SChedule / Program
7 PM SUNDAY EVENING 26 MAY- 5 PM SUNDAY AFTERNOON 2 JUNE 2019
SUNDAY 26th May
AFTERNOON ~ arrival at Ananda Cottages
EVENING - 7.00pm Opening Circle & Introductions
AFTERNOON ~ arrival at Ananda Cottages
EVENING - 7.00pm Opening Circle & Introductions
DAY ONE – MONDAY 27th MAY
The Power of Your Touch & Tenderness
There are hundreds of wonderful hands-on techniques that can help realise anatomical and physiological potential for pregnancy & birth. They are an important aid to relaxation, the release of compensatory and unconscious tensions, and the optimising the baby's position and pelvic dimensions. But when you use your hands, and use techniques, how do touch? What do you notice? What is your intention? How do you engage with a highly sensitive woman? The way you touch can either greatly enhance a technique or make it ineffective. Important touch considerations lay a foundation for the practice of techniques and also a better understanding of the dynamics of giving and receiving.
Learn respectful touch, noticing and intention – ‘Touch Awareness’ Exercise
The Power of Utilising the Breath
Employing the breath appropriately will amplify any touch/bodywork, and birth preparation
It enables presence, supreme focus, tension release and an increase of circulation and function to pelvic structures and systems.
Learn “Focussed Breathing” - a highly effective practice to share with pregnant women & a key skill to utilise in any simple or complex birth
The Bony Pelvis
How well do you really know your bony pelvis?
What is the true angle of the dangle? Why is the backside so intrinsic to birth? Have you ever felt your pubic arch and its relationship to your outlet?
Learn
Now that you know your pelvis and the bony landmarks…….
Learn highly effective techniques to open the pelvis for OP baby, ascynclitic head, slow labour, incoordinate labour, big baby
The Hip Swing
The Sacral Swing
The Sit Bone Opener
The Power of Your Touch & Tenderness
There are hundreds of wonderful hands-on techniques that can help realise anatomical and physiological potential for pregnancy & birth. They are an important aid to relaxation, the release of compensatory and unconscious tensions, and the optimising the baby's position and pelvic dimensions. But when you use your hands, and use techniques, how do touch? What do you notice? What is your intention? How do you engage with a highly sensitive woman? The way you touch can either greatly enhance a technique or make it ineffective. Important touch considerations lay a foundation for the practice of techniques and also a better understanding of the dynamics of giving and receiving.
Learn respectful touch, noticing and intention – ‘Touch Awareness’ Exercise
The Power of Utilising the Breath
Employing the breath appropriately will amplify any touch/bodywork, and birth preparation
It enables presence, supreme focus, tension release and an increase of circulation and function to pelvic structures and systems.
Learn “Focussed Breathing” - a highly effective practice to share with pregnant women & a key skill to utilise in any simple or complex birth
The Bony Pelvis
How well do you really know your bony pelvis?
What is the true angle of the dangle? Why is the backside so intrinsic to birth? Have you ever felt your pubic arch and its relationship to your outlet?
Learn
- How to map your own bony pelvis so you can
- understand the android, platypoid, anthropoid, gynaecoid pelvis and potential birth challenges
- support a woman in appreciating her bony pelvis
- understand the dynamic nature of your anatomy and the need to be creative with body positions in labour
Now that you know your pelvis and the bony landmarks…….
Learn highly effective techniques to open the pelvis for OP baby, ascynclitic head, slow labour, incoordinate labour, big baby
The Hip Swing
The Sacral Swing
The Sit Bone Opener
DAY TWO - TUESDAY 28th MAY
The Cervix and Her Support Crew
Where does the cervix go in labour? Why is she slow to open sometimes? Is she really to blame for being thick, incompetent, rigid, posterior, unfavourable? Or is there more? What does it really mean to 'let go' in labour?
The Pelvic Floor
How many levels are there of this magnificent structure? Is it really a floor? What is its relevance to birth?
Learn to
Understand the Pelvic Floor better with our 3D HUMAN WOMB MODEL.
Release the Pelvic Clock
Let go all of the pelvic diaphragm with a 'Sploosh’
Exploring the Difference between Tone & Tension
Learn about following the path of least resistance, the path of freedom, and how to address and work with conscious and unconscious tensions in the body.
