Active Birth Workshops

Are you currently pregnant with your first child and looking to enter labour feeling calm, relaxed and fear-free?

Are you pregnant with a subsequent child and looking to follow a different birth plan?​
Our Active Birth Workshops are run by Brisbane's leading Prenatal Yoga teacher Miriam Van Doorn. With over 25 years of teaching experience (and a beautiful child of her own) Miriam whom is also a qualified Doula will guide you and your birth partner through a practical workshop filled with practice, discussions and active participation preparing you for birth - exploring how the labouring woman might want to move, position herself and breathe, and how her birth partner can make that easier and more comfortable for her. Women and their birth partners are shown practical ‘tools’ for working with pain in labour including touch, movement and massage preparing you for birth

In this small group educational class we'll explore how both the labouring mother and birth partner can work together to use mind-body techniques throughout the labour process. This 4.5-hour interactive workshop will include:

Understand the physiological processes of birth and how the pelvis, uterus and the body’s wonderful symphony of hormones are perfectly designed to birth your baby.

Dispelling fears around birth including setting intentions and using positive affirmations
The role of the support person in an active birth (and how they can help reinforce the techniques learned)
Meditation for birthing
Postures and breathing for labour and birth
Postures and breathing for birth
Use of the breath to relax and release inner tension
Use of sound to connect with a woman's strength and power
Massage techniques to relax and lessen pain
Yoga postures and philosophies to support positive birthing
Relaxation skills to enhance the natural hormones of labour
Stages 1, 2 and 3 and 4 of labour, how to cope and calm yourself through each stage
Discuss the hour after birth, and the fourth trimester.
Perineum care
Half hour mid-session break

Who is welcome to attend?
Essentially anyone who you might want supporting you in labour. This might be:
Birthing mother and father
Same-sex couples
Single mother with support person or doula
Mother and daughter (birthing) | sister and sister (birthing)

What stage of pregnancy should I be in?
Most women attend this workshop in their third trimester so the techniques are fresh in their mind, however please feel free to attend from your second trimester on. We would not recommend booking within 3 weeks of your due date in case your baby decides to come a little early!

A lunch break is provided, please bring a yoga mat for yourself and your partner, 2 cushions, water bottle and snacks

Email info@stretchyoga.com.au with any questions!