This article is from page 28 of the 2007-09-11 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 28 JPG
FOR decades, Irish people have been flocking to Yoga lessons as a way of destressing, improving mental and physical health or just relaxing.
But now a Clonlara teacher, who used a Yoga approach to having her own children, is helping women have a healthier, more holistic experience of pregnancy and childbirth.
And once baby is born, he or she can come to class with mum.
Paulette Egan is teaching the Birth Light method of enjoying pregnancy and childbirth in Killaloe and is also running mother and baby classes.
Mother of four Paulette knows what she’s talking about having learned the method and used it for the birth of her own children, avoiding any need for drugs or epidurals.
While medical procedures have undoubtedly made having babies safer, many women feel their experi- ence of pregnancy and childbirth has been taken out of their hands or that there’s no choice beyond putting up with pain or taking drugs in labour.
“What Yoga teaches are simple positions and breath techniques that put women in touch with their bodies and their babies throughout pregnan- cy and when it comes to giving birth, make it a much easier and more en- joyable experience.”
The method and exercises can be done from 16 weeks into pregnancy and help expectant women to have a better understanding and to experi- ence what is happening to their bod- les in a positive way.
For instance, Paulette says “later in pregnancy many women say they
have trouble getting a breath. Yoga teaches good posture which creates more space to breath’.
The techniques also help with high blood-pressure, backache, sciatica and many other discomforts associ- ated with being a lady in waiting.
Among the movements taught at classes are rocking movements to soothe the developing baby, leg strengthening exercises to help dur- ing labour and pelvic floor exercises that help during the final stages of labour.
“Most importantly, this helps women to focus on what is happen- ing during pregnancy and to connect with the growing baby.”
And afterwards, women who want to continue learning more about Yoga can include their newborns in post-natal classes, which also include
coffee mornings so that women can meet and socialise.
Paulette sends surveys to all the women who have attended her pre- natal classes and gets a very positive response.
“They all say they got benefit from it,” she said.
The pre-natal Yoga classes are start- ing in Killaloe on Thursday nights from 6.50pm to 8.20pm on Convent Hill and the mother and baby classes Start up again on Friday mornings between 10.30am and noon.
Anyone interested can contact Pau- lette on 086 3183646.