NEXT COURSE @ VITALITY CENTRE:

*Wednesday 8th September (COURSE IS FULL)
11.30-1.30pm Baby Resuscitation
2.30-4.30pm Childhood Illness and Accidents

*Thursday 21st October (BOOK NOW)
11.30-1.30pm Baby Resuscitation
2.30-4.30pm Childhood Illness and Accidents

*Thursday 18th November (BOOK NOW)
11.30-1.30pm Baby Resuscitation
2.30-4.30pm Childhood Illness and Accidents

About Us…..
Baby-Steps focuses on developing parents’ confidence and reducing anxiety about how to manage an emergency right through to answering everyday questions about your baby. Baby Steps was founded in response to recognising the need to provide a relaxed, friendly service addressing common parental concerns. The Baby Steps Team are highly skilled Nurses, Health Visitors and Certified Baby Massage Instructors who have extensive experience in answering parents’ questions about all aspects of child development and offering practical support and advice.

Our Courses
Our invaluable sessions are relaxed and friendly. Babies are very welcome and parents and carers are encouraged to feed, change and comfort their baby as they would like. Our sessions are approximately 2 hours long or two sessions can be run ‘back to back’ if you prefer. All sessions are accompanied by easy to use handouts or booklets covering information in the sessions and a fabulous ‘Goody Bag’!

Baby Resuscitation
Learn what to do if your baby stopped breathing or was choking. Practice on manikins. There will be plenty of time to ask questions and practice, giving you confidence and reassurance. Useful handout given of all the steps covered.

Childhood Illness and Accidents
Covering First Aid and the initial steps to follow in an range of emergencies. Situations covered include if a child was injured, ingested a poisonous substance, allergic reactions, febrile convulsions, croup, the signs and symptoms of Meningitis and head injuries. This session will ensure you feel better prepared to recognise signs and symptoms and importantly where and when to seek medical advice. As well as tips to help you feel more confident in caring for your child when they have minor illness. Recommendations are given on what to have in your medicine cabinet. Accident Prevention and ideas for ’safe proofing’ your home are discussed. Useful booklets are given of the information covered in the session in a fabulous ‘Goody Bag’!

Call Vitality Centre reception for more details or to book!

Testimonies

“I Just can’t thank you enough, everyone should do your courses”

“You were fabulous and very knowledgeable, we all felt we learnt a lot”

“I won’t hesitate in recommending you to anyone who has a baby”

“We asked her lots of things about our babies health, weaning, sleeping
etc. and this was hugely valuable. I shall miss her next week!”

For more information, please visit the baby steps website, or call Vitality Centre reception.

www.baby-steps.co.uk

*Relaxing – massage provides a nurturing, soothing touch, which promotes
the release of emotional and psychical tension.

*Improves flow of energy through the body and helps to minimise fatigue.

*Revitalises and helps improve circulation which therefore helps prevent
varicose veins, thread veins and piles.

*Massage is passive exercise and helps to stimulate and drain the
lymphatic system – eliminating toxins and reducing fluid retention.

*Helps tone the muscles and relieve cramp.

*Increases circulation to maintain skin suppleness and help prevent stretch
marks.

*Massage has a psychological benefit treating the body as a whole,
promoting a feeling of calm and well-being.

*Helps prepare the body for childbirth by loosening the pelvis and ridding
the body of excess tension prior to the onset of labour.

*Reassurance, nurturing and relaxation for the mother during pregnancy
has shown to have a far reaching impact on her foetus. Any benefit to the
mother is also a benefit to the baby.

Back Pain – Osteopathy – a specialised technique for pregnancy during which your whole body and posture will be analysed. The treatment includes soft tissue, cranial and exercise.

Birth Preparation Workshops – with Annabel Hargrave. Learn about the different stages of labour and which positions and how the birthing balls can be beneficial. The workshop helps partners learn about how they can help you. Birthing balls are available in the shop on the 1st floor of Vitality Centre.

Bonding with your baby – Baby Massage course teaches you many skills and enhances your confidence so that you can help your baby.

Breech Presentation – Acupuncture can help turn the baby suitable – may need more than one treatment. Suitable from when you discover the position of the baby.

Childhood Illness and Accidents – Workshops run by Katherine Lowther. This workshop covers First Aid and the initial steps to follow in a range of emergency situations – if a child becomes unwell suddenly, gets injured, ingests a poisonous substance, has a fit, signs and symptoms of Meningitis, head injuries.

Coffee Morning: 1st Thursday of every month, pop in for a drink and chat with other pre & post natal ladies as well as therapists if you need any advice.

