Vocal Yoga and Visualisation

So, now I am half way through Juju Sundin's book "Birth Skills" and I have found that it takes a completely different tone to my hypnobirthing books, which has raised some issues of inner conflict. The hypnobirthing books seem to concentrate on calm and quiet and "breathing" your baby out, whilst Juju instructs her pupils to "be bigger than the pain." That is to use movement, sound and props to build yourself up to be fierce and confront the pain head-on. So, as I am in the middle of my natal hypnotherapy course, which involves just that, hypnotherapy, I have decided to go into labour (which it now sadly looks like will be in a hospital due to my anaemia), equipped with as many methods as I can to see me through. Juju instructs us to rest during contractions, for which I will use the hypnobirthing methods, and then to use all our senses to confront the pain during contractions. Her insistence on the use of the voice during labour reminded me of a bit in my Yoga for Pregnancy and Birth book, which is about vocal yoga and so I am hoping to combine the two methods. Like many other people, I associate yoga with peace, quiet and contemplation, but having just spent an hour practising vocalisation techniques, I found it uplifting and can well imagine it having a positive purpose in birthing.

The main skill you need for this vocal type of yoga is the Ujjayi breath, but once you have mastered this, then the vocal techniques (and their benefits) become open to you very quickly.

As well as practising pre-natal sonic message, one pose I found particularly uplifting and useful is Devijai Utkatasana, or Goddess Pose Victory Squat. For those familiar with more gentle yoga, this may seem a little odd, it may even make you feel self-conscious, but it feels great, if you let your inhibitions go!

I'm sure that I will post more in the next couple of days, but for now I have some visualisation practice to do, also recommended by Juju. I have decided on two visualisatins - the Opening Flower and the Baby Descending, in order to remind myself to a) relax, and b) that the pain is purposeful.

Winter Beaches

After posting the photo below of Clymping beach in the winter, I felt inspired to find more photographs of beautiful winter beaches. With our son being born in the winter, and with his lovely heavy duty pushchair, with all-terrain wheels, I can't wait to wrap him up and take him out for a lovely walk along the beach, with the sun going down and the sky colours it can never be at any other time of the year, or anywhere else.

by PopsDigital

by DavidLepNYC

by Luisa MC Cruz

by Paolo Livorno

Harper's Bazaar - All I want for Christmas...

Reading this month's Harper's Bazaar, I came across some inspiration from Charlotte Dellal, Barbara Hulanicki, Elle Macpherson and Bella Freud talking about their Christmas wishes and desires. The lovely ideas and beautiful, colourful photography led to this blog entry...

My Christmas Outfit: This all depends on whether or not I am still pregnant, but I do firmly believe in making an effort on Christmas day and making it feel a bit special, even if we are only lounging at home. For this reason I am on the look out for a long red maxi wrap dress, similar to this one by Isabella Oliver, albeit a cheaper version.

I'll be giving: With baby due anytime around Christmas, Mr T and I promised that we would both have our Christmas shopping complete by the end of December. (One of us has kept this promise - no guesses!).

Without giving too much away to those who may read this, I have got a mixture of useful and luxurious presents, with my brother's one being befitting of the competitive show-off that he is. For my parents I wanted to get them something like this , so that they could make little films of their grandson.

Flip Video Camera

I have also got them this from M&S., which can be kept indoors or in the garden.

For my son, who will be too young for presents, I have got something that I hope will last him a life time and which we will start for him.

I never tire of receiving: Books, photo books, lifestyle books, travel books, great novels. And hair products.

My Christmas entertainment: Hopefully Baby T will be keeping us busy, otherwise I will be trying to keep calm and busy. I love classic board games and a family game of Singstar.

Festive Decorations:

I particularly like bright colours on natural, sparse backdrops. Like this...

I also love the idea of a garland made out of giant baubles. (Above)

Future holidays

With the ball now rolling towards our new home by the river, I can well imagine holidays being taken at home, with bunting and picnics and days cooking up treats, but sometimes a break away from the usual is really what you need. I am now firmly decided that it is unfair on both infants and other travellers to take babies and toddlers on planes, so all foreseeable holidays must be reachable by train, car or boat, which actually opens up whole new horizons, as by narrowing your search criteria you begin to fins all sorts of gems:

Here are my picks for a top family holiday:

The Scarlet Hotel, Corwall.

Beautiful setting, with an indoor and a landscaped outdoor pool as well as seaweed enhanced hot tubs overlooking the stupendous bay.

Jolly Days Luxury Camping

Camping with a BIG difference. Huge luxurious tents within an idyllic setting in Yorkshire countryside.

The Cumberland Hotel, Bournemouth

Art-deco hotel in this most British of seaside towns.

Burgh Island Hotel

Another Art Deco gem, this time on its own island, accessed by boat or helicopter.

Ickworth Hotel, Suffolk

Set in a National Trust property amongst hundreds of acres of land, the house was given in lieu of debt on the death of the infamous Marquis of Bristol (the Hervey Family). A special place is held in my heart for this hotel, as many family New Year's were spent here, when my Aunt and Uncle used to be National Trust wardens, occupying the top floor flat in the Rotunda. A full makeover has turned it into a luxury hotel aimed at young families.

Bedruthan Steps Hotel, Cornwall

A family hotel of considerable luxury, again in Cornwall. Plenty of facilities for adults and little ones, with beautiful beaches on your doorstep.

In November, summer seems so far away, but British beaches never get overly warm, so why wait till summer? Beaches are often at their most beautiful bleak best in greyish, lilac light of winter. As can be seen from this photo of West Beach, Clymping, Littlehampton.