage of their life, from more focused on holding the posture for menstruation through to post menopausal, re- longer periods of time. gardless of your age, size or yoga experience. Our Yang classes are dynamic and focused The most important aspect of YogaBELLES® classes is on core strength that they are exclusively for women. That's not because where our Yin classes we don't like men, but because physically, emotionally are slow, deep and and spiritually we are distinct from men. Our bodies and restorative. Each sesJo Hutton, CYT, Newcastle hormonal fluctuations despond differently to different sion will help you to asanas (postures) and styles of practice. build a strong body, mind, and spirit. Visit www.yogabelles.co.uk for more information.
LUNAR … a sequence for Pre Menstrual Tension This is a short advanced sequence created to relieve the symptoms of PMT. Around 85% of menstruating women one or more symptoms of PMS every month. Yoga can help to alleviate these symptoms by helping to balance the endocrine system, and the gentle stretching releases any increased muscle tension. Yoga regulates breathing and improves circulation around the body as well as helping with digestive issues. 1.
1.Pigeon Pose or Eka Pada Rajakapotasana is a great posture for releasing tension in the hips and groin and to allow yourself to completely chill. Pigeon can help relieve tightness and restore flexibility.
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2. Virabhadrasana II (Warrior II) The warrior poses such as Virabhadrasana II, help women find emotional and physical strength and to feel revived and invigorated when they are feeling anxious or low. 2.
3. Natarajasana or Dancer’s Pose requires a significant amount of flexibility in the hip flexors and spine, as well as an unwavering sense of balance. Benefits include reducing menstrual discomfort and PMS symptoms.
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4. Uttrasana or Camel pose helps to stimulate the thyroid gland in the centre of the neck to balance metabolism and affects the entire endocrine system. 3.
5. Dhanurasana or Bow Pose is a great back bending pose which will help to stimulate the reproductive organs and helps to balance the levels of progesterone and estrogen in the body.
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6. Chakrasana or Wheel Irregular periods, hormonal mood swings and symptoms of PMS can be combated by practising Chakranasa (Full wheel pose) or Ardha Chakrasana (half wheel pose.) This is a beautiful heart opening posture and can allow emotions to be released and freed. It is even claimed that it delays ageing so even better ;)
Birth ROCKS A perspective from a Midwife and Birth ROCKS Mentor Nicola Bradley is a mum of three girls, RGN and Midwife based in the west end of Glasgow who teaches YogaBellies® Baby Massage and of course, Birth ROCKS. Nicola is a huge advocate of natural birth and loves working with parents using YogaBellies® bespoke birth preparation programme, Birth ROCKS to help them work towards the birth they hope for.
“As a qualified midwife I strive to keep pregnancy and childbirth normal and understand that natural birth is the best option for mother and baby. However, factors such as pre-existing medical conditions, conditions that develop throughout pregnancy, varying birth outcomes and mothers choice play their part. Therefore, as no two pregnancies are the same I work with women to help them enjoy the whole experience no matter what happens offering them support and guidance. I decided to become a birth ROCKS mentor as the course encourages women to understand that during childbirth “one size does not fit all”. Working on the labour ward and having three children myself I have witnessed and felt that birthing can be painful at times, however with the right preparation we can allow the amazement of this to overshadow the discomfort. Discomfort can often be brought on by the body’s natural response to fear. Fear plays such a pivotal role in childbirth and is often underestimated in the antenatal period; it is put to one side and never really addressed! Fear is an essential response to any emotional or physical danger, if fear was not experienced humans would be unable to protect themselves from actual threats. However, humans often fear situations that are far from life-or-death and birthing a child is an example of this. One of the main causes of fear in childbirth can be contributed to women associating pain with childbirth. Facing fears and understanding the physical effect it has on the birthing body as well as developing individual coping skills will alleviate any distress. Birth ROCKS encourages couples to really work through any fear issues and replace them with excitement and as one Birth ROCKS client states following the completion of
the course “I no longer have the fear, thanks”. Being a Birth ROCKS mentor I am able to guide women and their birth partner to understand their own coping skills and help develop a birth plan that is suitable to their individual needs. We review many practices that can aid comfort during labour and birth such as breathing techniques, birthing position, birth partner involvement, hypnosis for childbirth as well as discussing the process of labour and options available at home and hospital. Clients have reported that the many practices learned from the Birth ROCKS course aided them to an enjoyable birth, as one client tells “I used tens and gas/air along with my breathing which so works and was in pool until the end” and another informs “Attending the classes for relaxation/birth hypnosis/coping techniques/information was invaluable as it kept both of us in control. I didn't panic during the whole day, I felt I coped well with everything and knew what was happening and why. My partner was a great help massaging my back and supporting me throughout”. Receiving feedback from clients is great especially when they tell me that other birth professionals are recognising the benefits of attending a birth preparation class as one client reports “And they (labour suite midwives) said whatever course that was really worked, my breathing was excellent!! They were all very impressed at how I laboured” For me being a mentor as well as a midwife allows me to work with women during such an important part of their lives; it keeps me focused that childbirth is normal and I never forget how privileged I am to be involved! Ultimately Birth ROCKS!!!!” www.birthrocks.co.uk