I have never practiced yoga before, is it okay for me to join for the first time while pregnant/postpartum?

Yes! As long as your health practitioner has given you the okay to do so. These classes are designed to support the body during the different pre/postnatal stages, regardless of whether you have tried yoga before. In fact, many yoga regulars will find that yin yoga that is catered to pregnancy or postpartum requires quite a few modifications and pace not only in physical asana positions, but also in pranayama breathing and meditation techniques. There are several things to avoid in the practice, so it’s always best to do it under guidance of someone focused on your specific pre/postnatal stage and who knows your discomforts, rather than attend an ordinary, non-personalised yin class.

I don’t have time to go see my doctor/OBGYN/midwife to ask whether I can do yoga while pregnant/postpartum. Can I still join and ask later?

No. Every person and pregnancy is different and we want to make sure before practice that, the most recent time you spoke to any of your healthcare practitioners monitoring you, they okayed light exercise for you at the stage you are at. Check if you can give them a quick call or send a text message.

I want to join your package of 6 yoga classes, but I am on the 2nd trimester when they start but after only 3 lessons, I will be in my 3rd trimester. What should I do?

Join the lessons of the later trimester. As the pregnancy progresses, there are more parts of the practice that we need to avoid, so everything in the 3rd trimester is safe for a 2nd trimester person, but not the other way around.

My friend and I want to join together but we are in different trimesters so our classes would be at a different time. What can we do?

Similar to the previous question, you can both join the classes of the more advanced pregnancy. Let’s say you are in trimesters 1&2 respectively, then you can both safely join lessons for trimester 2.

Your website says that I can only join postpartum classes 8+ weeks after birth, why is that?

The body needs time to heal. While a birth can be an “easier” experience for some people and they feel strong enough after 1 month or so (or they want to go back to some practice in order to feel strong again), the physical asana practice of the class may feel like doing exercise to a body that is healing. The pelvic floor stretches quite a lot during vaginal birth (10cm!), even for those who did not need stitches from cut or torn tissue. The uterus takes minimum 1 month to shrink back (up to 3) and the organs that were displaced during the pregnancy also need time to adjust. A C-section takes even longer to heal. If for any special reason, you feel like you need to join the class before the minimum allowed period has passed, please contact me. Yoga is not only a physical practice.

I’ve noticed that your site says “Parent and Baby” classes because either mum or dad can join with their baby. I would love to join but my body is still healing and I would feel quite uncomfortable in a class with a man present... Could you make it mum & baby only?

Yoga welcomes everyone. Unlike postpartum classes, where we focus more on supporting the body that has given birth, “Parent & baby” classes are gentle practices for any body regardless of having gone through labour. They are about bonding with the baby and promoting that yoga can be a shared experience with a little one – we don’t always need to feel 100% and be alone in a quiet space to enjoy its benefits, as yoga can take many forms. If you are still really uncomfortable, please contact me and I will notify you when there is a spot left in a group with only female-presenting students.

I am afraid of joining the “Parent and Baby” class because my baby will surely cry or I will have to stop and feed, should I wait until my baby is older?

That’s perfectly normal! We accept babies up to 12 months which means there is always going to be some crying and need for nursing, holding or changing diapers. It is totally okay to stop and care for your baby, then resume the practice when you are both ready to. Every student in the room has a baby as well, so you will be in the most understanding environment. All students who join get a list of tips and things to prepare for baby before class.

Both of us want to join the “Parent and Baby” class, is that okay?

Not at the same time. If you have paid for a 6-class package, parents can alternate or one parent comes to the first 3 and the other parent joins the rest of the lessons. That is up to you, as long as you notify me about the arrangement while booking. Parents whose names are not on the list of attendees cannot randomly show up for lessons. Each parent will have to fill in the form separately. Parents join one at a time with baby in order to make the experience fair – bonding time is really special, and one parent may not feel very comfortable when watching the other enjoy most of the holding time with baby during class.

How does a prenatal or postnatal yoga class differ from a gentle yoga class?

Although it might sound okay to simply join yin or restorative yoga class, there are key differences that are vital to prevent risks for the pregnancy or a recovering post-childbirth body. In every trimester, there are types of breathwork and asanas that should be avoided, so it is important to attend a class with a practitioner that has been specifically trained in prenatal and postnatal yoga so that they can ensure that the practice is completely safe for you (and baby). On top of that, when choosing a class that has been designed and structured for your trimester, you will be working towards more beneficial impacts that are relevant to what your body needs at each stage.