Active Birth Professional Training Page 2

Janet Balaskas is the founder of Active Birth. Her innovative ideas have inspired parents and birth professionals worldwide. Obstetricians and midwives have a high regard for her work, and many have adopted her methods.
She began her work as a pioneering birth educator and author in the late 1970’s and founded the Active Birth Movement in the 1980’s when she published the Active Birth Manifesto. To this day Janet is a leading voice in the global campaign to transform birthing practices. The core work she does with parents and professionals, is now available online through live streaming.
Janet’s has written many ground-breaking books. She has recently completed her latest book and published a new film. She is the mother of four grown up children and one stepdaughter and has six grandchildren.

Jill came to Janet’s Active Birth Yoga classes 27 years ago, and after her son was born felt a visceral sense of “not wanting to leave birth behind”. She trained as an Active Birth teacher in her first two years of mother hood and in a short period of time became a mother, an Active Birth teacher and a Doula. She has been following her calling for over 25 years, teaching pregnancy and postnatal classes, as well as Active Birth and the Active Birth professional training course with Janet. She now focuses on supporting pregnant women and mothers facing disadvantage and vulnerability, through Birth Companions and the Happy Baby community charity.

Lola is an Active Birth and YogaBirth teacher, and a Doula. She has been teaching pregnancy yoga and Active Birth since training with Janet Balaskas 25 years ago. As a doula, she has attended many home births and has supported women in birth centres and labour wards. Lola is co-director at the RCM accredited YogaBirth Teacher Training Course in London. She also mentors and volunteers for Happy Baby, a charity working with immigrant mothers, and Birth Companions, a charity supporting mothers in prison and vulnerable women in the community.