Member Courses

EXPLORE. DISCOVER. TOGETHER.

BCT member courses are specialised offers on subjects of interest for BCT members. Some are related to sports and well-being, others to babies, parenting or even a creative subject. Some courses consist of several sessions while others are ongoing offers. Teachers of our courses (and workshops) are certified instructors in their professional field. Almost all courses start with one free class to give new participants the possibility to test the course. While the trial sessions are open to non-BCT members, the Member Courses are exclusively for BCT members. Join us and take advantage of the many benefits that a membership can bring to your family life here in Belgium.

Member Courses are either held online or at our Clubhouse at 620 Chaussee de Waterloo, 1050 Ixelles.

Call to BCT Members: If you are a BCT member and would like to offer a course to other members, please contact us at info@bctbelgium.org.

All BCT member courses:
  • can be attended without any specific fitness level or previous experience,
  • offer a free trial session to BCT members (unless otherwise specified),
  • require booking as places are limited.
Spring flower-arranging @ Clubhouse

Wednesday, 19 April, 19-21h30

Come and join us for a fun evening making a hand-tied bouquet using seasonal flowers.  You will learn the spiral technique used by florists and how to make a beautiful gift wrapping.  

Cost: €50 for a workshop of approximately 2.5 hours (all materials provided)

Registration: Participants sign up via Twizzit & pay in advance. Us the link BCT Workshops or, in your Twizzit app, click on Services at the top of the home screen, scroll down to BCT Workshops, click on it, find this workshop, click on it and register.

Once the deadline of 5 April has been reached, materials are ordered. If a participant cancels, they can find a replacement or forfeit the fee.  Registrations on a first come, first served basis with a minimum/maximum number of 10/15 participants.

This workshop will be given by Yvette “The Happy Florist”,  www.thehappyflorist.org.  A floristry student from « The Judith Blacklock school of floristry London, The Boerma Institute, Aalsmeer Nl & the EFPC Brussels. Yvette has been running workshops at her home studio in Tervuren for the past 5 years & her weddings & events work take her across Belgium & the UK.

Online Consultation: Family Language Planning

Raising bilingual childrenFamily Language Planning consultations are designed for families whose children live with two or more languages. They aim to support each family in ensuring the successful bi-/multilingual development of their children by creating a language environment that is conducive to success and comfortable for everyone.

The product of each in-depth Family Language Planning consultation is a Family Language Plan. The process of creating it helps parents consider their options, formulate their priorities, and determine which steps to take to reach their objectives.  Creating a Family Language Plan includes goal setting, mapping out where the input in each language will come from (in terms of people and time), how fluency and literacy will be approached in each language and, last but not least, how challenges will be dealt with.

Maria Potvin and Daphne Vlachojannis are fully trained Family Language Consultants at On Raising Bilingual Children. They were both faced with the same challenges as the multilingual families they are now offering their support to.

Cost for a 30-minute Targeted Consultation: 50 euros

Cost for a 3-part Family Language Planning package (consisting of two in-depth consultation sessions of 90 and 60 minutes plus a written Family Language Plan): 350 euros

For more information, please visit onraisingbilingualchildren.com/services. To request a consultation, please use the contact form at onraisingbilingualchildren.com/contact.

Art Course - Painting @ the Clubhouse

Mondays, 19h - 21h.  Next course: 6 & 20 March, 3 April

Art Course - PaintingThis course is to offer hard-working parents the opportunity to explore their creative side while learning basic painting techniques (oil, acrylic, watercolour), creating different paintings in a relaxing, creative atmosphere. Participants will also create a small painting at each session to bring home.

BCT member, Chérine Nasri, divided her studies between Special Needs Education and Arts, to finally graduate university with a Visual Arts teaching degree. She has taught art in different community environments and loves teaching art to all ages. She also exhibits her own work in art shows in Europe.
Equipment required: The instructor will provide the table easels, painting canvas, paints (acrylics or oils), paint brushes and all painting tools, table cloths
to protect the tables and rags/paper towels. Participants need to bring a painting smock or wear clothes they do not mind
getting dirty.
Cost of a course: 90 euros for a course of 3 two-hour sessions. Members may observe a class as a free trial (as there is a cost for providing materials to use).
Places are limited so booking is essential. Minimum number of participants per class: 4. To register, please contact cherinena@hotmail.com or GSM: 0489 79 16 62.
Fertility Yoga

Saturdays, 9-10 am
Online

Our new fertility yoga class is for all women who are interested in taking a holistic approach to their fertility. In class you will learn different yoga positions and breathing techniques to decrease stress, regulate hormones and increase the blood flow to your reproductive organs. The class will end with a guided deep relaxation.

