Pregnancy Yoga

Movement is essential in pregnancy for many reasons, most notably that it counters the stagnation of energy and circulation, which leads to excess pain and tension. Yoga is the ideal way for pregnant people to get moving, because of its emphasis on:

  • Balancing pregnancy hormones
  • Breathwork, improving energetic flow and reduces stress
  • Pelvic alignment, helping the soft tissues (the pelvic floor muscles) release excess tension, and strengthen where there is excess slack
  • Strengthening our foundation – the feet, legs and core muscles – which helps support structures that weaken during pregnancy, such as the pelvis
  • Softening through intensity, helping us meet the challenges of labour and birth more skilfully

Through certain poses and practices, we can relieve symptoms such as:

  • Round ligament (the ligaments that attach from the uterus to the groins) pain
  • Pelvic or back pain
  • Public bone pain
  • Carpel tunnel syndrome and thoracic outlet syndrome (caused by excess fluid putting pressure on the nerves and blood vessels in the hands and arms)
  • Nausea
  • Heartburn
  • Dizziness/lightheadedness
  • Shortness of breath
  • Stress and anxiety

Through breath and movement, we are able to connect to the body and to baby in a feeling sense, rather than a cerebral or intellectual sense.

The session

In a pregnancy yoga session, I begin by checking in and asking where you are at, so that you can start where you are and work with, rather than against, anything that is coming up for you. I usually ask the following questions:

  • Do you have any conditions or symptoms? Are you experiencing pain?
  • Do you need a down-regulating or restorative practice, or more challenge and intensity (not all pregnant people want, or need, to take it easy!)
  • Do you have an existing yoga practice?

I then assess and correct pelvic alignment, before moving through a tailored sequence of breathwork, meditation and postures. Support is given in the way of hands on assists and the use of props.

A block of 4-6 sessions is recommended to develop the muscle memory required and help the practices to integrate as best as possible.

Yoga can be practised throughout pregnancy, but the practices will differ depending on the trimester, and whether you have an existing exercise/movement practice.

One to one sessions can be held at the client’s premises or at my own space in New Galloway.