FAQ - Classes

Q: WHAT ARE THE CLASSES LIKE ?

Active Birth yoga classes are gentle, safe and beneficial for you and your growing baby. Along with practising pre natal yoga and breathing exercises that prepare you for birth, these classes explore topics that will increase your potential of achieving a natural and empowering birth. You will practise classical Pregnancy yoga sequences throughout each class. An active birth workbook to accompany the classes for home practice is available to purchase at your first class.

When do I Start ?

You can start at any stage in your pregnancy.  It is recommended to commence the classes in the later part of your 2nd trimester.  Even just a few classes will guide you towards a more confident and empowering birth experience.  You can cover all the active birth skills over 8 weeks.  As the classes cycle round every eight weeks you can start anytime.

What is involved in a class ?

As well as exploring Active Birth Skills such as Breathing in Labour, you will be moving in the class, releasing tension from your pelvis and strengthening your buttocks & legs.  You will be  practicing yoga postures that are relevant to birth like standing, squatting, lunging, all fours and resting postures.  Mindfulness and relaxation techniques are included in every class. There is clear evidence that using upright positions in the first stage of labour reduces the duration of labour, the risk of caesarean birth and the need for an epidural.

The classes are primarily for you to learn the skills involved in birthing your baby naturally.  Learn active  birth skills  and keep healthy by learning mind-body techniques to keep calm, respond creatively, reduce fear and the experience of pain,  increase focus and confidence.  

WHAT Active birth skills ARE covered over a 8 week cycle?

  • Relaxation skills 
  • Affirmations
  • Optimal baby positioning
  • Visualisation in pregnancy & labour 
  • Breathing for pregnancy, labour & birth 
  • Vocalisation in labour & birth
  • Labour : first stage using active birth positions 
  • Birth: second stage using upright birth positions 

Q: What is the CLASS SCHEDULE?

  • Tuesdays - 5.15pm - 6.30pm  West End 
  • Wednesdays  - 12.30pm - 2.15pm   Auchenflower 
  • Thursdays - 6.00pm-7.15pm Auchenflower  (till Oct 12th)
  • Mondays - 5.45pm - 7.00pm Auchenflower (from Oct 23rd)

WHAT ARE THE FEES ?

These are the fees for Active Birth Classes:

  • 4 class pass $110 (4 week expiry)*
  • 8 class pass $220 (10 week expiry)*
  • Monthly Unlimited $180 (attend both Active Birth & Pregnancy Yoga classes)
  • Active Birth Workbook $30 (available at your first class)
  • Try our Active Birth Bundle or Private Session Bundle for $495 (includes 8 class pass + a full day workshop or 3hr private session with your birth partner)
  • * Any unused classes after your baby's birth date can be used in Mummy & Me Yoga classes.  Please notify us when your baby is born.

FAQ - Workshops

WHAT ARE THE WORKSHOPS LIKE ?

Our Active birth workshops are led by  advanced childbirth educator and senior yoga teacher, Suzanne Swan.  Suzanne has been doing this work for over sixteen years and her experience affirms that having the partner involved in the birth process, working hands on as a team with the mother, promotes a positive birth experience and enhances family bonding.

This small group education education class explores practical ways to assist the labouring woman at birth.  The attention is on the partner's participation during the labour and how the birth itself is as much a team effort as the conception. It covers practical mind-body techniques not taught in other hospital classes (ie. breathing, massage and birth positions) and focuses on an undisturbed physiological birth, describing the benefits of an active birth for the mother & baby. 

This workshop complements hospital antenatal classes or other classes such as Hypnobirthing, and is also an excellent refresher for parents. There is clear evidence that using upright positions in the first stage of labour reduces the duration of labour, the risk of ceasarean birth and the need for an epidural.

"Birthing is both an internal and a learned experience. Women benefit greatly in birth with this self-knowledge and with a partner and/or support team* who help her work with her body. When a woman experiences the love, attention and touch of her partner during labour she will easily relax and these feelings are passed to the baby." - Suzanne Swan, yogababy founder.

  WHAT ARE THE WORKSHOP PRACTISES ?

  • Natural forms of pain relief such as breath, touch, massage, water, heat, movement, and sound
  • Breathing skills to release inner tension and stay focused
  • Relaxation skills to enhance the natural hormones of labour
  • Massage techniques to ease pregnancy discomforts and enhance labour
  • Use of movement to reduce the effect of stress
  • Use of sound to connect with a woman's strength and power
  • Active birth positioning for 1st and 2nd stage
  • Releasing fears and creating positive birth affirmations
  • Understanding the birth process and what to expect
  • Decision making model for dealing with the unexpected

WHEN ARE THE WORKSHOPS HELD ?

These are the forward dates. All workshops are held on Sundays from 9am - 4pm at the yogababy Centre in Auchenflower:

  • 23rd July
  • 20th Aug
  • 17th Sept
  • 22nd Oct
  • 19th Nov
  • 17th Dec
  • 14th Jan
  • 18th Feb
  • 23rd Mar

If the dates don't suit  Private sessions are available with Suzanne Swan.

WHAT ARE THE COSTS ?

Active Workshops are $360 per couple. Enrolment is limited to 8 couples, please register early to secure a space.  When you have booked please complete the online  registration form.

TRY OUR ACTIVE BIRTH BUNDLE FOR $495

You can attend a weekly Active birth yoga class covering the eight Active Birth Skills (Relaxation, Affirmations, Optimally Positioning Baby, Visualisation, Breathing, Vocalisation & 1st/2nd Stage Birthing positions) that you practice with your partner in the workshop.  The yoga classes give you more practice and in-depth study of the Active Birth Skills.  

COMPARING WORKSHOPS

For information about the difference between our Active Birth Workshop and other courses, see our Workshop comparison.

To increase the potential of achieving an active birth it is recommended that the pregnant mother also attend as many of  the Active Birth Yoga classes towards the end of her pregnancy to practise the birth skills presented in this workshop.

*COUPLE/PARTNER/SUPPORT TEAM

Your couple/partner/support team can include:

  • Birthing mother and father
  • Same-sex couples
  • Single mother with support person/doula
  • Mother and daughter (birthing)
  • Birthing mother, father and support person/doula (additional $50 for third person)