Colic – having the supplement acidophilus from about week 37 of pregnancy means that your gut is functioning at the optimal level. This means that your breast milk will be of a good quality and your baby will receive some acidophilus and so strengthen their gut development. Perfect if you receive anti-biotics during / after delivery as this can affect the gut of your baby – prevents colic. In combination with cranial osteopathy this is the perfect treatment. The health of the gut is essential as Vitamin K is synthesised in the gut.

Communication with your baby – Makaton Baby Signing Classes are designed to teach you approximately 100 signs which you practice in songs, games and activities. You receive handouts and a pocket book of the information and signs. The aim is to encourage communication, to help babies/ children learn more than 1 language, help you understand your baby’s needs – especially if your child has special needs. Tuesday 10.30 am

Conception – acupuncture, nutrition, naturopathy, kinesiology

Constipation – acupuncture, nutrition, naturopathy, kinesiology

Common Ailments for baby – glue ear / colds/ sinus congestion/ colic etc. homeopathy, cranial osteopathy

Doula: emotional and practical support to a woman (or couple) before, during and after childbirth from an experienced woman.

Fatigue – Massage / reflexology / Acupuncture

Heart Burn – Acupuncture / Vitality Check or Kinesiology to help you discover any food sensitivities.

Hypno-Birthing Seminars: course for mums-to-be and their partners to learn relaxation, birthing affirmations, prenatal bonding, visualizations etc. to help the birth. A course recommended by midwives as it gives you confidence and techniques to keep you relaxed.

Induce labour – Reflexology and Acupuncture have great results.

Massage: A specifically designed massage to help maintain good health and help minimize the possible discomforts of pregnancy. The relaxing treatment improves your flow of energy, improves circulation, lymph drainage, muscle tone and so reduces cramps, possibility of stretch marks and loosens the body to prepare for child birth. Our specially designed pregnancy couch enables you to lie on your front comfortably!

Morning Sickness – acupuncture, cranial osteopathy

Pre-labour anxiety – The greatest thing is to relax as well as acknowledge your anxiety. Massage and reflexology can reduce the physical anxiety in your body, hypnobirthing helps you learn relaxation techniques and yoga combines the two.

Pre-Natal Exercise:
• Maternally Fit provide classes run by physiotherapists consisting of both cardio-vascular fitness and strength training, based around the use of the exercise ball and hand weights and with a particular focus on core stability and pelvic floor training. Booking required
• NIA – a fun movement / dance class which allows you to experience the freedom of movement and leaves you feeling great.
• Pre-natal yoga: Gentle yoga-based exercises using breathing, relaxation techniques, and positions to prepare for labor and birth. Includes discussion on birthing issues.
• Pre-natal Pilates: a course designed to strengthen and increase you fitness to accommodate changes during each of the three stages of pregnancy.
Post-Natal Exercise:
• Pilates for new mums: a class designed for new mums focusing on abdominal and pelvic exercises to improve core body strength and posture. Babies welcome.
• Post Natal Yoga Classes for mother and baby: An introduction to massage with your baby and gentle postnatal yoga for the mother. Includes time for refreshments and discussion.
• Latino Bambino: Salsa fun for Baby and Mum – Keep fit and bond with your baby whilst dancing to Latin Rhythms and having great fun. For more information call 07961 838349. Friday 10 am classes. New class from September will be a salsa fun for 1-4 year olds.

Post Natal emotional support – Counselling – experienced therapists can help guide and support you, cranial osteopathy – enhance your general feel of well-being, relax and rejuvenate you, Acupuncture – balance your hormones and help you feel better

Pubic Symphysis Disorder – Osteopathy can help address the muscle imbalance and joint stiffness that can induce the pain. It can be helped easily and the treatment is more effective the sooner you come in.

Rehabilitation: There are mat work and Pilates Equipment sessions available which will help you prepare and re-gain your strength after delivery. Group sessions as well as 1-1 available. This is ideal especially if you have had a caesarian. The combination with osteopathy can enhance your recovery.

Resuscitation Workshop for Babies: run by Katherine Lowther of Baby Steps, a qualified pediatric nurse with over 10 years experience. In this workshop you will learn what to do if your baby were to stop breathing or were choking giving you confidence and reassurance for in case of emergency. Runs once per month, check our website for dates. £40 per workshop. Call reception for more details and to book a place.

Sacro-iliac joint dysfunction – This is when your hip joint is restricted (happens very easily in pregnancy) and all the surrounding muscles go into spasm. Massage and osteopathy are very effective in releasing this and giving you back your mobility so you can enjoy your pregnancy.

