CHILDBIRTH PREPARATION WORKSHOP

Sally and Roger

We both really enjoyed the workshop, full of practical and calming advice. The handouts were great – I printed them out, gave copies to my husband and put them in my birth bag. In fact, we referred to them on the day for the massage and for breathing techniques.

Kelly and Tim

A very enjoyable and informative morning which was fun and light-hearted. Tim was not looking forward to it at all, i think he had visions of us all sitting around in funny positions chanting! However he came away with a completely different view, found the workshop fun and reasuring that he wouldn’t be useless during the labour and birth. We both now really feel ready for baby to come and we are prepared for the labour we hope for but also if it doesn’t go to plan there are things we can do to help baby arrive safely. We found the whole workshop really useful especially the stages of labour diagram (was alot clearer than in our antenatal classes) and also the possitive interactions tips, after the workshop Tim felt he would be more useful to me during labour and felt less nervous about the birth.

Jenny and Sean

Thanks, Kate, the workshop was brilliant. Really fun and very reassuring – it’s given both of us a confidence boost. A positive experience as something to do together with my husband as he hears about the yoga course and wants to be really supportive and the course gave him an insight into the preparations I’ve been making through the yoga course and has helped him to identify with his role during the birth.

Rachel and Sean

We found the workshop really helpful – my husband said he felt much clearer about what would happen and his role. We particularly enjoyed the  practical advice on breathing, positions and having a go. I liked that you gave lots of info/advice rather than group work which is popular in these workshops but often not so helpful.  Your relaxed and easy style really helped in making it both informative and enjoyable.

Andrea and James

I found this a very useful reminder as a 2nd time mum, and an excellent way of spending time together as a couple and dedicating some time to consider and discuss the pregnancy and what lies ahead. Especially as this time, we seem to have spent less time discussing the baby, birth etc.  Outside of the classroom, life is hectic and complicated but this has given me time to actually communicate with James where we can leave life outside for a while.

Claire and Paul

We were lucky enough to have managed to squeeze in a great ‘Birth Preparation’ class with Kate the week before Eren’s arrival at a planned home birth.  Both of us felt we had a better understanding of what to expect of the different stages of labour and birth, some really handy techniques to use in different situations and after some rather intimate moments, an idea of the best position for me to give birth in, based on my pelvic size/shape! I remembered Kate saying how important it was to allow yourself to let go and not try to control the situation too much.  For me, shouting and grunting seemed to come naturally so I just let myself do it.  It was difficult letting go but it worked.

Andrea and Robert

Just wanted to say how good we both felt the course was on Sunday. Very enjoyable and not at all scary – well certainly the content and implications are scary but not the way it was presented. Judging by our discussion afterwards and Robert’s description of himself as “partially trained midwife”  he took quite  a bit of the information in and has mentioned it quite a bit at home too. I just hope with both do when push comes to shove quite literally. It was really useful for us – just what we both needed and at a good tempo and pitched in a very positive way.

Hannah and Phil

Funny, informative, direct. Just right. Think it’s so easy when you’re soaking up as much information as you can from books, magazines, programmes n the like, but it’s never the same as when you get the information in ‘real life’ terms, in context, with trusted opinion and with practical things to be able to do/ use. You really made me think about the ‘letting go’ bit and it’s very true and also the reality of the fact that anything can be undone – whatever the outcome of birth. I know it’s obvious but there’s a vulnerability in pregnancy, particularly with your first as you just don’t know what to expect and so just soak up everything your told, it’s hard to get that ‘in reality’ balance. I’m well glad I found your yoga classes :)   Thank you Kate, it was brill!

PREGNANCY YOGA AND PILATES

Emma Smith and Ellis

Used the golden thread breathing and shaking the pear tree and tens machine which worked really well together!! Went into water once pool was ready which was lovely. Continued with the golden thread whilst kneeling forward. Ellis arrived into the world at 15.55hrs. Weighing an impressive 10lb 2oz!! No intervention required. Totally pain relief free and i truly believe that by using those techniques from yoga that i was able to be in complete control throughout the entire labour. …So a big thank-you Kate!!

