leonardsuniteblog-blog

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He sets off down this little brick path every day bare footed and points at everything. The birds, the trees and even pointed out a lizard! What must his little mind be thinking? Have we entered a new world? Do we live here now Mummy and Daddy?! Where's Rory Bear? Everything is a different colour here. All possible thoughts....the mind boggles. || #Riveroointhailand2017 #theleonardfamilyadventures #ourtemporarygreenhome #jungle #thailandinapril (at Railay Beach)

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FOOD || Being Vegan in Bangkok is easyyy and yes I had my doubts. I'm still relatively new to Veganism and being in another country it's hard enough navigating yourself round to find food you like let alone vegan. Pictured is pineapple fried rice with cashew nuts, Thai green curry with heaps of chunky veg and that's not including the tofu, mushroom, mung bean and ginger spy noodles that came after! Plus they threw in a free homemade banana muffin for River and it was all sooo👌. So fresh, cooked before our eyes (minus the muffin) and the staff held and kissed River while we ate! The dream. Go here if you're planning a trip to Thailand! Xx #goldenbayleafthailand #veganthaifood ( @sophgordon I'm looking at you ) xx (at Golden bay leaf)

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I love teaching here! It's such a warm, light and inviting space. Simple and calming. Thank you to everyone who came to Pregnancy yoga today and moved through some lovely gentle asanas, a heart/womb pranayama, a brahmari (humming bee breath) and a nourishing yoga nidra to finish. I hope you and your babies are floating and gliding happily for the rest of you day! 🕉♡ #pregnancyyoga #camberwellyoga #southlondonyoga #motherthemothers (at Zen Yoga - Camberwell London)

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☆Myth 4: ☆ "Doula's are either for rich people, white people or both!" While it may appear that doulas are all middle class white women supporting....middle class white women, non-white doula's are here and growing. Diversity has long been an issue in the birth world with the majority of articles, videos, images and films all featuring exclusively white families, giving the impression that positive births and experiences are not for people of colour. This is something that is slowly changing with small collectives and birth justice movements growing and bringing variation, advocacy and awareness to birth work. Then there's money- different doula's charge different fees and offer a range of extra services. So do your research, meet with many doulas to find one who will suit you and your family best. Be open with your doula about money early on and chances are she will have lots of ideas up her sleeve to ensure you can have her support if you want it. Such as; bartering, payment plans, payments in kind and vouchers. There is also the Doula Access Fund with Doula UK which enable those on a very low income to have the support of a doula. Check out @ldashmae for her take on busting this Myth and watch out for our co-written blog post next week. #Worlddoulaweek 📷by @christinabentonbirthservices

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IT'S WORLD DOULA WEEK! And as promised, @ldashmae and I are busting a Myth a day all week. So here we go: ☆ Myth 1: ☆ “The only person you need at your birth is your mother.” Evidence suggests that familiar, loving, female faces in the birthing room have a tangible impact on the outcome for mother and baby. However a mother does not replace the role of a doula. A doula is a woman who is experienced in childbirth, who is neither a member of the hospital staff nor a part of the woman’s social circle (relative or friend). Because while a doula cares deeply about the emotional needs of the mother, she won’t bring any personal agenda or opinions about the birth. A doula simply informs and supports, always based on evidence-based practice and will walk the path with the mother in her choices, unconditionally. #Worlddoulaweek 📷 by @christinabentonbirthservices a fellow doula and birth photographer. (at London, United Kingdom)

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Wednesday this week marks the start of World Doula Week. To honour, celebrate and raise awareness for Doulas around the world, my South East London Doula sister @ldashmae and I will be doing some serious Doula Mythbusting each day this week! Then next week, we will share our co-written blog summarising all 7 myths, complete with links to evidence, research and quotes. #Worlddoulaweek

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Reasons why it's amazing for Dads to carry their babies: • Bonding for daddy and baby • Babies love it/ settles them quickly • Sleepy dust (the best naps) • Gives mum a break • Free hands for getting things done • Makes you strong! #babywearingdad @connecta_baby #postnataldoula #babywearer #skintoskin #keepthemclose #babywearingforthewin (at East Dulwich)

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FREEDOM. ♓ Yesterday I had one of those encounters that I just LIVE for. On the bus home River locked eyes with a wise looking woman who simply stared back. They smiled at each other for ages, and i just observed. He put his hand gently on her knee through the bars, then she broke gaze and said to me: "He's an old soul. He's been here many many times before. Old souls know old souls when they meet. See how he is looking at me? You'll never be able to control him, you'll never possess him, he's a free one, a free spirit and you just have to love him and nurture him and he will soar in his life. Oh and he must be a Pisces, am I right dear?" I was floored. My eyes filled with tears and they're filling again writing this. "Yes he is," I said in amazement smiling from ear to ear. "In fact, I recently learned he's a double Pisces, the sun AND moon was in Pisces when he was born. So he's a full water element." She's nodded, then smiled, then threw her head back and laughed really hard. "Oh he's free alright." ♓☉🐟🌔♓ We spent the rest of the journey chatting about the magical wisdom of children and nurturing them as parents without controlling or labelling or trying to mould them into what WE want. Just love and gentle guidance is the very best we can give. ♓☉🐟🌔♓ I thanked her and we got off the bus. She told me my son was beautiful when I was leaving. I almost fell out those doors. We stood on the pavement waving her off as the bus pulled away and she smiled and waved at River. River smiled back and when the bus had disappeared, with me rooted on the spot, he waved back. ♓☉🐟🌔♓ #encountersofmylife #magicmoments #parentingapisces #ireallyneedabookonastronomyfordummies (at East Dulwich)