Sciatica – Osteopathy / massage to release the lower back, reduce muscle spasm and bring down any inflammation that might be irritating then nerve.

Shop: In the Shop area there are Pre & Post natal vitamins, creams, and lotions that are all suitable for you. We provide only the highest quality products.

Water Retention: Reflexology, Manual Lymphatic Drainage / Massage

Weaning to solids: Fun monthly workshops that provide you with advice on when and how to introduce solid food to your baby – includes recipes & ideas on food preparation. Session is run by Melody a Nutritionist. Call reception to reserve a place.

Classes for Kids:

• Latino Bambino: New class from September will be a salsa fun for 1-4 year olds.
• Kids Ballet with Fancy Footwork: aims to impart the joy of dance to young children from 2-5 years in a positive and fun atmosphere. Movement to Music for 2+ introduces dance through imagination, music and mime with the help of an adult. Ballet classes for 3+, 4+, 5+. develop artistic and musical awareness. Friday mornings. Booking required. Call Lucy Clay on 0845 094 1774.
• Yoga Bugs: Fun classes for 3 – 7 year olds to encourage active self-expression through a combination of yoga postures, story telling, games, music and relaxation methods. The impact of the classes is to encourage the development of strong and healthy bodies and to build up confidence and self-esteem. Monday’s at 4pm, term time only. Drop in class, £5 per class.
• Kids Karate: with PeeWee Karate. Suitable for boys and girls and any ability. Thursdays after school; 4.15pm-4.45pm – ages 3-6. £70 per term 4.45pm-6.15pm – ages 7-11 £90 per term. Booking required. Call Debbie 07950 337 648.

Our classes are appropriate for both the novice and experienced exerciser, and each class will be individually tailored to your fitness needs and abilities. Classes are one hour in duration and consist of both cardio-vascular fitness and strength training. Classes are based around the use of the exercise ball and hand weights.

Classes have a particular focus on core stability and pelvic floor training – the muscles you need to support your growing baby and your changing body.

To enable Maternally Fit to give you the highest level of care, we take detailed information about many aspects of your pregnancy, and continue to monitor you throughout your time with us.

To enable you to get the most out of our program, we expect members to attend at least one class per week. Classes are pre-booked and pre-paid.

Our ultimate goal is for you to have a happy, healthy pregnancy, physically preparing you for one of the greatest challenges of your life – motherhood.

All classes are taught by Physiotherapists with specific training in pregnancy and post-natal exercise.

Call 07788 650 802 or email info@maternallyfit.co.uk to book your free trial class.

Classes @ Vitality Centre are: Wednesdays 7.30pm – 8.30pm and Saturday 9.00am – 10.00am

www.maternallyfit.co.uk

Babies welcome as there is a play area for them whilst you exercise.
Drop in class – no booking required.

Classes held in Studio 1 – Mondays (with Amiee), 12-1pm and Wednesdays (with Jane), 1-2pm

Pre & Post Natal Yoga Courses
~~
The classes consist of gentle yoga based exercises with relaxation and breathing awareness. In the classes through movement and position, I something incorporate the labour experience so you can discover how to ‘help your self cope with labour’.
Active Birth is about educating yourself mentally and physically to improve your birth experience and make it positive, as well as meeting new people and having fun.

Antenatal yoga classes are specifically tailored for pregnancy. The classes also include techniques for labour covering breathing and positions for 1st and 2nd stage, and strengthening the pelvic floor muscles, which will assist in the birth and information concentrating on aspects relevant to pregnancy, labour and birth.

Yoga has a particularly positive effect on the stresses and strains that sometimes come with pregnancy and can help to relieve back ache, indigestion, tiredness, constipation and other complaints. No previous experience of yoga is necessary.

At the end of the class we have refreshments with a discussion. Sometimes a mother will return with her new baby to tell us her story. I also arrange for complimentary therapists to take about the various benefits for pregnancy and birth independent breastfeeding advisors.

“I found Annabel’s antenatal classes invaluable – a little oasis of calm in an otherwise hectic working week. I really appreciated all of the practical advice regarding the birth and the classes really helped me visualise the labour and birth process and develop strategies for pain management. In fact I think the pain management skills may have been a little too effective, as initially the mid-wife did not believe that I was actually in labour and sent me home from the hospital without an examination, only to return a few hours later, fully dilated!