Kate Pink is a fertility expert and a qualified and experienced fertility, pre- and postnatal yoga teacher (who trained with Linda Spackmann in 2019).  She has a PhD from the University of Vienna in the field of evolutionary anthropology with a specialization in female fertility & reproduction.
Kate is the Coordinator of the BCT IVF Network which supports group members who have tried, are trying or are planning to try IVF or other assisted reproductive treatments.

Cost: 15€ per session. Participants sign up for 4 weeks.

To register or for any questions that you might have: Please contact Kate at info@growingwithkate.com or +43 676 9041436. Places are limited therefore please register in advance (First come, first served).

Baby massage @ the Clubhouse

Wednesdays, 10 - 11 h.  Next course: March 8, 15, 22, 29 & April 5

For: caregivers and infants - newborn to pre-crawling

Massage can help bonding, break down barriers, soothe the mind and body.

This course of 5 classes of 60 minutes is fun and relaxed and open to all caregivers. We will progress to learn to massage the whole baby. It is a baby led course - we respect the wish of the baby. If your baby does not wish to be massaged, then you can participate and learn the strokes to then use later.

The course is facilitated by Joanne Fraser, who is a trained instructor of Infant Massage and has practised in the UK, Switzerland and Belgium over the last 14 years.

Cost: 100€ for a course of 5 sessions.
Places are limited so booking is essential. Minimum number of participants per class: 4. To register, please contact Joanne at joannefraser_home@hotmail.com

Online Workshop: Parenting with Positive Discipline

Next course: October 2023  via Zoom

Parenting with Positive Discipline helps children develop self-discipline and problem-solving skills, become more responsible and cooperative, and have greater respect for themselves and others. The teachings of Positive Discipline are filled with non-punitive and non-permissive methods that will build relationships and keep the lines of communication open.

This course is designed for families with children up to the age of 10. It allows parents and caregivers to go through the process of changing how they look at misbehaviour and their role as parents. Parents learn many of the Positive Discipline tools through experiential learning experiences.
The course will be run by Aiste Grubliauskiene, a Psychologist, who graduated from Vilnius University, Lithuania and has a Doctor’s degree from Leuven University, Belgium.  Aiste consults children and their families in Tervuren.

Cost for 8 one and a half hour classes: 240 euros (340 euros for a couple).

For more information or to register (indicating the age of your child/ren), please contact Aiste at aiste@happyduckling.org or +32 4 74 06 50 06.

Postnatal Exercise (early stage & open level)

Online via Teams

EARLY STAGE: Fridays, 10.30 am, starting 24 February (free trial) until 31 March.     Following course: starting 21 April (free trial) until 26 May

OPEN-LEVEL: Thursdays, 19.30, starting 2 March (free trial) until 3 April.

Early Stage:

Safe and soft postnatal gym classes
Congratulations! You have just had a baby. What a life change, especially if it's your first baby. During early motherhood, doing some light physical and breathing exercises can help your body and mind in a positive way. It is not always easy to find time for yourself having a young baby but together we will find a way to meet everyone's needs - including yours!

For: Women who have just had a baby, as long as they have their gynaecologist’s consent to perform soft gym. In group classes, exercises will be adapted to each participant’s needs.

How? We will do pelvic floor and light lower belly exercises - low impact and low-pressure fitness which, combined with breathing, do not put extra stress on your abdomen. We will also do muscle toning, light aerobic and strength exercises, working stability, flexibility & stretching, also for the hips, the pelvis, shoulders, back and legs.

Cost: 79€ for a course of 6 sessions.  Starting later is also possible (you can pay proportionately but please be aware that the classes build up.) If you are unable to attend a class, you will of course receive a recording of the video and can catch up on the session or repeat it as often as you wish.  You will also be invited to join a Whatsapp group, where you will find audio files, motivation and exchange.

Classes are given by Sirka Ginsel, who is a qualified and experienced sports and health scientist, trained to teach prenatal & postnatal exercises.

For more information and to register: Please contact Sirka at info@prae-vita.com or + 49 176 34 51 61 25. Places are limited so that we can really work together effectively and safely. Please register in advance (first come first serve).

Open Level:

For: those who have completed postnatal early stage and who would like to continue.

