Yoga Teacher Training Forum

Well said Julie! About the question: What is the Need for Prenatal Yoga Classes? Most of the gynecologist and obstetricians nowadays emphasize expecting mothers for practicing yoga exercises regularly. Teaching yoga to pregnant students is a unique, incredible and inspiring opportunity that truly helps expecting mothers going through a huge change in her body and life, reminding them of creating space within themselves physically, mentally and emotionally.

These practitioners are strong and committed of feeling good in their bodies and actions that completely affect their babies. For an expectant mother the time throughout labor is a period of transformation in which physical activity of yoga acts as a powerful asset. Mostly trainers have fear or they feel uncomfortable in teaching yoga to pregnant woman. In addition, directing instructions of physical poses to a pregnant student makes it more uneasy and uncomfortable for teachers.

A trainer should have complete knowledge of every little tit bits of prenatal yoga practice like basic modification, variations and supportive asanas that offer more comfort and joy to carry out their practice. As for example if a regularly practicing yoga got pregnant, she can continue daily practice into the way she is accustomed as long as she performs comfortably.

During pregnancy, challenging and demanding asanas like shoulder or head stands, big forward and backward bends are strictly restricted. Here are some of the basic guidelines and principles one should keep in mind during conducting prenatal class.

First and foremost thing that should always be kept in mind by the trainer is the fact that whether the pregnant student is a regular practitioner or hasn’t practiced yoga in a very long time. For those pregnant women who are consistent yoga practitioners, even they are prohibited from practicing hard-core postures such as inversions especially during their first trimester.

It is better to perform reclining bound angle pose (Supta Baddha konasana) as an alternative. It is always recommended to suggest expecting mothers to skip challenging poses and perform flowing movements like cat and cow pose. It is better to practice steady breathing pattern of Nadi Shodhana for calming and settling down levels of energy instead of Paranayama breathing approach like Kapalbhati.

While performing the poses, encourage students to perform the asanas keeping their knees on the ground or mat instead of following the conventional or traditional poses. This will help pregnant students in achieving greater stability and will provide support to their lower backs. However chaturanga/plank pose that is lowering your body completely to the floor for yoga form during pregnancy should be avoided. As a modification to the pose, pregnant yoga students should perform chaturanga as pose push up keeping the body alignment intact.

As the gestation period progresses many classical forms should felt restrictive and uncomfortable so it is better to avoid poses that compresses belly. In this case, teachers should offer modifications and variations in such asanas. During pregnancy avoid over stretching of asanas; the teachers should offer additional assistant in such cases to help pregnant students in increasing stability and strength more than flexibility.