Next TPG Meeting - 12/12

Speaker: John Patterson Time & date: Thursday, 12th of December 2024 at 11:00 - 12:00. Topic: Craniosacral therapy Info: I am from America and have lived the last couple of years in Tokyo. I was a full-time dad and now that my daughter is going to school I am offering sessions again in whole body nervous system balance. I use several modalities such as Craniosacral Therapy, Sensory Repatterning and Reiki energy healing. I work in person and over the phone. I had a ten plus year practice in West Los Angeles before moving to Japan. I will be talking about how our current model of health works and how my process differs. In a nutshell, a lot of health related practitioners start with what is wrong with someone. From my experience, I have found that we tend to identify with the issue we have or diagnosis, instead of accenting what is working well. If we start with what is working well we can highlight our strengths and when we do that we start from a place of health and we can resonate at that frequency. This is a higher vibration to operate at and whatever the issue is that we have will feel more permission to emerge naturally, because it feels like it is in a supportive environment. This creates social resonance between the practitioner and client, as opposed to a hierarchy where the doctor or practitioner knows best and the client does what she is told. This approach listens to the body as an intelligence. In my brief talk I will share how I lay out my process and what someone could expect and the benefits. Location: Zoom (link will be sent out shortly before the meeting to those who reserve their spot, usually Wednesday evening or Thursday morning.)

Next TPG Meeting 11/28

Speaker: Brett Iimura Time & date: Thursday, 28th of November 2024 at 11:00 - 11:40. Topic: birth intervention rates in Japan Info: Brett Iimura, the director of Childbirth Education Center (CEC), has taught continuously in Japan since 1996, including having expanded to online classes 10 years ago, way before Covid! Having taught over 2000 couples from more than 75 countries to date, she has collected data on women's experiences of birth in Japan, including the fact that women in her classes have had approximately half the rate of episiotomy as is typically seen in Japan. We will briefly discuss rates of interventions in Japan and strategies for navigating the system to find the support needed for the kind of birth you are looking for. We will then have an open discussion time for any and all questions birth related! Location: Zoom (link will be sent out shortly before the meeting to those who reserve their spot, usually Wednesday evening or Thursday morning.)

Next TPG Meeting 11/14

Speaker: Alix from Urban Heroes Tokyo Time & date: Thursday, 14th of November 2024 at 11:00 - 11:40. Topic: Fitness during pregnancy and post-natal recovery Info: I´m Alix and I´m a personal trainer and group fitness coach with Urban Heroes Tokyo, an international outdoor fitness community, located in the heart of Tokyo. Originally coming from Canada, I moved to Japan two years ago with my husband and my now 4 year old son. As a passionate fitness coach, I want to inspire women to start or continue their exercise when pregnant and to help postnatal women in their recovery. Our workshop is tailored for expecting mothers, where we explore the benefits of staying active throughout pregnancy and postpartum. Discover how exercise and mindful movement not only support your physical health, but also enhance your mental wellbeing, preparing you for the transformative journey ahead. We also have time to answer any potential questions or doubts. For instance, we often meet pregnant women feeling insecure about how to work out safely and when postpartum just the thought of getting out of the door can feel very overwhelming. We want to give you the opportunity of getting a smooth start and support you in any way we can. Location: Zoom (link will be sent out shortly before the meeting to those who reserve their spot, usually Wednesday evening or Thursday morning.)

Next TPG Meeting 10/31

Speaker: Zoe Brown Time & date: Thursday, 31st of October 2024 at 11:00 - 12:00. Topic: General Pregnancy Nutrition Info: She qualified as a Nutritionist after completing her Masters in 2021. She has been practicing for three years, working exclusively with women; those preparing for pregnancy, those who are pregnant and postpartum. She's also passionate about postpartum as it often gets forgotten, while being so essential. Location: Zoom (link will be sent out shortly before the meeting to those who reserve their spot, usually Wednesday evening or Thursday morning.)

Next TPG Meeting 10/03

Speaker Name: Victoria Lindsay, MS, RD Time & date: Thursday, 3rd of October 2024 at 11:00 - 12:00. Topic: Fueling Motherhood: Healthy Meal Prep for Before & After Baby Info: JJoin registered dietitian Victoria Lindsay for a discussion on how to prepare healthy meals before and after the birth of your baby. We will discuss some of the most common nutrition issues Victoria sees with pregnant and postpartum patients, and how you can avoid these through fun and easy meal prep tips and tricks. Location: Zoom (link will be sent out shortly before the meeting to those who reserve their spot)

Next TPG Meeting 09/19

Speaker: Hiroshi Yamada Time & date: Thursday, 19th of September 2024 at 11:00 - 12:00. Topic: Pregnancy from a chiropractic perspective based on clinical experience Info: Hiroshi Yamada is a chiropractor and director at the Suto Healing Center. He is a member of the Japanese Association of Chiropractors (JAC) and has been a board member for the Kanto region for a decade. Additionally, he has served as the chairman of the Kanto region. In his practice, he has worked with patients of all ages, ranging from newborns to 94-year-olds, including pregnant mothers. He collaborates with other specialists, including obstetricians, midwife and orthopedic doctors, school teachers to support patients’ recovery. Location: In Person (Suto Healing Center) & Zoom (link will be sent out shortly before the meeting to those who reserve their spot, usually Wednesday evening or Thursday morning.)