Postnatal exercises are 'unfortunately' not over after a few sessions at the Kine, classically 9 sessions are prescribed perinatally. It takes more to stay healthy and fit after pregnancy and birth. Many women still have complaints months and years after giving birth, 'not everything is as it was before', the belly still looks a bit pregnant due to a diastasis recti (separated abdominal muscles) or they 'just' want to be fit and strong for everyday life and do something good for themselves, physically and mentally.
This course is basically open to all, whether the birth was 6 months or 5 years ago. Important: if you have recently had a baby, then it is important that you have completed the postnatal early stage. (No matter if it was with me or somebody else) During the course we train our whole body and want to be strong and fit and have fun to work out together. 
Nevertheless, we pay attention to our pelvic floor, posture, core stability, pelvic floor friendly behaviour in everyday life and the changes that pregnancy, birth and everyday life with children bring.
45 minutes full body, strength and endurance with stretching and relaxation as cool down.

Cost: 45€ for a course of 4 sessions.  Starting later is also possible (you can pay proportionately but please be aware that the classes build up.) If you are unable to attend a class, you will of course receive a recording of the video and can catch up on the session or repeat it as often as you wish.  You will also be invited to join a Whatsapp group, where you will find audio files, motivation and exchange.

Classes are given by Sirka Ginsel, who is a qualified and experienced sports and health scientist, trained to teach prenatal & postnatal exercises.

For more information and to register: Please contact Sirka at info@prae-vita.com or + 49 176 34 51 61 25. Places are limited so that we can really work together effectively and safely. Please register in advance (first come first serve).

Pilates & more

Online via Zoom and in-person @ Wezembeek-Oppem

Mondays, 10.15-11.15 am: Pilates + Low-Pressure Fitness (LPF)
Thursdays, 8-9 pm: Pilates + Legs, Bums & Tums + LPF (intermediate level)
Fridays, 10-11 am: Pilates + Legs, Bums & Tums

Open to everyone - dads & postnatal mums are welcome.

Fun, tailor-made classes with individual correction.

Do you wish to:

  • Reduce stiffness on your joints?
  • Enhance body awareness (flexion, extension & rotation);
  • Improve your posture, balance & coordination;
  • Avoid back-aches (upper, middle or lower back pain due to prolonged sitting or carrying your children);
  • Work several muscle chains simultaneously;
  • Feel relaxed & stretch after your workout;

Guided by Sandra, a qualified and experienced Stott Pilates instructor, you will learn how to

  • strengthen your perineum & pelvic floor,
  • reduce your waistline, tone your muscles,
  • improve your breathing and sleep,
  • avoid hernias & decrease urinary incontinence & prolapse,
  • detect and massage your trigger points to release tension
  • gain 1 extra hour of energy.

Sandra Gomez Wilches is qualified Stott Pilates instructor, expert in matwork and reformer, with 5 years of experience teaching all age groups from rehabilitation to professional sports people. As Sandra strongly believes that the mind, the emotions and body are linked, she insists on the importance of breathing to create body awareness and positive thinking to achieve one's goals. Sandra has also followed training on trigger points (how to find tender areas on your body and releasing tension) as well as Low Pressure Fitness (a repertoire of postural & breathing exercises which decreases intra-abdominal pressure using apneas. Its benefits are: improves capacity of breathing, creating recuperative sleep, strengthening & restoration of pelvic floor & perineum muscles as well as reducing your waist perimeter).

Cost: 180€ for 10 classes or 20 € for 1 class - The first session is a free trial for BCT members. Personal training & duos are also available on request.

Places are limited so booking is essential. Please contact Sandra at gomezwilchessandra@gmail.com or 0485 94 15 89.

Online Consultation: Good Family Sleep

Online via Zoom

An individual sleep consultation for BCT families with children between 0 and 4 years of age.

Johanna, postpartum doula specialised in infant and toddler sleep training, will explore your children's characters and the effect it has on their sleep.

Cost: 69€ per family.

To register or to ask questions, please contact Johanna at johannatillycoaching@gmail.com.

Midweek Relaxing Bedtime Yoga

Online via Zoom

Wednesdays, 21:20 - 22 h

A session to de-stress, relax and sleep well. Put your kids to bed and then put on comfortable clothes or even your pyjamas (cameras can be on or off) and find a quiet space for 30 minutes of relaxing stretching, breathing and soft yoga poses, followed by 10 minutes of guided relaxation, leaving you relaxed and ready for a good night's sleep.

Johanna is a yoga teacher specialised in yoga for relaxation, anxiety and stress management.

