Pregnancy Yoga

Pregnancy yoga is suitable for both beginners and experienced practitioners, from 14 weeks.

 During pregnancy, yoga can play a key role in enhancing the experience of this precious time helping to empower the mother-to-be to have a positive birth experience.

Yoga can help women enjoy their pregnancy with minimal discomfort, cultivate breath awareness and strengthen the body in preparation for labour.

In my pregnancy yoga classes we start with a seated breathing practice, connecting with our babies and taking a moment of peace to enjoy just being. We move the body through a flowing sun salutation; this warms the body and starts to bring our attention to the here and now, allowing the outside world to melt away. In this prepared and awakened state we move through standing and seated postures, chosen to bring strength, stamina and openess to the body. the sequence used in class is a balance between dynamic and restful poses.

Throughout the class there are moments to pause and connect with your baby and your breath; moments to learn useful breathing techniques and to learn postures that are good for labour and delivery.

All aspects of your yoga class can help with discomfort and emotional changes during pregnancy and labour.

Through Yoga we acquire the ability to respond calmly to situations by looking inwards and listening to our bodies.

You will leave your pregnancy yoga class feeling relaxed and energised.

Coming to yoga classes are a great way to feel part of a community of pregnant women.

Benefits of pregnancy yoga

·increases your energy

·empowers the mother-to-be to have conscious birth experience

·keeps you fit whilst being sensitive to you and your baby

·decreases anxiety

·strengthens birthing muscles

·quickens postpartum recovery

·improves sleep

·reduces backache

·improves circulation

·promotes healthy birth

What to wear and what to bring

Wear loose, comfortable clothing, not too baggy as this can restrict movement, bring along a warm jumper to wear for the end of class.

We practice barefoot but it is nice to have warm socks to put on for meditation and relaxation.

You can bring your own yoga mat if you have one and some people prefer to bring their own blanket for restful poses; all other equipment is provided.

It is a good idea to bring some water with you to rehydrate after class.

Safety

A pregnancy yoga class shouldn’t be a place to push yourself, to test your limits. Practice with a sense of responsibility to yourself and your baby. If you have any concerns about taking a class, or concerns during a class, please stop what you are doing and ask your teacher.

 It may be that certain poses aren’t beneficial to you at this stage in your pregnancy; it might be that you would like to come and be in the class atmosphere in a more restful way. A good teacher will have you and your baby’s health at heart and will act accordingly.

Some women come and do just a little physical yoga but enjoy the breathing and mediation of a class.

So speak to your teacher, speak to your midwife, speak to your Gp and express your concerns.

Finding the right teacher

Recommendations are a very good way of hearing about yoga teachers, masseurs, doulas etc.

 A good teacher/therapist would be very happy to chat with you about any concerns prior to class and be able to offer solutions to concerns you may have. Getting a feel of someone in this way is a good way to establish whether you have similar outlooks and ideas about yoga, pregnancy, labour and birth.

 Your yoga teacher should have either a Yoga Alliance certificate (RYT 200/500) or a British Wheel of Yoga certificate (BWY).

 Please contact me if you are interested and I can talk through the class, location and times with you.