Techniques to Release Tension
Jiggling is a highly effective and recommended way to release tension, synchronise body systems, prepare for birth, make more space for the baby, and calm the nervous system. It's also a highly enjoyable and easy to teach practice for couples preparing for birth. Become a jiggler extraordinaire!
Learn
Pelvic Jiggling of the bum, sacrum, legs using your hands
Innovative ways to touch indirectly using a cloth or the traditional Mexican shawl ‘the rebozo’
to release tension in the pelvis
when an epidural is insitu
when tension is held in the legs.
Alexandra’s Parachute Technique
The Cervix and Her Support Crew
Where does the cervix go in labour? Why is she slow to open sometimes? Is she really to blame for being thick, incompetent, rigid, posterior, unfavourable? Or is there more? What does it really mean to 'let go' in labour?
The Pelvic Floor
How many levels are there of this magnificent structure? Is it really a floor? What is its relevance to birth?
Learn to
Understand the Pelvic Floor better with our 3D HUMAN WOMB MODEL.
Release the Pelvic Clock
Let go all of the pelvic diaphragm with a 'Sploosh’
Exploring the Difference between Tone & Tension
Learn about following the path of least resistance, the path of freedom, and how to address and work with conscious and unconscious tensions in the body.
Techniques to Release Tension
Jiggling is a highly effective and recommended way to release tension, synchronise body systems, prepare for birth, make more space for the baby, and calm the nervous system. It's also a highly enjoyable and easy to teach practice for couples preparing for birth. Become a jiggler extraordinaire!
Learn
Pelvic Jiggling of the bum, sacrum, legs using your hands
Innovative ways to touch indirectly using a cloth or the traditional Mexican shawl ‘the rebozo’
to release tension in the pelvis
when an epidural is insitu
when tension is held in the legs.
Alexandra’s Parachute Technique
DAY THREE – WEDNESDAY 29th MAY
The Psoas & its Role in the Pelvis
The psoas is involved in the body’s flight/fight/freeze responses and it passes through the pelvis.
Learn
Gentle releases/lengthening of the psoas.
Pelvic Balancing
When the pelvis is in a state of balance, all pelvic organs & tissues have effective nerve and blood supply. Additionally, when a pelvis is balanced a pregnant woman is happy!
Balancing the pelvis can relieve pelvic discomfort, tension and help align the pelvic structure for more optimal birth experience.
Learn
How to recognise pelvic imbalance
A highly effective Pelvic Balancing Technique with Sacral Integration
Self-help techniques
Many of us love receiving care from another, but another’s hands, time and patience are not always at the ready. Luckily there are creative ways of healing ourselves.
Learn
Self-help psoas releases/activation
Self-help pelvic balance
Self-help coccyx release
Self-help sciatic nerve release
Care of the mother after birth
Too often post birth care is the poor second cousin to birth and given a lot less attention. But the mother’s womb is heavy and in need of tender care; tissues are healing and in need of support.
Learn
Effective and practical ways to support the healing womb with a ‘faja’
When and how to engage the tender pelvic muscles
Focussed breathing in reverse to support the vulnerable pelvic organs
Healing of the DRAM – diastasis of the rectus abdominal muscle
The Psoas & its Role in the Pelvis
The psoas is involved in the body’s flight/fight/freeze responses and it passes through the pelvis.
Learn
Gentle releases/lengthening of the psoas.
Pelvic Balancing
When the pelvis is in a state of balance, all pelvic organs & tissues have effective nerve and blood supply. Additionally, when a pelvis is balanced a pregnant woman is happy!
Balancing the pelvis can relieve pelvic discomfort, tension and help align the pelvic structure for more optimal birth experience.
Learn
How to recognise pelvic imbalance
A highly effective Pelvic Balancing Technique with Sacral Integration
Self-help techniques
Many of us love receiving care from another, but another’s hands, time and patience are not always at the ready. Luckily there are creative ways of healing ourselves.
Learn
Self-help psoas releases/activation
Self-help pelvic balance
Self-help coccyx release
Self-help sciatic nerve release
Care of the mother after birth
Too often post birth care is the poor second cousin to birth and given a lot less attention. But the mother’s womb is heavy and in need of tender care; tissues are healing and in need of support.
Learn
Effective and practical ways to support the healing womb with a ‘faja’
When and how to engage the tender pelvic muscles
Focussed breathing in reverse to support the vulnerable pelvic organs
Healing of the DRAM – diastasis of the rectus abdominal muscle
DAY FOUR – THURSDAY 30th MAY
Working with Scars
Have you ever supported a woman in making contact with her caesarean scar or vaginal scar?
