Katia

Perinatal Yoga at NYM Yoga & SPA, Moscow

2008-12-21T09:25:00Z

Baby Yoga in Saint Petersburg (Russia) with Sally Lomas

2008-10-28T06:21:00Z

Hurray! Baby Yoga foundation course in 'the Northern capital of Russia', 'the Northern Venice', 'the city on the Neva' - Saint Petersburg. Gorgeous city, brilliant students, wonderful babies. Thanks to our professional photographer, Ekaterina Dushenina, some special moments were captured. Here they are..

Aqua Yoga with Francoise: course in Moscow

2008-04-28T10:04:00Z

An excellent, international course, a well-balanced group with members from Russia, Ukraine and Iran. The knowledge Francoise has given us is impossible to underestimate - a pure nectar. The atmosphere of the course itself coupled with the quiet pace of the Festival hotel has helped us to tune into the subject and consciously absorb every bit of it. Thank you Francoise for doing this for us! We got so much from you and now it's our turn to give something you taught us to others...

Francoise Freedman in Moscow 'Prana Yoga Studio': first perinatal yoga course in Russia

2008-04-26T10:51:00Z

Francoise Freedman in Moscow! A very tight schedule, 2 back to back courses (perinatal and aqua yoga - report on the latter to follow). New culture, new people, new interests, issues, questions and challenges. Francoise, with the help of Victoria (on the photo above, on the right, a yoga teacher and an excellent enterpreter), has delivered an outstanding course which will long be remembered and which has also laid foundations for future development in this field which is only starting to expand in Russia.

Infant Aquatics in Russia!

2008-04-20T06:57:00Z

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.

Sally and Melanie in central Moscow...

2008-03-15T10:38:00Z

... no comments from me, I hope Melanie and Sally will comment themselves when they come back to England!

The SMART course: photo report

2008-03-14T20:19:00Z

The first SMART course in Russia has just finished and I'm sharing more photos. We are all a bit tired but satisfied and happy and looking forward for more!

Baby Yoga in Moscow - the first course (part 1) has just finished

2008-03-13T04:27:00Z

Hi! The Baby Yoga course that finished yesterday proved to be a real success and filled all the students with deep emotions. It was gratifying to see the change in them that I could spot between the first day and the last day - what a transformation! I can see now that my expectations are confirmed and Birthlight approach to motherhood and teaching will touch the Russian soul.

Melanie and Sally were amazing and did an outstanding job. But not all is done yet - the first SMART day is on its way...

Birthlight in Russia - it's launched!

2008-03-10T17:28:00Z

Hi All, just a couple of words between the course days. We've held an open presentation on Birthight and Baby/Toddler Yoga on March 9 and the first day of the Baby Yoga has just finished. I can't wait to share the first photos with you. The presentation was a success! Everyone was keen to start moving - and they loved it. The first course day filled the students with joy and a feeling of professional responsibility. I'm sure they will make it! I'll come back with more photos and some details!

Katia =

There they are, our tutors:

Melanie at the presentation

The presentation with visiting parents and toddlers (we didn't have babies, alas, but it was great fun moving with toddlers!)

Sally, the recent award winner (I wasn't aware of this at the time of taking this photo! was she?)

Melanie showing some moves, me on the right and my main inspiration - Yegor - trying yoga:

A little yogini sharing some skills with the tutors.

The space on the first BY course day

Relaxation between translations (Olga, our interpreter and also a future mum)

Melanie brushing her notes up before a session

Some students

More students

A student... and a mom

Yegor trying someone else's car seat during a break