What is Yogamamas Prenatal yoga?

Pregnancy is the time to become more mindful. Becoming more aware of the moment, connecting to the here and now, is important for comfort in pregnancy as well as a greater awareness of the body during birthing. Yogamamas Prenatal Yoga is designed to use the postures to heighten your awareness of the changes in your body, and bring on a more comfortable experience of pregnancy. By shifting the focus on to the relationship between mother and baby during pregnancy, this program helps mom to prepare for her birthing in the most comfortable manner possible.

Prenatal Yoga requires a change of focus within the body as well. What is the focus of a Yoga practice in a non- pregnant body does not apply in the prenatal practice. The pelvis is the center of the anatomy of pregnancy. The changes, the stability of the structure, the preparations for birth all center on the pelvis.

In a Prenatal Yoga class, look at all poses from how they affect the pelvis This focus allows you to move the body from its axis, alleviate the imbalances, and assuage the pains. Putting the pelvis at a neutral tilt takes pressure off the circulatory system into and out of the legs, stabilizes the sacrum and allows baby optimal positioning.

Things to look for in the movement of your students: Pelvic tilt Angle of legs to hips Attachment at SI Joint Lumbar curve.

Things that affect your prenatal students that may not be obvious: Sciatic nerve Varicose veins Carpal tunnel Restricted breathing Rib pain Ligament pain – Round. Broad, Sacro-Uterine Acid Reflux

What can these things tell you? How can you use this information to assist your student? What poses will best suit the student?

Use of props:

• Blankets

• Bolsters

• Blocks

• Birth Ball

• Chair

• Strap