Pre-Natal & Post-Natal Yoga

This class is uniquely designed for the pregnant woman. Instructor Debra Wilson specializes in yoga as a medium to facilitate you in the many aspects of pregnancy. Understanding the physical discomforts and the emotional shifts, we provide a safe, nurturing and celebratory environment as your body changes and ushers a new life into the world.

Sessions are ongoing; your session starts the day you register and follows for 8 weeks. Upon completing your 8 week session you can register in 4 week increments. If you have to take to bedrest or you deliver, your session goes on hold until you can return back to class with your new little sweet one.

The benefits of prenatal yoga

Becoming a mother is one of the most life-changing events in a woman's life. Many women turn to yoga not only to maintain a healthy pregnancy but also to assist in a mindful transition to a first child or the addition of another family member. Prenatal Yoga uses postures, breathing, and meditation from both the Hatha and Kundalini Yoga traditions to help ease pregnancy, delivery, and the after-effects of birth. The classes create flexibility, focus, strength, and awareness through a gentle practice designed especially for the pregnant woman's needs. Prenatal Yoga classes provide a safe and supportive environment for expectant mothers and are a wonderful way to connect with other mothers-to-be. The classes are appropriate for both new and experienced yoga students.

Prenatal Yoga:

• Provides gentle, safe practice for pregnant women
• Increases flexibility and overall muscletone strengthening birthing muscles
• Develops mental focus, decreases anxiety and increases energy
• Builds endurance and quickens postpartum recovery
• Encourages awareness for conscious pregnancy, birth and parenting
• Reduces stress resulting in improved sleep
• Soothes the discomforts of pregnancy, reducing backache and improving circulation
• Increases lung capacity for better breathing
• Strengthens the body's physical, mental, and emotional preparation for labor and birth
• Offers a supportive environment with other expectant mothers

This age-old practice keeps you limber and tones your muscles while improving your balance and circulation, with little, if any, impact on your joints.

Yoga helps you learn to breathe deeply and relax, which will come in handy as you face the physical demands of labor, birth, and motherhood. Learning to breathe fully using a technique known as "ujayi," primes you for labor and childbirth, training you to stay calm when you need it most.

One wonderful benefit from attending prenatal yoga classes is meeting and comparing notes with other pregnant women, providing an invaluable source of support and information. Gathering with other pregnant women creates a supportive, like-hearted community supplying you with a regular emotional boost to keep you motivated. You will be encouraged to tune into your body heightening your awareness truly listening, accepting the changes as positive growth. It helps to be surrounded by other women also going through pregnancy, learning and sharing this special time.

New Yogis
If you have never done yoga before, pregnancy is the perfect time to start. Many women explore yoga for the first time during pregnancy; so don't worry that you will be the only new yogi in class.

Experienced Yogis
You are probably starting to find that your regular yoga classes are a bit too intense and any prenatal classes that previously seemed too gentle are feeling more comforting.

Home Practitioners
Even if you are an avid home practitioner, you may want to try attending a prenatal yoga class for the camaraderie and sense of community these classes foster.

Prenatal yoga helps you before, during and after giving birth. During pregnancy, the breathing and body awareness help you stay connected to your changing body. The gentle stretches and poses develop strength and readiness for giving birth as well as improving your current physical health. Finally, relaxation is essential in our world.

Your body is in a time of change. Prenatal yoga helps mothers slow down and connect with the baby growing inside them. Yoga encourages you to be fully present and in the moment, a skill you will need as a parent.

After the Birth of Your Baby: Postnatal Classes
Postnatal Yoga class is a great way to support the body's recovery after birth. In Postnatal Yoga classes, postures, breathing techniques, and meditation offer a practice that supports healing, relaxation, and toning. Mothers may bring their babies for an experience that incorporates yoga and bonding with the baby. These classes are a wonderful way to connect with other new mothers in a supportive and healthy environment.

Easier postpartum recovery
After you have given birth, yoga remains a gentle exercise that is also beneficial for calming your mind. Practicing the poses you learned in prenatal yoga will help you gain back muscletone and flexibility. Additionally, doing yoga postpartum keeps you in tune with your body as it once again goes through some radical changes.

Learn to relieve infant colic naturally and to promote relaxation for you and your baby. A portion of this program addresses your own physical comfort as a new mother, introducing you to concepts of postpartum structural integration within your own body and the mechanics of proper alignment while feeding, nursing and carrying your little bundle.

A segment on infant massage, nutrition, and intro to ItsyBitsy Yoga completes the program.