Congratulations
on your pregnancy! Many women have found prenatal yoga to be a great support
through many of the changes that pregnancy brings.
This can be a very exciting
time but also a little overwhelming as you are figuring out how to take care of
yourself and your growing baby at the same time. Whether this is your first or your
fourth baby, self-care is an essential part of a healthy pregnancy! I have
created this prenatal yoga class so you can receive all the benefits of yoga during your pregnancy.
What are
the benefits of prenatal yoga?
• Builds strength and flexibility (to do the work of mothering)
• Promotes proper posture, body awareness and
healthy alignment
• Reduces stress and promotes relaxation (good for mother and baby)
• Increases energy (growing a person is exhausting)
• Aids with focus (helps combat “fetal brain drain”)
• Promotes healthy circulationand reduces swelling
• Reduces or eliminates common pregnancy discomforts
Prenatal yoga can help prepare body and mind
for childbirth. The
prenatal yoga postures are specially designed to not only strengthen your body
but to build flexibility and openness – it is just as important to create suppleness so you can
open when the time comes to birth your baby. Birthing a baby requires both
great effort and the ability to totally let go. We cultivate a balance of
effort and surrender on the yoga mat so we can take it into
labor and birth.
Last but not least…
Prenatal yoga promotes baby awareness! In the practice of yoga, you have the
opportunity to acknowledge the presence of your baby, not as a package that
will arrive at some future date or that is “delivered” to you, but as a being that
is here now. Yoga allows space to sit in the present moment, with yourself as
well as with your baby.
This program can be done in its entirety or you can do one or more of the individual lectures.
Enjoy the music of Sam Jackson's crystal bowls,www.vibrantstillness.comand Eric Fraser's lullabysragabyebaby.com.
Special note: It is very important for you to listen to your body. Take rest if
needed. Come out of any posture that causes strain or excessive discomfort.
Please exercise caution in the practice. If you experience dizziness, shortness
of breath, chest pain, abdominal pain, uterine contractions, vaginal bleeding
or fluid leakage from your vagina or have history high blood pressure or any
other serious medical condition, consult your midwife or doctor. Yoga may not be appropriate for some women in the first trimester. If you have a history of miscarriage or pregnancy loss please consult with your care provider before taking this course.
Prenatal Yoga is suitable for most healthy pregnant women.
