Ashley Aitken Yoga & Professional Birth Support

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Ashley Aitken Yoga & Professional Birth Support

Based in Kirkintilloch. I provide yoga classes for specific life stages from pregnancy to menopause, This class will help you to strengthen and tone.

Ostara Moon yoga is a gentle flowing hatha style yoga class which connects you to the phases of the moon to help balance hormone and provide relaxation and release. It offers deep, gentle yoga asana which honours the moon phases, earth cycles and feminine energy. This class is suitable for any age and ability and warmly welcomes beginners. Ostara Sun Yoga class is a yoga practice to stoke your in

ner fire and set you up for your day ahead. After gently warming the body we will move through variations on sun salutations with a gentle but dynamic flow and end with a brief relaxation. Pregnancy Yoga a beautiful class to help you keep active during pregnancy, help prepare for the birth and bond with your baby. This class offers a gentle and safe yoga practice developed especially for pregnant bodies. The yoga postures (asana) are suitable for pregnancy, prepare you for birth and can be further adapted for common pregnancy ailments. More than just a yoga class each session also provides birth education, breathing techniques for birth and deep relaxation to empower you towards a positive birth. All led by a qualified midwife, practicing doula and yoga teacher. These classes also provide a supportive community of like-minded parents to be to share your journey with. Suitable from 14 weeks pregnant. Mum & Baby Yoga offers a nurturing class for new parents with breathing techniques to calm the mind, yoga to stretch, strengthen and recharge your energy levels and relaxation to soothe. Each class includes both soothing baby massage and fun yoga suitable for little bodies, offering a special time for you and your baby to bond. Traditional yoga postures (asana) are adapted for a postnatal yoga practice which gently restores and tones the body after birth. All this in our wonderful community, with a chat and a cuppa. Suitable from 6 weeks postnatal (8-12 weeks post caesarean section depending on your recovery) until baby is mobile.

20/04/2026

I am sooo excited to finally share the details of this year's Weekend Retreat ✨️

Every year's is a little different and our 2026 retreat offers the perfect sanctuary to slow down, restore balance and reconnect with yourself.

Included:
5 Yoga sessions
Sound Bath
Reiki Infused Meditation
Individual Reflexology Session
Individual Sensorial Head Massage

Accomodation is in beautiful warm and comfortable rooms with en suite. All food and drink is included.

We are returning to the wonderful Burmieston
Farm & Steading.

My co hosts this year are the incredible Gillian and Holly

30/03/2026

Last Wednesday I spent the day diving deep into Biomechanics for Birth with the incredible and in the company of some wonderful doulas, yoga teachers, midwives and hypnobirthing teachers.

Biomechanics for birth is simple ways that we can help to balance the anatomy and support the physiology of the body so that birth can be safer, more comfortable and more wonderful for everyone involved. So that we can have an understanding of what may happen in the twists and turns of birth, along with tools we can use to support the baby and the birthing person's body to smoothe the way.

Knowledge is power. Support is everything. ✨

23/03/2026

I’ve created a gentle, beginner-friendly prenatal yoga sequence designed to support you through every trimester.

This slow, nourishing flow helps you connect to your breath, ease tension, and feel grounded in your changing body.

And here’s the beautiful part, you don’t even have to be pregnant to enjoy it. If you’re looking for a soft and calming practice, this is for you too.

09/03/2026

NEW: Express Birth Preparation Session ✨

By popular request, I’ve added an Express Birth Preparation session to my website.

This single, focused session is perfect if you’re short on time or resources but still want to learn the most important tools and knowledge to feel prepared for birth.

It’s ideal for:
🤍 Parents who can’t commit to a full programme
🤍 Those who attend my Pregnancy Yoga classes and would like their birth partner to learn the essentials
🤍 Second-time parents who want a quick refresher on birth preparation

You’ll leave with clear, practical guidance to help you approach birth feeling calmer, more confident, and informed.

📩 Get in touch or read more via my website

02/03/2026

Four weeks on call,
living in the quiet in-between.

A plan unfolding…
then changing,
then softening.

A room held steady.
A midwife who listened.
A voice that found its strength and said, “No.”

And in that no:
Space.
Choice.
Power returning.

A beautiful birth.
A healing rewrite.

If you’re preparing for your own birth story and longing to feel steady, heard, and deeply supported, I would be honoured to walk alongside you.

23/02/2026

🌱 I’m so excited for you to meet the incredible women who will be holding space for you at our upcoming Spring Pregnancy Day Retreat.

🌱 We are all doulas who are deeply committed to supporting women and families.
Each of us brings additional skills and a wealth of experience. Between us, we offer nurturing, evidence-based guidance, emotional support, practical wisdom, and holistic tools to help you feel informed, confident, and deeply nurtured.
We understand that every journey is unique, and we are here to honour yours.

🌱This retreat is about connection.
It's about community.
It’s about you feeling held, heard, and empowered as you prepare to welcome your baby.

We cannot wait to support you 💗

16/02/2026

The NHS today is not the same one that our mothers and grandmothers experienced or even the one I worked in for many years.

NHS maternity services have always been medicalised and shaped by patriarchal structures, and they were never without their problems.

However, interventions happened when clinically indicated not because of fear of litigation.

There was time for compassionate, personalised care. There was a genuine sense of community, not only within the wider community, but within the wards themselves. The women cared for in that system felt it.

While working within the protocols and guidelines, there was also space for nuance and professional autonomy.

