Childbirth Preparation and Prenatal Yoga Courses for Pregnant Women in Bournemouth

4worldlovers: I built the Science of Birth initiative on four cornerstones to establish a healthy start for the whole family.

For pregnancy, birth and postnatal period sharing information and providing birth education.

4. Belly dancing as a joyful and gentle exercise for the body and spirit.

I created the Science of Birth, merging my social and scientific studies. Why do I find it crucial to merge these two elements together?

Expecting a baby is not only a biological event, neither is giving birth an “illness”. When I am supporting an expecting family, I am receiving them as whole human beings, acknowledging their level of knowledge regarding pregnancy and birth, respecting their wishes, their life stories, beliefs and choices.

During my midwifery studies, I gained great knowledge on anatomy; pharmacology; changes during pregnancy; common and rare health problems during pregnancy; foetal development; hormonal changes during pregnancy, birth and postpartum; birth physiology; emotional changes and mental health issues; infant feeding; care of the newborn; postnatal care and so on.

This knowledge is absolutely essential to the program I built. This knowledge has enabled me to build up my practice with the intention of giving the best possible information for families, on pregnancy and birth in order to enable them to make informed decisions.

Nobody should be expected to make decisions regarding their own and their baby's health without knowing the full scope of cause and effect of their decisions. For example, by giving objective information, the progress of labour becomes more understandable. I believe it is essential to give the power back to women, give them the complete information they need so that they are able to make informed decisions by being fully aware of the positive and negative consequences.

Informed consent means: “permission granted in full knowledge of possible consequences.” (Angus (ed), 2010, p. 371).

Women are able-bodied to birth their own children and the most important thing is to enable women to give birth naturally and at their own pace. My ultimate goal is to respect women's choices and hand the control back to them, which I believe is realisable with high quality birth preparation.

If a woman is aware of her rights, she will be confident and will feel that she is able to choose the care that she wants by having the knowledge behind her. I advocate education for women.

After establishing the Science of Birth, I can perfectly describe what I wanted to be as I have created the profession for myself.

I consider myself to be in a gifted position where my creative hobbies and lifelong interests all form around and complement the subject of birthing.

I consider myself an advocate of women. I believe women have the right to knowledge, the right to birth as a unique individual and the right to be given space and time. I fight against birth violations, mistreatment and cruelties against women.

I continuously look out for opportunities to update my knowledge, learn and read the newest research, take part in seminars and attend conferences to integrate them into the course agenda.

I have an instinctively gentle approach towards people and I regard adaptiveness as a core value when supporting mothers during labour. I am a naturally non-judgemental person and my work is based on compassion and altruism. I am dedicated to lifelong learning and private support, ergo impartial.

4worldlovers: Hi, I'm Maria! Nice to meet you and congratulations on your pregnancy! I provide Group and 1:1 Hypnobirthing Antenatal courses to pregnant people and their birth partners.

Classes are based in Bournemouth, Dorset but there is also the option of online Hypnobirthing courses via Zoom.


I am a KG qualified Hypnobirthing and Antenatal teacher (both courses Royal College of Midwives accredited).

I have recently converted to The Birth Uprising Academy (TBU) which is incredibly beneficial with providing inclusive evidence based antenatal education to birthing clients.


MY MISSION is simple..I want to support women and birthing people to have the most positive birthing experience possible no matter how they choose to birth their baby.

Often there are feelings of anxiety, apprehension and fear around birth as well as all of the amazing excitement of meeting your baby. If you feel this way then you are not alone.

Please don’t worry though as Hypnobirthing can help you in so many ways.

It teaches what to expect with regards to the process of birth, stages of labour and choice of birth place.

Change of mindset. it helps to change perceived thoughts and feelings around birth to encourage positivity, excitement for birthing your baby.

Practical and effective tools and techniques for yourself and partner to increase your comfort levels during labour and the birth of your baby.

Thinking around the vital Hormones involved during birth (for example the role of Oxytocin, Endorphins and Adrenaline.) We also think about how to increase the production of the beneficial hormones in your environment.

"Out with the old and in with the new” - What I mean by this is that birth doesn’t have to be how you’ve seen or heard in films, on tv and birth stories. This is often dramatised and not helpful to you. I will explain more in-depth in your taster session and/or course booking.

A course with Finding Calm will help you to know your birthing rights and choices to support you to feel empowered, informed and confident. It also teaches decision making tools.

Total investment-£225. This cost is for yourself and birth partner. Maximum of 4-6 spaces available.

Hypnobirthing courses held face to face or online via Zoom. Some clients love this option and it means that you don’t have to travel anywhere and you can even attend in you pj’s from the comfort of your own home. Doesn’t that sound great?

1:1 private courses - Please contact us for a discussion around availability.

