You will spend 3 relaxing hours doing a mixture of gentle yoga for pregnancy and breathing techniques for birth; learn about optimal maternal positioning for an easier birth; learn how to use breathwork and yoga in your post-natal recovery; and enjoy an extended guided deep relaxation session. Plus, enjoy tea, coffee, refreshments and a chat with other mums-to-be. This will be a practical workshop teaching you tools for labour, birth and beyond, but also a relaxing retreat and space for you to recharge your body and mind.

Pregnancy yoga is suitable throughout the second and third trimesters, all the way up until baby is born. You can start as soon as you have had your 12 week or dating scan. You don’t have to wait until you have a visible bump - the sooner you start the more you will learn in preparation for birth and weekly yoga will hopefully help to keep things like back-ache at bay.

Read more in my blog post “When should I start pregnancy yoga?”

In general, yes. I have specific training in prenatal fitness, health and yoga so my classes have been created to suit the pregnant body. There are however pregnancy-specific complications that would change the way you practice yoga or preclude you from practising altogether. If you have been advised by a doctor or midwife not to continue with any form of exercise then yoga is included and you should cease practising.

If for example you have PGP/SPD, carpal tunnel syndrome, your baby is breech, or you have a low-lying placenta, then your yoga practice would need to be specifically modified. Please let me know if you have any conditions and I will give modifications throughout the class.

Physically, the yoga postures will keep you strong and mobile throughout pregnancy. This is also helpful for birth because if your pelvis and hips have good mobility, this will serve your baby well as they journey through your pelvis. I have training in the Biomechanics of Birth so I will teach you about both optimal maternal positioning and optimal foetal positioning.

If you have an abdominal birth, you will still benefit as your body will be strong and ready to take on recovery post-surgery.

I will teach you how to do effective pelvic floor exercises which are an essential tool for your post-natal recovery, regardless of the way in which you give birth.

You will also learn breathing techniques that will help you stay calm and in control during medical appointments, potentially uncomfortable procedures and birth itself.

My specially created birth preparation resources will help you feel prepared psychologically, practically and emotionally.

Read more about breathing techniques in my blog post “What are the best breathing techniques for labour?”

A key part of yoga is learning to listen to your body and mind and only do what feels right. Postnatally, many people feel pressure to “bounce back” to their “pre-baby weight”, and as soon as they have their 6 week check they throw themselves back into exercise. Yoga teaches us self-acceptance, compassion and kindness to ourselves and gives us a safe and gentle way to ease into our new post-baby body.

That said, yoga can be a great form of physical exercise and will definitely help you build up your strength and fitness. Yoga is low impact and therefore suitable for those pelvic floor issues (e.g. incontinence when you laugh, cough or sneeze).

After you’ve given birth you can start with yogic breathing techniques like the ones I teach in class, as soon as you feel ready. Your body will change a lot during birth - suddenly you no longer have the weight of the baby, placenta and amniotic fluid in your abdomen. Your organs will begin shifting back into place. You might have a bump for a while and your skin might be stretchier than before. Connecting your breath with your diaphragm is the first step to recovery. Once you feel ready, you can begin with gentle movement and pelvic floor exercises, before building up your physical yoga practice.

Check out my Post-Birth Care Tips in the free resources.

Yes! While we do spend time on using yoga for labour and birth, it is not the sole focus of my classes. The breathing techniques I teach are useful for daily life and especially during any kind of stress, fear or anxiety birth-related or not. The yoga we do will help ease out common pregnancy aches and pains, and will hopefully also help you in your post-birth recovery once you feel ready to introduce some gentle movement. If you want to talk about any of this in more depth, please get in touch, I’m always open to having a conversation to help you decide if my classes and retreats are right for you.

It is recommended that you wait at least 6 weeks after a vaginal birth and 8-10 weeks after a c-section before starting Parent & Baby Yoga Classes. Please wait until after your 6 week check and do not book if you have been advised to avoid exercise for any reason. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

I provide mats but you are welcome to bring your own. You might like to bring a blanket and/or small cushion for your baby’s comfort. Bring anything your baby needs, including milk/snacks/toys/comforters. Wear something comfortable and bring a drink of water for yourself.

This class is parent-focused (i.e. for you!) but we are completely baby-led. Babies cry, they need fed, they need cuddled, their nappies need changed. It’s all fine! We go with the flow and a bit of chaos is expected sometimes!

You are welcome to attend until your baby is crawling or on the move any other way.