testimonials

"I just wanted to say thank you for the incrediable experience that Charlie and I have had! Yogababy has helped me connect not only with Charlie admist my busy life with four children, but to connect with myself and to breath!! You truly radiate calm and joy for life and you remind us all to connect with this wonderful journey of motherhood"

- Kim and Charlie

"I particularly liked the focus on our partners for the full day workshop and the lead up with just the mums for the weekly active birth yoga classes. The lessons I learnt about natural birth through Yogababy were invaluable for me during labour. The most inspiring thing I learnt was the techniques of slow breaths and sound vibrations during each contraction to manage sensations and keep control. I went on to use this technique for my whole labour and went on to achieve the natural, drug-free birth I was hoping for."

- Susannah

"I found the Active Birth yoga classes to be very motivating and appreciated them not only physically but psychologically, spiritually and emotionally as well. I left all my classes in a good headspace. I will certainly be recommending them to my friends. I had a positive birth experience."

- Miranda

"I just wanted to say thank you so much for th education, advice and support you've provided thorugh your classes (including the active birth workshop). I have learnt so much and feel as prepared as I can for the birth of our daughter in a few weeks. My husband also really enjoyed the workshop and feels better equipped to support me through labour and birth."

- Shannon

"I just wanted to write you to send a HUGE THANK YOU for the amazing work you do and your passionate contribution to this world!! Your workshop was inspiring, empowering, informative and full of heart"

- Kim

"We wanted to thank you for a really wonderful active birth workshop. We both got a lot out of it and were impressed by how practical and user-friendly the information was. Our birth preparations feel much more like a team effort after spending the day together in the active birth workshop and we're really excited about what lays ahead."

- Rod and Lauren

"Birthing my baby was everything i could have hoped for and more. It was truely a beautiful journey through my pregnancy, sharing thoughts, hopes and fears with you and other women at yoga. The challenges from my previous birthing experience and those at the end of this one I know were put there to help me appreciate my body's ability to give birth. You are a true inspiration to me and I thank you for your friendship and support and for sharing with me my labour and birth experience - it was just amazing! You gave me the strength and encouragement and belief I could do this."

- Lynelle

"I just wanted to say I never expected to gain so much understanding and awareness about myself, my baby and birth when I begun your classes. Thanks so much for your passion."

- Anna

"Just wanted to thank you for the classes, my second time around. My apprehension that this labour would not be as easy as my first, which was an exhausting (but not what I'd call painful) 7 hours, has been dispelled with the early arrival of our daughter Elvie. With the birth of Ari i think we employed lots of our learnings from Yoga baby, including breathing (with my husband's guidance), affirmations, positions, massage etc. This time there was very little time for that. My membranes ruptured at 36 1/2 weeks and my husband thinks I got into the 'zone' from the breathing we did in class. Labour started on Wednesday after a morning of camel walking, gutter walking, and nipple rolling, because I was determined I wouldn't be induced. Labour was a grand total of 3 hours - I only just made it into the birthing suite (l couldn't use the birth centre as she was consdiered pre term, but my midwife was present). I am really relieved that I had just done the breathing class because I don't think I had time to get any good endorphins going to help with the pain. The contractions became incredibly intense very quickly and so I breathed my way through them! I was consiously thinking about my breathe. I also used my voice - long deep groans with my breathe. This got me through labour without any pain relief other than a heat pack. So again, the second time around, I was able to use things I'd learnt in Yoga baby! Thank you! :-)"

- Renee

"I need to offer you some thanks for the amazing pregnancy yoga classes I attended while pregnant- I had the most amazing birth experience- virtually painless first stage and I felt confident and relaxed throughout. I even caught my baby!"

- Sally

"Thank you for all your advice and preparation during my pregnancy... it’s amazing how much I retained from all the classes I attended. My husband and I especially remembered your tip at the active birth workshop of being as intimate as possible during labour at hospital so the medical team can respect our space... what can I say, that and many other tips worked as my gorgeous ladies arrived on the 19^th April 1hr40mis apart with my second being foot long breech, with no medical intervention and no drugs. Makisa Carla came first weighing 7lb9oz and and Tepa Luela 6lbs3oz.

Thank you for advising me to get a doula. Every person that I sought assistance from on your resource list throughout my pregnancy was fantastic. Had I not gone to Yoga baby I am certain my experience would have been different. As you said to me when I arrived at the wrong class “It was meant to be”!

