Pregnancy Yoga

Pregnancy Yoga classes

Dates for Saturday classes in July will be posted soon

Please contact info@peacefulpractice.co.uk to register your interest

Venue: The Studio, Blackheath Complementary Health Centre
184/6 Westcombe Hill SE3 7DH

Pregnancy yoga is an ideal way of enhancing pregnancy by strengthening, toning and preparing muscles particularly those which are used during labour. Each course teaches techniques which help with pregnancy ailments.

Deep relaxation and breathing techniques are central themes of her approach and time is given to strengthen the connection between mother & child. A range of techniques is taught to enable women to enter into labour with less fear and more confidence in how to manage this singular event in life.

These studio classes will help you feel more at ease & calm whilst your body goes through the rapid changes involved in growing another human being ! They will give you the opportunity to take some time for the two (or maybe 3) of you.

All practices are dedicated pregnancy yoga techniques, suitable for various stages and take into account challenges such as PGP (pelvic girdle pain), sciatica, heartburn, carpal tunnel and many more.

Each session ends with Yoga Nidra-so essential for pregnant women and all classes include simple breathing techniques.

The sessions are also one of the best ways of making connections with other local mums-to-be.

Available in person or online using an app called Zoom, which is free for you to download: zoom.us

Contact Bernadette info@peacefulpractice.co.uk to book your place for studio or zoom classes or to find out more

Bond with your unborn child

Each session always ends with deep relaxation practices, enabling you to unravel and dissolve any knots of mental, emotional and physical tension.

It also gives you the opportunity to bond with your unborn child – particularly important if you don’t get much opportunity for this in your day to day life.

1-1 Pregnancy yoga

Bernadette offers 1-1 Pregnancy Yoga in the comfort of your own home

Also available via Zoom

Benefits of antenatal yoga

Results of a study funded by baby charity Tommy’s, and published on Pubmed, show that UK researchers have studied effect of Antenatal yoga on pregnant women, finding that it can help reduce the risk of them developing anxiety & depression, and concluding that:

“Antenatal yoga seems to be useful for reducing women’s anxieties toward childbirth and preventing increases in depressive symptomatology”

Details can be viewed in full at:
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24788589

Some words from Bernadette about her pregnancy yoga course:

The course offers suitable and relevant yoga practices to promote a sense of well being during this important time and are an ideal way of practicing an energising, effective, subtle yoga practice, reaping benefits for both mother and unborn child.

Conditions either associated with pregnancy or other on-going health issues are always taken into account so that the emphasis is on what’s best for the individual, rather than a “one size fits all” approach.

Along with yoga asanas, there is emphasis on using the breath well, both throughout pregnancy and with a view to applying some techniques to manage labour, as well as practicing movements, positions and visualisation.

Although no-one can say for certain what kind of labour you and your baby will have, I can guarantee that you will learn key practices which will empower you both physically and mentally.

These will give you confidence in your ability to birth your baby, whether this is your first labour experience or not. Over the years I have been privileged to have taught thousands of women and their babies and am thrilled to be in the position of supporting women in their second, and even third pregnancies.

Course includes all materials and yoga equipment is provided.

The course includes:

  • Practicing yoga asanas and energy-block releasing exercises
  • Practicing a range of breathing techniques to promote emotional balance and good energy levels during pregnancy as well as also looking in detail how to use these techniques during labour & birth
  • Experiencing deep relaxation and visualisation techniques to promote calm and ease physical, mental and emotional tension and anxiety and to enhance connection with the unborn child
  • Optimal fetal positioning
  • Visualisations and relaxation
  • A supportive, friendly environment where the opportunity is given to raise any issues relating to this significant time of life

The courses are suitable for women who are at least 12 weeks pregnant, whether or not they have any experience of yoga.

They are an ideal complement to NCT or parentcraft classes – they do not have the same content, particularly the labour techniques.

Empowered Labour workshops

These 3hr workshops are suitable for women minimum 28 weeks pregnant with or without labour companion

You will receive detailed, illustrated workshop notes to support you.

Bespoke labour workshops available via Zoom or as a home visit

Email Bernadette for booking details

Find out more and book a workshop…