Why postnatal yoga?
Postnatal yoga helps your body recover from pregnancy and birth, whilst also nourishing your mental health. 100% baby friendly, but the focus is on you, mama!
Exercises focus on rebuilding tummy and pelvic floor strength, counteracting aches and pains of looking after a baby, and meditations to help calm your mind (and maybe your baby, too).
Postnatal yoga is for you if:
- You want to get back to exercise and rebuild your fitness
- You have aches from looking after a baby
- You have a slight prolapse or diastasis issue
- You want to bond with your baby
- You want to meet other new mums
- You want to find a calm environment to be you again
My postnatal journey
My postnatal journey was very hard. Physically, my yoga practice kept me in really good health, for which I'm so thankful, given how difficult the rest of my experience was.
My baby would not sleep. It sounds like such a small thing unless you're going through it. On top of that, we had a very sudden death in our close family, financial worries, isolation and a difficult birth experience, all just as we were coming out of the anxiety of the COVID pandemic.
I had postnatal depression (PND), but I didn't seek support for it until 6-7 months postnatal. Many people who suffer with PND don't talk to their health visitor or doctor for various reasons, which is part of why having a safe environment to work on your body and your mind is so important.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring my baby to class?
Absolutely! The classes are designed with babies in mind: I play relaxing music which often sends the little ones to sleep and they're very welcome to lie on your mat or chill in their car seat, whatever suits them! Most exercises have the option to involve baby, so they get to play peekaboo with you, they get cuddled and rocked, or they stare with fascination at your wiggling toes.
My baby is fussy, is that a problem?
Most babies will be fussy during the sessions at some point or another, so you certainly aren't alone. You can feed or change their nappy or give them a cuddle for a bit, then once they're settled, you can get back to it. When I attended postnatal yoga, I found it reassuring to see that I wasn't the only one having to stop and start, and it helped to build my confidence in exercising around my child.
I've never done yoga before. Will that be a problem?
30% of my postnatal yoga mums have never done yoga before, but in all honesty, you wouldn't be able to tell! The classes are slow paced and the exercises are simple but effective. Teaching the classes live and in-person means that I can tailor the classes to the group, and make sure no one gets 'left behind'.
I've not fully recovered from pregnancy and birth, can I do this exercise?
As long as you have been OKed by your GP, you can attend. I have training in prolapse and diastasis recti and incorporate exercises specifically related to these issues in my classes. This said, obviously it depends on your exact circumstances, and it may be helpful to have a private lesson to start with if you're unsure about joining the group.
When can I start doing yoga after giving birth?
Suitable from 6 weeks postnatal or 8 weeks if you had a caesarean, until your little one is crawling. Please let me know before the class if you have any recovery issues or general injuries that may affect your practice (I'll send a form before the lesson, or you can turn up early to tell me face-to-face).