Tessa Venuti Sanderson

In an increasingly fast-paced world, talking and listening circles are a helpful tool for yoga teachers and other wellbeing professionals to offer connection, build community, and address specific topics in a safe and professional manner. This practical resource guides the reader through the various stages of talking and listening circles, including the initial intention for setting up a circle, opening the circle, sharing guidelines, introducing topics, and closing the circle.Filled with valuable insights from interviews held with circle holders, this book offers advice on a wide range of topics and styles. This includes grief circles and LGBTQ+ circles, as well as an in-depth chapter on how to work with children and teens, complete with activities and embodiment practices. Written with professionals in mind, it also offers advice on managing group dynamics, the differences between online and in-person circles, and marketing. Each chapter includes practical exercises, templates, and stories to support you in running your first circle or improving the quality of existing circles.

Do you want real life, positive birth stories to help you decide what is important to you? Do you feel that pregnancy, birth and motherhood is a turning point in a woman's life?This is not a week-by-week book about how your baby is developing, but a book focused on the inner journey that the expectant mum takes. The book focuses on how thoughts and feelings through pregnancy may positively affect the birth and how to prepare mentally for labour beyond simple (but important) relaxation. It's particularly suitable from the second trimester onwards and the longer you have to read and practice, the better. (Although women have also benefited even at 39 weeks.)The real-life birth stories cover a range of birth outcomes, including homebirth, waterbirth, induction, breech baby, caesarean, and vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC). The criteria for the stories to be in the book were that the parent looked back on the birth positively. The realistic approach to labour means that you can learn from these parents' experiences, and plan for the birth that is right for you.The author is a mother of two and has been a pregnancy yoga teacher for over 15 years, teaching nearly 1000 women. Her insights on the physical body, the external environment, and the importance of addressing the mental journey towards birth are based on hundreds of birth stories that she has received from her clients. It's a book that you can refer to again and again, with key techniques, reflection and resources sections, and a relaxation track and handouts easily accessible from the website.The book is also suitable for pregnancy and birth professionals like doulas and specialised yoga teachers, with reflections and further resources at the end of each chapter. The content goes beyond the possible flight, fight, freeze response to the labour itself, to look at deeper barriers to feeling safe and how to overcome them. Big topics such as body sovereignty are covered, and the chapters could be used for reflective practice in a reading group.The book aims to help pregnant women feel less overwhelmed and alone as they find how they will approach the birth. The real birthing experiences are written in a positive way so that they are informative and not scary. They contain all the details that many expectant mothers crave, especially the first time, so that they go into this transformative experience with their eyes open and their hearts ready.

Dante Leon is curious about bodies and particularly about how his body will change as he gets older. This book introduces puberty and the correct words for male anatomy through fun actions and multicultural, relatable illustrations, giving younger readers a vocabulary to talk about boys' bodies. This booked is aimed at boys of 7 years and older. There are two levels of text: a simple sentence for younger readers and more details for older ones, so it would also be appropriate for very curious younger readers

Ruby Luna starts her period at 10 years old and keeps a diary for the next two years all about the menstrual products she tries and the things that happen to her and her friends. It is aimed at 10-12 year olds, but would be suitable for any girl starting her period earlier than that. It also covers the transition from primary to secondary school. It is written with humour to keep the topic light and entertaining, but includes lots of information from the impact of diet on periods to when girls historically started menarche (first period) in an accessible way. (/br) (/br)Ruby Luna's Moontime is a follow-on book from Ruby Luna's Curious Journey for 5-9 year olds on female anatomy, but it can be read independently. "It's great I think it will really appeal to teens too I think it covers a lot of things that girls want to know about. This diary is funny, packed full of useful information and will help girls feel confident about periods and body changes. Great job " Anna (13) "I had fun reading this book with my mum. There was great practical advice on periods, and I enjoyed reading a story that reflected my own experience of starting my period and transitioning from primary to secondary school." Rosie Davis (12) "My daughter found the prospect of reading a book about puberty and periods less than inspiring but she has always loved being read to so Tessa's book was just the ticket. At 12 having started her period at 10 she felt super knowledgable when we began to read together. We enjoyed chatting about the story and how it related to her own experience of ending primary and entering secondary school. We also chatted about all the period related issues brought up so cleverly in the book. If you are looking for a novel to share with your pre-teen that is fun, informative and that will bring you closer to your daughter look no further. Although my daughter is 12 we both felt that this would still be a great book for a 9-10 year old, especially if she is an early bloomer. This is a much-needed book - fiction is the best way to teach pre-teen girls about the changes taking place in their bodies and the practical issued that can impact them. Well done Tessa on writing this much needed book." Julie Davis (mum) "In my capacity of talking to secondary school children about puberty, there is a vast difference in what kids know or believe, so a resource like this will help put the record straight in an enjoyable and educational way." Sharon Sneddon, Lecturer in Reproductive Medicine "I like the way the diary pointed out that most teachers are approachable and supportive in regard to children who have started their periods, regardless of how young they may be when this happens, and raised common issues such as going swimming at school and when the children are taught about periods at primary school." Mrs Mirbel, Deputy Head of Micklands Primary About the AuthorTESSA VENUTI SANDERSON teaches menstrual cycle awareness to girls and women and facilitates Celebration Day for Girls gatherings where menarche (first period) is seen as a rite of passage and an opportunity to enhance body image and self-esteem. She has a PhD in Medical Sociology and is also a women's yoga teacher. Learn more at www.cyclicalwisdom.com and www.tessayoga.co.uk.

This is a colouring book with a difference The book comes with the scripts for two specially crafted Yoga Nidras (relaxation tracks) to support you in your pregnancy and preparing for birth, and a link to the recordings of Tessa talking you gently through the relaxation so you can listen to them while colouring or resting. Experienced pregnancy yoga teacher and mother-of-two Tessa Venuti Sanderson created this Pregnancy and Birth Colouring Book to provide a reflective space for you to prepare for the birthing journey and the arrival of your baby. The positive words surrounding the mandalas reinforce the images of natural, active birth. The Yoga Nidra (relaxation) scripts allow you to embed the concept of birth as a natural, instinctive process.The Colouring Book: * has 13 beautiful mandalas for you to colour in, plus space to create your own and to write your baby's birth story as a keepsake, * is printed single-sided on bright white paper to avoid bleed-through on to other mandalas, * contains an internet link to two free relaxation tracks. "This amazing colouring book offers pregnant women the perfect aid to positive visualisation for the pregnancy, birth and beyond. The drawings are beautiful and a truly inspired idea. I can see this being used widely to help mothers feel positively about their pregnancy and life ahead." Katie Bettle, NHS midwife, Royal Berkshire Hospital"This book gives a mama time for herself to relax while focusing on the beautiful aspects of pregnancy and birth. This is also essential for mamas with young children. Sitting and colouring these powerful pictures infiltrates to the inner layers of the mind: a powerful tool for positive birth." Grace Collins, Doula & Breastfeeding counsellor"This is such a lovely idea, encouraging pregnant women to find time to relax. Tessa has a wonderful way of helping you to relax, and the drawings and affirmations in this gorgeous colouring book will give mothers positive reminders of how beautiful birth can be." Linda Cook, National Childbirth Trust antenatal teacher, doula & birth art group facilitator