Angela Myers and Bert

I have to say the golden thread was invaluable throughout, and the Aah of Delight also great (it was also good for helping fetal hiccups and now use it for the first few toe-curling seconds of latching on!). I’m sure that if I’d not been to your yoga classes I wouldn’t have managed as long as I did at home, would have had a longer labour and needed more pain relief than the 2 paracetamol I got through it with, so I can’t thank you enough for the past few months of preparation.

Emma Knights and George

Thank you Kate so much for the fab courses. I used the breathing techniques a great deal throughout the labour and the midwife even commented on how well I used the breathing to get through the pain. She was very impressed when I told her about your classes and felt they should be mandatory!!

POSTNATAL AND PROGRESSIVE POSTNATAL YOGA AND PILATES

Caroline Piercy and Ella

Before I met Kate I have to say I didn’t think I’d be a yoga fan, to me it meant cheesecloth-wearing hippies and possibly a stay in india eating lentils! So I went along to my first class at the invite of a friend in the hopes that it would be at least something gentle to do in my post baby stupor. How wrong can a person be about yoga? – very!!! Kate has well and truly converted me through her down to earth attitude, understanding, can-do approach and wicked sense of humour. The first postnatal classes I went to were so gentle it was difficult to believe I was exercising at all and I came away with a little more movement and positive feeling about myself each week. Now I’m doing Progressive postnatal and find myself having more strength than I thought possible, correcting my posture when I’m doing the washing up and just a general feeling of optimism about life! You certainly gain physically from Kate’s classes, I couldn’t do a handstand when I was 7 and now miraculously I’m halfway there aged 35!, and I feel myself growing in strength and suppleness, but you also gain mentally I think. Kate has helped me calm down in my approach to life and learn that sometimes it’s ok just to be – Ella doesn’t always need her mum to be rushing round like a mad thing. And it’s all done with a sense of humour and ability to giggle if you don’t make quite what you’re heading for – there is no frowning in Kate’s classes!! So I’d say Kate’s classes are part exercise, part giggling, part therapy and lot of fun. Plus Ella has been attending the classes since she was about 6 months old and loves every minute, it has a really calming effect on her and she takes in all the weird poses we throw for her amusement – aged 13 months she’s just done her first ‘down dog’ pose. Now if that isn’t testament to Kate’s magic abilities I don’t know what is!

Abby Holden and Sophia

How would I describe Kate’s progressive postnatal course in 3 words? … Absolutely Blooming Brilliant! I was left a physically worse for wear after the birth of my little one and had little to no core stability left at all.  Having done the postnatal course, I moved on to Kate’s progressive course and loved it for a variety of reasons.  Firstly, it was such great fun.  Kate’s passion and enthusiasm for yoga made you totally forget that you were having a darn good work out and the class always had a giggle along the way.  Secondly, at the beginning of the course Kate always gave you something to aim towards completing, be it hand-stands/backwards walk over etc.  With her support and individual guidance, most people were able to achieve it!  Thirdly, even on a full course, Kate had an amazing ability to simultaneously watch and correct everyone’s positions and had an uncanny knack of remembering everyone’s individual ailment/stretch/strain/niggle, so it was totally tailored to you, as if you were having one-to-one tuition!  Kate is simply brilliant and I would recommend pre-natal/post-natal and progressive yoga to everyone!  It made a huge difference to me physically and emotionally!

Jodie Jenkins and Scarlett

Yoga has played such a huge part in my recovery process post back operation that I am quite sure I need to carry on yoga-ing for the rest of my life, it seems that every time I stop for a couple of weeks the old niggling pains return.  From a postnatal point of view, it has been an amazing physical and mental experience. I really look forward to the time out of crazy mummy life to sort all the wobbly bits out somewhere I feel completely relaxed and I often arrive with a head full of stress and leave ridiculously relaxed.  I have found the progressive class a challenge, but am amazed at how much easier I am now finding the poses we have practiced, considering I am a ridiculously inflexible person.  Kate, the level of understanding and empathy you offer all of us really is what makes your classes so special.  You are always so enthusiastic about everyone’s achievements and motivate us all to push ourselves in such a positive way.  I’m quite sure another yoga teacher wouldn’t be so passionate and take such personal interest in each of their students!

