A pregnant woman walks into your class. My main tip for yoga teachers: Breathe.
Seriously, there is a lot of anxiety and fear when we’re pregnant, and we don’t want to make it worse for our pregnant students.
Remember – and feel free to remind your students – nature is powerful. Think of a waterfall. It’s really hard to change her direction. If we could jump our way out of pregnancy, there would be a whole other kind of women’s health care clinic.
That said, there are certain ways to guide, support and inspire pregnant women that are more supportive and safe than others, and can help her feel calm and cared for.
Here are a few prenatal yoga tips from Colleen Hieber and Jamie Hanson, Ma YogaTM teacher trainers.
#1 Prenatal Yoga Tip for Yoga Teachers: Don’t Ask
How can you be sure she’s pregnant?
You can’t, unless she tells you.
She might be postpartum, she might have diastisis recti which can make her look pregnant, or it might just be her body shape.
Instead of asking outright, slip in a casual query when you meet her.
Something like, “Do you have anything going on with your body I should know about?”
Or announce to the class in the beginning that if they have any injuries or issues you should know about, please let you know as you walk around.
#2 Prenatal Yoga Tip for Yoga Teachers: Skip the Core Work
There is definitely a way to teach core safely and effectively to pregnant women, but in your regular class, you might not be able to take the time.
Best to have her skip it.
Offer your mama-to-be some alternatives – think figure 4 stretches or a marathon of squats.
#3 Prenatal Yoga Tip for Yoga Teachers: Make Space for Baby
Belly-down poses like Cobra break the #1 Ma Yoga prenatal yoga rule: Make Space for Baby.
Up until the 3rd trimester-ish, you can have her on her belly and still avoid squishing the space baby’s in by placing a bolster across mama’s mat under her pelvis and top of thighs.
Her belly gets to hang free, and as long as she’s working her legs and lengthening from her tailbone, she can stay grounded and enjoy a lovely, lengthening, low Cobra.
Some belly down poses can be done on her side – like Danurasana, bow pose – and some you might need to skip altogether, and have her lie back over a rolled blanket for a supported backbend instead.
#4 Prenatal Yoga Tip for Yoga Teachers: Twist Open, Not Across
We often hear that twists help to “wring out our organs like a dirty dishtowel.”
Obviously, this is not optimal for your pregnant mama or her little one.
Instead, you can have her twist the opposite way, so she’s making more space for baby, not less.
If you have a twisty class planned, tell her to step the opposite foot forward.
That way she can still be going in the same direction as the class.
In a nutshell, supporting our pregnant yogis is all about empathy, adaptability, and a sprinkle of humor. By creating a nurturing environment where everyone feels seen and supported, we can avoid making her feel anxious, and instead give her a joyful and empowering experience.
Reach out to receive a free 5-day prenatal yoga training here.
