https://www.pinkirisyoga.com/, https://www.pinkirisyoga.com/blissfulbirth

Pink Iris Yoga, Bangor (2025)

28/10/2025

There was this quiet moment, a few weeks after birth, when I caught my reflection and thought, I don’t recognise her.

It wasn’t just my tired eyes.
Or the softness where there used to be strength.
It was something deeper.

Like the woman staring back at me was both me and not me at the same time.

I used to think postpartum would be about recovery.
About “getting back” to myself.
But it wasn’t about going back at all.

It was about meeting a new version of me, one that had been cracked open in every possible way.

Motherhood stripped away so much:
My routines.
My independence.
Even my sense of control.

But in that stripping away, it also revealed what was real.

The quiet strength that doesn’t need proving.
The tenderness that isn’t weakness.
The power that lives in stillness, not striving.

When I say I didn’t recognise her…
What I really mean is that I was meeting the woman I had been too busy, too “together,” too responsible to become.

She was softer.
But stronger.
Messier.
But more honest.

And when I finally stopped trying to find my old self, I realised I’d been becoming this new one all along.

If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and not recognised yourself maybe it’s not because you’re lost.
Maybe it’s because you’ve changed.
And that change is asking to be witnessed, not fixed.

You’re not disappearing.
You’re evolving.

And she’s waiting for you, in the pauses, the deep breaths, the moments you come back to yourself.

Drop a 💫 in the comments if this post resonates

If this resonates with you, you’re not alone.
I see you and I’d love to help you connect with that version of yourself through gentle, nourishing movement.

My next Postnatal Yoga (Mum & Baby) series starts 14 Nov in Bangor.

And for those who aren’t local, I offer private online postnatal sessions designed to help you (and maybe a friend) rebuild strength and softness, at your pace.

If you'd like more info drop me a message or visit my bio 🙂

26/10/2025

English Below:

Dach chi wedi gofalu am eich babi… rwan mae'n amser gofalu amdanoch chi. 💕

Ymunwch â mi am Ioga Ôl-enedigol (Mam a Babi) yn dechrau 14 Tachwedd, wedi'i gynllunio i'ch helpu chi i:

✔ Ailadeiladu cryfder craidd a llawr y pelfis yn ddiogel
✔ Rhyddhau tensiwn yn yr ysgwyddau, y cefn a'r gwddf o fwydo/cario
✔ Hybu egni heb bwysau i "bownsio'n ôl"
✔ Lleddfu'ch system nerfol gyda gwaith anadlu tawelu ac ymlacio
✔ Cysylltu â mamau a babanod eraill

📍 Bangor, Gogledd Cymru
📅 Yn dechrau 14 Tachwedd 10:30am
👶 Yn addas o 6+ wythnos ar ôl genedigaeth (8+ wythnos ar ôl toriad Cesaraidd) nes bod y babi yn cropian yn hyderus
✨ Mae pob sesiwn yn ddiogel ac yn gefnogol i famau newydd ac wedi'i theilwra i'ch anghenion adferiad.

💌 Mae'r gyfres Ioga Ôl-enedigol ddiwethaf wedi gwerthu allan, os ydych chi wedi bod yn ystyried ymuno, rwan yw'r amser perffaith i gadw'ch lle

I archebu/dysgu mwy, edrychwch ar fy ngwefan (gweler y bio) neu anfonwch neges ataf

(Nodyn: Os ydych chi'n disgwyl babi, 2 le sydd ar ôl yn y gyfres Ioga Cynenedigol a Pharatoi ar gyfer Geni sy'n dechrau 6 Tachwedd 👀)

You’ve cared for your baby… now it’s time to care for you. 💕

Join me for Postnatal Yoga (Mum & Baby) starting 14 Nov, designed to help you:

✔ Rebuild core & pelvic floor strength safely
✔ Release shoulder, back & neck tension from feeding/carrying
✔ Boost energy without pressure to “bounce back”
✔ Soothe your nervous system with calming breathwork & relaxation
✔ Connect with other mums and babies

📍 Bangor, North Wales
📅 Starts November 14th 10:30am
👶 Suitable from 6+ weeks postpartum (8+ weeks after caesarean) until baby is confidently crawling
✨ Each session is safe & supportive for new mums & tailored to your recovery needs.

💌 The last Postnatal Yoga series sold out, if you’ve been thinking about joining, now’s a lovely time to save your spot

To book/learn more check out my website (see bio) or drop me a message

(P.S. If you're expecting a baby, Prenatal Yoga & Birth Prep series starting 6 Nov has 2 spaces left👀)

21/10/2025

And it’s not some fancy breathing technique or secret yoga pose.
It’s this:

The ability to switch from cortisol (tension, fight-or-flight, survival mode) into oxytocin (flow, safety, connection, love).

