Understanding pregnancy
- A thorough grounding in the process of fertilization, the three trimesters of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum recovery
- A grounding in the Dutch approach to pregnancy, childbirth, and recovery, including the key medical milestones your students will encounter
- Understanding what qualifies as a healthy, low-risk pregnancy
- The facts behind pregnancy loss, including miscarriage, termination for medical reasons, and stillbirth
- Common pregnancy complications
Pre- and postnatal anatomy and physiology as relates to a physical yoga practice
- Learning which postures and sequences should be avoided at certain stages of pregnancy
- Learning the (very broad!) range of postures and sequences that can be done safely throughout pregnancy – so long as they feel good
- Understanding common challenges faced by pregnant and postpartum students in yoga classes, and how to support these
Teaching methodology
The role of pre- and postnatal yoga teachers in supporting pregnant and postpartum students
- Understanding the myriad benefits of a Yoga practice in relation to pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal recovery
- Teaching without judgment: how not to impose your own views and personal experiences with pregnancy, birth, and postpartum recovery on your students
- How to help pregnant and postpartum students connect with engage and relax their pelvic floor
- How to teach pregnant and postpartum students breathing techniques that effectively support their practice
- Empowering pregnant and postpartum women and students to have a compassionate and connected relationship with their changing body
- Learning exercises and poses that may be helpful to pregnant students during childbirth
- Knowing your limits: recognizing when to refer a student to their midwife or healthcare professional
Fostering a safe, supportive environment for all students
- Exploring the very varied ways different people experience pregnancy and the postpartum period, and developing an understanding of how to support this diversity of experience
- Considering tactful and inclusive cuing when accommodating pregnant and postpartum students in both prenatal, postnatal, and general group class settings
- Teaching pre- and post-natal yoga classes in a manner inclusive to single mothers and parents and the LGBTQI+ community
Assessment
- Practical assignments
- Written assignments
- Teaching exam
Examination
On the final day, there will be a practical exam. Due to the compact nature of the course, the open-book written exam will be completed and assessed as homework throughout the course. Additionally, full and active participation in all days is required. Please inform us in advance if you are not able to attend a day.
Reading list
The leading teacher training manual is provided by us and is included in the price of the course. In addition to the manual, the following books are required or suggested. Please note that all of these books (except ‘Stuff Dutch Moms Like’) are written by US or UK authors and thus include advice/ content that is not fully relevant to the Netherlands, which has a very different healthcare system and approach to pregnancy and childbirth than both the USA and UK. Nonetheless, all these books have plenty of relevant and transferable information:
Required:
- Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn: The Complete Guide | Penny Simkin (and others): A great all-around introduction to pregnancy and childbirth, written by a highly experienced doula with contributions from medical experts.
Optional additions & recommendations:
- Bumpin’: The Modern Guide to Pregnancy: Navigating the Wild, Weird, and Wonderful Journey From Conception Through Birth and Beyond | Leslie Schrock: A frank and modern book that is (unusually) open from the jump about the challenges as well as the joys associated with pregnancy. A good choice if you want to be informed about when things go wrong, as well as when they go right.
- Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom is Wrong and What You Really Need to Know | Emily Oster: Written by a medical economist who was tired of her doctors not providing her with reasons for the advice she was being given, this is a good choice for people who want to get an insight into the scientific literature behind pregnancy rules and recommendations.
- Birth Partner 5th Edition: A Complete Guide to Childbirth for Dads, Partners, Doulas, and Other Labor Companions | Penny Simkin : A good read for those who are not going to be pregnant themselves, but wish to support someone who is or will be.
- Ina May’s Guide To Childbirth | Ina May Gaskin: A book that was highly groundbreaking at its time, it has helped a lot of pregnant women feel less fear around natural childbirth. It is now rather outdated and does have a bias towards natural delivery and home birth. That said, it is a much-referenced classic text and interesting to look at.
- The Positive Birth Book: A new approach to pregnancy, birth and the early weeks | Milli Hill: A much more modern book, that aims to empower women to demand respectful and supportive treatment throughout childbirth. Attempts to be unbiased about women who seek medical interventions during labor, which a lot of birthing books do not. Also available in Dutch, titled ‘Positief over bevallen’.
- Stuff Dutch moms like: a celebration of Dutch parenting and why Dutch moms have it all! | Colleen Geske: A squarely Dutch-orientated book, this can be particularly helpful to expats living and teaching in the Netherlands who want to have more insight into general Dutch attitudes to pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care.
All books can be ordered online (Amazon.nl or bol.com) or ordered at Waterstones.
Daily Schedule
Saturday 5 – Sunday 13 April (Friday 11 April – day off)
8:30 – 09:45 | Yoga practice, adapted for pre- or postnatal students
10:00 – 12:30 | Lectures & discussion (pregnancy and postnatal recovery, including anatomy and physiology)
12:30 – 13:30 | Lunch break
13:30 – 15:00 | Lectures & discussion (pregnancy and post-natal recovery as relates to a physical yoga practice)
15:15 – 17:00 | Posture workshop (adjusting poses and sequencing for pre- or post-natal students)
Dates:
Sunday 6, Wednesday 9, Saturday 12 & Sunday 13
17:30 – 20:00 | Informal study-buddies pizza nights: We have a lot of ground to cover very quickly. These evening sessions enable you to get help with homework from Eleanor (when she isn’t teaching) and from each other. A pizza / similar order will be arranged which you can contribute to if you would like food!
Requirements
This training is appropriate for anyone with a sincere interest in exploring an evidence-based approach to teaching yoga to pre- and post-natal students. This includes:
- qualified yoga teachers,
- anyone who wishes to better understand how yoga can support pregnancy and post-natal recovery (including those hoping to conceive, pregnant women or people, partners, and birthing partners),
- individuals who want to incorporate yoga techniques into their existing professional practice (for example, doulas or midwives).
Please be aware that you need to already have a 200-hour (or more) yoga teaching certification in order to qualify as a pre- and post-natal yoga teacher. You may take this course without such a certification, but you will not be able to certify as a pre and post-natal yoga teacher afterward. This course is open to all genders.
Good to know
This course will include frank and open discussion of topics that may be distressing or triggering for some people. These include: pelvic floor pain and dysfunction and its symptoms; fertility challenges; miscarriage; termination for medical reasons; stillbirth; pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum complications. Covering these topics is important in order to support students with as much compassion and awareness as possible, however, please bear this in mind and take care of yourself too.
If you are pregnant and wish to take the course, please be aware that you need to be present throughout in order to receive the certification. However, you can observe (rather than physically take part in) some of the yoga practices and posture workshops if you need extra rest. Of course, you can snack, drink water, and prop yourself as needed to remain comfortable throughout the day.
