AnyaJoeli

Hello I'm a Pilates teacher and had my first baby by EMCS in July. I obviously wasn't intending to have a c-section and have found the recovery quite a challenge, physically and emotionally. I thought that, as the recovery process is quite different for post caesarean than a natural delivery, I would like to start a post caesarean Pilates class. I know that there is one at the dulwich therapy rooms and I haven't been, I'm sure it is a really good class, i think that the teacher hasn't had a caesarean herself which I think might make a difference. I'm just posting to find out if there might be a small gaggle of post c section mums interested and I'll start to look for venues that can accommodate mums and babes for a class once a week to get back into shape and strengthen the abdominals, regain a bit of strength and meet mums who've been through the same thing. Would be interested to hear from anyone keen! Anya

Daniel booked! Thanks for your help!

Hello there I am pregnant, due to have my first baby at the end of next week... Well, the baby is due then, who knows when he/she will make their appearance! I'm really keen to try acupuncture in the next week or so, to try and avoid going over my due date. Any recommendations/experiences of good acupuncturists/having acupuncture late in pregnancy? Thanks Anya x

Me too, cycling so much easier than walking, less strain on the pelvis and just much easier to get places in relaxed way without too much effort, which must be better for baby if I'm not getting cramps and braxton hicks! I stopped into Oliver bonas this afternoon (to buy some expensive but lovely pregnancy stretch mark cream, oh dear) and was carrying my cycling helmet, woman asked me if I should still be cycling. Everyone has an opinion! Have fun on weds eve wish I could make it too.

It's my last day in my office job on 25th so I won't be able to make this unfortunately as I'm going for a drink postwork to say goodbye (I'm only freelance so probably won't be back!). I'm working from home in June and would love to join in with any summer babies activities from then on! My baby is due 3 July. If anyone needs any Pilates/exercise related advice or tips in the meantime feel free to drop me a line. As my third trimester progresses I am finding Pilates and yoga (and swimming...and still cycling short journeys although definitely getting odd looks and feeling a bit more breathless now with only 6 weeks to go!) to be an amazing help in terms of alleviating aches and pains and giving me some relaxy time to focus on bub. x

I'm so sorry I also couldn't make it today, I had to work in the end as I have a pesky deadline tomorrow. I hope you all had fun and would love to come along to the next gathering Anya Xx

Ahh Rachel that's nice to hear, Anya has always served me well as a name, I would definitely recommend it! I'm starting to feel quite achey and occasionally slightly pregnancy weary coming up to 31 weeks, but I think my recent insomnia doesn't help. Always doing so much Pilates I've probably taken for granted having strong abdominals and now they are failing me as my bump gets bigger and it's causing me to groan every time I get out of bed/off the sofa, which is giving my husband a lot of amusement! Let's hope the lovely weather returns for 8th May x

I'm still cycling at 30 weeks, thought I might have stopped by now but actually it's much more comfy than walking for longer distances. On a day like this it's just do much nicer than other forms of transport and I think much less stressful than my train commute to work otherwise. I do get some funny looks though... We should start a preggers cycling club! X

I am definitely free on 8th May, sorry for silence on all things picnic and Pilates-related, it's been a crazy week so far, photo shoot for my book for the last two days (luckily in Peckham, bonus!) and generally trying to make sure I am on top of work so that I don't have to finish it all up as I am en route to Kings to give birth...! Would be great to chat pregnancies and see whether we can start a Pilates gathering. Hope everyone is feeling well and sprightly as the weather is so beautiful! x

Sadly my living room is tiny, just about big enough for me to do pilates on my own! Peckham Rye park is always good for a spot of pilates when the weather is nice, last summer I was training a postnatal friend of mine and we did a lot of relaxing Pilates and yoga under a tree in the fresh air which ups the benefits even more I think. I'm fairly chocka with work and teaching for the next two weeks, but in May would love to find a time for some prenatal pilates and getting to know other mums to be in the area. I am freelance so technically not on "maternity leave" really at all (argh), but I am planning on only working from home from June, and am finishing all my other teaching commitments end of May, so I will have lots of time for pilates get togethers then. Anya x

Hello there I think 7th May should be fine although pregnancy brain means I may of course have forgotten something! So, if I haven't forgotten anything, count me in! Re: being too late for starting pilates, I can honestly say it's really never too late to start doing gentle exercise in pregnancy, and at 32 weeks there's potentially up to 10 weeks left to go where you can take something from pilates. It's mainly the strengthening of the pelvic floor, and maybe more importantly learning how to release the pelvic floor, that can be of the most benefit in the later weeks and for birth. And it really can alleviate back aches, give you a little bit more room to breathe by opening up the chest and lengthening the spine, and generally lift the spirits which can only be a good thing in our current state! I'm away this weekend but I'll be working from home a bit more over the next few weeks (I'm writing a book about Pilates which is perfect for being able to avoid a horrible train commute in late pregnancy!) so if anyone wants to do any weekend or afternoon pilates at any point let me know And if not, look forward to chatting more on 7th May! Anya x

Hello ladies! I have only just discovered this thread, I'm due 3 July with my first baby, and would love to meet up with some local mums-to-be. I'm a Pilates teacher, and so I wondered if anyone would like to do any pre-natal Pilates, I don't have a venue for local Pilates but a big enough living room would do. It would be quite nice to teach a preggers class while pregnant myself! (This isn't a self-promoting business thing, rather an attempt to make friendly connections). I do a lot of yoga/Pilates myself at home obviously, the Dulwich therapy rooms classes are a bit pricey and at the wrong times for me, so I thought it could be a social thing really as I get nearer the due date and into maternity leave. QueenMab: I'm also still cycling and receiving odd looks as my bump gets bigger! It would be good to have people to share gripes with! I am due to start my NCT classes on 26th April in Nunhead. Anyone else? Hope everyone's well and bumps are happy anya xx