5 Years and 5 Babies

Our Founder Julie Long, has enjoyed 5 fantastic years of teaching since setting up Lazy Daisy in October 2004.  5 fantastic years coupled with bringing up her own 5 babies, the youngest of which is now 8 months (August 2010).  But who is the face behind the Daisy?

Her Background

Julie originally worked in an Insurance and Marketing background but in 2001 retrained at Suffolk College, Suffolk in holistic therapies, never thinking she would end up utilising these skills in the field she does.  Over the following 2 years she embarked on an intense programme of training which included Reflexology, Infant Massage, Baby Yoga, Pregnancy Massage and Birth Partnering.  Her doula training with Michel Odent motivated her to seek out ways for lowering adrenaline through movement as well as massage, and she was fortunate to be able to use her background experience to access a Pregnancy Yoga training course (usually reserved for yoga teachers alone) training under the renowned Francoise Freedman.  Julie went on to train as a HypnoBirthing educator in 2005 and practised with this programme for 2 years.

Her decision to focus on the perinatal period was very much a decision of fate - not only because she kept having babies herself but in 2005 she experienced a difficult bout of PND and felt inspired by this to ensure other mums were given coping and 'anxiety releasing' techniques.  This difficult time made her realise the true value of 'mother to mother' support (peer motivation) and she became determind to create a network of peer supporters who could not only listen, relate but could impart information to really help mums 2 be look forward to birth with confidence. 

"We have a lot to learn from cultures who surround their birthing mothers with wise women from their communities and this huge support network, the feeling of a sister, a mother-figure, a friend, is something so desperately needed in the rush and fast paced life women in the UK now lead.  Research has shown the best way to help PND is by talking to another mum who has experienced PND;  we feel the best way to help build birth confidence is by talking to another mum who has birthed"

The Next Step

In January 2005 Julie began teaching classes, literally to 8 women in a church hall but within 3 months word of her 'abilities' had spread and classes ran to 70+ women a week.  She had definately tapped into a talent, as women both antenatally and postnatally began to shout about the successes they had using her programme and hence the seed of Daisy Birthing® and Daisy Baby® were born.

Fedant Approval

Like everything she does, Julie wanted her brain child to be the best it could be and embarked on a weighty training manual and training programme which in Summer 2009 received approval from the Federation of Antenatal Educators on first submission to the board (a notable achievement), putting Daisy Birthing firmly on the map as a recognised and successful form of Birth Preparation.  Daisy Baby gained equal endorsements with approval by IPTI.

1500+ Clients and still going strong

With 1500 mums, bumps and babies behind her, Julie can certainly claim to have seen most situations.  Breech babies, transverse babies, home births, hospital births, in-car births!, SPD, PGP, diabetes, low lying placentae, single mums, early babies, late babies, reflux, colic, hearing issues (yes we have taught a Daisy Birthing class to a mum who needed to lip read - this made our 'all fours' postures challenging but so much fun!).  And still she is going strong, featuring as the Guest Mentor for both our Ipswich and Woodbridge locations.

Julie also trains each of our apprentices personally to ensure they meet her very exacting standards when it comes to knowledge, delivery and support for mums.  As if this wasn't enough, she authors all class plans, class developments and writes all of our Lazy Daisy songs!

What Makes Us Different

"We're not just another pregnancy yoga or baby yoga class.  I have taken the principals of the selected movements which I feel are accessible to all shapes, sizes and backgrounds of mum but combined these with the principals of massage, reflexology, hypnosis and expressive movement to allow mums to really see, feel and hear the education!  It is never as simple as just moving, or just relaxing, or just breathing.  One has to go hand in hand with the other and this is something I have learnt with experience and now value more than anything.  On top of this I feel our classes should be a safe haven, a fun community and a real 'wise women' network and by pairing our education with the huge benefit of peer support, which continues virtually online even after the class has finished, I feel we have a winning combination."

Important notes about The Teaching Team

Julie taught for over 7 years and over 2000 mums and still comes back to the Ipswich studio now and again to run a feature class, to offer cover or to host a parents workshop.  Her main role now is as MD of the training company Lazy Daisy Ltd - as a company Lazy Daisy Ltd do not teach parents but run training to enable other mums to become teachers of Daisy Birthing and Daisy Baby.

Daisy Birthing and Daisy Baby Classes are run by mentors who have been carefully and extensively trained by Julie and Lazy Daisy Ltd , and who upon the satisfactory completion of our training programme Lazy Daisy Ltd has licensed to provide Daisy Birthing and Daisy Baby Classes in an area near to you!  On completion of their study, these teachers will register with FEDANT.

Whilst Lazy Daisy Ltd do all they can to ensure high standards are maintained and regularly assess the competency of each teacher (also ensuring they continue to hold adequate insurance to teach), each teacher is ultimately responsible for their own area, service and teaching. They are not employees or agents of Lazy Daisy Ltd  In the event you are unhappy with any part of their service, please address your concerns to them in the first instance and they will do their best to resolve your query within 10 working days.  If you feel the situation has not been resolved to your satisfaction please write to Julie Long, Lazy Daisy Ltd (Registered office 87, Wilkinson Drive, Ipswich, IP5 2DS).' We will try and resolve the dispute between you and your teacher.