An extraordinary blend of
body knowledge,
body awareness,
body work and
profoundly attentive tender touch - as it relates to all pregnant women
ABOUT
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The bodywork we teach is based on techniques and principles of Urogenital Osteopathy and Ortho-bionomy.
The focus of the workshop will be on the internal and external female pelvis, the changes it is capable of, the stories it holds, the habits and conditions that affect it. Our approach creatively weaves complex anatomy and soft tissue knowledge into easy yet highly effective hands-on body skills and internal bodywork that significantly support mother and baby through the birth journey. |
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TEACHERS
Fiona Hallinan
Fiona comes from a traditional education background having obtained her nursing (1983) and midwifery (1989) qualifications through the Australian hospital system. Midwifery immediately becoming her passion, Fiona worked in both private and public hospitals in Melbourne, Australia, and then ventured into the world of private practice as a midwife. Initially private practice midwifery involved supporting women, predominantly orthodox Jewish women, through pregnancy and birth in hospitals. In 2007 Fiona’s midwifery practice moved into the world of home birth. Interwoven throughout Fiona’s midwifery practice, has been an involvement in midwifery education. She established the first Graduate Midwifery Program in the private sector in Melbourne in 1997 and has continued to run workshops for student & graduate midwives, midwives working in hospitals, doulas and parents to be. A curiosity into the multidimensional aspects of the pelvis led to a diploma in Bodywork. The focus of all Birthwork teaching is on the dynamic pelvis and how to make space for the baby. After further university study, Fiona now works in the community as a Maternal & Child Health Nurse and teaches bodywork for birth and internal vaginal work to many women on a 1:1 basis. Fiona is a mother and grandmother living in Melbourne with her husband Bill. |
Jenny Blyth
Jenny is an independent birth educator and bodyworker. She has been working with natural birth for over 35 years, preparing and supporting many women through pregnancy, birth and early parenting at home in SE Queensland, Australia. Studies and training in Bodywork, Ortho-bionomy and Somatic Psychotherapy have been a great influence in Jenny’s practice. She cares deeply about contributing to the evolution of collective birthing wisdom and the awakening of women’s body wisdom in relationship to birth. For the last 18 years Jenny has presented Birthwork Workshops. These wisdom-in-action workshops explore the many facets of working with birth through growing self-awareness & skills. Jenny also has a great interest in what happens at the interface between medical and traditional models of birth care. She is project co-ordinator and core team member of Lao Birthwork. Lao Birthwork raises funds and makes annual trips to poor, remote and under resourced districts in Laos to train health workers and midwives in hands-on skills for birth. Jenny is author of 2 books Birthwork and The Down to Earth Birth Book. She also created the film A World of Birthworkers, and with Alieta Belle co-created 2 films about natural birth called The Big Stretch and The Big Stretch Sequel. Jenny is a mother and grandmother and lives in the Australian bush with her partner Warren. |
For the last 10 years Jenny Blyth and Fiona Hallinan have presented a Birthwork Workshop series called
Parts 1 & 2 – Creative Ways of Making Space for Babies.
These workshops are now being taught internationally.
http://birthwork.com
Parts 1 & 2 – Creative Ways of Making Space for Babies.
These workshops are now being taught internationally.
