Suzanne Yates
Suzanne Yates BA (Hons), PGCE(PCET),MRSS(T), DipHSEC, DipAPNT, CNHC registered, AOBTA honorary member, Founder of Well Mother
Even though it has been over 30 years since I discovered shiatsu, I am still amazed by its power and simplicity. It reaffirms for me how important it is to stay connected with the traditional wisdom of our ancestors, and be able, in this high-tech world, to tune into our bodies and work with our own healing power.
I am also in awe of the impact of our time in the womb on the whole of the rest of our lives. Working in the maternity period for me is not just important for supporting women but also for the baby at the beginning of their life. Working with my students and other non pregnant clients, I find that the experience of pregnancy and birth is always relevant.
My passion is in integrating eastern and western approaches to provide holistic maternity care and collaborating with relevant health professionals to do this.
As well as my clinical work in Bristol, I run training courses world wide for massage/shiatsu therapists, midwives and childbirth educators.
My first book “Shiatsu for Midwives” was published in 2003 and since then I have published “Beautiful Birth” for parents and “Pregnancy and Childbirth” for practitioners working with maternity clients. I am currently developing other texts and resources.
Longer biography for Suzanne Yates
Other teachers
Due to the increasing interest in the Well Mother approach, in 2006 Suzanne began a teacher training programme in order to train teachers and assistants to help with the teaching programme. The first teachers were supporting Suzanne in the UK courses. However, over the years, Well Mother has developed internationally and there are now teachers who support Well Mother work in different languages and in different countries.
Suzanne usually does the bulk of the teaching on the longer courses, especially for Shiatsu practitioners. However, increasingly other teachers are offering foundation courses or teaching days on some courses, especially midwives. Other teachers may teach half to a full day on the courses or act as an assistant to Suzanne on larger groups.
Teachers also run introductory days and workshops in their local area and also offer CPD – on going supervision and study groups for those who have already attended a Well Mother training.
Anne Badger developed the Infant Massage course with Suzanne Yates and they co -teach this course in Bristol, UK.
Teachers in the UK
Heidi Armstrong IIHHT MTI MRSS (T), Bath
I have been working as a complementary therapist since 1993. I started studying Shiatsu in 1995 qualifying in 2001 and going on to do postgraduate training including a pregnancy course with Suzanne Yates and the Well Mother organization. It seemed only natural for me that part of my work would focus on pregnancy as my journey into becoming a complementary therapist started after the birth of my first child in 1992. I have worked with massage, aromatherapy and reflexology. The main focus of my work now is shiatsu. Through out my next two pregnancies I found receiving treatments helped enormously for me to integrate the emotional transitions and support my health. To be able to assist and teach such inspiring work with Suzanne and the well mother team is an exciting part of my work.
I started teaching for the Bath school of Shiatsu in at the begining of 2006 and teach all levels from the foundation to third year where I teach the pregnancy module of the course. As well as teaching for the Bath school and for Well Mother, I run a successful private practice including specailist pregnancy work, Birth Preparation classes and baby shiatsu.
http://www.heidiarmstrong.co.uk
Tel 07746374507
Anne Badger, Bristol
Hello my name is Anne Badger and I help teach on the APNT Massage in Pregnancy courses, baby shiatsu and CPD days in Bristol. I also co created and co teach with Suzanne on the Infant Massage course.
I initially trained in Aromatherapy at ITHMA in London in 1994 and became really interested in pregnancy, labour and postnatal work when I had my own children in 1997 and 2000. As well as offering pregnancy and postnatal massage I also have been making up aromatherapy blends for use in labour and the early postnatal period for over ten years and I offer birth preparation sessions.
I trained with Suzanne in 2000 and became a Wellmother teacher in 2006. Massage has always played such an important part in my children’s lives and I am keen to promote this in the other aspects of my work. I teach baby massage and baby shiatsu classes and am an instructor with the massage in schools programme.
My contact details are email: annebadger@madasfish.com
Tel 07706 094 6986
Gail Bovenizer, Dublin
I am a mother of two schools-going twin girls and have been running Harmony Yoga Ireland since 2003. Harmony Yoga Ireland specialises in classes and teacher training for Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond. Gail has been working in the Holistic field for 9 years and has qualifications in Pregnancy Massage and Pregnancy Yoga, Infant Massage and Baby Yoga, Yoga Kids and Massage in Schools.
