We know that many mums put their own health towards the bottom of the to-do list. So we were very happy to learn about Alara Women’s Health – a group of Central Coast health and well-being practitioners who work together in the same clinic to care for the needs of women! Wahoo: no more running here, there and everywhere to get to multiple appointments!
What does Women’s health involve? Who do they see and what can they help with?
Alara Women’s Health (aka Central Coast Physiolates) is a fabulous space that supports women’s health.
So what does that include you ask?
Well, here’s a snapshot. They do pilates classes, acupuncture, and remedial massage. They help with midwifery and paediatric concerns such as colic, breastfeeding, sleep routines and issues. They have specialists who can help with bladder leakage, sexual pain, neck and back pain and more. They’re a multidisciplinary team of practitioners who work together to help women and children be in optimal health. The team includes:
- Physiotherapists.
- Exercise physiologists.
- Pilates instructors.
- Massage therapists (who specialise in pregnancy and post-natal massage).
- An Occupational therapist.
- An Osteopath.
- A midwife (who runs birth preparation classes, is a lactation consultant and helps with paediatric care).
- An acupuncturist.
- A Chinese medicine practitioner (with a special interest in IVF support, fertility and pregnancy care).
Below we’ve outlined a snippet of the services Alara Women’s Health offers, but you can jump straight to their website here for further details.
Pilates and Physiolates classes for women
Pilates is a fabulous type of low-impact rehabilitation and exercise that improves strength and flexibility, and we know it’s super popular across the Central Coast.
Alara Women’s Health (aka Central Coast Physiolates) runs a variety of mat and reformer pilates classes that aid women through the many stages of their lives:
- They do Pregnancy pilates classes for mums-to-be.
- Postnatal classes: They have mums ‘n’ bubs postnatal pilates, where your bubs can come too and Alara’s own Physiolates class. Alara’s physiolates class is run by their women’s health physiotherapists and exercise physiologists. This class focuses on pelvic floor strength, abdominal strength, upper body strength, developing good movement patterns and core connection. We wish this class upon every new mum.
- They do strength and conditioning pilates, hydrotherapy pilates, neurological rehab pilates, cancer rehab pilates and Return-to-sport progression programs.
- Plus, they run reformer pilates and mat pilates.
Mat class: Run by accredited pilates instructors, Alara’s mat class focuses on improving body strength and flexibility and involves a variety of exercises while laying down, sitting and standing.
Reformer class: Run by accredited pilates instructors, Alara’s reformer class uses the reformer equipment to improve whole-body strengthening using different resistance styles.
Here are the ins and outs. Because each physiolates class teaches new concepts to the rehabilitation needs of each client to get them back to optimal function, they’re claimable on private health funds. Once clients are physically ready, Alara has other pilates classes people can attend. If you attend 2 or more classes a week, the price is reduced by $5 per class! The more classes you attend the more discount you get.
If you’re unsure which class is best for you, just give them a call on 02 4365 5850.
Remedial massage
Far from simply a relaxing massage, remedial massage aims to treat localised aches and pain. If you have injured yourself, this is the massage for you. Likewise, if you have pain due to poor posture, repetitive movement (from work, sport or other activities) or stress and anxiety, a remedial massage is what you want to book.
Remedial massage can assist with many things:
- Headaches and migraines
- TMD (jaw) pain
- Postural problems
- Neck and shoulder pain
- Muscle pain
- General stiffness
- Stress and tension
- Tennis or golfer elbow
- Strained muscles
- Low back pain
- Sciatic pain and piriformis syndrome
- Pins and needles or numbness
- Pregnancy discomfort
- Fluid retention
- Injury rehabilitation and management
- Chronic Pain
At your appointment, your therapist will perform a postural assessment and take a detailed history to work out the best treatment options for you. Your hands-on treatment may include trigger point therapy, cupping therapy, dry needling, myofascial release and more.
Physiotherapy for women and women’s pelvic health
Alara Women’s Health (most often called Central Coast Physiolates) prides itself on “Leading the way in women’s pelvic health on the Central Coast”. Their team of physios help women in all stages of life from their first period through to motherhood and menopause.
Some common (but not normal) things Alara Women’s Health Physios help with in the motherhood space are issues with bladder leakage, organ prolapse, poor bowel control, sexual pain, general back and neck pain, rehabilitation after birth and return-to-sport support.
They recommend (and so do us mums at Playing in Puddles) that every woman do a postnatal assessment post-birth at 4-6 weeks (whether you had a caesarean or vaginal delivery). This initial assessment includes an abdominal assessment, pelvic floor assessment, postural and muscle imbalances, a review of scars or tears and a postnatal depression and well-being assessment.
Midwifery support
Looking for midwifery or paediatric support? Alara Women’s Health has Jen on their team: a midwife of 20+ years and a mother of four. You can book in for a one-on-one appointment with Jen for a number of reasons:
- To help parents with sleep and settling issues (for babies and children up to 3 years old).
- Colic.
- Breastfeeding support.
- Talking through your birth
- Reassurance that you’re on the right track.
Jen says, “I love to help parents establish good sleep routines, learn settling techniques, recover from the birth experience (both good and tough), commence solids and establish parenting techniques.”
Hypnobirthing classes
Hypnobirthing is a childbirth method that focuses on preparing parents for a more comfortable birth, and at Alaara Women’s Health, it’s a two-day face-to-face course run by Jen: a mid-wife of 20+ years and mother of four.
If you’re feeling anxious about birth, this course is wonderful: participants who do the course say they leave feeling prepared, empowered and excited about their upcoming birth.
In the course, you and your birthing partner will learn proven techniques in breathing, massage, visualisation, relaxation, acupressure and more to help you remain calm and positive throughout the birth. You’ll also learn about anatomy, birthing positions, induction and cesars.
The best time to do the course is between 22-32 weeks. The course runs for two full Saturdays each month. See their website for all dates.
Paediatric services (that is, help for kids) at Alara Women’s Health
Alara Women’s Health has paediatric specialists who provide help for kids, too. These specialists operate out of their Tuggerah clinic and provide help in multiple areas:
+ Occupational therapy
+ Osteopathy
+ Midwifery (see details above)
+ Kids pilates for core strength (one-on-one classes).
+ Physiotherapy (for incontinence)
Occupational therapy: Paediatric occupational therapists (also referred to as OTs) support children and young people to develop independence in their daily activities. Alix Armstrong, Alara’s paediatric OT, says, “You may need to see an OT if your child has difficulties with sensory processing; poor attention and focus; self-help skills; delayed milestone development; difficulties with handwriting; emotion regulation challenges; delayed fine motor skills; challenges with social/play skills; learning difficulties.
Osteopathy: Alara Women’s Health’s osteopath Rachel has a special interest and years of experience working with babies, infants, toddlers and children. She says, “Osteopaths provide gentle hands-on treatment to help release physical tension, address movement concerns, promote body symmetry and encourage optimal physical function”.
Alara Women’s Health
Locations: They have two Central Coast locations. 216 Wattle Tree Road, Holgate | Suit 1, 6 Reliance Drive, Tuggerah.
Phone: 02 4365 5850
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://centralcoastphysiolates.com.au/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/centralcoastphysiolates.com.au
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Written By: KATIE STOKES
Founder & Editor
After working in print and online media for more than a decade, Katie launched Playing in Puddles in 2017. A mum of three young boys and local of the Central Coast, Katie loves discovering and sharing all that’s happening in our region.