http://birthwork.com
SCHEDULE
8.30am-5pm
8.30am-5pm
DAY ONE
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MORNING:
The Power of Your Touch & Tenderness There are hundreds of wonderful hands-on techniques that can help create anatomical and physiological potential for pregnancy & birth. They are an important aid to relaxation, the release of compensatory and unconscious tensions, and the optimising the baby's position and pelvic dimensions. But when you use your hands, and use techniques, how do you touch? What do you notice? What is your intention? How do you engage with a highly sensitive woman? The way you touch can either greatly enhance a technique or make it ineffective. Important touch considerations lay a foundation for the practice of techniques and also a better understanding of the dynamics of giving and receiving. Learn Exercise on respectful touch, noticing and intention The Power of Utilising the Breath Employing the breath appropriately will amplify any touch/bodywork, and birth preparation It enables presence, supreme focus, tension release and an increase of circulation and function to pelvic structures and systems. Learn "Directed Breathing" - a highly effective practice to share with pregnant women & a key skill to utilise in any simple or complex birth |
AFTERNOON:
The Bony Pelvis How well do you really know your bony pelvis? What is the true angle of the dangle? Why is the backside so intrinsic to birth? Have you ever felt your pubic arch and its relationship to your outlet? Learn How to map your own bony pelvis so you can
Now that you know your pelvis and the bony landmarks Learn these highly effective techniques to open the pelvis for OP baby, ascynclitic head, slow labour, incoordinate labour, big baby
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DAY TWO
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MORNING:
The Cervix and Her Support Crew Where does the cervix go in labour? Why is she slow to open sometimes? Is she really to blame for being thick, incompetent, rigid, posterior, unfavourable? Or is there more? What does it really mean to 'let go' in labour? Learn "The Sploosh Exercise" – a way to let go of pelvic floor tension after every contraction "The Pelvic Clock Exercise" – a way to connect with the uterine ligaments that attach into the cervix and mastering release of tension in these powerful fibres The Pelvic Floor How many levels are there of this magnificent structure? Is it really a floor? What is its relevance to birth? Learn to Understand the Pelvic Floor better with our 3D HUMAN WOMB MODEL. |
AFTERNOON:
Exploring the Difference between Tone & Tension Learn about following the path of least resistance, the path of freedom, and how to address and work with conscious and unconscious tensions in the body. Techniques to Release Tension Jiggling is a highly effective and recommended way to release tension, synchronise body systems, prepare for birth, make more space for the baby, and activate the parasympathetic nervous system. It's also a highly enjoyable and easy to teach practice for couples preparing for birth. Become a jiggler extraordinaire! Learn Pelvic Jiggling - bum, sacrum, legs |
DAY THREE
MORNING & AFTERNOON:
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The Psoas & its Role in the Pelvis
The psoas is the body’s flight/fight/freeze muscle and it passes through the pelvis. Learn Gentle releases/activation Self-help psoas releases/activation Pelvic Balancing When the pelvis is in a state of balance, all pelvic organs & tissues have effective nerve and blood supply. Additionally, when a pelvis is balanced a pregnant woman is happy! Learn This highly effective Pelvic Balancing Technique with Sacral & Spinal Integration Self-help pelvic balance |
Working with Scars
Have you ever supported a woman in making physical contact with her caesarean scar or vaginal scar? Learn Gentle scar release work & the benefits that come from softening scars through tender, deliberate touch Postnatal Considerations Why is rest after birth so important? How can we support healing and address trauma responses in the body? Learn We'll look at what is happening to the womb and all of her support structures within the pelvis post birth, and how long it takes for the return to usual size and position. What kinds of simple self-care practices can enhance the physiological reorganisation taking place in the post-birth body? |
DAY FOUR
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MORNING:
Theoretical part Internal Vaginal Work is a form of bodywork that connects us to the soft tissues of the pelvis or ‘the soft pelvis’ as opposed to the bony pelvis. Gentle, deliberate touch supports a softening in the tissues - ligaments, muscle, fascia - so allowing blood, relaxin hormone and energy to flow. Interestingly, when the soft tissues of the pelvis are without tension, the bones of the pelvis can increase in diameter, so making more room for the baby. The purpose of this wonderful work is:
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Extras:
AFTERNOON: Internal Bodywork Practice in pairs or in individual self-practice according to the participant's preference. There is no obligation to participate in the practical part. The internal work done on the afternoon of day 4 of the workshop is intended to educate ourselves about our own bodies. Practitioners holding additional certifications such as physiotherapists or midwives can choose to integrate this work into internal work permitted by their degrees. Otherwise this work may be integrated as a self care or by verbally instructing pregnant women to explore and practice on themselves. This class is for self-learning and does NOT offer certification. |
Feedback
‘I have to share my first birth story with my new "making room" skills! I taught a couple to do all the external and internal work as "homework" a few days after the workshop. Their previous two births were long, difficult and traumatic, each with instrument assists, one child was significantly and permanently injured in her birth, lots of pelvic floor damage both times. This labor start to finish was 5 hours - a 10 pound 3 oz baby born in hospital and a completely intact and unscathed perineum!’