- Mos

"I found the yogababy classes to be informative and up-to-date from a medical point of view and presented in a positive, reassuring way. I would come away from the classes feeling empowered and in tune with my own body. Having pelvic pain myself I felt reassured that the teacher had a good understanding of what postures were safe for my problem. I was offered safe alternative postures. The classes have provided me with a positive empowered approach to my impending birth while respecting safe medical principles. All things considered having experienced the yogababy classes I would whole-heartedly recommend them to my friends and patients."

- Mary-Ann Litchfield, 38 weeks pregnant mother, Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist-

"With the knowledge and understanding I gained from the active birth workshop, I was able to be calm and supportive enough to be involved in every phase of the birth. Every moment of our labour was such a positive experience for both of us. I think the active birth workshop is a valuable class for all partners to attend in order to be empowered to understand and provide the support that is needed throughout labour. We have both emerged from this experience with a stronger confidence in each other."

- Luke Hall, Father

" The birth was an awesome experience!!! I was initially fearful of birthing in a hospital but I think the yoga classes enabled me to have faith in myself - and that my surroundings didn't matter as much as my own belief and determination!! I had Ari naturally (3 days overdue after trying every single type of natural induction possible), after about an 8-hour labour. The midwife was excited by our birth plan and was very supportive of an active birth. I think we used every position and relaxation/breathing/affirmation technique I learnt. "

-Renee Mahoney, Mother

"The Active Birth Workshop was a very complementry day to the ante-natal classes at hospital. I feel much more prepared for the pre-labour and birth now. Ante-natal classes were five x 2.5 hour sessions which highlighted what could go wrong with birth but offered very little in practical advice. The workshop has given me much more confidence and a greater understanding of my role and how to be more effective in the role. Thank you very much!"

- father to be

"I'm PREGNANT!!!! Thank you so much for your wonderful fertility classes - they were truly such a joy for me to attend each week. I'm so appreciative of how much effort you put into designing each of the classes with added movements and information each time. I loved the chanting and humming and all the wonderful positions obviously very much contributed to me getting pregnant at 40! I can't thank you enough and now I have to cross my fingers that I'm able to get to a yogababy class with you...."

- Maud

"yogababy has been the most empowering experience besides being pregnant. It has really helped me focus and help me let go at the same time."

- Mos

"Well I have had my little girl now (just over 2 weeks old now)and really loving it. Firstly I wanted to say a big thank you for everything you taught me in yogababy and birth prac, it made my labour a really wonderful experience. I felt really in control, calm and most of the time quite joyful. While it went for 21 hours at 1.30 sec apart from the first contraction I didn't feel tired, I just moved with it and mixed a lot of resting poses in on the ball and I stayed upright the whole time. So thank you so much!!!"

- Jodie

"A big thank you to you and the Yogababy team for helping me prepare mentally and physically for the birth of our baby boy. We had a wonderful active labour at home for the first 14hrs of the birth. Being familar with alternate positions gave us both the confidence that we had things under control. Vocalisation became a strong focus of our labour. Our midwife commented on how in-sync myself and my husband were, and how much strength I drew from him. Thankyou for facilitating my acquirment of the skills of mindfulness and empowerment. Birth was an amazing process to be involved in. I am so thankful to have experienced the natural labour and to also feel confident in our decision for intervention."

- Michelle

"The birth was everything that we didn’t plan … of course!!! I am glad that I was able to labour for as long as I did naturally and I feel in my own mind, that being able to labour that long naturally with a posterior baby most probably prevented me from having to have caesarean.

All of the tools that you taught us were helpful. I used movement, breath & sound, as well as the tens machine. But most of all, I went into that labour & birth well educated, with the ability to make informed decisions. And I thank-you so much for your guidance over the last few months. It was invaluable in helping me to make the decisions that I made and I definitely feel that I had an “Active” birth as a result of attending your classes."

- Caroline

"I attended pregnancy then active birth yoga throughout my pregnancy at the West End studio which I really enjoyed. My partner and I then attended an active birth workshop on 25th July which was fantastic, and would you believe it... I went into labour that same evening. After a long prelabour, I arrived at the hospital 10 centimetres dilated in the early hours of 27th, jumped into the bath tub at the birth centre and was holding our baby boy 2 hours later. It was an exhilarating and wonderful experience and I was so glad to have had all the stories as well as physical practice in the skills of active birth that you offered during the classes. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and understanding. I don't think I could have stayed home as long as I did in my first labour without your help."

- Sara

"Thank you for the active birth classes. My little girl was born on 27th June. I was able to have an active birth with the knowledge I had learnt in the classes. I spent most of my labour off the bed either in the shower or on the birthing ball. I used many of the techniques I learnt especially the vocalisation during transition and having loose lips in labour making bbrrrr sounds with my lips."

