Support the growing child within ...

Yoga is truly ideal for pregnant women. When practiced mindfully, yoga increases flexibility, strength, circulation and balance.

Pregnancy is an amazing experience with a multitude of changes occurring within your physical body, your emotions and mind. Women often become very aware of these many changes and a regular yoga practice allows them to adapt more gracefully to these changes and to feel more in tune with the changes when they occur. Some of the changes that occur bring discomfort and tension within the body. Yoga helps to strengthen the body for child bearing and aids in relieving the common discomforts your body experiences.

The benefits of yoga aren't limited to your physical well-being, your emotional well being will improve and the baby benefits from the calmness that you attain during class.

How yoga can help you during pregnancy

Increases overall strength, flexibility and well-being

During yoga you are stretching your muscles and the tissues that encase your muscles, stimulating your organ systems, promoting the circulation of blood and oxygen, breathing more consciously and deeply, and focusing your attention inward. The combined effect is intended to be one that promotes a heightened state of physical and emotional well-being.

Reduces lower back pain and sciatica

Lower back pain is a common occurrence during pregnancy. The pelvis tilts in response to the growing abdomen. As you become more aware of proper body alignment and as the body is stretched and strengthed through your yoga practise you can carry yourself and your belly in an integrated manner significantly reducing lower back pain.

Reduces aches and fatigue in the thoracic and cervical spine

The increase in breast size and the growing baby can make it very uncomfortable in your upper back and neck. Your spinal alignment can become compromised. Correctly practised yoga poses create more fluidity in the spine by stretching the muscles of the upper back, chest and ribs.

Reduces swelling and inflamation around the joints

A regular and consistent asana practice improves and promotes the circulation of blood and oxygen throughout your body. This can help to reduce swelling and inflammation around ankles and wrists.

Aids digestion

Digestive complaints are common during pregnancy. As the baby develops, your intestinal organs get pushed around, which may affect your bowel habits and cause indigestion. Practicing safe and gentle rotations, forward bends and side bends can help to promote regularity and aid in overall digestion.

Helps with the physical preparation for giving birth

A regular practice of squatting and quadricep strengthening helps to tone muscles of your pelvic floor and helps you gain strength to remain comfortable in a squatting position.

Regular participation in a prenatal yoga program can reduce labor-associated anxiety by helping you tap into your own labor tools — it is an invaluable practice regardless of whether you are looking forward to a drug assisted birth or planning for a natural delivery.

In addition to the physical asana practice (stretching) you will also learn to breathe deeply and relax, which will be invaluable as you face the physical demands of labor, birth, and motherhood. Learning different breathing techniques (pranayama) primes you for labor and childbirth by training you to stay calm when you need it most. It has been shown that when you're in pain or afraid, your body produces adrenalin and this hormone may decrease the production of oxytocin, a hormone that makes labor progress. A regular yoga practice will help you fight the urge to tighten up when you feel pain, and show you how to relax instead.

The classes ...

It is best to join the gentle classes for the type of practise best suited to the later stages of pregnancy.

We look forward to supporting you through your journey towards motherhood.