Yoga, pregnancy, and the journey

I trained to be a yoga teacher, a pregnancy yoga teacher, eight years ago, and as part of my pregnancy yoga teacher training, I had to observe 18 yoga classes, pregnancy yoga classes. As a result, I went around the country, Dublin, Limerick, Galway to observe these classes.

The teachers were amazing. The classes were amazing. A lot of teachers, a lot of the pregnancy yoga classes held in community halls, community centres and pregnant women had to lie on the cold hard floors to benefit or to be at the class.

I came home one evening to Oliver and said, “You know, the teachers are great. The classes were great, but the facilities and where the pregnant women had to attend the class isn't so great. It was cold, and there was nowhere to have tea or coffee or anything afterwards”

So, that's where we decided, or I decided, to create a space for mothers to be, where they would be able to attend a pregnancy yoga class, be warm, be comfortable, have blankets, cushions and pillows and feel safe. A place where they could be informed of and about their pregnancy, birthing and labour. Where these things could be discussed in confidence with other mommies to be.

Limestone Yoga Studio creates such a space for pregnant mommies. With underground heating, comfort and time to relax as the pregnant women arrive to the class. We have a circle time where we ask questions, where I ask the mommies about themselves: How are they doing? How many weeks are they pregnant? Any issues with their pregnancy? Any aches or pains?

Then we move on to the class where I provide and give golden nuggets throughout the class, different tips and tools that mommies can use throughout their pregnancy, their labour, their birthing journey and the first few weeks of their babies being born. I send them meditations and also create retreats for pregnant mommies. At these retreats we often have other professionals come in with their own expertise and information, tips and tools and tools for pregnant mommies,

I believe knowledge is so important throughout your pregnancy journey, your labour journey and your birthing journey. I think it is so important to have as much information and guidance as possible through movement, with knowledge of how to move, how to use yoga to your best benefit. Whilst in your pregnancy journey and in your labouring journey, using the tool of breath work is really, really important, but also using the tool of communication, not being afraid to ask questions, not being afraid to ask why, and using the B.R.A.I.N method (Benefits, Risks, Alternatives, Intuition, Nothing). Read more about it on Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond

🩷 Colette