- Lisa

"I wanted to write a quick email to say thank you for the amazing Workshop on the weekend. Lisa has learnt so much and feels so much more prepared and able to support me. It really was a very educational and rewarding workshop and I can't think of any constructive feedback to give - the 3 hours went by very quickly and covered everything we could want to know."

"Guess what! Our little Chelsea Olive came early and is now with us. She was born Friday night at 7.15pm. Under your great advice, we'd stayed home all day and reached the hospital at 6.10pm with a 7cm dilation. The birth then came along very, very (unexpectedly) quickly and although hard, was very natural and rewarding. I used the gas - it was my prop for focus, and no other drugs were even considered so I'm really proud of myself. Lisa and the midwife birthed Chelsea - the doctor didn't have a chance to make it! When she was born they put her on my chest and left us there for the next 30mins as it was a very busy night for them, so Lisa & I and a very alert and settled baby got to spend the first few moments together as a family."

- Caralyn

"Thanks very very much for your advice re breathing and making our birth personal and emotional. It was one of the last things I thought about before going to hospital. I actually had a lot of fear about having a caesaerian and started my deep breathing and positive thinking the minute I went into the theatre (to the extent they asked me if I was OK). I focussed on all of it bringing me closer to Oliver (the baby) and guess what? I actually smiled as the epidural needle went in because it was bringing me closer to my baby! The operation went well, the baby was perfect, skin to skin straight away ... and we are now doing really really well!"

- Tracey

" Thank you again for the brilliant Active Birth Workshops you offer - my partner and I participated last year and it was such a highlight of our pregnancy and helped us to connect in practical and emotional ways during our homebirth."

- Mandi

"I did use positions and visualisations that I learnt in class as well as at the workshop. I found that I was so in touch with what was going on inside my body. I truly felt the visualisations helping to open my cervix and when I worked really well at them I felt baby move down more at the end. I also reflected on the Thai Goddess pose during a contraction or two to gather strength. It was a wonderful vivid experience."

- Honey

" Your class helped me prepare, both physically and mentally for birthing my baby. Never for one moment did I ever think I would get through labour without some kind of pain relief (in my birth plan - which I never wrote down, I was always prepared to have gas and or pethidine if needed, but did not want to have an epidural). The fact I was able to get through the labour without pain relief I credit to you. By following your advice about staying positive, as relaxed as possible, and focused on my baby and I going through labour together I was able to get through the birth much better than I ever anticipated. As a consequence, I receovered very quickly, have a calm baby who I have bonded with and is breastfeeding very well and I have a wonderful birth experience to look back on."

- Shayne

"Thank you for the pregnancy and active birth yoga courses! My husband and I used all the postures and the songs you taught us during the classes to control breathing and achieve a drug free vaginal birth. After 20 hours (8 of which were established labour) I delivered a healthy 8lb baby boy. Due to the empowerment you helped me feel during my first ever pregnancy and labour experience, I found myself approaching parent hood with confidence and strength. Suzanne you truly have a gift for enabling women to trust their bodies. Thank you a thousand times over!"

-Shivaani

" I just wanted to say thank you for the yoga classes and the active birth workshop. Both of these helped give me and my husband the information, tools and confidence to have the kind of birthing experience I really wanted - natural, drugfree, exhilarating, thorougjly satisfying. My girl was born with waters still intact, after an 8 hour labour, most of which we spent at home. She was born in the shower, where I was kneeling with my elbows on a swiss ball, my arms straight and hands holding onto a grab bar on the wall. In all, I spent 20 mins of the labour on the bed. The whole experience just blew me away, and the recovery has gone extremely well. Your classes played an important part in making us feel empowered to be clear and firm about what we wanted, which the hospital staff respected. In fact, they seemed to quite enjoy the experience.

Thank you for helping my dream come true".

- Gynette

" I just wanted to let you know that at 40 weeks on my last day of active birth classes with you, I went into labour a few hours later! It was a great experience, drug-free and all natural. I felt very empowered by my classes and teachings through yogababy. Many breathing and visualisation techniques came into play during my 10 hour journey. Many thanks to Lisa and Suzanne and fellow classmates/moms-to-be!"

- Erin

"The birth was great, the best experience ever, 9 hours and full on. Very active and I used the yoga advice and positioning, and intuitiion of course, throughout, didnt need any pain relief. Thanks for everything that you taught me through the classes, it was invaluable to get me through it so well".

