Pregnancy Yoga is a gentle form of yoga which releases tension, alleviates prenatal ailments and keeps the body supple and toned during pregnancy. It is one of the best ways to gently exercise and is designed specifically to help you as you progress through your pregnancy, from 14 weeks onwards, all the way through to the birth.
Why pregnancy Yoga?
Pregnancy Yoga differs from general yoga classes, in that many of the poses are adapted to accommodate changes in the body and help to alleviate some of the common ailments often associated with pregnancy such as backache, heartburn and swollen limbs.
By practising yoga your body is strengthened and toned, and the gentle stretching eases tension. The movement and breath practices have a calming effect on you which is, in turn, transmitted to your baby. It will help you to be really present in your body and allow you to connect with your unborn child. Breathing techniques learnt in prenatal yoga can be used at any time during pregnancy and many women find them useful when giving birth. In addition, spending time in a Pregnancy Yoga class is a lovely way of meeting other pregnant women and many friendships are formed at this time. The benefits of Pregnancy Yoga include:
Any mummy-to-be can practise
You don’t need any prior experience of yoga to practise Pregnancy Yoga, and you don’t need to be flexible, fit or strong. It’s best to rest in your first trimester, and then start coming to class regularly from your 14th week of pregnancy.
What to expect
My Pregnancy Yoga classes include a combination of soft flowing movement and static postures. We also focus on breathing techniques and pelvic floor exercises to prepare you for the birth and beyond. There is always plenty of time for relaxation, allowing you to let your body and mind release so that you leave feeling energised and restored.
My qualifications
I am an award-winning yoga teacher with over 9 years of teaching experience. I qualified as a Yoga Alliance 200-hour certified teacher in Hatha Yoga in 2014. In 2018, I completed the triyoga 300-hour Advanced Teacher Training Programme and I'm now qualified as a Yoga Alliance 500-hour certified teacher. I went on to train for an additional 300 hours in Vinyasa Flow Yoga with Jason Crandell, which I completed in April 2020.
I qualified as a Pregnancy Yoga teacher in 2015, having completed 80 hours of in-depth study of Pregnancy Yoga with Yoga Mama.
See you on the mat!
It’s best to wear comfortable clothing that you can move freely in. You don’t need footwear or socks as yoga is done with bare feet. You'll just need a mat (you can borrow one from me if you don't have one) and it’s also nice to have a blanket or something warm to pop on for the savasana (relaxation) at the end, so you’re nice and snug.
Join me for an in-person class, practise with me online, or learn about private tuition.
