My decision to become a Wellbeing Mother and Baby instructor happened during covid when I could see that were was more and more disconnection not only between mothers and their babies, but also mothers and the world around them. As the world was changing the role of motherhood stayed the same but the demands increased. No longer did these mothers have their tribe to help, but also there was the impending fear of lockdown and parenting alone.
I have been teaching baby classes for over two decades and will continue to do so, but I also wanted to be able to offer the mothers a class that focuses on them as well as their babies. So many mothers feel as if they do not matter once the baby is born as all the attention goes to the baby in the first few months. I love the phrase ‘mothering the mother’. I cannot think of a more perfect class to do that in than the Wellbeing for Mothers and Babies class.
So when the opportunity came to train as an instructor I jumped on the idea as it was exactly what I had been looking for. Topics such as sleep, wellbeing and technology are all an integral part of these classes and it was exactly what was needed for new mothers.
Mothers felt heard and seen and were given permission once again to look after themselves and share with others the highs and lows of parenting, in a safe space.
I love how the classes are broken down by topic each week and time is given to the mothers to look deep inside and come up with their own solutions and ideas. The classes are non-judgemental.
As we came out of lockdown, classes moved back to face-to-face with even more sharing and the discussion and support between the mothers increased. I was overwhelmed at the honesty in the classes as the mothers grew in confidence.
Being a parent, and especially a mother, is one of the hardest yet most rewarding jobs any person can have, but we often forget to let mothers know how well they are doing. In these times mothers rely heavily on social media for validation and of course we also know that this is not the real world. Mothers often compare themselves to other mothers online and this can have a negative effect on parenting. In the classes we encourage mothers to listen to their own instinct and trust their gut while parenting together with the rest of the group.
Teaching these classes has reminded me how precious the fourth trimester is and how much we need to respect and look after all mothers.
For anyone looking to take the next step after their parent classes I can highly recommend the Wellbeing for Mothers and Babies training course for new mums. It should be a must for all to attend – as the saying goes you cannot pour from an empty cup.
More information on the training courses can be found here https://www.wellbeinginternational.co.uk/wellbeing-for-mothers-babies/
Gail Bovenizer
‘I would recommend this class to any new mums out there. Gail has created a lovely space for women to come together and learn more about ourselves. She has created a safe, no judgemental space for women to share their thoughts on motherhood and life’.
Kirsten
‘I have attended Gail’s classes over the last 7 years for yoga and baby massage and have always found her to be supportive, knowledgeable, and nurturing. This was my first time to try the Wellbeing Class and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was my time during the week to connect with other Mums, my baby and myself. Each week we discussed something different and did interactive songs/actions/massage stories with the babies. I left each class having learned something new, shared a lot and feeling a sense of community and fun through connecting with other Mums going through all the highs and lows of parenting. Gail’s expert guidance made every class something I looked forward to each week’.
Elaine