Cost: 10€ per session. Participants always sign up for 4 weeks (40€).

To register please contact Johanna at johanna.tilly89@gmail.com.

Nordic Walking @ Tervuren Park

Mondays & Thursdays, 4pm @ Tervuren Park* - starting 17 & 20 April

Mondays: 17 & 24.04, 8, 15 & 22.05.
Thursdays: 20 & 27.04, 4, 11 & 25.05.

*Meeting point: Tervuren Park, Paleizenlaan close to the tram stop Tervuren station  https://maps.app.goo.gl/aWiaM6gEKbkp8Qmp6

For whom? Everybody, especially parents with their babies and mums-(and dads)-to-be. It burns twice as many calories as ordinary walking and is ideal and gentle during and after pregnancy. It is low impact and gentle on joints, great for strengthening & toning the abdominals and the whole body and fantastic for improving and maintaining your cardiovascular fitness. Exercising outdoors is guaranteed to boost your emotional, mental and physical well-being and it’s sociable and fun too!

What are the benefits for the mums-to-be? Nordic Walking assists with the changing centre of balance during pregnancy and is ideal for easing lower back pain during pregnancy.

What are the benefits for new mums? It’s great for getting back into exercise after having a baby. There is no need to book a babysitter either – you can take your baby with you in a carrier or baby sling! You will enjoy plenty of fresh air and, while you get a good workout, your baby will love the rhythm of walking and sleep soundly throughout! What will participants do?

4 x 60 minute sessions are recommended to learn the safe and effective Nordic Walking technique, with each session starting with a warm-up and ending with gentle stretching. Learning the correct technique with a qualified instructor makes all the difference and enables you to get the most out of this total body workout.

Please note: As with any new exercise regime, please get approval from your doctor or midwife before starting Nordic Walking.

Equipment needed: A pair of trainers or flexible-soled walking shoes and comfortable seasonal clothing are all you need. Poles will be provided, if you do not have your own. You don’t need any specialist baby equipment – just a normal baby carrier or a sling. It is advisable to practice carrying your baby in a sling or carrier prior to beginning Nordic Walking. When your baby is still small you will carry the baby in front. As soon as your baby can safely hold up his/her own head, you can carry the baby on your back, if preferred. This way you both have a better view; your baby can see a lot more of his/her surroundings and you will have unrestricted sight of the ground in front of your feet. Your baby will be able to enjoy sharing your body warmth. But as he/she is still a little too young to join in fully, his/her extremities will cool down rapidly, so wrapping up warm is of utmost importance, especially when it is cold outside.

Cost:

Single session-sign up - 14 Euro
With own poles - 12 Euro
Sign up for April and May - 50 Euro (10 Euro per session)

For more information or to register (first come first served), please contact Sirka at info@prae-vita.com or +49 176 34 51 61 25. Places are limited to 9, so booking is essential.

Sessions are given by Sirka Ginsel, who is a qualified and experienced sports and health scientist, trained to teach prenatal & postnatal exercises.

Prenatal Exercise

Safe and soft prenatal gym classes

For: pregnant women who want to be healthy and fit during pregnancy and prepared for the birth.
If you are interested, please contact Sirka without obligation to find out whether you can participate. She will then discuss the timing with you.
We regularly take an hour for ourselves to train some stamina, strength, flexibility and stretchingp. In addition, we support our pelvic floor and learn to consciously relax during the birth.  We finish with relaxation (especially in contact with our belly baby and the upcoming birth).

Classes are given by Sirka Ginsel, who is a qualified and experienced sports and health scientist, trained to teach prenatal & postnatal exercises.

For more information and to register: Please contact Sirka at info@prae-vita.com or + 49 176 34 51 61 25. Places are limited so that we can really work together effectively and safely. Please register in advance (first come first serve).

2023: BOOKBINDING WORKSHOP @ the Clubhouse

Book created by Marujito BooksComing up in 2023 @ the Clubhouse

In this workshop (for 16 years+), you will discover the Ornate Spine Binding, a unique bookbinding style created by Luis Marujo from Marujito Books (https://www.instagram.com/marujitobooks) , who gives workshops in Saint Gilles.
You will learn how to bind your own notebook, using one of the techniques that he developed, which allows you to embellish your notebook with an ornate pattern on its spine.   The result will be a beautiful addition to your bookshelves or a gift to be treasured for Christmas or any occasion.

Cost: 60 euros for the workshop.  All materials will be provided.

To register: please contact talks@bctbelgium.org