Sarah Martin, Grace and bump

I joined Kate for progressive postnatal classes (among others). I loved it so much! Kate made sure that it was tailored to the members of the class, and because the number of people in the class were always around 12 or so, we all got a good work out while Kate catered to each of our little niggles. Because the class sizes were not huge, we got to try out things that we would never have been able to in a larger group. For instance, doing a hand stand, which I hadn’t done since I was 9! Moving from a standing position into a crab, which I had NEVER done before (but always wanted to), but under Kate’s instruction, found it easy and fun! It was not only good because I became stronger and more flexible after having my baby (in fact, so much more so than I was before), but I got some hard earned “me time” to focus on myself and remember who I was. I loved it so much that I did the course again and again; actually I have no idea how many times. I am pregnant with my second child now, but am really looking forward to joining Kate again after the baby has been born to strengthen my body and my spirit. Thank you Kate :)

Helen Spencer Smith and Isabel

I started postnatal yoga with Kate four months after having my baby girl. I was keen to build up my fitness levels again and it was was great to begin in an environment with other new mums. Kate makes yoga fun and there is no pressure to push yourself any harder than you feel able. However, each class builds on the previous one so I was quick to notice the improvement in my fitness and stamina. My previous experiences of yoga are not very positive so I was apprehensive to how much I would get out of the course but I have really enjoyed Anusara yoga. After one course I was able to move on to the progressive postnatal course and it has made a huge difference to my fitness and weight loss and getting my body back to it’s pre-pregnancy shape. Kate is really encouraging and supportive. The classes are varied and really well specified to meet the needs of new mums and beyond. It is now eight months since I started and they are still brilliant!

Cheryl Herrieven and Bella

I’ve been amazed at how quickly my strength and stability has improved while doing yoga with Kate. I love the fact that there is something new to focus on every week both physically and mentally. I always seem to be rushing around but progressive yoga has helped me focus on, and enjoy, the ‘here and now’ rather than being stressed and worrying about what’s next!

Tina Revell and Rhys

Progressive postnatal yoga has met all my expectations – it’s challenging, fun and absolutely fantastic at working core muscles. Since participating in this class my core stability and mental focus has improved immensely. I would highly recommend any new mother to engage in this class.

Nikki Roy and Ilsa

I had attended Kate’s general yoga classes and found them to be very inspirational – conditioning my body, mind and spirit at the same time. When I discovered I was pregnant with my third child, having just felt I had regained my strength and figure through yoga, I couldn’t wait to attend her pregnancy and postnatal classes. They have brought me back into the essential discipline and made the beautiful experience of having a baby an even more positive one. Fantastic development for my core strength, much needed after two pregnancies and natural deliveries! One of the best experiences was freely being able to laugh out loud in Kate’s classes. Encouraged a really positive experience to my yoga.

BABY YOGA

Mirka Sasiadek and Szymon

I experienced wonderful feelings during baby yoga class and I would recommend this course to each new mother and her baby. It gave me more confidence, helped me cope with the stresses and gave me good feedback from baby – I notice that baby yoga exercise makes Szymon happy. It is a fantastic holistic method of exercise for mother and baby. Kate – you are amazing, friendly person. You created a wonderful atmosphere filled with peace and quiet and positive emotions. Thank you lots.

Kate Jackson and Alfie

We loved baby yoga, Alfie was my first child and Kate’s relaxed friendly manner and great sense of humour gave great support in the early months. My fella and I used the relaxation song at Alfie’s bedtime for the first year and he used to go straight to sleep with it. It still chills him out sometimes but he’s 2 and a half now so nothing keeps him chilled for long! Kate’s class is more than just yoga. The yoga is great but so too is the group support to discuss baby things in a light-hearted manner. I got some great solutions from Kate and other mums by chatting about things in the intro section. Loved the yoga, helped to keep all those neck and shoulder pains at bay from holding, feeding and rocking Alfie. I would leave class feeling relaxed and refreshed no matter how tired and stressed I had arrived.

