Cheryl MacDonald is a Yoga Elder, an author, a successful and ethical business woman (take a peek at Cheryl on Dragons’ Den or on ITV’s ‘This Morning’ with Holly Willoughby), and most importantly, mother of one gorgeous little man. She has been practising yoga for 18 years and has trained extensively in yoga and antenatal education amongst other holistic therapies. Her skills and experience combined with her love of yoga and the belief that everyone can practice yoga, are the essence of YogaBellies®. Cheryl has worked with celebrities such as Kimberley Walsh (of Girls Aloud fame), in birth preparation and on their yoga practice too.

Cheryl started YogaBellies® for women who wanted to practice and experience the many benefits of yoga, without it seeming too ‘mystical’ or unattainable. She started to teach classes specifically for women, mums and their children, so that they could grow to love yoga, connect with their true selves and to bond with each other. YogaBellies® has grown to include a training faculty of teachers with a wealth of experience, including yoga teachers, doctors, midwives, massage therapists and chiropractors.

“I love teaching women yoga. YogaBellies is so much more than just a yoga class, we stretch ourselves – body, mind and soul – but the most important aspect, is women supporting women. Women undergo key
challenges in life: menstruation, pregnancy, being a new mother and menopause. These times can be emotional and physically demanding times with huge adjustments. Women have become disjointed in their
acknowledgement and acceptance of these stages, and the whole concept of YogaBellies is to allow ourselves to embrace and enjoy each new stage as it comes. To love being a woman and to enjoy the friendships and support of other women.”

Cheryl on Yoga for Pregnancy and with Baby…

“I have often said that doing yoga with your child is the most yogic thing you will ever do. You may not complete all of the practice that you wanted to, because baby wants to feed or sleep or cry: I think this is a great introduction to motherhood and new mum’s very quickly realise its not all about them anymore. In our classes, we encourage mums to just go with it and accept what comes with the session. Acceptance is a big part of motherhood.

For me, perinatal yoga is not only about building strength and stamina for birth or learning effective
breathing techniques, but about bonding with your baby (even in utero) and learning to accept your
role as a mother. Our classes are so much more than yoga that’s safe for pregnancy: our sessions
are an all-encompassing journey through pregnancy and birth guided by yogic principles.”