It might be the most exciting time in your life, but being pregnant can also be the scariest and most confusing. That’s why the Bodytree Studio Baby Show hopes to ease your baby burdens.
The process of starting a family, going into labour then raising your children can be daunting and nerve-wracking. There are so many methods and opinions. Enter Bodytree Studio and its Baby Show, which will help soothe your baby woes.
The Bodytree Studio Baby Show, an exhibition of suppliers and demonstrators, is back for its third year on Saturday April 26. The show has become a community resource for expectant and new mothers alike.
Responding to the success of the first two years, Bodytree Studio is making the Baby Show even bigger by doubling the number of exhibitors.
The venue has made a name for itself as the most prominent yoga studio in Abu Dhabi, and its dedication to mothers’ and children’s fitness and wellbeing distinguishes it from other studios in the city and the whole of the UAE. All three of the studio’s founders are mothers – in fact, two of them are mother and daughter.
Co-founder Elina Nykanan, who is also one of Bodytree Studio’s prenatal yoga instructors, says, ‘The idea of the Baby Show arose because I realised that my prenatal students were not aware of all of the services available in Abu Dhabi regarding pregnancy and postnatal support.’
The Baby Show therefore offered a platform for the local prenatal and postnatal services to be showcased. Elina says, ‘Because many women living in Abu Dhabi are having babies away from their family and friends,
the Baby Show provides an opportunity for new and expectant parents to meet like-minded people and share their experiences.’
With this interest in children and motherhood, Bodytree Studio has developed into a resource for prenatal and postnatal women – offering Pilates and yoga, breastfeeding support classes, paediatric first-aid and classes in hypnobirthing, which uses hypnosis techniques to relieve fear and tension in childbirth, in turn naturally reducing pain. Bodytree Studio also offers postnatal yoga and Pilates, baby massage and Kindermusik classes for children, an international music and movement programme for children.
This year the Baby Show will feature professionals, demonstrators and organisations including prenatal Pilates and yoga teachers, hypnobirthing experts, prenatal education, Kindermusik classes, baby massage, Healthpoint (one of the leading family hospitals in Abu Dhabi) and Sarah Siblini child and pregnancy photography.
There will also be demonstrations of prenatal massage from Rosewood Abu Dhabi, Journey toys, online resource Moms Guide Abu Dhabi, baby swimming lessons and Le Leche league (an international non-profit organisation devoted to educating women on breastfeeding), prenatal reflexology and DB Babies, a baby boutique in Abu Dhabi.
A variety of free classes and educational talks will be new to the Baby Show this year, and will be hosted throughout the day. This year’s show will start with a free prenatal yoga class at 9am, followed by a free kids’ yoga class at 11am and baby music class at 11.30am.
The educational talks will feature a representative from Healthpoint hospital speaking about what to expect from your prenatal and postnatal care, Simone Burke, a hypnobirthing expert, and Vandana Mendonca, a reflexologist who will explain how facial reflexology can help with pregnancy aches and discomforts.
The founders of Bodytree Studio have always been avid supporters of charities and philanthropic endeavours. They continue this tradition by donating all of the proceeds from the Baby Show raffle to a children’s orphanage in Ethiopia. The orphanage is run by one of the regular clients from the studio. Some of the raffle prizes include round-trip Etihad flights to Manchester, England, paired with tickets from the Manchester City Football Club and gift baskets from baby and maternity shops.
Elina says, ‘We hope attendees will leave armed with knowledge about the range of services and support networks available in Abu Dhabi and feel less daunted by the task of parenthood that lies ahead.’
The Baby Show will take place on April 26. 10am-1pm. Free entry. Bodytree Studio, Al Khalidiyah, www.bodytreestudio.com (02 443 4448).
