Breathing is the NUMBER 1 thing to focus on for whatever kind of labour you hope for – natural/unmedicated or with an epidural. It gives you focus, relieves tension, keeps you mentally calmer and leads to a (generally) smoother birth experience. You can see more here about the importance of breathing in labour!
In-person Weekday Classes:
In-person preparation is so important for birth and my Breathing for Birth classes have been a popular option over the past few years. My classes are limited to 6 attendees. The studio room is well-ventilated with open windows and doors to maintain good airflow during the classes, too. Each class is one hour and they are a great way to practice useful breathing techniques to manage labour more effectively.
The schedule for these classes is as follows:
January 24th Wednesday 12pm
February 21st Wednesday 12pm
March 20th Wednesday 12pm
April 17th Wednesday 12pm
2,500 yen per person per class (as of Oct 2023)
Minimum of 3 attendees to run the class, maximum of 6
At My Body My Pilates https://www.mybodymypilates.com/contact
In-person Couples Breathing for Birth Classes:
Private 1hr options are available online or in your own home or studio in Azabu (please enquire), or included in my Birthing with Confidence/Birth Skills birth preparation sessions mentioned below
Online Zoom Classes:
For those who feel more comfortable staying at home, I am continuing to offer Zoom classes for Breathing. These classes will be 50-60 minutes long and will hopefully provide attendees with enough knowledge about how the way you breathe can help in labour along with some practical practice.
The schedule for these classes is as follows:
January 12th Friday 5:30pm
February 9th Friday 5:30pm
March 15th Friday 5pm
April 12th Friday 5pm
Cost per class per attendee: 1,500 yen (as of Oct 2023)
Minimum of 3 attendees to run the session, maximum of 8
Couples Zoom Breathing for Birth Classes:
An online session specifically for couples to do together (50-60 minutes).
January 20th Saturday 9:30am
February 24th Saturday 9:30am
March No Zoom class
April 20th 9:30am
Cost per couple: 2,500 yen (as of Oct 2023)
Minimum of 2 couples to run the class, maximum of 6
In-person Couples Birthing With Confidence & Aiiku Birth Skills Classes:
Fully comprehensive birth preparation – private options at home and semi-private/small group options for 2-5 couples available.
CONTENTS:
Late Pregnancy & Overview of Labour
Breathing for Labour and Birth
Positions/Activities during Labour
Massage and Other Comfort Techniques
Interventions
What to Expect in Japan and your Specific Hospital
Useful Japanese Terms
The post-partum period
Breastfeeding
Cost per couple for small group (2-5 couples): 13,000 yen (one session of approx 3 hours)
Private session: 20,000 yen plus transport (can be split over 2 sessions of 1.5 hours each)
Online is also possible (please enquire)
Tokyo Doula Support 