ACTIVE BABY AND TODDLER YOGA

Emma Youngman and Harry

I’ve been doing yoga with my son since he was a few months old. He’s now just turned 3 and we are both getting more than ever out of it. He really looks forward to going and Kate makes it great fun. You learn lots of moves and songs which you can use at home. There’s nothing better than walking into the lounge at home and seeing your little one doing some random moves that he’s just learnt. I believe it is a great discipline for us both and would thoroughly recommend doing Kate’s courses for development and bonding.

Claire Hindley and Fearn

Me and Fearn (my 23 month old) love Kate’s toddler yoga.  Kate’s energy and enthusiasm make them such great fun for both parent and child and the smiley face’ stamp, given at the end of the class for doing great yoga, is a real winner; Fearn still talks about it.  The classes are an ideal opportunity to enjoy time with your child and lead on brilliantly from Kate’s baby yoga classes (also highly recommended).  As well as being lots of fun, with songs and actions, coloured scarves, balls and musical instruments, toddler yoga helps with balance and flexibility is a great way of improving little people’s ability to concentrate, focus and follow instruction, to share and take turns, to trust and of course to relax.  Another excellent thing about it is that you learn activities you can easily do at home with your child between classes.  Thanks to both Kate and her little girl Indy for such offering such a great course.

Emily Havercroft and James

Baby yoga has been so enjoyable and worthwhile for both me and my son James. The active baby yoga classes have given me huge confidence to play more physically with him, knowing that he is having great fun but that he is safe. The classes have had a hugely positive influence on my relationship with James and I use so much of what Kate teaches us back at home both in play and when we both might need to calm down! I’ve loved the fact that these classes are for both me and James, I come away feeling lighter and rested, whilst knowing that James has had a fantastic time and will sleep really well that night!!!

Kerry Gibbs and Reuben

We absolutely loved the Active Baby Yoga course. It was a very special activity that we both gained a lot out of. It is full of delightful moves and songs and is very varied. Kate is wonderful and guides you and you baby through the course effortlessly.

Catherine Jeans and Lucia

We did a lovely course of toddler yoga in the summer.  It was a perfect hour of bonding time with my daughter, and great exercise for me too.  But the best thing was that Lucia could get rid of all her excess energy and would sleep like a log afterwards while I could put my feet up and have a coffee.  The perfect combination!

 ANUSARA BEGINNERS COURSE

Karina Beckett

Having done numerous exercise classes over the years, I am so pleased to have finally found a class that I enjoy so much and doesn’t give me that dreaded ‘can i be bothered to go’ feeling a few hours before the class. Over the 6 week course I have noticed a massive improvement in my flexibility, strength and balance. Somehow I feel more flexible now than I ever did when I danced. Kate is an amazing teacher and it would be a sin for her not to share her skill with us all… she has an ability to make you feel that you can achieve a certain pose or push yourself a little further whilst exuding a sunny and optimistic feeling that you can’t but help mirror. So you finish the class feeling totally worked out but almost not realising you have just been through the pain to get there! I had practised yoga at home from a DVD but since being taught the correct technique and breathing in this class I really GET IT. The descriptions that Kate gives of how each part of your body should feel, or what it should be simulating to be doing it properly, are spot on. The other major benefit of this course has been to teach me to relax – really relax – and I now try to use these principles in my everyday life. It most definitely is yoga by stealth – when pushing my pram I’ve found myself raising my shoulders to my ears and locking them down into my back, thighs back and tailbone down, tummy up and into spine, elbows to my side and space between my neck and chin! I am really excited to explore much more yoga, and feel that this really is going to become a fundamental part of my life. Why not? It makes me feel happy, relaxed, fit and toned.

Julie Smith

I have never been a sporty person and was a bit nervous initially but Kate soon eased my worries. After only 6 weeks my bad back is getting better and I feel much more flexible and stronger, both physically and mentally.

Jackie Heffer-Cooke

I have always been interested in Yoga and have tried it out several times over the last 15 years but found I never quite ‘got it’. Kate was what I had been looking for… Kate is an inspiring Yoga teacher, she treats Yoga seriously and this is infectious, but it is her ability to project this serious love for such a great and important strengthening, posturing, calming and centring yoga practice, in such a light, energising, interesting, down-to-earth and charismatic way which has me signed up quite probably for life. Thank you Kate for at last giving me that which I was searching for – come find it too…