- Gretchen

"Thanks so much for your guidance and help throughout my pregnancy. My partner and I found many of the postures and breathing we learned at the Active Birth workshop to be really useful and our labour went really smoothly"

- Charnie

"Thank you so much for all your guidance and support during my pregnancy. The affirmation that I chose on my last class"trust birth" was my mantra during my labour and I buried this affirmation with mys sons cord stump with his avocado tree we planted for him".

- Kelly

"I never thought I would be one to say this but it was actually a good labour! Although I'd been experiencing cramps for 1-2 weeks, once regular contractions started they were 10 minutes apart and my boy was born less than 3 hours later. I basically stayed in the shower until things started to feel a bit "pushy" and then got onto the bed on all fours and out he came.

So a big thanks for your classes, advice and the birth stories all of which I think helped greatly. I also had a great midwife who never mentioned "drugs" or "pain relief" and whose only advice whenever I asked if I was doing the right thing was "just do what your body is telling you". My obstetrician is also pretty laid back though she only arrived when he was crowning"

- Jenny

" I just wanted to write a quick note to say how wonderful I found your Active Birth classes to be. I began attending when 14 weeks pregnant and continued up until 38 weeks and I found the classes to be my little oasis of peace in otherwise very hectic weeks whilst I was working. Not only do they provide a wealth of information for the first time expectant mother (I had no clue about anything when I first attended) but they also provided a really lovely, supportive atmosphere with a lot of laughs. i will really miss the classes and sincerely thank you for your patience, knowledge and humor."

- Allison

"I cannot thank you personally enough Suzanne for the advise, education, techniques, support and nurturing of my mind and soul throughout my weekly yogababy classes. I loved attending and spending the 'me' time in your classes and I know it is through your preparation that I was able to draw upon my inner strength and determination to get through the birth without intervention"

- Ellissa

"Last week I attended my last Mummy and Me yoga class with Haydie at Annerley. I've been going to classes since my daughter was about eight weeks old (she will be one in April). I also did Mummy and Me with my son in 2005 and Active Birth yoga through both my pregnancies. I cannot describe how valuable the the Active Birth classes were in helping me to achieve two natural and empowering births and I only wish that more women were given this sort of information during their pregnancies. I just wanted to say thank you and let you know I have enjoyed and valued all of my yogababy experiences."

- Kylie Feb, 2008

" I wanted to thank you for helping me through my second pregnancy and bringing the sound of music into our birth. I decided to give yoga classes a go after my first pregnancy turned into a giant medical intervention: inducement, pain relief medication, followed by weeks on antibiotics. My body reacted to the concoction and I was unwell for months. The combination of Mum and toddler classes, second trimester and active birth yoga classes were worth every cent and then some. I ended up labouring using the deep yogic breathing and humming/singing on each deep exhale. It was an amazing experience and I cannot thank you enough for offering such a complete package for women eager to birth naturally."

- Debra

"I wanted to say how much the classes contributed to me having a labour that I felt in control of, with no pain relief. It was extremely painful but the techniques you taught helped me cope with it. Not bad for a control-freak doctor, heh! It was how I wanted the labour to be but I wasn't sure I would be able to do it like that with my medical background. Classes like yours should be compulsory for pregnant women, I think, or at least the most important component of antenatal classes".

- Vanessa

"I had the most spectacular birthing experience and I do owe it all to my Active Birth Yoga teacher. All I could think of during the labour was her saying to me "Loose lips, loose bits". So thank you".

- Jasmin

"Yoga for Pregnancy class was the most wonderful way to prepare both body and mind for the birth. All aspects of the class (yoga and the sharing of other women’s birth experiences) helped give me the confidence and strength to experience an Active Birth.” - Ainslie

"Thank you for instructing me in 2nd Trimester and Active Birth Yoga during my pregnancy with Jack. I felt well prepared for the birth experience because of the wisdom you lovingly imparted during classes; during the three-day labour I was instinctively calm and relaxed from what I had learnt with you and I feel more connected with my son through the exercises you taught. I believe Jack is a happier and healthier baby on account of yogababy and we are so grateful for you." - Lisa

"Each week I feel more and more prepared for my baby's birth. I've always been of the opinion that birthing requires preparation, which is why I joined yogababy, and so far its met all my expectations and more. You have really helped with my birthing plan and my awareness of my body during labour. I wouldn't have thought of any of this on my own! I now feel comfortable that I can take control of my birth, allowing it to be a positive experience. The other ladies are wonderful and its nice to compare notes!" - Jess

Tania's testimonial

testimonials