Gail is an International trainer for the Massage in Schools Association and also in training to become an International Trainer for the International Association of Infant Massage.
Gail Trained in Pregnancy Massage in 2004 and has been pioneering it in Ireland ever since organising annual training courses in Dublin and CPD days. She assists and teachers with Suzanne on the Pregnancy Massage courses in Ireland and also runs Foundation Days.
http://www.harmonyyogaireland.com/
Nicola Endicott BSc (Hons), Dip HSEC, MRSS (T), Dip Wellmother, Dorking, Surrey
During her own pregnancy and birth, Nicola found the knowledge gained through her training with Wellmother and the experience of giving Shiatsu to pregnant and post-natal mothers, invaluable. She is inspired to help other women benefit from the Wellmother approach.Nicola qualified as a Shiatsu practitioner in 1994 and became a member of the Register of the Shiatsu Society (MRSS). In 2003 she completed a one year postgraduate course in Shiatsu for maternity care with Well Mother.
In 2006, Nicola joined the Wellmother teacher training programme and later qualified. In 2009 Nicola became a registered Shiatsu teacher with the Shiatsu Society (T). She now teaches the Well Mother introductory course for shiatsu practitioners and courses on healing the menstrual cycle. She also runs CPD for therapists in London.
Nicola has run a private Shiatsu practice for the last 19 years and currently runs practices in Belgravia (SW London) and in Dorking, Surrey, where she lives with her husband and son.
More information about Nicola can be found on her website http://www.nicola-endicott.co.uk
Samara Hawthorn, Wales
Samara completed her training with Shiatsu at the Zen School of Shiatsu in London and did the Well Mother Diploma. She assists Suzanne on the Midwives trainings.
Sally Ibbotson, London
I’m Sally Ibbotson and I am one of the Teachers who has been training with Suzanne in order to teach on the APNT Massage and Pregnancy courses.
I live in London and work in London and Sussex – you’re most likely to meet me, either assisting or Teaching, on the London-based Well Mother courses and CPD events.
As well as my Pregnancy Massage work, I also practice Shiatsu and teach Qi Gong. I am also a teacher of Anatomy and Physiology (BTEC and ITEC). I look forward to meeting you!!
Tel: 020 8961 1604
Mobile 0798 004 6815
qigongshiatsu@tiscali.co.uk
http://www.nw10therapies.co.uk
US/Canada
Shuddhabha
I love shiatsu. I love the positive impact, kind, appropriate touch has, on people’s lives. I love how it brings me into contact with people in a direct, physical way. I love the new hope of feeling better. Something that was restricted is freed. Improbable movements become possible. New ways of living open up.
I treat men women and children, with a whole range of ailments, but I specialize in women’s health. I treat women throughout pregnancy, and have been fortunate enough to work as a birth partner. I have always been drawn to the process of change we experience in our bodies as women, and the potential for growth. I also love helping babies have as calm and beautiful entry as possible, into this world. I did the Well Mother Maternity Diploma 2002 and the Well Mother teacher training in 2006.
I first came across shiatsu while living in Spain in my 20’s. After an intensive course of treatment I realized that I wanted my work to be doing shiatsu. The process of becoming a shiatsu practitioner has been a constant current of change and flow in my life since then and I graduated from the three year training at the Shiatsu College UK in 1996
In 2010 I was on a road trip from Montana to Utah. I was expecting to have a holiday and possibly and adventure, but instead I fell in love all over again. This time with the clear huge lakes, the wild mountain places and my future husband. And so I decided to stay.
I left a business (Bodywise Natural health centre) which I had set up in Manchester in the UK, with my friends 16 years earlier, where I had worked successfully as a shiatsu practitioner and shiatsu teacher.
I live in Polson, Montana, USA .I have a general shiatsu practice at Yoga Heart Studio. I am also Ordained into the Triratna Buddhist Community in 2000.
I consider myself very fortunate to be able to earn a living from such meaningful and enjoyable work. As I am new to the US I am building up my work here but look forward to teaching more of the Well mother approach.
Contact: shuddhabha@gmail.com tel 1-406-203-2471
working at Yoga Heart Studio, 314 Main Street, Polson, Montana 59860 and
The Warehouse, 725 West Alder St. Suite 2, Missoula, Montana
Justine Sipprell – Shiatsu Practitioner
Justine Sipprell is a mother of two and has 12 years of experience in shiatsu and massage.