Learn
Gentle scar release work & the benefits that come from softening scars
Internal Bodywork
The pelvis is a unique sacred space with soft tissues interweaving and connecting to bone. Inviting the soft tissues to ‘sigh’ helps a woman reach her anatomical potential & so creates space for baby.
Learn
About the nature of the internal soft tissues & what causes tension
About unconscious tension and its impact on the birth space
Signs of release in pelvic ligaments, muscles, fascia
About cervical positioning and unwinding
Observe & listen to a demonstration of Internal Bodywork
Internal Bodywork Practice in pairs
Working with Scars
Have you ever supported a woman in making contact with her caesarean scar or vaginal scar?
Learn
Gentle scar release work & the benefits that come from softening scars
Internal Bodywork
The pelvis is a unique sacred space with soft tissues interweaving and connecting to bone. Inviting the soft tissues to ‘sigh’ helps a woman reach her anatomical potential & so creates space for baby.
Learn
About the nature of the internal soft tissues & what causes tension
About unconscious tension and its impact on the birth space
Signs of release in pelvic ligaments, muscles, fascia
About cervical positioning and unwinding
Observe & listen to a demonstration of Internal Bodywork
Internal Bodywork Practice in pairs
DAY FIVE – FRIDAY 31st MAY
With Natalie Lejeune
Anatomy & Manipulation
Understanding basic embryology
Essential key organ manipulations – small intestine, kidneys, greater omentum, liver and the portal system
Working with the pelvic ligamentary system – sacrospinous ligament, coccyx, obturator foramen, piriformis, pelvic floor, sacrorectogenitopubic folds, pubic bone to gain 1cm of extra space in the pelvis.
With Natalie Lejeune
Anatomy & Manipulation
Understanding basic embryology
Essential key organ manipulations – small intestine, kidneys, greater omentum, liver and the portal system
Working with the pelvic ligamentary system – sacrospinous ligament, coccyx, obturator foramen, piriformis, pelvic floor, sacrorectogenitopubic folds, pubic bone to gain 1cm of extra space in the pelvis.
DAY SIX – SATURDAY 1st JUNE
With Natalie Lejeune
Manipulation in the Urogenital Area
Bladder, uterus, cervix, uterosacral ligaments, ovaries
Follow up care after birth when a woman has experienced postpartum haemorrhage, caesarean section, episiotomy
Specific after-care when a woman has experienced a miscarriage or urogenital surgery such as a laparoscopy.
With Natalie Lejeune
Manipulation in the Urogenital Area
Bladder, uterus, cervix, uterosacral ligaments, ovaries
Follow up care after birth when a woman has experienced postpartum haemorrhage, caesarean section, episiotomy
Specific after-care when a woman has experienced a miscarriage or urogenital surgery such as a laparoscopy.
DAY SEVEN - SUNDAY 2nd JUNE
With Natalie Lejeune
Working with the Vascular System
The abdominal aorta, common iliac arteries, uterine arteries & ovarian arteries
Manipulation of the gravid uterus, ovaries & tubes
Lumbar ovarian techniques for induction
Manipulation of the tubo-ovarian junction and stretching of the tubes and the ovaries
Exercises to teach to women for self care
The STAPFER methodology: Pelvic Congestion / Decongestion movements to rebalance and regulate effectively the Hormonal Cycle, in case of Amenorrhea, PMS, and Irregular Cycles.
YOGA exercise for the pelvis: to improve the flexibility of the hips and lower back, for a decongestive effect and to reinforce the pelvic floor tone.
With Natalie Lejeune
Working with the Vascular System
The abdominal aorta, common iliac arteries, uterine arteries & ovarian arteries
Manipulation of the gravid uterus, ovaries & tubes
Lumbar ovarian techniques for induction
Manipulation of the tubo-ovarian junction and stretching of the tubes and the ovaries
Exercises to teach to women for self care
The STAPFER methodology: Pelvic Congestion / Decongestion movements to rebalance and regulate effectively the Hormonal Cycle, in case of Amenorrhea, PMS, and Irregular Cycles.
YOGA exercise for the pelvis: to improve the flexibility of the hips and lower back, for a decongestive effect and to reinforce the pelvic floor tone.