Staff were paid properly, wards had a full compliment of staff who had regular breaks, so they could work at their best.

Large institutions serving a broad spectrum of society will always be imperfect. But it makes me deeply sad to see what is happening in the NHS.

This is not about midwives, who are breaking under a system that no longer values them or the women they serve. It is about the many governments over the past 15-20 years that have allowed this to happen while blaming us all for the decline.

Women need doulas and midwives more than ever. The ones that listen without judgement, respect their decisions and bodily autonomy and believe in physiological birth in a system that is in decline.
They still exist and are still fighting.

Photo of me in 1997 as I started my midwifery training.

13/02/2026

Today's the day! 🌸🌱

Our Spring Pregnancy Retreat bookings are officially open with a special early bird price until February 20th.

There are only 10 spots available, so don't wait!

#

09/02/2026

🌸Spring is almost here, and we've been busy planning our next Pregnancy Day Retreat:
🌱Nurture & Bloom

It's happening on Saturday, April 11th, from 9:15am to 4:30pm, at the lovely .

This year, I'll be joined again by the amazing Sara from , who will lead a "Preparing for Postpartum Workshop" and co-host our Doula Q&A.

You'll also get to choose between a Pregnancy Massage with lovely .kerr or a reflexology session with wonderful Holly from

I'll be leading a Pregnancy Yoga session for pelvic mobility and a Meditation and Group Reiki session for deep rest and intuition as well as co-hosting our Doula Q&A.

Booking opens later this week with an early bird discount, so DM or comment "RETREAT" to be first in line! This retreat sold out last year, so don't miss out!

🤰✨

26/01/2026

It's been a while since I've had the opportunity to share a testimonial with you all. I had the honour of supporting Gilly for both her homebirths, the second one even quicker than the first, both absolutely dreamy ✨️

"We were absolutely delighted to have Ashley as our doula for the second time. She supported us at the birth of our son, Rory, and the moment I found out I was pregnant again, I knew I wanted Ashley by our side once more, she was the very first person I contacted when I found out I was expecting again.
Ashley has the most calm, nurturing presence. Our daughter’s birth happened very quickly and ended up being just me, my husband, and Ashley at home (with our three-year-old son sleeping upstairs).

Despite the intensity and speed of labour, Ashley and my husband worked tirelessly to fill the birth pool so I could labour in the water, something that was really important to me. Throughout, Ashley offered gentle reassurance and affirmations that helped keep me calm and grounded.

She also captured beautiful photos and videos of the labour and birth with my consent, doing so so discreetly that I didn’t even notice at the time, images we now treasure deeply. In the quiet time after our daughter was born, before the midwives arrived, Ashley’s presence helped make those first moments feel incredibly special and relaxed.

Ashley supported me through the placenta birth when I wanted some privacy, helped me shower and freshen up afterwards, and even took care of draining the pool and tidying up, practical support that made such a difference. But more than anything, it was her kindness, reassurance, and steady presence that supported me in having another wonderful birth.

I cannot recommend Ashley highly enough. She is kind, knowledgeable, compassionate, and supportive — truly the epitome of what a doula should be. "

Testimonials are always so humbling. Thank you so much for your kind words and allowing me to share a few gorgeous photos from your birth ❤️

22/01/2026

When creating your birth space, remember that who is present matters.

Pay attention to how you feel around them - do they offer unwavering support and make you feel at ease?

Consider how they discuss birth and your capabilities - do they empower or undermine you?

Evaluate how they present information - is it non biased and factual, or emotive and coercive?

Notice how they respond to your preferences - do they listen attentively and respect your autonomy, or try to sway your decisions?

Whether its an amazing obstetrician, a wonderful midwife, incredible doula, a loving partner, brilliant best friend or your beuatiful mum or a team that includes all of the above, find people who make you feel safe.

12/01/2026

On my birthday, I'm here with your annual reminder that you are perfect just as you are. 🎂✨

If someone online makes you feel bad about yourself, they're either unhappy in themselves or trying to sell you something. 💸
Want to feel healthy and happy? Go for it. 💪
Need to work through some tough emotions? You got this. 💖

But don't let anyone make you feel like your face and body are a problem that needs to be fixed.

Address

Old Aisle Road
Kirkintilloch
G663HQ

Website

https://www.ashleyaitkenyoga.co.uk/

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Our Story

Our Yogabelles yoga for women classes are deep, flowing and gentle, incorporating aromatherapy for an indulgent yoga experience. Suitable for beginners and women frm age 14 to post menopause. Our Lunar classes can balance hormones which can be beneficial at all stages in a women life maiden, mother or crone. YogaBellies for Pregnancy classes are gentle and safe for all women and suitable for beginner or the more experienced. Each class focuses on a different aspect of pregnancy and birth. This is more than just a yoga class, but also training in deep relaxation and preparation for birth and motherhood. We practice yoga postures, suitable for pregnancy and birth, invaluable breathing techniques for pregnancy and birth and also relaxation and meditation techniques that mum can also use once baby arrives. This is so much more than a prenatal yoga class, but an opportunity to prepare mindfully for birth and meet like-minded mums. Yoga bellies for mum and baby offer a special time for you and your baby to bond. For baby, fun and stretchy yoga suitable for little bodies and for mum, gentle yoga to tone and restore your body after the birth. You will also find moments to relax and find mindfulness while caring for your wee one. All this in our wonderful community of mummies, with non judgemental support, chat and a cuppa :)