Pregnancy Yoga Teacher Training in Kathmandu

Suzanne gave a lecture and demonstration to yoga teachers at the Scientific Yog Centre in Latipur, Kathmandu. They were very interested to know about the safe yoga postures for pregnant women and the modifications that can be offered. The Caesarean rate in Kathmandu is 75% and the miscarriage rate is also high. There is a lot to be done within the community to promote health pregnancy and natural birth. Suzanne is now are contributor to the centre.

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Saraswati almost finished!

The Saraswati painting in almost completed. Heading into the 19th day of painting tomorrow. It has been an amazing journey through the spectrum of creativity. From excitement to doubt, to joy, to inadequacy, to tranquility, to hesitation, to rightness, to frustration, to love, to anxiety, to transition, to creation!!!

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Suzanne Swan
Family Generosity

During the festive season of Darshain I was welcomed into a family home to experience the wonderful hospitality of Kathmandu. Families in Nepal are cross generational with Grandma’s next door, son’s of brother with sister-in-law and new born baby (only 7 days in this photo). In the family home there is mother and father, sisters and brothers.

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Suzanne Swan
BIRTH STORY: Meet baby Austen

My daughter, Austen, was born on her due date of 27 March this year after an almost 20-hour labour and forcep delivery in the end. I attended your classes 2-3 times a week from 16-38 weeks pregnant and I can honestly say that the techniques I learned there were invaluable in helping me get through what I’m told was quite a difficult labour.

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Birth StoriesSuzanne Swan
BIRTH STORY: Meet baby River

During the wait, the baby was moving positions (posterior to anterior right) almost daily.  I used the active birth positions to encourage the baby to turn. When I checked into hospital for the induction, the baby was on the left anterior side and I was 5 cm dilated (without any surges).

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Birth StoriesSuzanne Swan
Creating positive affirmations out of fears

Our beliefs, thoughts and emotions play an integral role in our actions and decision-making, they even affect our physiology every moment of the day. What we think and believe about birth matters. A positive image of birth is the cornerstone of a safe, happy birth experience. If you believe your body is meant to give birth efficiently, naturally and without complications and that birth is a joyful event, you are more than halfway to a safe, natural birth. 

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Suzanne Swan
Rishikesh, Uttrakhand, India.

Rishikesh is a city in India’s northern state of Uttarakhand, in the Himalayan foothills beside the Ganges River. The river is considered holy, and the city is renowned as a center for studying yoga and meditation. Temples and ashrams (centers for spiritual studies) line the eastern bank around Swarg Ashram, a traffic-free, alcohol-free and vegetarian enclave upstream from Rishikesh town.

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Suzanne Swan
BIRTH STORY: Meet baby Nina

I went into early labour on a Monday evening, after a wonderful day of relaxing and enjoying some quiet alone time. The first emotion I felt was actually a bit of sadness about the end of pregnancy. I took a few moments to wish my baby well on her journey.

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Kids Yoga this School Holidays in Roma St Parklands

Yogababy Kids yoga is a fun, interactive class involving movement & yoga postures, breathing & relaxation.  Kids learn how to be strong and calm, bringing their attention to the qualities of joy, safety and connection.  Suitable for kids aged 5 - 12 years.  Please bring along a yoga mat or towel.

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Suzanne Swan
BIRTH STORY: Meet baby Sophyr

After having false labour just a week and a half before I wasn't too sure I was in labour. I'd been having irregular contractions on the day of the 2nd of August and at 1.30am I woke up to a strong one, thought nothing of it and went back to sleep. At 4.30 yuri got up for work and I told him I'd been having contractions through the night but I'd let him know if they were regular and he went to work. I couldn't get back to sleep and realised I was having them every 10 minutes and they were 30 seconds long.

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Suzanne Swan
Teacher training in Adelaide

It was great to teach the Pre/Postnatal yoga teacher training to the teachers at Yogafusion in August.  They will be at the Belly Baby & Beyond Parenting Fair at the Wayville Showgrounds 13th and 14th November promoting their Pregnancy yoga classes that will start in October.

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Teacher TrainingSuzanne Swan
Birth Story: Meet baby Zoe

Overall I would describe my labour as “very slow but steady”. It turns out that baby Zoe didn’t fully engage/descend until right at the end, so I feel like I laboured without the usual pressure on the cervix. This meant for me the first stage of labour was about 16 hours and the active stage was almost 9 hours.

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Birth StoriesSuzanne Swan
Kids Yoga in Roma Street

Yogababy Kids yoga is a fun, interactive class involving movement & yoga postures, breathing & relaxation.  Kids learn how to be strong and calm, bringing their attention to the qualities of joy, safety and connection.  Suitable for kids aged 5 - 12 years.

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Suzanne Swan
Finding your way with birthing positions

During labour, listen to, be patient and trust, your body will let you know what to do.  I have found that while women draw heavily on the birthing skills we learn in the Active birth yoga classes, the one’s that cope well usually do more than what they have learned in class. They discover their own ways of adapting spontaneously to the increase of physical demand that active labour brings.

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Active Birth training in Adelaide

In August Suzanne travelled to Adelaide to teach an Active Birth skills workshop to Midwives, Physiotherapists and Yoga teachers.  During the day we looked at the benefits of movement during labour, use of resting positions to aid relaxation and up right positions for progressing labour.  The pregnant body is amazing in its capacity to know exactly what to do if we are able to manage our mind’s responses.   Exploring the key concepts of mindfulness and pain management was an enjoyable part of the workshop.

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Birth Story: Meet baby Lucas

Labour started on the evening of Easter Sunday at 40 weeks + 5 days.  We had the last 'event' planned, although I (in my mind) had been making plans incase bub came in the last week of the school term (Easter hat parades, etc).  Family members were heading home as I was starting to get contractions - uncomfortable but manageable.  They were happening about every half an hour for about 30 seconds.  So we headed to bed early to rest before the big event.  I felt excited yet nervous.

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