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Thank you to everyone who came to my Mummy and Baby yoga class today! (Covering for the lovely Simone of @labyrinthyogapilates) It was such a treat to be in a room with 10 amazing new mummies and 10 bright and beautiful babies! There's no love like a mother's love. ♡ || Throwing it back to my little yogi baby in his Happy Savasanah at 6 weeks old (ok 5.5 but I managed to get him in to class anyway!) Have a lovely fortnight and see you again on 28th! 🕉 #mummybabyyoga (at Zen Yoga - Camberwell London)

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It's Monday! Wait that sounded a little too chirpy for how I'm really feeling. Let's keep it real. I looked in the mirror this morning and saw pale winter skin with dark circles under my eyes from a terrible night sleep thanks to our young human and scratch marks on my chest from his over eager breastfeeding hands and nails. Still. I've got coffee. I'm patiently waiting for a call to attend a birth (the most wonderful job in the world?) and my FIRST Doula UK magazine arrived! River is napping next to me while I charge up and the sun is well and truly out! ☉Also.... I've got flyering to do. My Doula sister @ldashmae is hosting a Meet the Doulas night at Zen Yoga on Saturday 6th May, giving our community of pregnant women to meet their local Doulas and chat all things birth and the fourth trimester. RSVP to her if you want to come! Leata@HolisticDoulaServices.com Have a beautiful start to the week Instagram friends far and wide! X #mondaymorning #southlondondoula #positivementalattitude #springhassprung #coffee (at East Dulwich)

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Coming soon! Really excited to be working with two of my amazing local midwives this Spring (I know they are amazing because they were mine!) Vicky and Emily care so much about pregnancy and birth education that they run their own independent antenatal sessions in south London called The Group. @thegroupantenatal They're also big advocates of natural remedies, treatments and practices, and always big up the role of a Doula in that birthing room. I will be taking a regular wellness session with the Group where I'll guide everyone though practising some of tips they've learnt in their other sessions. Relaxation. Breathing. Creating the optimal birthing environment. Maybe even some yoga.... watch this space and all will be revealed ❤🕉 #doulaslovemidwives #community #birtheducation #southlondon #birthworkers (at East Dulwich)

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Mummy and Baby Yoga! Join me for the next 2 x Tuesdays (14th and 28th March) as I cover the Postnatal Mummy and baby yoga classes at Zen Yoga in Camberwell! ❤ This is the class I took River to and pictured are my two fabulous mama friends and their scrumptious babes. We loved this class, it was a highlight of our week so I hope I can fill Corinne's shoes! @corinne_frankiepants ❤🕉 £10 drop in, email me to reserve your space at lucyleonardyoga@gmail.com . Xx #postnatalyoga #mummyandbabyyoga (at Zen Yoga - Camberwell London)

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And just like that, I'm on call again. Prepping my Doula bag and tucking myself up in bed early just in case tonight is the night. What a lovely job I have. A baby will be born soon. #doulaoncall #birthworker (at London, United Kingdom)

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Words to add: Glistening. Thailand. Patience. Friendship. || Today I met @megmurrayjones (thanks to @mamalinauk for hooking us up!) I had my first experience of reflexology with a female hormone balancing focus for postnatal mums. It was totally blissful and really fascinating to hear Meg explain what she had identified in me afterwards, just from touching my feet. What a talented, multi-tasking (her gorgeous baby was at her feet the whole time) and inspiring womban! Thanks Meg. I am so glad I met you! Meg specialises in reflexology for fertility, pregnancy and postnatal mothers. Show her some love! X (at Peckham Rye)

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A full day of teaching and meeting with wondrous women about being their Birth Doula. So tired, happy and grateful to be doing this work. Including to my own mother for helping look after River while I work! 💙🏞 Tomorrow I'm planning to work on a blog that will mainly be debunking all the myths you might have heard around birth and Doula support. #birthisamazing #doula #birthwithoutfear #women #womensupportingwomen #sisterhood #birthdoula #pregnancy (at East Dulwich)

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Today I started taking Shatavari, or Asparagus racemosus. It's been used for centuries in Ayurveda, the sister science to yoga, to support the reproductive system, particularly for women. And seeing as I've not returned to my usual cycle after childbirth my Ayurveda guru @margheritadalpra told me about Shatavari. It is considered to be the perfect energetic balance to help with postnatal night sweats, memory loss and hot flushes (in menopause). It can also be used to optimise fertility and increase the production of breast milk. It sounds like a great general natural tonic for women. I looked into it more and it is clinically proven to promote fertility, strengthen the uterus, regulate menstruation, promote the flow of breast milk, assist in recovery from childbirth and alleviate many symptoms of the menopause. And all from Mother Earth. Where else?! 🌿🕉 Thank you Margherita! 👍Photo by @maraberra #shatavari #ayurveda #plantmedicine #womenshealth

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The Mothering Lotus. We practiced this in class this week. Metaphorically we are honouring 'Mother Courage' when we practice this; keeping FAITH in our abilities to cope when everything seems way out of control. Part way through the sequence, we stretch our arms forward to symbolise the far reaches of deep challenge, and we inhale, nourishing our bodies, pausing for strength to let go again, surrendering bravely into acceptance. This week I'm going to write a short blog on Mothering Lotus with a Step-by-step guide to practicing on your own at home. For now check out a little snippet video I made in my Bio. 🕉 xx #motheringlotus #pregnancyyoga (at London, United Kingdom)