I worked for two years at Brighton body positive working with people infected or affected by HIV. I then lived and worked in Spain where I helped establish a birthing centre. I am moving to Toronto in July 2013 where i hope to support the development of the Well Mother approach.
I have since specialized in working with pregnancy, birth and postnatally. I have used shiatsu very effectively at the births I have attended and am now running courses for midwives and birth practitioners, teaching them relevant shiatsu techniques.
Until July 2013 I will be working out of Lewes at the Coach House clinic with other therapists who also focus on pregnancy and birth. Then I will be moving to Toronto for at least a couple of years.
Email: mailto: justine.sipprell@googlemail.com
Telephone: 01323 811261
Mobile: 07817 575091
Assistant teachers
France
Aline Duclos
I find great joy in being able to use shiatsu to accompany people in their lives. With its simplicity and subtlety, I find shiatsu is based on expressing consideration towards others as well as one’s self. I work as a Shiatsu practitioner in Tours, in a multi-disciplinary practice at Langeais which includes midwives. I love training medical staff to learn about Shiatsu. I now assist Suzanne in her midwifery training in France as well as running my own courses for midwives.
It was during my own two pregnancies, when I began learning about yoga, haptonomy and meditation , that I was led to study shiatsu. Already during my shiatsu training I was very drawn to maternity shiatsu and studied with Suzanne Yates and Well Mother during the first training in France in 2006. Very quickly I was fortunate enough to be able to practice shiatsu in the Maternity department at Pithviers hospital where I worked for 7 years. There I gave shiatsu antenatally, postnatally and did birth preparation sessions for couples as well as attending many births. I trained the staff there and eventually handed over my work to Gina Debrito and Sylvie Allard, two other students of Well mother.
email : aline.duclos@free.fr
Website : http://www.toucher-shiatsu.com
mobile : 06 68 87 48 13
Gina Debrito
I love working with shiatsu and I also include work with auryvedic massage in my treatments. Working with pregnant and birthing women is my passion!
I attended Suzanne’s first course in France in 2006 and was so inspired by her approach, which was exactly what I wanted to do with shiatsu, that I started organising and attending Suzanne’s shiatsu training in Paris from December 2006. I now assist her in this training and also in the Shiatsu for midwives courses which run in Paris. I was fortunate enough to take over Aline’s work at Pithviers with Sylvie Allard. I share a clinic with two midwives in Paris and do shiatsu and auryvedic massage, which I also teach.
Sylvie Allard
I love working with shiatsu and pregnancy.
I attended the first course in Paris which Gina organised while I was pregnant with my third child and it was a special time for me. I was able to use Suzanne’s work immediately during my birth and received shiatsu from Suzanne during my pregnancies. I followed each module with my pregnancy and my son Leo attended with me the baby shiatsu module! I now run the Shiki Shin Do school in Paris where I organise for Suzanne to teach the Extraordinary vessels and the Shiatsu for midwives courses. I was fortunate enough to take over Aline’s work at Pithviers with Gina Debrito.
Belgium and the Netherlands
Véronique Van Outrive
Veronique’s passion is to integrate shiatsu with western medicine. She works with independent midwives in Belgium and accompanies pregnant women and their partners during pregnancy, birth and postnatal recovery. She teaches midwives Shiatsu skills for labour and how to integrate the Oriental approach of labour and delivery into their work: ‘It’s about learning to connect and feel what the body of the woman needs in order to stay connected with her wisdom and baby.’ The holistic approach at Well Mother inspires her in her work.
Originally trained as a paediatric and intensive care nurse, she worked for 12 years on the intensive care ward of the University Hospital of Antwerp (UZA) in Belgium. More and more she felt the need to support people from the holistic view (including emotions and bodywork), instead of only using the medical approach. By travelling a lot in the Eastern countries she saw that is about the complementarity, working together to improve care.
That’s why she started to study shiatsu. She trained as a shiatsu therapist in 2004 and did the Shiatsu and maternity care diploma with Well Mother in 2009 and studied with Suzanne in 2010- 2012.
She supports Suzanne in her teaching. She can teach in Dutch, French and English.
You can contact her: Heuvel 68, B-9320 Erembodegem, Belgium
Tel: +32/478/32.38.16 email: hikari@base.be