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. 

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, or delay starting your practice until you get their go-ahead. On the other hand, if they have given you the go-ahead for another practice involving physical movement that is more intense than yoga, then you can join.

As long as you still have enough mobility and energy to leave the house, you are welcome to join for as long as you want - or until your baby is here! I have had women join their last class during their week 40, but everyone has a different body and stamina by then.

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 and you may enjoy being in the space for the pranayama, focus and other meditative practices, as well as the warm-up.

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. 

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. 

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.