"Pregnancy is a privilege. A state of grace...
...it is a woman's greatest, deepest experience".
Frederick Leboyer - Inner Beauty Inner Light
Pregnancy is a wonderful opportunity to start yoga. Most women are naturally very aware and interested in their bodies during this time and yoga provides them with just the right mix of exercise, relaxation and reflection to help them really enjoy this special time. Yoga prepares them for the birth of their baby and helps their baby recover afterwards.
Yoga prepares women physically for pregnancy and childbirth by strengthening and stretching appropriate muscles; improving their breathing and promoting good posture.
Breathing and relaxation techniques rest and nourish the mother during pregnancy and reduce pain during labour. Some of the minor discomforts of pregnancy including back-pain may be relieved by yoga practice.
A woman who practices yoga learns to 'listen' to her body; she builds confidence in her body and her instincts and is more likely to take responsibility for her own health and well-being. Yoga practice can lessen the chances of complications arising, thus reducing the amount of medical intervention necessary. Yoga promotes freedom of movement during labour and enables the woman to take up the best possible position for birth.
Yoga is also able to address the emotional needs of the pregnant woman. Women are encouraged to find an inner-peace which helps them discover the emotional link which joins her to her baby from the very beginning of pregnancy.
During the yoga classes the woman will learn gentle exercises that stretch and strengthen her body, usually practised rhythmically with the breath. She will be taught how to stand and sit with good posture. She will experience breathing techniques helpful for pregnancy and labour. She will enjoy guided deep relaxation.
- Learn how to relax
- Improve your posture
- Gently increase strength and flexibility
- Experience postures and breathing techniques beneficial for pregnancy and labour
Tutor: Fiona Wells (Bsc.PGCE BWY dip)
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