Congratulations on your new baby!

This yoga series is a gentle, but at times challenging, series of yoga classes of varying length, designed for mums struggling to get to a yoga class, for you to do in the comfort of your own home when you have the time and space.

Class lengths vary from 20 - 60 minutes, so you can choose to do a class based on how much time you have available.  Classes have been labelled as gentle or more challenging so you can select an option that suits where you are at.

Yin classes are designed to stretch into tighter areas, soothe your nervous system and focus on breath for inward clarity and connection.

Vinyasa classes are stronger classes designed to strengthen the muscles weakened by pregnancy and birth and all poses are safe for all postnatal women regardless of delivery type from 8 weeks onwards. 

If your birth was more difficult, or you had a caesearean birth, please exercise more caution with returning to classes, modification options will be provided, however, please always listen to your body.  If anything causes pain, then gently come out of the pose, modify or choose to rest.

For all women, it is important that you have received clearance to return to exercise postnatally, either from your doctor, Midwife, or Women's Health Physiotherapist.  Remember, your Doctor/midwife will give you medical clearance, whereas a women's health physio will give you pelvic floor clearance to commence exercise, and will be able to provide individualised advice on what you might need to avoid.  Many of the poses will have alternative options, however it's vital that you listen to YOUR body.  If something doesn't feel good, modify it, if it's still doesn't feel good, take a rest in child's pose - you can always try again in a weeks time.

Namaste!

Yin Yoga is a feminine yoga practice, less focused on the external appearance of the pose, or the alignment, and more focussed on HOW IT FEELS!

The is no right or wrong way to do a pose in yin yoga, so feel free to move around, try the alternative options offered and make it feel good for you.

Stretching can feel awkward in the beginning, try to relax and breathe into the pose and within 20-30 seconds you should start to feel a relaxation response and a letting go.

Yin yoga is designed to be more inward focussed, to calm your nervous system and to stretch into relaxation.  remember to breathe throughout all the postures, focus on your breath, you can also try a gentle counter-contraction in the opposite direction, as this can allow you sink more into a pose with relaxation.

The masculine Yang form of yoga, these classes are designed to strengthen muscles and alignment of the pose is important to allow strengthening of muscles and prevent joint damage over time.

These classes are designed to strengthen muscles weakened in pregnancy and birth, and muscles that are called upon frequently in the post natal period, such as the gluteals, the quadriceps and the back extensors.  Poses have been included specifically to counter the frequent sitting, nursing and settling postures commonly adopted by mothers in the postnatal period.

The depth of the pose is not as important as your alignment and comfort in the pose - there should be no pain, however, sometimes it may feel hard and you may want to exit the pose early - when this happens, see if you can hold just another 5 seconds or another breathe.

Of course, if a pose is painful, then alter your alignment, or move into child's pose.

Remember, at any time you feel you need a rest, you can always rest in child's pose.

These mediations are designed specifically with mothers of young children in mind.  To calm and soothe the nervous system, to develop loving kindness to self (and others), to harness the non-judgemental mind for both self acceptance and acceptance of our children exactly as they are.

When mothers demonstrate loving kindness and joyous self-acceptance, we share this beautiful gift with our children, creating in our children a strong self love to navigate this crazy world we live in, and create a lasting bond with out children.