A friend recommended pregnancy yoga classes at the Active Birth
Centre in North London to me when I was pregnant with my first son in 2005. They turned out to be life-changing.
Initially, they were my 2-hour-per-week "oasis of calm", providing relief from my stressful job and otherwise busy life.
From there began a gradual process, whereby I bonded with my baby, felt relaxed and energised, prepared for an "active birth" (physically, mentally and emotionally), gained confidence and knowledge about the natural birth process, and felt more centered. Active Birth workshops also helped my husband and I prepare for birth and early parenthood.
The birth of my son at Edgware Birth Centre was such a positive experience, and I am convinced that without the preparation from the Active Birth classes it could have been a very different senario.
Attending postnatal classes (postnatal yoga, baby massage and baby yoga) with my baby was also a wonderful experience, and I treasure the memories.
I began to take an interest in a more holistic and natural approach to life and parenting, for myself and my family, and decided to re-train at the Active Birth Centre and International School of Baby Massage (having my second son at Barnet Hospital between courses) and haven't looked back. I now live in Bedford with my husband, Simon and my two beautiful sons, Archie and Caelan.
My children have taught - and continue to teach - me strength, flexibility, patience, the importance of compassion and how to look at the world through fresh eyes.
This work is varied and extremely rewarding and I continue to learn all the time. As well as my own private clients and classes at quiet village halls and holistic/yoga centres, I enjoy teaching community groups, Bannantynes Health Club members and now also covering classes at the Active Birth Centre, where it all began for me.
Credentials, Training, and Associations
Active Birth Centre (Janet Balaskas):
Fully qualified and registered teacher of:
Active Birth
Yoga for Pregnancy Postnatal Yoga
International School of Baby Massage (Peter Walker):
Fully qualified and registered teacher of:
Introduction to Baby Massage Developmental Baby Massage and Movement
Associate of the International School of Baby Massage Associate of the Active Birth Centre Registered with FEDANT (Federation of Antenatal Educators). (National Register Number: 12024)
Additional training also undertaken: -Massage
for Pregnancy and Labour -Waterbirth and Natural Pain Relief -The
Physiology of Birth with Michel Odent -Stress and Pregnancy at the Royal
Society of Medicine
-Yoga workshops with Sandra Sabatini and John Stirk
Massage
Indian Head Massage (Practitioner's diploma)
Thai Foot Massage (Practitioner's diploma)
Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology for the Massage Therapist
Reiki (Usui)
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3 (Master Practitioner certificate)
-CRB checked
-St John Ambulance Emergency First Aid and CPR certificate
-Associate Member of Complementary Medical Association
-Associate Member of UK Reiki Federation
-NYROrganics Consultant (and resller of Kari-Me slings and Birth-ease birth balls)
I take part in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and am also fully insured to teach the classes and practise the treatments listed above.
Initially, they were my 2-hour-per-week "oasis of calm", providing relief from my stressful job and otherwise busy life. 
I began to take an interest in a more holistic and natural approach to life and parenting, for myself and my family, and decided to re-train at the Active Birth Centre and International School of Baby Massage (having my second son at Barnet Hospital between courses) and haven't looked back. 
Active Birth Centre (Janet Balaskas):
Additional training also undertaken:
