Topics covered:

• Movement: Pregnancy safe yoga and functional movement to stretch & strengthen the prenatal & postnatal body and help alleviate common ailments of all the trimesters.
• Pranayama & Relaxation: Pregnancy appropriate relaxation, pranayama (breath practices), visualisations, meditation & Hypnobirthing for the expectant mother. Understand how simple breath work and deep, guided relaxation can help rejuvenate & support an expectant and young mother mentally, physically & emotionally.
• Posture: Learn how pregnancy might negatively affect postural alignment and how with the correct programming of yoga & tailored, functional movement, this could be counteracted or avoided.
• Sequencing & Class Preparation: sequencing a yoga session for an expecting mother or postpartum mother across all trimesters, in an inclusive, non-judgemental, compassionate & empowering way. So whatever the client's birthing history, you can play a part in their recovery journey into motherhood and provide life-long tools to help them relax and unwind at any time.
• Props: Learn how to effectively use yoga props to help the expectant mother feel more supported.

Birth and Birth Preparation Module

• Learn about yoga asana for optimal foetal positioning and how the position of baby may affect labour & the birthing process for the expectant mother.
• Working with an exercise ball and chair for the later stages of pregnancy to preparation for & aid the birthing process.
• The importance of the Nervous System: the role the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous Systems not only during birth, but as a whole.
• Birth and labour – discussion of different types of birth: physiological birth vs a medical intervention birth.
• Supportive Meditation, visualisation and positive affirmations for the birthing mother that can be used regardless of birth plan, no matter how birth unfolds.
• Learn about stages of pregnancy from conception to foetal development, the physical, mental, hormonal & emotional changes for the expecting mother, labour & the birthing process and the postnatal period for the new mother.

Postnatal Yoga and Parent & Baby Yoga Module

• Accessible Yoga & Pilates related, functional movement for the postnatal period (4th trimester) to stretch, strengthen & comfort the physical body to help alleviate common ailments of the postnatal phase. This includes any postural malalignment and changes such as upper and lower crossed syndrome, kyphosis, general body heaviness, fatigue/low energy, weakened gluten, tight hip flexors, weak pelvic floor. These will be practiced as a group.
• Gentle, Postnatal Recovery Yoga & Relaxation session for the mother who has experienced a medicalised birth, birth trauma or other side-effects of pregnancy and/or the birthing process.
• Parent & Baby Yoga – A complete class for both baby & parent (or carer) and discussion on how to plan & facilitate an inclusive class safely, effectively & informatively, in a supportive and uplifting environment.

After completing this course, you will have the skills to:

• Be able to teach a Pregnancy Yoga class/private session, a Postnatal Yoga class/private session and a Parent & Baby Yoga class/private session.
• Teach a well-rounded functional movement class that honours a woman’s mind, emotions and physical & subtle body at this special & sacred time.
• Integrate props effectively into classes to allow accessibility for all participants.
• Adapt classes for those with specific injuries (pregnancy/birthing or otherwise) & common ailments, such as lower back pain, pelvic girdle pain, low/high blood pressure, fatigue, tight shoulders, stiff neck and any other physical changes.
• Have a clear understanding of why it is important to incorporate all elements of yoga into a class; the subtle body, the spiritual aspects, philosophy, energetics and the physical practice.
• Have a clear picture of what actually happens to the body during pregnancy and birth: hormonal, emotional, physical & mental changes.
• Take a compassionate, non-judgemental approach to individual clients, create rapport & offer genuine support to people on their journeys.

Assignments:

As part of this 85hr course and in order to gain your certificate to register as a Pregnancy Yoga Teacher, you will be asked to undertake some private study and reading in your own time. There are some assignments to complete, including class observations, a study of the trimesters, a teaching practice and case studies. You will also be expected to read the course training manual fully.

Yoga Alliance (USA) and Yoga Alliance Professionals (UK) and certification:

This training is 85 hours (including private study time) to meet the criteria of Yoga Alliance Professionals (UK) and Yoga Alliance (US).

The course is open to ALL. We welcome students from all backgrounds; whether you are a midwife, doula, yoga teacher or work in sports training, all you need is a keen interest in antenatal education and a passion for sharing your knowledge, along with a foundational understanding of yoga.

Following your successful completion of this training, and if you already have a 200hr Yoga Teacher Training certification, you will be permitted to register with Yoga Alliance Professionals (UK) or Yoga Alliance USA as a Registered Pregnancy Yoga Teacher. If you do not hold a 200hr Yoga Teacher Training certification, you may register your 85 hours of training with Yoga Alliance Professionals or gain independent insurance. 

Please note: It is essential for students to attend, complete & engage with all scheduled hours and complete the homework before certification will be issued.

Reading List:

To purchase prior to the training:

• Bountiful, Beautiful, Blissful by Gurmukh
• The Female Pelvis by Blandine Calais-Germain – Sally is also using this book more and more on the course, so you may like to purchase this at some point. 
• The Student's Manual of Yoga Anatomy by Sally Parkes. Order your copy HERE
• The Course Training Manual (PDF copy included in your training fee, you have the option to purchase a hard copy).

For this Training you will need:

• A yoga mat
• 2 x yoga bricks
• 1 x yoga belt
• A Soft Teddy / Baby Doll (for Parent & Baby module only)
• Notebook, pen, highlighter
• Your training manual - A hard copy of the manual will be given to you on day one of the training.