Dance for a healthy birth.
Bridlewood resident Zoia Nikolova decided to start up a dance class for expecting women.
Submitted photo
Women can now dance their way through pregnancy.
Bridlewood resident Zoia Nikolova decided to start up a
dance class for expecting women.
“I felt there was a need for a class like this for pregnant
women,” said Nikolova.
She said she heard about the class and felt it was something
Ottawa-area women could use to optimize their pregnancy.
Already popular in the United
States, Dancing for Birth started in St. Louis, Missouri.
Just now gaining in Canada,
the class supports women throughout their pregnancies and post-partum.
“The dance class uses all kinds of forms; belly dance,
African dance, Latin dance,” said Nikolova. “It’s a combination of dances from
all over the world.”
No experience is required to sign up.
The classes also include educational information in regards
to pregnancy and labour, she said.
“It gives moms a support group,” said Nikolova about the
prenatal classes.
Nikolova is a doula, similar to a midwife. She said she
provides personal support throughout pregnancy, labour and birth.
“The pregnant women I’ve been working with usually say there
are only a few classes they can find; aqua fit, prenatal yoga,” she said. “This
gives them a different, fun way of exercising.”
The classes promote optimal fetal positioning in order to
have a shorter, easier labour.
“I just want to bring more awareness to women in the area,”
said Nikolova.
For more information, visit www.dancingforbirthottawa.com.
jessica.cunha@metroland.com