What People say

"A hugely empowering experience."

"Masterful -this weekend exceeded all of our expectations. "

"Inspirational yet totally realistic -a brilliant course."

"Invaluable preparation -the most helpful thing we went to."

"David (partner) knew exactly how to help me - he said it was all to do with your birthing weekend."

'An invaluable resource when faced with the bewildering array of medical procedures - the course helped me to have the confidence to push my baby out myself after an epidural. '

"I feel really positive about the experience. I felt in control throughout and felt we were making choices rather than having decisions made for us."

"Without the benefit of all the knowledge we gained, I feel that events might have taken over. It was clear when we walked into the hospital that we knew what we were talking about."

"The preparation we received proved to be invaluable for both of us and enabled us to to feel empowered to make suggestions and assume positions that made all the difference."

Complete Active Birth Preparation

Weekend Course

with Janet Balaskas

An ideal complement to
pregnancy yoga, NCT, HypnoBirthing, Birth centre or
Hospital classes

I attended your Active Birth weekend with my partner - Although I knew the anatomy I didn't realise exactly how the baby passed through the pelvis and also that the baby did so much work itself. Your suggestions helped us to be without fear throughout - especially the mantra's "My body knows how to give birth" and "My baby knows how to be born". They worked!

JULY Sat 17th & Sun 18th
10.00 am - 5.30 pm
£155
Viveka
St Johns Wood
BOOK ONLINE
SEPTEMBER Sat 11th & Sun 12th
10.00 am - 5.30 pm
£155
Viveka
St Johns Wood
BOOK ONLINE
NOVEMBER Sat 13th & Sun 14th
10.00 am - 5.30 pm
£155
Viveka
St Johns Wood
BOOK ONLINE
Cost: £155 per person.
Email: jbbookings@activebirthcentre.com
Tel: 020 76862276

Every new parent looks forward to the joy and ecstasy of meeting their child. Whatever happens, your birth should be a positive experience, one in which you feel you are in charge and able to make the best choices for you and your baby.

During this weekend, you will discover how to give birth actively and naturally. For both mother and baby, birth is instinctive. Most births can progress without complications with little or no help. For some women the journey of birth can be pain free or even ecstatic.

What can happen in labour is also unpredictable and can sometimes be more challenging than expected. When this happens, knowing how and when to make the best use of medical back-up can ensure a good experience and a safe birth for your baby.

This course, taught by one of the UK's most experienced and inspired teachers, will empower you to go through your birth calmly and with confidence. It is an excellent course for partners giving them all the information and guidance they need. Janet Balaskas is the pioneer of Active Birth and Pregnancy Yoga and has been teaching birth preparation courses for more than 25 years.

She will teach you to:
* Access the instinctual 'know how' of giving birth
* Overcome fear and help your baby to be born.
* Actively work with your body and trust your instincts
* Understand the birth process
* Relax and let it happen.

A pdf of the course handbook will be sent to you to read prior to the course by email. This includes all the information you might need about complementary and medical back up for active birth, should your agenda need to change. There will be a session on the morning of the second day where this topic will be discussed and your questions answered. You will be guided on how to use interventions minimally and safely and how make wise decisions in a calm and focused way.

Partners are included and recommended to attend, and you can also come on your own.

The course will include:

* Active Birth, movements and positions
* Relaxation and breathing awareness
* Positive visualisations and affirmations
* How to use a birth pool in labour and water birth
* Massage and pressure points for labour
* Creating an optimal birth environment
* Partner participation
* Complementary therapies you can use in labour
* Back-up and medical interventions - when and how best to use them.
* Welcoming your new baby

How to book

Please refer to the table which will enable you to choose a date and book online. If you have a query, or would like to speak to Janet, email us with a daytime phone number where she can call you back or call 020 7682276 and leave a message.

So many courses are on offer it's hard to know which to choose.
This is the genuine article where others have found their inspiration.
Janet Balaskas has 25 years of experience as one of the UK's leading birth educators
.