For December’s issue, we spoke to Emma Bird, a nurse and a yoga teacher who lives in Royston with her husband and their 4 year old daughter.
Tell us about The Pelvic Floor Clinic
There’s always been an insufficiency in postnatal care in the UK; an idea that once you’ve had a baby it’s normal to have a prolapse or to wet yourself when you cough, or to have lower back pain and maybe even painful sex. These things are common, but they are very often reversible. I hate the idea of women putting up and shutting up with symptoms that can be treated. When I had my daughter in August 2020, there was an even bigger gap in postnatal care, for obvious reasons. I wanted to offer quicker treatment options for women who were on NHS waiting lists with symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction, as well as be a reputable source of information and resources for pelvic floor health and education.
As a yoga teacher in the local community, how do you balance family life with teaching classes?
I have a very enthusiastic hype man in my husband, who supports my teaching by being there for our daughter when I teach evening classes. But I love teaching yoga! And as the sentiment goes, do something you love and you’ll never work again. I’m able to write classes with my daughter around – usually hanging off of me – because she’s used to me practising yoga and she wants to be a part of it. I’m also able to work my hospital shifts around yoga classes, which helps keep up my nursing skills!
What role do you think yoga plays in helping new or expectant mothers in this area, and women generally?
My Pregnancy Yoga classes are written for functional strength and flexibility as the goal. Growing and birthing a baby is hard work and I feel like fitness professionals in general forget, or are anxious, about teaching people who are pregnant and I want to change that. I like to think that my postnatal classes are a form of rehabilitation too. Not for ‘getting your body back’, which I think can be a harmful turn of phrase. But for training your body for its additional jobs of nurturing a new baby, which is physically demanding! And my Fitness Yoga classes cater for women who want to feel like they’ve had a good workout. I always make sure to combine strength, flexibility and resistance in every class. I challenge anyone to come to one of my classes and say it’s easy!
What tips do you have for busy mums who want to incorporate yoga and pelvic floor exercises into their daily routine?
I would recommend everyone see a pelvic floor specialist after having a baby. Mass-prescribing Kegals/pelvic floor contractions to absolutely everyone who’s had a baby could be worthless at best and harmful at worst! No one’s prenatal journey is the same, so no one’s postnatal journey will be the same either.
As for incorporating exercise into your routine, I teach three Fitness Yoga classes and one Barre class a week, which are suitable from 6 months’ postpartum. Having a community of people encouraging you to come to class regularly and consistently really can make the difference in forming a fitness habit. And of course, children are very welcome in the studio, too! I know how difficult it is to find fitness classes that allow children, which just puts up another barrier for women who are their children’s primary caregivers.
What’s your proudest accomplishment, either personally or professionally?
My proudest professional accomplishment is probably qualifying as a nurse. It felt like it took a million years, but it was worth it! It opened up a different world to me and has given me some pretty cool skills!
Raising my headstrong, confident daughter definitely feels like an accomplishment too – some days more days than others…
What’s your favourite shop in Royston?
I love spending time in Glazed Creations. They’re always so inviting and friendly and my daughter is so enthusiastic about painting pottery there – it’s great for grandparents’ presents.
What advice would you give to someone new to the area or visiting for the first time?
Go for a walk on the heath. We’re extremely lucky to have that on our doorstep. I don’t drink coffee, but Kooky’s have the best loose leaf tea and The Nest does a great chai latte. See what’s on at Coombes Community Centre – lots of fantastic toddler/kids classes happen there, like Little Wiggles and Little Ruggers. Order a Thai takeaway from The Chequers – my favourite is the nutty chicken. And have a massage at Hush! It’s my ultimate indulgence that I can’t get enough of but hardly ever have time to do!
Finally, what inspirational quote sums you up?
Mary Seacole said ‘I am not ashamed to confess that I love to be of service to those who need a woman’s help’. This is why I became a nurse and eventually did my yoga teacher training. Even little acts of service can positively impact a person’s day in a big way and that’s what I always aim to do.
