Susanne Yates

Body-worker and birth educator, BA (Hons), DipHSEC, MRSS(T), APNT, PGCE

Suzanne has been developing a holistic approach to maternity since 1989. Motivated by her first pregnancy, she began to deepen her professional shiatsu and massage work to specialise in maternity care. She established ‘Well Mother’ in 1990, teaching shiatsu, massage and exercise to women and their partners in Bristol, UK, to help them connect with the wisdom of their body.

Following the success and demand for her work, in 1998 Suzanne set up courses for health professionals (midwives, shiatsu and massage therapists). She now teaches internationally, notably on continental Europe and Australasia. She has written numerous articles on the subject and has spoken at many international conferences ranging from midwifery conferences to shiatsu conventions.

She has written 3 books:
- “Shiatsu for Midwives” published by Elsevier in 2003 has proved popular amongst therapists. Translated in French under the title “Shiatsu et grossesse” (Testez éditions 2009), in German under the title “Shiatsu fűr Schwangerschaft und Geburt” Urban & Fischer 2007) and in Italian under the title “Shiatsu per la gestante e per il neonate” (Edizione Red! 2009);
- “Beautiful Birth” is primarily for parents but a useful tool for practitioners in their work with parents (Carroll and Brown 2008), Translated in Czech under the title “Zdravé Těhotenství A Přirozen Parody” (Computer Press 2009) and
- “Pregnancy and childbirth; a holistic approach to massage and bodywork” (Elsevier 2010).

In 2006 she set up a teacher training programme and currently has 10 assistant teachers.

She continues to work with mothers as well as professionals and this guides her to deepen her knowledge and expand her skill base. She works with women trying to conceive as well as women going through the menopause. Her passion lies with integrating eastern and western approaches to offer a complete health care system for women at all stages of their lives.

She served on the National Health Service Maternity Services Liaison Committee from 1995-2000 and was involved with a practice audit on shiatsu for post-term pregnancy at her local maternity unit in Bristol, published 2005. In addition to a degree, she holds diplomas in shiatsu and therapeutic massage, a postgraduate certificate in teaching and has trained in antenatal and postpartum exercise with Elizabeth Noble ( Boston, USA). She continues to deepen her shiatsu studies with Japanese masters in Europe.