Promo Code: Pre-Natal, Active Birth and Post-Natal Yoga Training in Manila!

I've got exciting news for my readers! There is an upcoming Pre-Natal, Active Birth and Post-Natal Yoga Teacher Training happening in Manila this October :)

If you read the birthing story of Maya, you would know that my yoga practice has truly helped me achieve the birth of my dreams. Being mindful is the right brain-state for the whole duration of motherhood - from pregnancy, birth and post-partum. And that is exactly what yoga does to you. Keeps you present to the moment in which everything exists. If you could teach this gem of a practice to ALL the women, then traumatic births and unnecessary c-section rates will decrease. This is why I'm totally supporting Beyond Yoga's Mindful Birth Yoga Teacher Training...because I want the Gentle Birth Revolution to rise in the Philippines! If you feel a call to help others, like I do. Then please sign up for this!

And for you my dear readers, please sign up with a special promo code "Birthing Beyond", to avail of all these treats from my participating blog partners:

Conscious Birth Manila: A mini sampler of a new-mommy kit and P1000 discount on Sacred Pregnancy & Conscious Birth and Sacred  Postpartum Workshops

INDIGObaby: Bath and body samples and discount vouchers

Rawlicious Green Smoothies: Organic green smoothies and discount coupons

The Juice Barista: A set of fresh-pressed juices and discount vouchers

STRIP: Strip Mama brazilian wax discount vouchers 

Cult Favorites: Itch Defense and My Amazing Blow Dry Secret Shampoo and Conditioner samples

Body-Food: All-natural bath and body loot

Flow Retreats: 1,000php discount coupon on any of the 2015 retreats

Cutieverse: A mystery gift

Brown Belly: All-natural Bath salts made with essential oils

Hillside Cafe and Juice Bar: Wellness shot, Bliss Balls and a gift certificate!


Ysabel's Daughter: Slimming and Firming products for the first 3 sign ups!

Leelu Mobile Massage: 20% discount for Pre-natal massage and 10% discount for Lalaland massage

Planet Noah: All-natural Oasis baby oil for mothers and babies

Let's help spread the seeds of awareness of gentle mindful births by sharing this post on your social feeds! 

Premiere Screening of MICROBIRTH in Manila

Yesterday was the premiere screening of MICROBIRTH by the Gentle Birth Philippines group at Beyond Yoga, Greenhills.

"MicroBirth is a new feature-length documentary looking at birth in a whole new way; through the lens of a microscope. The film investigates the latest scientific research that is starting to link the way babies are born with health in later life, particularly the increased risk of children developing certain immune-related conditions, including asthma, type 1 diabetes, celiac (coeliac) disease, obesity, cardio-vascular diseases, mental health disorders and even some cancers."  - www.microbirth.com

My darling doula, Irina Otmakhova, purchased the film so that she can help spread the knowledge in our country. We hope to make a difference in the alarmingly high c-section rates in the Philippines. At present it is about 30% (I suspect more because when I hear my friends give birth in the hospital, most of them end up with a CS) when the accepted numbers are only 5-15%. 

Why does it matter? 

Because the seeding of the important microbiome happens during childbirth, specifically during the passage of the baby from the mother's vaginal canal. Read on...

The purpose of the documentary is to raise public awareness of the importance of “seeding the baby’s microbiome” at birth with the mother’s own bacteria – this bacteria helps train the immune system to recognise what is “friend” and what is “foe”. We believe “seeding of the baby’s microbiome” should be on every birth plan – for even if vaginal birth isn’t possible, immediate skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding can still help to provide bacteria crucial to the development of the baby’s immune system. In the scientists’ view, if we can get the seeding of the baby’s microbiome right at birth, this could make a massive difference to the baby’s health for the rest of its life."                - www.oneworldbirth.net

It is interesting to note that c-sections occur much more with families who can afford it. 

Three yogi mommies unite in promoting homebirths in Manila! Monica Luna is to my right with her daughter, Willow. Mon was my batchmate in yoga teacher training back in 2009. Last year, when I was studying everything-I-could-get-my-hands-on--homebirths, she was one of my valuable resource persons because she was successful with hers just a few months before mine! She also recommended her midwife, Deborah Gustafson to me. To my left is Aisa Winternitz, who is currently on maternity leave from Yoga+ because she just gave birth to her son Kainoa at home in the water, just as she envisioned it. Bravo, little yogini! :)

Last group shot before we called it a night. Thank you for supporting this event, gentle birth warriors! May we continue to spread seeds of consciousness to make a real impact in the births of the Filipina. Every woman counts, every child counts, every birth counts! As Ibu Robin Lim says, "Let's save the world, one birth at a time".

Missed this film screening? Join on our Facebook page to get updates on our next gathering. We plan to show the documentary again in a bigger venue to include the medical community because we need to get the doctors and nurses involved if we care about the health of humanity!

We are open to hear your thoughts and suggestions!