Here’s the truth:

Most women don’t struggle in birth (or postpartum) because their bodies “fail.” They struggle because their nervous system is still wired to survive in a world that constantly demands they do it all.

We’re holding so much.
🧠 Work.
🏡 Home.
💭 Emotional load.
💤 Pushing through exhaustion.

Cortisol becomes our baseline, and when labour begins, our bodies don’t just forget those patterns. They come with us.

That’s often why contractions feel overwhelming. That’s often why the early weeks can feel like drowning.

But when you learn how to make that switch everything changes.

In labour, oxytocin softens your body so contractions flow more efficiently.

Pain feels less like a threat and more like power moving through you.

In postpartum, oxytocin bonds you to your baby, helps you feel present in the small moments, and literally lowers stress so you can rest and heal.

This switch isn’t from luck, it’s practice.

And it looks like:
✨ Breath that grounds you when intensity rises.
✨ Movement that honours your body.
✨ Nervous system tools that remind your body, “I am safe. I can soften.”

When women learn this, they stop bracing against birth (or motherhood). They start moving with it.

And that shift?
It changes everything.

Imagine meeting labour not with panic but with instinct.
Imagine meeting postpartum not with depletion but with presence.

That’s what this practice makes possible.

If this message landed for you, this is exactly what we practise inside my Prenatal Yoga & Birth Prep series, learning how to move from tension to trust, from cortisol to oxytocin. 🌿We start 6 Nov in Bangor (2 spots left).

If you’re in those early weeks of motherhood, my Postnatal Yoga (Mum & Baby) series starts 14 Nov and is your space to rebuild strength and reconnect gently, safely, with support.

Check out the link in my bio for more details.

Because you deserve to feel supported in birth and motherhood, not just survive it. 🤍

19/10/2025

ENGLISH BELOW:

Disgwyl babi neu ar ôl Geni yn neu o gwmpas Bangor?

Mae gen i ddwy gyfres ioga newydd yn dechrau'n fuan, y ddwy wedi'u cynllunio i'ch cefnogi chi drwy'r tymor enfawr hwn.

Ioga Cynenedigol a Pharatoi ar gyfer Geni

Yn dechrau 6 Tachwedd, 6:30yp, 109 Stryd Fawr, Bangor

Mae'r sesiynau hyn yn cyfuno ioga cynenedigol, gwaith anadlu ac offer y system nerfol i'ch paratoi ar gyfer genedigaeth mewn ffordd y mae'ch corff yn ei chofio mewn gwirionedd. Byddwch chi'n ymarfer:

✔️ Offer cam wrth gam ar gyfer pob rhan o'r esgor
✔️ "Ymarfer geni" dan arweiniad fel ei fod eisoes yn teimlo'n gyfarwydd yn eich corff
✔️ Ymarferion ôl-enedigol ysgafn i gefnogi adferiad yn syth ar ôl genedigaeth

Ioga Ôl-enedigol (Mam a Babi)

Yn dechrau 14 Tachwedd, 10:30yb Canolfan Gymunedol Garth Bangor
Sesiynau i'ch helpu i ailadeiladu ac adfer ar ôl genedigaeth trwy:

✔️ Cryfhau'ch craidd a llawr eich pelfis yn ddiogel
✔️ Rhyddhau tensiwn yn eich ysgwyddau/cefn/gwddf o fwydo a chario
✔️ Tawelu'ch system nerfol gydag anadlu ac ymlacio
✔️ Cysylltu â mamau a babanod lleol eraill

Mae'r ddau grŵp yn fach ac yn gefnogol (lleoedd cyfyngedig ar ôl ym mhob un).

💌 Anfonwch neges ataf gydag unrhyw gwestiynau neu archebwch trwy fy myfyrdod

Pregnant or Postpartum in or around Bangor?

I’ve got two new yoga series starting soon both designed to support you through this huge season.

Prenatal Yoga & Birth Preparation

Starts 6th Nov, 6:30pm 109 High Street, Bangor

These sessions blend prenatal yoga, breathwork & nervous system tools to prepare you for birth in a way your body actually remembers. You’ll practise:

✔️ Stage-by-stage tools for each part of labour
✔️ A guided “birth rehearsal” so it already feels familiar in your body
✔️ Gentle postpartum practices to support recovery immediately after birth

Postnatal Yoga (Mum & Baby)

Starts 14th Nov, 10:30am – Garth Community Centre Bangor

Sessions to help you rebuild & restore after birth through:

✔️ Strengthen your core & pelvic floor safely
✔️ Release shoulder/back/neck tension from feeding & carrying
✔️ Calm your nervous system with breath & relaxation
✔️ Connect with other local mums & babies

Both groups are small and supportive (limited spaces left in each).

