This is a space for mothers to meet, unwind, build strength and confidence in balance with their babies’ development. These workshops aim to support women to respond to their new lives with their babies, in community with their peers, their children and their own bodies

Meet

Katherine O’Malley – I am a dance artist, teacher, and mother. I am also an Amatsu Orthopath, a Japanese natural healing art and movement philosophy I am resident dance artist at VISUAL Carlow. I have been developing a workshop series for mothers and babies (3 month – 1 yr old) over the past year in VISUAL, Carlow supported by the Arts Council of Ireland and Carlow Arts Office. I draw from my extensive 27 year experience in dance, yoga and somatic practices. Katherine’s practice is rooted in body experience and looks at arenas of perceived physical identity, embodied cognition, how we know ourselves and what we ‘need’, both as autonomous individuals and in interaction with others and society.

Mind

The focus is to encourage Mum to mind her own body while looking after baby, to improve flexibility, strength, and balance. I will cater to the individual needs of each mother and common needs of the group. I am particularly interested in mothers needs at this extraordinary time of their lives. The workshops which help familiarise new mothers with the developmental stages of their babies in the first 12 months of life whilst also supporting mothers to rehabilitate, situate, balance and understand their new, post-birth body.

Move

Workshops will be led in seated and lying down postures with and alongside baby. There will be some rocking, rolling, cradling, curving, stretching, some baby and self-massage. Workshops respond to each participant’s needs. Benefits include: sharing experiences with peers and mothers, space to voice, feel and find things out for yourself, more bonding with baby games and ideas, release of aches and pains – back and pelvic floor issues, and moving with ease.

Play

Workshops aim to promote health, creative, safe play for post-natal mothers and their babies. Moving together with your baby allowing you time to discover a pathway for you both to get what you need in a playful relaxed environment.

Make sure to wear comfortable clothing to move in and layers in case of less movement, depending how you feel.