Pregnancy yoga classes - Brunswick, Melbourne

During the pregnancy yoga classes we will be concentrating on asana, (posture), pranayama (breathing), pratyahara (relaxation)\ (meditation). This is all aimed at nurturing the nurturer. Just as the Earth sustains all life, you as a mother-to-be provides a life-sustaining environment for your baby.

Our prenatal yoga practice together will start with some simple breathing exercises so you can start to relax and bond with your baby. During this time you will start to notice any tension you are holding in your body due to the pregnancy and external stresses. You will also start to feel closer to the baby as you breath deeply into your abdomen and around the baby by practicing the full yogic breath.

The main part of our pregnancy yoga practices together will be asana (postures). But all the asanas we practice will be linked with the breath so the practice becomes a meditation in movement rather then physical exercise.

By practicing prenatal yoga asana with Ujjayi breath you will be more aware of all the changes taking place during your pregnancy and be able to breath into any tension you are holding enabling you to relax better. Also by practicing Ujjayi breath with your asanas you are better able to gage where your body is on that particular day and not push yourself too hard. Hopefully when you leave the class you will have the necessary tools to use Ujjayi breath to help you during your pregnancy and labour (not to mention motherhood!!).

In our pregnancy yoga practices we will also integrate pelvic floor exercises (mulha bandha), which will help you during pregnancy, labour and after the birth of your baby. Toned pelvic floor muscles will lessen the likelihood of perineal tear and aid a speedy recovery afterwards. Your pelvic floor muscles support your uterus, bladder and bowel, and when they are toned they bring strength and firmness to these areas,and assist in the prevention of incontinence. They also help in supporting the lumbar spine as the use of your abdominal muscles decrease during pregnancy.

At the end of our prenatal yoga practice we do a deep relaxation/meditation that will help you integrate all of the subtle changes that have taken place during the practice and allow you to let go and relax with your baby.

Remember that during your pregnancy your body will be producing a hormone called relaxin secreted by the placenta from the 2 nd trimester. Relaxin softens the ligaments that join bone to bone around the joints, and the tendons that attach muscle to bone. The good news is that this allows the pelvic joints to become more flexible while the uterus expands, making space for the baby. However it can potentially lead to injuries as you may over stretch and loosen ligaments. This especially applies to the sacroiliac joints, where the lumbar spine joins the pelvis so please if it feels easier then you thought don't over do it, but simply enjoy the ease with which you can sink into poses within your normal capacities.

 

"Your spirit as a woman has all the knowledge and power you need to give birth and to nurture your baby. It is in your genes. it has been there since you yourself were conceived. You can trust its wisdom."

--Gurmukh Khalsa