Prenatal Teacher Training

January 21-24, 2010

Yoga is a gift to the pregnant woman, her child and her family.  This 31-hour training is designed for yoga teachers interested in learning how to help pregnant women enhance their experience during pregnancy, child birth and beyond.  Students will learn the anatomy and physiology of the growing fetus and how this produces changes in the mother’s body during each trimester.  Topics covered include fetal development, physiological and hormonal changes in the mother’s body as well as possible body responses to these changes. 

Appropriate asana, assisting, pranayama, sounding and meditation will be covered for each trimester, including the 4th trimester after birth.  Pregnancy discomforts during each stage will be explored along with ways to use yoga, non-traditional methods and traditional techniques to help alleviate these discomforts. 

Each day begins with a prenatal yoga class during which participants wear “pregnant bellies” for each trimester to simulate the experience of moving in a prenatal body.  Class will be followed by theory, practical application and practice teaching.  In addition, the course will provide tips for labor and birth, partner prenatal yoga and marketing oneself.  Students will leave confident, qualified and comfortable to teach prenatal yoga.

Class Outline and Format

31 hours of class time (45% lecture, 55% experiential)

• Anatomy and physiology of fetal development and pregnancy
• Stages of labor and birth
• Discussion, practice and leading of over 35 asanas and asana modifications for pregnancy and birth
• Discussion, practice and leading of 8 pranayamas appropriate for pregnancy and birth
• Sounding techniques for pregnancy and birth
• Leading and sequencing a prenatal yoga class including language, visualization and hands-on assisting
• How’s and why’s of strengthening the pelvic floor
• Overview of pregnancy discomforts and use of asana and pranayama for relief
• Partner prenatal yoga
• Gentle massage techniques for pregnancy and labor
• Belly casting
• Marketing the prenatal yoga class
• Client management