💌 Message me with any questions or book via my bio

14/10/2025

Oxytocin is often called the “love hormone.”

It fuels contractions, helps labour flow, and bonds you with your baby.

But oxytocin has a rival: cortisol.

When cortisol spikes (the stress hormone), your body can shift into fight-or-flight.

A little stress can be useful… but when it’s prolonged, it’s linked to longer, more complicated labours.

Here’s what I want to be clear on: This isn’t your fault.

We live in a culture that bakes stress into our lives as women:
✨ Praising us for “doing it all” — work, home, relationships, motherhood.
✨ Forgetting to support us when we most need it.
✨ Rewarding busyness over rest.

So of course, when labour begins, those patterns don’t just vanish.
You bring them with you.

💫 The good news?
You can prepare your body to shift gears from cortisol-driven tension into oxytocin-led flow.

That’s what I teach inside my embodied birth preparation work:
🌸 Nervous system tools that steady you when pressure rises.
🌸 Breath and movement that keep your body soft, even when intensity hits.
🌸 Practices that turn “theory” into instinct, so your body knows what to do when your mind goes blank.

✨ Imagine this: a surge rises, but instead of freezing, you move instinctively, breathe deeply, and soften into it.
✨ You feel powerful, supported, and deeply connected not because you got lucky, but because you prepared.

That’s what a satisfying birth experience is made of.

💌 If this resonates, share with a friend who’s expecting.
Or comment below, did you know about cortisol’s role in labour?

📅 And if you’re local to Bangor my next Prenatal Yoga & Birth Prep series starts 6th November (just 3 places left). It’s a small, supportive group where we put these tools into practice together. Message me for the deets or check out my bio.

10/10/2025

Pregnant or postpartum in or around Bangor?

Pregnancy and postpartum aren’t tests of how much you can handle, they’re invitations to find your power.

And that’s exactly what these classes are designed to give you: a space to move, breathe, prepare and recover with tools your body will actually remember when it matters most.

💫 For mums-to-be: My 6-week Prenatal Yoga & Birth Prep Series (starting 6 Nov) will guide you through birth rehearsals, stage-by-stage tools, and practices to ease pregnancy aches while building confidence and strength in your body. Suitable from 12+weeks pregnancy.

💫 For new mums: My Postnatal Yoga (Mum & Baby) Series (starting 14 Nov) helps you strengthen your body postpartum, release tension, bond with your baby, and connect with other mums in a supportive space. Suitable from 6+ weeks postpartum (or 8+ weeks after C-Section) up to crawling.

Both are small-group classes with limited spots

Reserve your spot on my website via my link in my bio

Any questions? Just drop me a message⬇️

08/10/2025

These women aren’t trying to control birth, they’re preparing their bodies to flow with it.

They’ve trained their breath to anchor them when things get intense.

They’ve learned how to release tension instead of fight it.

They’ve practised the movements that help labour progress.

And most importantly, they’ve learned to trust the deep, instinctive intelligence of their bodies.

That’s what I call embodied birth preparation.
It’s not about memorising scripts or hoping you’ll stay calm,
it’s about practising calm so deeply that your body knows what to do when your brain checks out.

This is the kind of work we explore inside my Prenatal Yoga & Birth Preparation offerings. They're for women who want to feel confident, capable, and deeply connected to their body’s wisdom.

If you’re ready to prepare for birth in a way your body will actually remember, this is your invitation💛

Check out my bio for more information on how to work with me.

07/10/2025

It’s not being quiet, still, or perfectly composed.
It’s knowing what to do when things get intense.
It’s trusting your breath, your body, and your instincts, because you’ve already practised them.

When contractions rise, your thinking brain checks out.
That’s why real preparation isn’t about learning more information, it’s about practising what your body will remember.

That’s exactly what we do in my Prenatal Yoga & Birth Preparation Series, starting Wednesday 6th November in Bangor.

Each week we explore how to move, breathe and restore through every stage of labour from the first sensations to the first hours after birth.

You’ll:

🌸 Rehearse birth through movement and breath
🌸 Learn how to stay grounded when things feel intense
🌸 Build real trust in your body’s ability to give birth
🌸 Connect with other local mums-to-be in a calm, supportive space

This isn’t “just yoga.”
It’s embodied birth preparation, so when the time comes, your body already knows what to do.

