Pre-natal Yoga

[claire]

I am so surprised by Sarah's comments on the lack of pre-natal yoga teachers. I'm in the UK and 60% or more of my income as a teacher is based on my pre-natal work. We have an abundance of pregnancy teachers/classes around the country...!
Training needs to be thorough, so whilst you may have highlighted a gap in teacher's sources of income, it is important that the correct path to training and qualification is followed.
I say this as I know there's always a 'quick-fix' option and we as teachers must remember that we are working with 2 very special people at the most awesome time in a woman's life.
In the UK we have produced a several really good pregnancy yoga resources - there are books written by Francoise Barbira Freedman of Birthlight - we are very blessed to have this organisation which offers trainings. We also have several UK teachers who have produced DVD's - our local Borders store carries a wide variety of publications on yoga and pregnancy too!
Teaching in pregnancy needs to be a passion...you are making such an important connection with a woman at a time where she needs to feel nurtured, nourished and knows there is somewhere else she can go for support or just to be listened to when she may have had a difficult appointment, or feeling anxious regarding pre-natal tests/examinations.
I love the work I do in this area as I realised the 'gap' when I was pregnant with my first child over 13 years ago...that soon got put right!!

Sarah enjoy every minute of your blessed time...it is such wonderful news to hear that you are bearing precious fruit - I'm so thrilled for you.

Blessings, Claire x
Esprit Yoga

[Administrator]

Hi Claire,

Harlan here.

Would you be so kind as to post some of the UK resources you consider
most valuable?

Thanks.

Namaste.

[gaileee]

Sara/Harlan,

I posted my favorite prenatal yoga books on the "Congrats Sara" message.

I worked with my OBGYN, who had all the "baby" business in my old hometown, and was able to put out flyers in his office, the place where women purchase maternity clothes and such.

This was all right before I was pregnant, and while I was pregnant. OBGYN was so surprised how healthy I was (despite having gestational diabetes), and wished his clients in their 20's and 30's would take care of themselves, as well as I did.

Had I had access to this forum, way back then (back in 2005/2006), I'd had probably reached more clients with the updated webpage information that you gave me early on. Don't think craigslist would have helped, since we didn't have that in the area at the time, but I probably could have found something else.

I did class passes, and unfortunately, did not have them expire after 1 or 2 months. At one point in time I had 8 prenatal clients, mostly from referral from the doctors.

Prior to me moving, the ladies that had had their babies, wanted me to teach baby yoga, postnatal yoga.

I've had lots of phone calls for prenatal yoga, as you've said, not many people offer that. Once baby number 4 is in preschool, I'll be able to offer prenatal yoga again.

I highly recommended the YogaFit Prenatal/Post training, if you are of that lineage of training. A doctor wrote the manual, at until recently taught the classes for YogaFit. She now has her own line of dvd's and such at
Pranamama dot com.

My recommendations are:
Shiva Rea's prenatal DVD
Anna Getty's Divine Mother DVD
Dynamic Prenatal Yoga - Dr. Christine
YogaFit Prenatal DVD
Pranamama Prenatal DVD

Click at my prenatal part of my main website at Prenatal Yoga - Gail Pickens-Barger, E-RYT - Yoga With Gaileee(Nederland, Port Neches, Groves, Beaumont) to see these specific dvd's listed.

There are some other DVD's out there that complement a prenatal practice, the BirthBall Prenatal program. (I'd have to go look that one up.)

These prenatal classes always seemed to be small, but full of good information for momma's to share.

gaileee

[Administrator]

Thanks Gailee.

I'm sure Sara is taking notes.

She's off to LA next week to train with Shiva Rea.

I was in LA for a seminar and dropped by her studio for a day.

She cracks me up.

Every time she sees me, she talks to her class about marketing!

Namaste.

Harlan

[gaileee]

Here are two more videos/dvds that were helpful for me during my pregnancy, and I used some of the things on these dvd's in the prenatal yoga classes that I taught.

"Great Expectations Pregnancy Program" - using the Fitball (Resist-a-ball) to provide low impact alternatives and to facilitate muscle strengthening of the lower back, deep abdominals and pelvic floor." Keeping fit during pregnancy and early motherhood. By Australian Lisa Westlake. Video/DVD. Can also be found on the Gymnic website.

"Carolyne Anthony's Childbearingseries - 1. using the ball during pregnancy. Simple and beneficial poses that will help you through your pregnancy and delivery. These poses will help strengthen and stretch your body in preparation for the birth. They may also be done postpartum. Video/DVD. Pre- and Post-Natal Center for Women’s Fitness

Here are some booklets: Exercising during pregnancy with the "Gymnic-Plus" ball. Can be found also on the Gymnic website.

Additionally, "Birth Balls - Use of the Physical Therapy Balls in Maternity Care" - by Paulina G. Polly Perez, R.N. Found at Cutting Edge Press. Article was done in epregnancy about birthballs back in 2004.

I'd be interested to see what Shiva's prenatal training did with the use of props and such.

gaileee

[Administrator]

I'll tell Sara to chime in when she gets back tomorrow.

She just moved and doesn't have internet access in her new place yet.

A little nesting instinct in action...

Namaste.

Harlan