Amelie Cresswell

About

The journey towards, and into, motherhood is a truly unique time in a woman's life. A time of transitions and transformation like no other. An exciting but also often challenging and all-consuming time - or times - affecting you in body and mind, when you feel the importance and need to look after yourself, in a way that is SAFE, EFFECTIVE and NOURISHING. Times that each deserve and require unique practices to best help you and support you at each step of the journey.

Whatever stage you're at, my specialist bespoke yoga classes are designed to do exactly that: addressing your very specific needs through unique, tailored and accessible practices so you feel comfortable, strong from deep within, supported, confident and nurtured on this roller-coaster ride.

When you are trying to conceive
Whether you've been struggling to conceive naturally for a short or long while, considering or already receiving fertility treatment, or going through IVF, my fertility yoga classes are here to support you and your body at this stressful time, and provide you with much-needed self-care.

Fertility yoga focuses on specific yoga poses and movements, breathwork and deep relaxation techniques to help balance the body’s hormonal system, calm the nervous system, and stimulate and nourish the reproductive organs. Each session and programme of sessions is entirely tailored to your individual situation, the phase of your menstrual cycle (if you have one) and/or phase of IVF/fertility treatment you're at, to meet you and support you in the best possible way wherever you're at, and help you develop a home practice if you so wish.

Although fertility/infertility issues are always complex and there isn't extensive research available, some studies have shown that fertility yoga can be effective in helping regulate irregular menstrual cycles, and increase chances of conception through IVF 3 fold (please contact me if you'd like to see extracts from these).

At this challenging time of high hopes and often crushing disappointments, when it can feel your life entirely revolves around trying to make this baby happen, often unbeknown to your work, friends and even family members, my fertility yoga classes also offer a safe space for you to 'just be', to take a break from putting your brave face on, nourish yourself and give you space to 'digest' whatever you're going through. Something positive and nurturing to do for your whole self (not your baby making self), as opposed as having something done to you; something that will be worth doing in its own right, whatever the outcome of your journey.

When you're expecting
My pregnancy yoga classes are designed to help you stay comfortable throughout your pregnancy, effectively prepare physically and mentally for labour and birth, and help you feel rested, calm, nurtured and empowered as you prepare to become a mum.
Especially if getting to this stage has taken you a (sometimes very) long and difficult time, my classes will also help you manage any anxieties, reduce stress and help you enjoy this special time, as early as from the first trimester of pregnancy (when the vast majority of classes out there are only open to women from 14 weeks).
I also believe the birth of your baby is a momentous event, that will heavily influence the start of journey together and your postnatal life, and so also specialise in yoga for labour and birth.

When you're a new mum
That’s it. Your baby's here with you at home. It's the moment you have been waiting for so long. And yet… ⁣Nobody told you it was going to be so hard. Nobody told you were going to feel like THIS. ⁣
⁣You are just so exhausted, to a point you never knew was possible.
⁣Your body feels like such a wreck, like it has been changed – destroyed – forever. Like you will never heal again. ⁣
⁣You just feel so overwhelmed at the responsibility of having to care for your baby. You are so confused about what they want or need, and it makes you feel so worthless.
⁣You feel so lost, because right now you no longer know who you are or where you have gone.⁣
⁣People tell you take care of yourself, but how on earth, you wonder, are you supposed to do this while also looking after your baby?⁣
⁣People tell you to relax but you have completely forgotten how. You physically cannot, might as you try.⁣
⁣People tell you to just follow your instincts, but something must be wrong with you because they're not kicking in. You’re not even sure you have any.⁣
⁣
Oh, I hear you, mama. I KNOW. Because I have been there, and millions of other mamas too. ⁣And I want you to know this:
⁣That your body can heal. It WILL heal. With the right support it will heal stronger than it ever was.⁣
⁣That buried in the fumes of early motherhood, you ARE still here. The real you, not just the mama you. You WILL feel normal again.⁣
⁣That you already are, and will be the BEST MOTHER your baby will ever want and need, who just knows what feels right. That you will rock this.⁣

And this is exactly what my postnatal yoga classes are designed to help you do.
Reconnect with your body and with yourself. Recover from birth and rebuild strength from deep within, heal this body you think may never be the same. Relieve the many aches and pains that come with looking after a little one. And take time to really nourish and replenish yourself as a new mother – which is so very important.

Whereas the vast majority of postnatal exercise or fitness classes are only open to women from 6/8 weeks after birth (after the routine check with their GP or midwife), my postnatal recovery classes are open to you from as early as one week after birth, utilising the body’s natural ‘Golden window’ for postnatal healing, so there's no need to wait to start feeling better, and stronger, and yourself again.

Through unique practices easy to integrate in your daily (busy) life with a baby, you will learn effective ways to support your postnatal recovery and overall well-being, and re-create your body possibly even stronger and healthier than it ever was.

Are my classes for you?

My bespoke yoga classes are suitable whatever your age and level of fitness. You do not need to have any yoga experience, as I will meet you exactly where you're at.
The atmosphere is always relaxed, nurturing and light-hearted. There is always time to ask questions, share how you are feeling, and there is no requirement to wear fancy yoga pants (unless it makes you feel good!).

My approach focus on simple yet effective and safe (and sometimes playful!) practices, supported by an extensive underpinning knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and scientific research evidence. You can expect adapted yoga poses and sequences of course - some that will look like yoga you know, and others that look completely different! -  but also breathing techniques, physiotherapy-inspired micro-movements, visualisations, and always instant and deep, guided relaxation.

About me

Hello! I’m Amelie, I’m a mum of two and I am absolutely passionate about supporting women on their motherhood journey, because it isn't always an easy ride, is it? But I do believe support and daily (self) nurture goes a long way in making the journey smoother, easier, and more enjoyable whatever comes your way, as well as our bodies and minds stronger and healthier in the short and long run!

My own journey on this path started in 2012, when pregnant with my baby daughter. Although I had practiced yoga before, like so many other women, it was then that I truly connected with it. After a magical pregnancy however followed a difficult birth experience, and so a difficult start of my life as a mother. Like so many other new mothers, I felt completely overwhelmed and absolutely exhausted, like my body had been destroyed forever, like I would never feel ok anymore.

And then I took my daughter to some baby massage and postnatal yoga classes. And it literally changed my life. Week after week, they helped me look after myself, allow myself to look after myself, enable me to heal and truly recover, reconnect with myself and my new body. Grow my confidence and my enjoyment as a mother. And making my baby happy too!

From then on, I knew that this was something I wanted to do for other women, and so off went the meaningless corporate career, to train fas a baby massage and baby yoga instructor, then as a pregnancy and postnatal yoga teacher, utilising my birth and postpartum experience to design classes that best prepare and support mothers and mothers-to-be. A brush with fertility issues more recently lead me to explore how yoga can help support women trying to conceive, and this is an area which I now feel very VERY passionate about.