Isis HypnoBirthing & Yoga

We chat with Inbal Sigler of Isis HypnoBirthing and Yoga to find out what prenatal services she offers to soon-to-be mothers in the Amsterdam area.

Carrying and birthing a child can be intensely emotional. So when holistic practitioner Inbal Sigler got pregnant, she kept her calm and sought her inner strength through self-hypnosis.

Extolling the virtues of hypnobirthing, she tells us “It is a natural anesthesia! Hypnobirth combines relaxation, breathing and visualization techniques to control labor and birthing pain.” While childbirth is fraught with a million apprehensions, sometimes culminating in mirror-shattering screams, Sigler tells us hers was a surprisingly easy and quiet one with the help of hypnobirthing.

In 2013, Inbal Sigler decided to put her experience to practice and she set up Isis HypnoBirthing & Yoga. Putting her personal training in modern alternate therapies to use, she offers expectant mothers the right tools to harness their inner strength and birth with ease. Meher Fatma asked Inbal Sigler about this program. Here are some excerpts from their conversation:

What is Isis HypnoBirthing & Yoga? It is a comprehensive pregnancy and childbirth preparation course. Based on the premise that giving birth is a natural and normal life experience, this course provides mothers and their partners with all the knowledge and practical tools to experience a smooth pregnancy and a safe birth with the help of relaxation techniques.

In recent years we have begun to undermine a woman’s birthing knowledge and many women now fear the process of giving birth. With Isis HypnoBirthing & Yoga you learn how to summon your inner strength and trust your natural ability to grow, birth and nourish your baby.

So there is no hypnotizing involved? Not at all, in hypnobirthing we teach mothers the art of self-hypnosis. It is all about meditation and getting them into a calm and relaxed state. During the childbirth the mother will be totally conscious, conversant and in good spirits.

Are expectant mothers willing and open to try out self-hypnosis during childbirth? Yes! Throughout the world, more and more obstetricians and midwives are recommending hypnobirthing classes to mothers-to-be. Mothers are less likely to experience complications during their birth because this technique helps decrease pain and prenatal anxiety.  Women who have attended my sessions tell me that hypnobirthing has helped them build their confidence and focus on the positive. I still remember the beautiful words of a midwife who attended a hypnobirth — “This is how a birth should be.”

What can a soon-to-be mommy expect from Isis HypnoBirthing & Yoga? She can expect to be in a top state of body and mind and be confident in her ability to grow and birth a baby. We assist with breathing techniques, work on gentle exercises to build strength and stamina, and facilitate a smoother and shorter birth with proven relaxation techniques. We also offer massage and acupressure, Bach remedies and aromatherapy, nutritional guidance for pregnancy health and wellbeing, and help with birth plan preparation.

Knowing many good and well-qualified care providers on the birth field — midwives, doulas, acupuncturists, physiotherapists, reflexologists, etc. — any additional and specific support is accessible through us.

How is it different from other prenatal programs? Isis HypnoBirthing & Yoga is much more than the standard prenatal course. It is a beautiful integration of great philosophies and techniques — hypnobirthing, prenatal yoga, Chinese medicine and healing — all designed to harmonize the body and mind and works towards achieving a restful state for mothers during labour.

The course covers all the procedures and scenarios a mother may encounter at a hospital or at home, so they are well informed and can make clearer decisions even in special circumstances in order to maintain the normality of the birth, keeping it safe and healthy for them and their baby.

Do babies benefit from this method of birthing? Developing young children’s emotional security is a process that starts at the womb. Babies who are hypnobirthed into the world are more relaxed and happy, resulting in better sleeping and feeding patterns. When a mother begins to trust her intuition, she will be creating a wholesome environment for her child.

What inspired you to start Isis HypnoBirthing & Yoga? The creation of Isis HypnoBirthing & Yoga goes hand-in-hand with the carrying of my son within me. Giving birth to Adam was liberating and very empowering with the help of hypnobirthing. Drawing upon my experience as a mother, hypnobirthing trainer, prenatal yoga teacher and birth doula, there is a vast body of knowledge that I am passionate to share with mothers and support them in their unique journey.

Tell us about you and your personal journey through Isis HypnoBirthing & Yoga. Being attracted to Amsterdam all my life, it was just natural that it is here that I have met my gorgeous man to share love, life and business with. Our mutual journey of growth and development as parents has manifested in the launch of this birth training course.

I am a professional ballet dancer and enjoyed an international dance career. I was always curious about different methods and philosophies of art forms. I fine-tuned my knowledge of Yoga with the precision of alignment achieved by the Pilates method. Taoist philosophy of Chinese medicine and Shiatsu technique captured my heart and later it integrated beautifully with my path inwards, as I went deeper into the powerful mental tool of Yin Yoga. I also delved into the Theta Healing realms of transformation and creation, which naturally resonated with the deep sense of serenity, focus, and control generated by hypnobirthing.

I find all these methods to be powerful tools that enrich and complete each other. I believe that enhancing and balancing all aspects of your being will generate a sense of calm and wholeness that will be absorbed by the baby in your womb.

You are an Amsterdam mama yourself, how was your experience while giving birth with self-hypnosis? With the recommendation of my midwife I started my research on hypnobirthing during my pregnancy. Its content and the general attitude towards childbirth was impressive. My birth was amazing and a natural one. I was totally in my zone and focused.  I was calm throughout and when I held my little man in my arms, I told my midwife, “Let’s do this again.” Now that I have been accompanying hypnobirthing parents as a trainer and as a doula, I can see it has tremendous benefits.

Isis is often referred to as a magical healer is ancient Egyptian scriptures, does this program come with similar virtues for expectant mothers? Isis is the ancient Egyptian goddess known as the guardian of childbirth and motherhood — representing the creation of life and a source of sustenance. My partner and I are equal partners in maintaining and supporting the growth of Isis Hypnobirthing. When we realized that the name is also the initials of both our names, it was the final seal for our choice of name.

Unfortunately, these days the name draws a different kind of attention, but with my strong connection to its meaning, I have faith and believe that the goodness it imparts will overshadow its current negative association.

Do you offer group classes or are the sessions tailor-made to suit every individual’s requirements? We offer weekly sessions and each session is 2.5 hours long. There is a choice of group, semi-private and private courses. Whichever format the mothers opt for, the atmosphere is always informal with an open communication. When a specific need arises, it is always addressed.

There are introductory workshops twice every month so parents can become familiar with the method.

I encourage mothers to contact me early in pregnancy to ensure that we have sufficient time to implement the material. However, I recently drafted a course for a mother who was in her 37th week.

Can fathers join these sessions too? Fathers are an integral part of this wonderful life experience and we encourage them to take part in this program. Giving birth is about becoming a family. When the woman is deeply relaxed and immersed in the birth process, the partner has an active role in supporting her both physically and mentally — creating a cocoon for her that helps her feel safe and protected.

For more details, visit Isis HypnoBirthing and Yoga or visit us on Facebook. You can also e-mail your queries to inbal@isishypnobirthing.nl, or call 0685365403.

Isis HypnoBirthing and Yoga has paid to be featured on Amsterdam Mamas because they believe that their services would be of interest and benefit to our readers, and we think so too. For more information on sponsored posts and advertising on Amsterdam Mamas, please see our Advertising and Disclosure policy.

Inbal is the founder of Isis HypnoBirthing & Yoga and a certified HypnoBirthing trainer, Yoga teacher specialising in pre- and postnatal, and a Doula.

Photo credit: Isis HypnoBirthing and Yoga