~ Teri Nava-Anderson, PhD, CD/PCD, ICCE, CLE
‘I felt I found in this course so many layers of study and beauty and knowledge that lowers the scientific complexity.... Anatomically physiological to the ground - accessible and clear...’
~ Karen Lee, doula
'I feel my midwifery work can be taken to a higher level, to benefit women, while also giving me greater satisfaction in my work. Thank you.’
~ Leisa
‘Without a doubt the best conference/workshop I have had the chance to attend! Left me wanting to learn even more. I cannot wait for our next meeting.’
‘An absolute must for all women and womb workers. If we all had this knowledge to share with women or even just help heal ourselves… we would live in a different world. So deeply powerful. This workshop and the space held is a remembering and reclaiming.’
'a fun and interactive workshop that is full of heart... to ensure that birthing women can feel empowered and their bodies treated with respect.’
‘I’ve never been to such a workshop! I felt totally safe and supported and surrounded by wise women.’
‘Fabulous all around. So many amazing take home tips. Thank you so much for a wonderful course.’
‘Extraordinary workshop, by women with a phenomenal wealth of knowledge. Exceeded all expectations.’
‘This was a beautiful, inventive, trusting time spent learning techniques and wisdom in an uplifting environment. Sounds a little “fairly lights and bubble-gum” I know, but I now understand the pelvis (the things that make it up, tighten it up and helps it to move!!) in a way over 25 years of midwifery never taught me!! And I have taken not only new and exciting manoeuvres and understanding with me, but also the encouragement to grow and be adventurous in exploring the birth space’
~ Sandra Cochrane
~ Teri Nava-Anderson, PhD, CD/PCD, ICCE, CLE
‘I felt I found in this course so many layers of study and beauty and knowledge that lowers the scientific complexity.... Anatomically physiological to the ground - accessible and clear...’
~ Karen Lee, doula
'I feel my midwifery work can be taken to a higher level, to benefit women, while also giving me greater satisfaction in my work. Thank you.’
~ Leisa
‘Without a doubt the best conference/workshop I have had the chance to attend! Left me wanting to learn even more. I cannot wait for our next meeting.’
‘An absolute must for all women and womb workers. If we all had this knowledge to share with women or even just help heal ourselves… we would live in a different world. So deeply powerful. This workshop and the space held is a remembering and reclaiming.’
'a fun and interactive workshop that is full of heart... to ensure that birthing women can feel empowered and their bodies treated with respect.’
‘I’ve never been to such a workshop! I felt totally safe and supported and surrounded by wise women.’
‘Fabulous all around. So many amazing take home tips. Thank you so much for a wonderful course.’
‘Extraordinary workshop, by women with a phenomenal wealth of knowledge. Exceeded all expectations.’
‘This was a beautiful, inventive, trusting time spent learning techniques and wisdom in an uplifting environment. Sounds a little “fairly lights and bubble-gum” I know, but I now understand the pelvis (the things that make it up, tighten it up and helps it to move!!) in a way over 25 years of midwifery never taught me!! And I have taken not only new and exciting manoeuvres and understanding with me, but also the encouragement to grow and be adventurous in exploring the birth space’
~ Sandra Cochrane
Contact Us
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Refund Policy
Fiona & Jen have very deliberately kept workshop fees reasonable for participants. We know you will understand that we have costs associated with running a workshop and again, we try to keep these costs to a minimum. We trust you will understand then why we have the following refund policy in place.
- A full refund will be issued if the workshop is cancelled due to enforced regulations (eg. Covid-19 pandemic restrictions).
- A full ‘change of mind’ refund will be given before 45days prior to event start date.
- A $100/day refund will be given for participants called out to, or arriving late from a birth. Please note, it is expected that, for those on call for birth, that contingency plans have been made enabling you to return to the workshop group asap after attending to the birth.