I found the visiting therapists very helpful and it was a wonderful way of selecting a practitioner to trust and relate to. I have also met and maintained relationships with other new mums in the local area.”
~Anne

Annabel 020 8287 5411

POST NATAL YOGA CLASSES FOR MOTHER AND BABY: A 90 minute session with an introduction to massage with your baby and gentle postnatal yoga for the mother. The classes take place in one of our lovely studios which is kept at a temperature to suit your babys needs during the introduction to massage. Bean bags are provided to make your baby comfortable while we then do some postnatal yoga. There is also time for refreshments and discussion. 4 week course, call Annabel on 0208 287 5411 for more information and to book.

PILATES FOR NEW MUMS: A class designed for new mums to get back into shape, focusing on abdominal and pelvic exercises to improve core body strength and posture. Babies welcome to come along. Mondays and Wednesdays at 12.00pm-1.00pm. £10 per class, no need to book.

BABY MASSAGE COURSE: Clinical research has shown that positive, loving nurturing touch has an important impact on a baby’s development. Baby massage is something that every parent can learn providing benefits to both the baby and parent. The course is suitable for babies from 6 weeks. 4 week course, £50, Thursdays at 1.30pm-2.30pm, call reception to book.

“I felt much more confident about handling my baby and I enjoyed the time”

BEGINNERS/GENTLE YOGA: A gentle AND BASIC class concentrating on the foundation of postures, breath and relaxation. This class is suitable FOR beginners as well as for pre/post-natal mums. Mondays at 6.30pm-7.30pm, Wednesdays 10 am – 11.15 am, no need to book.

ACTIVE BIRTH – PRE NATAL YOGA: A course specifically designed for pregnancy to prepare the body and mind of mothers to be. Active Birth Yoga consists of gentle yoga-based exercises using breathing, relaxation techniques, and positions to prepare for labour and birth. It includes a discussion on birthing issues, and provides an opportunity to meet other pregnant women. Suitable from the 16th week of pregnancy.
6 week courses and workshops, booking required, call Annabel on 0208 287 5411.

PREGNANCY PILATES: A course specifically designed to help you build the core strength you need during pregnancy and beyond, enabling you to feel more comfortable when your baby is born. Please call reception to find out about course dates.

HYPNOBIRTHING: A really enjoyable and relaxing course during which mums-to-be and their husbands/partners get taught how to have an enjoyable, easier and natural birth of their baby using a range of techniques such as progressive relaxation, birthing affirmations, prenatal bonding, visualisations etc. Contact Helianthe on 0845 1080419 for more information and to book.

AROMATHERAPY / PREGNANCY MASSAGE: Treat yourself to a relaxing treatment with oils blended especially for you to enhance lymphatic circulation and reduce muscle tension. This is a totally unique style of massage specifically for pregnant ladies. Massage during your pregnancy is a perfect way to keep you feeling rejuvenated and help both you and your baby relax. It helps to ease away unpleasant conditions such as dizziness, fluid retention, general fatigue, insomnia, headaches and back stain. For those mothers who are yearning to be able to lie on their fronts, visit the Vitality Centre where our new couch, designed especially for pregnant women, has a bump-shaped dip enabling you to experience a heightened level of comfort!

“Pre-natal massages were fantastic – really helped throughout my pregnancy – just wonderful to be able to lay on my front with my bump”. N.T Wimbledon

HOMEOPATHY: Based on the principle of ’like cures like’ homeopathy works through the mental, physical, and emotional symptoms, which are unique to each person. it is safe during pregnancy and for babies/children. The homeopath offers special one hour sessions which will give you and your partner the ability to learn about homeopathy and labour (£25) – this is a really useful session to help with pain relief and for general support throughout labour and delivery. It can be used whilst on orthodox medication and is great to treat common ailments such as colds, glue ear as well as to help with periods of change such as starting school.

CRANIAL OSTEOPATHY: A delicate but powerful treatment to rebalance the body and encourage a healthy development. It is highly recommended if the baby has experienced a traumatic birth or is experiencing sinus congestion, glue ear, colic or insomnia amongst others.

REIKI: The wonderful healing energy of reiki can soothe babies if they are crying, reduce the uncomfortable symptoms of colic or the inflammation of teething. Reiki can relieve the unpleasant symptoms of morning sickness and ease lower back pain. For pregnant women a weekly treatment that concentrates on the abdomen, the heart, the solar plexus and the temples can aid the adjustment for the mother-to-be for all the physical changes. Children usually enjoy reiki and respond quickly, can help with headaches, stomach aches and colds.

OSTEOPATHY: A gentle powerful treatment, which keeps you mobile, reduces any pain and discomfort you might experience due to posture changes during pregnancy. This treatment can be combin