We’ll start by focussing on the obvious, the physical body. A comprehensive knowledge of anatomy and physiology from general Yoga Teacher Training gives a teacher a sound starting point to understand pregnancy and post pregnancy changes. Did you know that women’s physiological structure changes completely to be able to grow a baby, no wonder it’s called a transformation.

So, it’s important when you’re teaching pre and postnatal yoga that you not only know the physiological changes that occur, you need to understand why they occur and how to translate that to safe practice of āsana. You can then also help women understand the changes their bodies are going through as they connect mind and body during a class.

Many of the changes that occur can cause symptoms in women that they may not have experienced before such as lower back pain, reflux, fatigue, labile mood to name a few, and on the more positive side, euphoria, excitement, joy, contentment and increased energy. They often look to their yoga teacher to ask about these symptoms and this can be great discussion points during class and lead into remedial practices. From a yogic perspective when women understand and accept what is happening to them, they may settle into surrender and enjoy the present moments of the sensations.

However, overriding this is understanding how to structure practices to support babies moving through pelvises in an optimal way during labour and birth so an intimate knowledge of the pelvis and its structures is vital to support this. This is often the primary focus for women in their decision to attend prenatal yoga classes.

We know that women who practice yoga in pregnancy labour more naturally and this is the reason why, there are optimal positions for babies to be in that make labour start and progress naturally and normally with less perceived pain sensations. Babies are active participants as they navigate their pathway through. They move into the space available.

In my Pre-Postnatal Yoga Teacher Training program you will learn the physiology of how this happens so you can apply it to the āsana you teach.

The ramifications of helping women to birth their babies normally and naturally are endless. In our current birth climate, its reported that 1 in 3 women suffer birth trauma and 1 in 10 suffer Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). A competently trained pre postnatal yoga teacher can make a difference.

Om Shanti

Pru Davey

Midwife and Pre-Post Natal Yoga teacher

Shantarasa Course Facilitator