Pregnancy Yoga Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to start pregnancy yoga?

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?”

I’ve never done yoga before - can I still come along?

My classes are suitable for complete beginners and experienced yogis. I encourage you to take each class at your own pace, learning how to tune in to your body and do what is right for you. You don’t need to be flexible to do yoga - it’s not about touching your toes, it’s about moving your body in a way that feels good, breathing and relaxing.

What if I can't make a whole block of classes?

If you have holidays or other events already planned when you book your block of classes please make sure you include this information on your booking form. I will adjust your booking to accommodate these dates.

What if my baby arrives early?

Often people move to pay-as-you-go from 37 weeks. However, if you have booked a block of classes and your baby is born before the end of your block, let me know as soon as you can. Any classes left may be used as credit towards my baby yoga classes or refunded depending on how much notice you have given me.

Do I need a mat and what should I wear?

I provide yoga mats but you may wish to bring your own to place over mine for both comfort and hygiene. Wear anything that is comfortable and you can more freely in (joggers, leggings, loose trousers, comfy tops). Bring a bottle of water too.

Is yoga safe during pregnancy?

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.

How can pregnancy yoga help me prepare for birth?

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?”

How can yoga help me recover after birth?

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.

Can I come to your pregnancy classes even if I'm having a c-section?

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.

How do I get to St Anne’s? Is there parking?

The class is held in the Belgrave Room in St Anne's Church at the bottom of Kaimes Road. There is plenty of free on-street parking on Kaimes Road. Enter through the pedestrian gates on Kaimes Road (not the driveway), come in the glass doors, turn right, up a few stairs and the door to the room is on your right. The door will be open until the class start time. If you are running late please try to come in as quietly as you can to minimise disruption to your fellow attendees.

Cancellations and refunds

If a class is cancelled by your teacher for any reason I will make every effort to contact you via WhatsApp or email. Any classes cancelled will be added on to the end of your block booking or given as a credit for future classes. Please let me know on your booking form if there are any dates you cannot make within your block. I will amend your class dates in advance to accommodate this. Any unplanned missed classes (e.g. last minute cancellations) will be charged in full.