Prenatal Yoga: Strengthening and Opening

Congratulations on your pregnancy! Many women have found prenatal yoga to be a great support through many of the changes that pregnancy brings.

This can be a very exciting time but also a little overwhelming as you are figuring out how to take care of yourself and your growing baby at the same time. Whether this is your first or your fourth baby, self-care is an essential part of a healthy pregnancy! I have created this prenatal yoga class so you can receive all the benefits of yoga during your pregnancy.

What are the benefits of prenatal yoga?

¢ Builds strength and flexibility (to do the work of mothering)

¢ Promotes proper posture, body awareness and healthy alignment

¢ Reduces stress and promotes relaxation (good for mother and baby)

¢ Increases energy (growing a person is exhausting)

¢ Aids with focus (helps combat fetal brain drain)

¢ Promotes healthy circulationand reduces swelling

¢ Reduces or eliminates common pregnancy discomforts

Prenatal yoga can help prepare body and mind for childbirth. The prenatal yoga postures are specially designed to not only strengthen your body but to build flexibility and openness “ it is just as important to create suppleness so you can open when the time comes to birth your baby. Birthing a baby requires both great effort and the ability to totally let go. We cultivate a balance of effort and surrender on the yoga mat so we can take it into labor and birth.

Last but not least¦

Prenatal yoga promotes baby awareness! In the practice of yoga, you have the opportunity to acknowledge the presence of your baby, not as a package that will arrive at some future date or that is delivered to you, but as a being that is here now. Yoga allows space to sit in the present moment, with yourself as well as with your baby.

This program can be done in its entirety or you can do one or more of the individual lectures.

Enjoy the music of Sam Jackson's crystal bowls,www.vibrantstillness.comand Eric Fraser's lullabysragabyebaby.com.

Special note: It is very important for you to listen to your body. Take rest if needed. Come out of any posture that causes strain or excessive discomfort. Please exercise caution in the practice. If you experience dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pain, abdominal pain, uterine contractions, vaginal bleeding or fluid leakage from your vagina or have history high blood pressure or any other serious medical condition, consult your midwife or doctor. Yoga may not be appropriate for some women in the first trimester. If you have a history of miscarriage or pregnancy loss please consult with your care provider before taking this course.

Prenatal Yoga is suitable for most healthy pregnant women.