📅 Starts: Wednesday 6th November
📍 Venue: 109 High Street, Bangor
🕒 Time: 6:30pm
💫 Only 5 spaces left

Reserve your place via my link in bio

Not local to Bangor? You can still prepare with me online through my Blissful Birth Method a 2-hour step-by-step birth prep course you can do at home.

Any questions? Please drop me a message ⬇️

05/10/2025

English Below:

Cyfres Ioga Cynenedigol a Pharatoi ar gyfer Geni

Mae'r rhan fwyaf o ddosbarthiadau cynenedigol yn dweud wrthych chi beth i'w ddisgwyl.
Mae'r un hon yn paratoi'ch corff i ymdopi ag ef.

Yn y gyfres wyneb yn wyneb 6 wythnos hon, byddwch chi'n dysgu offer y gall eich corff ddibynnu arnynt mewn gwirionedd yn ystod esgor nid dim ond damcaniaeth.

Dyma beth fyddwn ni'n ei archwilio:

✨ Ymarfer Geni — Taith dywys drwy'r esgor fel ei fod eisoes yn teimlo'n gyfarwydd pan ddaw'r diwrnod.

✨ Technegau Cam wrth Gam — Offer anadlu, symud a'r system nerfol ar gyfer pob un o'r 4 cam o esgor.

✨ Cymorth Ar Unwaith Ôl-enedigol — Arferion adfer ysgafn y gallwch eu defnyddio yn syth ar ôl genedigaeth.

Ochr yn ochr â pharatoi ar gyfer genedigaeth, byddwch yn:

💫 Lleddfu poenau beichiogrwydd gydag ioga cynenedigol
💫 Meithrin hyder go iawn yn eich corff
💫 Cysylltu â darpar famau lleol eraill

📅 Yn dechrau: Dydd Iau 6ed Tachwedd
📍 109 Stryd Fawr, Bangor — 6:30pm
✅ Dim ond 5 lle ar ôl — grŵp bach ar gyfer cefnogaeth bersonol

👉 Archebwch eich lle: www.pinkirisyoga.com/classes

Oes gennych chi gwestiynau? Anfonwch neges ataf 💛
Helen

🌸 Prenatal Yoga & Birth Preparation Series🌸

Most antenatal classes tell you what to expect.
This one prepares your body to handle it.

In this 6-week in-person series, you’ll learn tools your body can actually rely on in labour not just theory.

Here’s what we’ll explore:

✨ Birth Rehearsal — A guided walk-through of labour so it already feels familiar when the day comes.
✨ Stage-by-Stage Techniques — Breath, movement and nervous system tools for all 4 stages of labour.
✨ Immediate Postpartum Support — Gentle restoration practices you can use right after birth.

Alongside birth prep, you’ll:

💫 Ease pregnancy aches with prenatal yoga
💫 Build real confidence in your body
💫 Connect with other local mums-to-be

📅 Starts: Thursday 6th November
📍 109 High Street, Bangor — 6:30pm
✅ Only 5 places left — small group for personalised support

👉 Book your spot: www.pinkirisyoga.com/classes

Got questions? Drop me a message💛

Helen

03/10/2025

When my labour started with my first baby, I realised something no one had warned me about:

In the moment your contractions kick in…
your thinking brain steps aside.

All the books?
All the birth plans?
All the positive affirmations?

They don’t disappear, but they don’t lead you, either.

Your body does.

The problem?
Most of us prepare for birth like it’s an exam.
We consume. We listen. We learn.
But we don’t rehearse.

We don’t practise what our body needs to do when the intensity arrives.

And that’s what I missed.
I was “informed” but not embodied.
I could talk about birth… but my body didn’t know how to meet it.

So when contractions came, my system defaulted to tension, exhaustion, and handing over my power to the room.

Not because I wasn’t capable but because I hadn’t practised the one thing that would’ve changed everything:

Birth prep that trains your body to remember what your brain might forget.

Breathwork when the surge peaks.
Movement that creates space instead of resistance.
Positions you’ve rehearsed so deeply your body leads without negotiation.
Recovery woven in, not bolted on so you don’t crawl into postpartum empty.

This is the kind of prep I teach now.
Not more noise. Not more tips.
Practice your body can call on when your mind checks out.

Because confidence in birth doesn’t come from hoping you’ll cope.
It comes from knowing you’ve rehearsed the moment your system takes over.

I’m curious…

Did anyone ever tell you your thinking brain (thr neocortex) steps back in labour?

Or did you (like me) only find out the hard way?

Drop a comment or emoji below I’d love to know.

Pink Iris Yoga

28/10/2025

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21/10/2025

19/10/2025

14/10/2025

10/10/2025

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