Birthlight Australia and New Zealand

The birthlight Trust is an educational charity, founded by Francoise Barbira Freedman and set up in Cambridge, and over the last 20 years has developed simple practices inspired by Yoga and the parenting style of Amazonian forest people to reach an increasing number of parents, midwives, teachers and carers. The application of adapted exercises and relaxation on land and in the water, has proven most beneficial for women from conception to the end of their child's third year.

Francoise Freedman has been inspired by her experience of living with forest people in the Amazon region of Peru, by her research background in medical anthropology and, most of all, by being a mother to four children. There are now 11 birthlight training training tutors and over 1500 certified teachers in the world. To read more about Francoise, please click here

Birthlight's Mission is to promote wellbeing in the transition to parenthood. We do this by transferring simple and effective skills to parents to be and new parents with their babies in 5 interconnected areas with a unified training structure. Our courses include: practices on land (Perinatal (Pre & Postnatal) Yoga & Birthing Lightly, Baby Yoga, Wellwoman Yoga) and practices in water (Birthlight Infant Aquatics and Birthlight Aqua Yoga).

The birthlight teaching areas are as follows:

Perinatal Yoga (pregnancy yoga, postnatal yoga, childbirth preparation, therapeutic pre and postanatal yoga) and Birthing Lightly.

Baby Yoga (baby yoga, new- baby nurture, SMART toddler yoga, yoga with special babies and toddlers)

Wellwoman Yoga (conception prep with yoga, hormonal balance yoga)

Birthlight Aqua Yoga (prenatal aquayoga, postnatal aquayoga, therapeutic aquayoga)

Birthlight Infant Aquatics (Baby swimming, SMART toddler swimming, Aquatics with special babies and toddlers)

The practical and experiential contents of the birthlight courses are given great importance. The tradition of yoga, that has widespread from India as a holisitic discipline, provides an essential base for many of the practices taught in birthlight courses, whether on dry land or in water. Course contents have been selected, developed and carefully tested over time; we value most of all simplicity backed by scientific research. Whenever possible, practices are evidence based.

The integration if theory and hands- on practice in training courses is the hallmark of birthlight.

In 2012, we will be offering teacher training in Baby Yoga & Massage, Perinatal (Pregnancy & Postnatal) Yoga, Aqua Baby and Aquanatal Yoga.