Next TPG Meeting 09/05

Speaker: Iona Macnab, IBCLC Time & date: Thursday, 5th of September 2024 at 11:00 - 12:00. Topic: Tips and tricks for getting breastfeeding off to a great start Info: Iona Macnab is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), certified continuously since 2002. She is currently the President of the International Lactation Consultant Association, and also runs her own education platform called iLactation which is set up to help global health professionals stay up to date with breastfeeding research, ethics, policy and clinical skills. For 26 years Iona has also been a volunteer La Leche League Leader. 13 years were spent as the Leader of LLL Tokyo Central group. She now leads an online LLL group in Melbourne Australia, where she currently lives. Iona has a wealth of experience assisting new mothers in Tokyo and is able to offer virtual consultations for breastfeeding assistance. Location: Zoom (link will be sent out shortly before the meeting to those who reserve their spot, usually Wednesday evening or Thursday morning.)

Next TPG Meeting 08/22

Speaker: Misa Christina - sound healing lullaby singer, and health care provider for the heart, the body, and beyond. Time & date: Thursday, 22nd of August 2024 at 11:00 - 12:00. Topic: Lullaby Singing - Benefits that can last for a Lifetime Info: We will talk about the life-long benefits of singing to your child, hold time for Q&A, and do a vocal sound healing activity together. Find out more about Misa and her services: lullabiesandbeyond.com Location: Zoom (link will be sent out shortly before the meeting to those who reserve their spot)

Next TPG Meeting 07/25

Speaker: Helen Zhang Time & date: Thursday, 25th of July 2024 at 11:00 - 12:00. Topic: The Benefits of Pilates for a Healthy and Comfortable Pregnancy Info: Helen is a Movement and Pilates Educator, the founder of My Body My Pilates Studio and a specialist of Pre & Post Natal Care; scoliosis, spine health, post injury rehab and special population. For more information, please check out her website: https://www.mybodymypilates.com/pilates-educator-helen-zhang Location: Zoom (link will be sent out shortly before the meeting to those who reserve their spot)

Next TPG Meeting 07/11

Speaker: Laura Gainche Ph.D. Time & date: Thursday, 11th of July 2024 at 11:00 - 12:00. Topic: From Womb to Bloom: Understanding Your Baby's Sleep Journey Info: Explore your baby's sleep journey with a neuroscientist and sleep expert. Learn about optimal sleep environments, first-year sleep patterns, and various sleep approaches. Understand circadian rhythm development and debunk common sleep myths. Gain evidence-based insights to make informed decisions tailored to your family's unique needs. Location: Zoom (link will be sent out shortly before the meeting to those who reserve their spot)

Next TPG Meeting 06/27

Speaker: Brett Iimura Time & date: Thursday, 27th of June 2024 at 11:00 - 12:00. Topic: birth intervention rates in Japan Info: Brett Iimura, the director of Childbirth Education Center (CEC), has taught continuously in Japan since 1996, including having expanded to online classes 10 years ago, way before Covid! Having taught over 2000 couples from more than 75 countries to date, she has collected data on women's experiences of birth in Japan, including the fact that women in her classes have had approximately half the rate of episiotomy as is typically seen in Japan. We will briefly discuss rates of interventions in Japan and strategies for navigating the system to find the support needed for the kind of birth you are looking for. We will then have an open discussion time for any and all questions birth related! Location: Zoom (link will be sent out shortly before the meeting to those who reserve their spot)

Next TPG Meeting 06/13

Speaker: Zoe Brown Time & date: Thursday, 13th of June 2024 at 11:00 - 12:00. Topic: Nutrition and postpartum preparation Info: I qualified as a Nutritionist after completing my Masters in 2021. I have been practicing for three years, working exclusively with women; those preparing for pregnancy, those who are pregnant and postpartum. I'm passionate about postpartum as it often gets forgotten, but it's so essential. Location: Zoom (link will be sent out shortly before the meeting to those who reserve their spot)

Next TPG Meeting 05/30

Next TPG Meeting Time & Date: 11am - 12pm on May 30th Speaker: Victoria Lindsay, MS, RD Topic: Supplements & Important Nutrients During Pregnancy: Tips & Tricks for Optimizing Your Diet Info: Join registered dietitian Victoria Lindsay for a discussion about the role of several key nutrients during pregnancy, and easy ways to ensure you get enough in your diet. We will also talk about proper supplementation during pregnancy and discuss who may need supplements and how to take them safely. If you are interested in nutrition and want to know how to optimize your diet in an evidenced-based and achievable way, then this presentation is for you! Meeting details have been sent to active members. Please contact tokyopregnancygroup@gmail.com for details and Zoom link Thanks, Stephanie & Heike

Next TPG Meeting 05/16

Next TPG Meeting Time & Date: 11am - 12pm on May 16th Speaker: Hiroshi Yamada Topics: Pregnancy from a chiropractic perspective based on clinical experience Meeting details have been sent to active members. Please contact tokyopregnancygroup@gmail.com for details.