*Ongoing support and an optional 1:1 session closer to the time of your baby being born.*

*5 exclusive online courses which include (breastfeeding workshop, baby massage, postnatal yoga, sling wearing and weaning).*

We’ll be the first to admit that the word ‘Hypnobirthing’ didn’t sell the course for us. As first time parents we were very naive on what to expect with childbirth so it was only through friends and family that hypnobirthing was recommended.

Maria helped us enormously in understanding every aspect of pregnancy, labour and post-natal. There is A LOT we didn’t consider, or even know to consider, and the course completely changed our mindset on the events to come. We went from worried, anxious individuals to calm and excited prospective parents. We always say knowledge is power and this course truly represents that. From knowing our rights, the science behind the human body, breathing techniques, making our labour experience positive and much, much more!

Maria was fantastic with us throughout, going above and beyond answering all our questions. Nothing was ever too much for Maria and she always made us feel comfortable. Maria provided us with the techniques and understanding to now be excited for the experience of welcoming our little girl into the world. We’re so grateful for the experience and would recommend Maria’s hypnobirthing to anyone.

The autonomic nervous system. Fight or Flight and how it impacts birth.

The benefits of hypnobirthing with lots of practical tools for yourself and your partner.

Birth place and birth planning. The importance of your birthing environment.

4worldlovers: Active Birth is about welcoming your baby with love and joy and having a positive experience of birth. You will learn about the miraculous design of your body and how to trust and follow it on the day! It’s also about being in charge of your decisions and keeping your options open, working toge ther with your birth partners. I offer a powerful combination of Active Birth, Hypnobirthing and Yoga – invaluable resources whatever path your birthing takes. I look forward to welcoming you soon!

Janet's Active Birth workshop genuinely made a huge difference for my labour as a first-time mom. I had read all available NHS, NCT and NICE resources to prepare for my birth. None of them covered what to do when labour is too fast! It was only thanks to one of Janet's slides that my partner remembered when things kicked off, that I was able to control my experience and spare myself potential complications.


My wife and I attended Janet's two day course a few months before delivering our baby. It was fantastic in every way. As a partner I'm really interested in ways that I can actually be useful and helpful during this wild process. It felt empowering to know when to stay out of the way, and when you can assist your partner. Plus it was really fun to geek out on physiology and anatomy. I won't spoil any of what you learn but it's fascinating and instructional at the same time.!!!! every bit of 5 stars.

I would highly recommend all of the courses on offer at the Active Birth Centre, Janet's teaching has been a huge support to me during my pregnancy. The hypnobirthing course made my partner and I feel extremely empowered and more relaxed about the birth of our baby. We not only learnt about breathing techniques and helpful positions for labour, but also about the physiological aspects of birth. I have also found Janet's yoga class a complete treat to attend each week, mixing both yoga and relaxation techniques it has really helped me with all the aches and pains I've experienced during my pregnancy. Also being on zoom you do it from the comfort of your own home an extra plus!

Package Offer: Save 10% if you book an Active Birth Workshop and a Hypnobirthing Course!

Learn how to have an Active Birth in this iconic antenatal course, which offers everything you need to prepare for the birth of your baby. Janet guides you on an inspirational journey from the start of labour to first hour after birth. Learn how to work with your body, your breath and your baby.


Relax, breathe, stretch and prepare for birth in the calm and meditative state of Yoga. Janet Balaskas brings her unique wisdom, warmth and experience to these inspirational pregnancy yoga classes which combine the benefits of yoga and preparation for your birth.

Hypnobirthing works wonderfully with Active Birth. Now you can learn Hypnobirthing online, in your own home, with the guidance and experience of a gifted teacher. Janet’s unique approach to hypnobirthing draws on decades of experience as a birth educator to complement the benefits of Active Birth.

Private Sessions with Janet Balaskas can be arranged if you prefer to work one-to-one or one-to-couple, or if the dates for a course don’t work for you. They are held on zoom, and can cover Active Birth and Hypnobirthing techniques, or advice and mentoring on specific topics you choose.

‘Active Birth: Your Guide to Nature’s Plan’ is a feature length film by Janet Balaskas, which will introduce you to the essentials of Active Birth and provide a practical guide you can work with throughout your pregnancy.

Professional training for antenatal teachers, hypnobirthing practitioners, pregnancy yoga teachers, midwives and doulas. Janet Balaskas has been training birth professionals for more than three decades, influencing birth education and midwifery practice across the globe.

The ideal follow-on from my classes! Discover Lynn Murphy’s amazing New Baby & Me Course, baby massage and mama yoga for after birth. Lynn’s postnatal programme provides a trusted space where you can receive support, meet friends, and take time for you and your baby.

Discover the history of the Active Birth movement, which has transformed the way babies are born around the world