Yes, it HAS happened! Despite the horrid weather which did it best to destroy our plans, we did this course thank Amanda and all the brave people who decided to embark on a journey to Birthlight IA Diploma. It was a good course in many ways, although quite difficult and intense. It helped us to realise how much there is to be done in baby aquatics in Russia and how far we, Russians, have gone in pursuit of challenges and achievements. It also helped me to realise how competitive we still are and where many of our social problems are coming from. Yes, yoga principles is what we need in order to bring up gentle and loving children.

Many students on the course took in Birthlight approach with open arms, others were hard to convince that yes, non-pushing works. Yes, it's all about love, relationships and bonding, not milestones, achievements and competition. It's not a race, it's an amazing, loving process to be enjoyed every minute of the way. And yes, we are about to change.

I think this course is groundbreaking in Russia and I think many people have been waiting for a different view for ages. Francoise, thank you for Birthlight and for making this approach transferrable worldwide. Thank you, Amanda, for working so hard to pass the knowledge to a new terrain. And thank you, all the people who trust us, and even those who are in doubt, that you are giving so much thinking to our parenting ways. It's not always easy to 'swim' against 'currents', but sometimes 'currents' change, and with them the attitudes, the views and the world itself.

Amanda explaining safety issues via her interpreter, a mum-to-be, Olga:

Olga, who did her part 1 Baby Yoga with us, is back on the aquatics training:

"Lifeguard" Yegor:

From left to right: Olga (experienced baby aquatics teacher), Serge (baby swimming and massage instructor from the Perm Region) and Olga from Novossibirsk (also teaching baby swimming). They all have different experiences and have used different methods before coming to Birthlight:

Max, who has kindly agreed to work with us at the demonstrations:

Veronica, a trainee, listening intently to Amanda speaking:

Explaining holds:

Practising holds:

Tam-tam, during a break:

"Let's see what we've got here..."

Amanda at the pool assessment:

Assessments:

Anton waiting for his mom, who's in the pool with other children. He is very sad and can't wait for her return:

Last minute preparations before another assassment group:

"When is mum coming back?"

Caught in the act at the course room..

A coffee-break after the pool assessment. Lots to share.

Sharing family photos.

:)

A jolly game before closing the course.

We all worked so hard, now it's time for awards.