Nurturing Yoga Journey: 10 Days in Kerala’s Heart

Join us for a transformative 10-day, 85-hour Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga Teacher Training at Yogakulam. This course is designed for yoga instructors and enthusiasts who wish to specialize in supporting pregnant individuals and new mothers.

Throughout the training, participants will explore safe and effective yoga practices tailored for each trimester and the postpartum period, covering essential anatomy, breathwork, and mindfulness techniques. Through hands-on teaching practice and expert guidance, you'll gain the skills and confidence to lead nurturing classes that promote wellness and connection.

One goes through a lot of anatomical and physiological changes throughout this phase. The changes start from the inception of the fetus and continue after the child is born. To help deal with the growing anxiety and change in the body, yoga masters have formed a special kind of yoga that will help expecting mothers keep their soundness of mind and body.

What would you learn from the program?

• Modifications of asana and the importance of practicing Restorative or gentle yoga during and after pregnancy
• Modifying the yogic practices for each trimester and depending on the needs of an individual
• Adjustments and alignment during pregnancy and how to use different props
• Benefits and contraindications of yoga practice during pregnancy
• Importance of practicing pranayama/breathing exercises
• Postnatal yoga practice - sequencing, asanas, recovery techniques after birth
• Anatomy, physiology, and hormonal changes during pregnancy/childbirth and postpartum
• Psychological Considerations During Pregnancy
• Essential herbs and nutrition for pregnancy and postnatal cycle
• Philosophy: Vedic and yogic view on pregnancy and motherhood
• Through meditation, channeling the inner wisdom of the creative force (Shakti)
• Carnatic chanting's for childbirth and mantras for pregnancy
• Sacred motherhood - pregnancy’s spiritual aspects and becoming a mother
• Conscious parenting
• Experience in teaching and how to prepare a class

Curriculum - What will you learn?

Fundamentals of Prenatal yoga

• Importance of yoga in pregnancy
• Role of a teacher in Prenatal yoga
• Different stages in pregnancy
• Understanding and creating the foundation of different practices
• How yoga practices can make your delivery safe and smooth?
• How can yoga aid in normal delivery?
• Overview of practices in the various phases of pregnancy

Understanding your pregnancy and childbirth

• Preparation for conception
• Knowing your pregnancy
• Understanding fertility issues and addressing them
• Miscarriages and abortion, complications and conditions
• Understanding safe and unsafe practices in various stages of pregnancy
• Importance of fetus talk in pregnancy
• Labor and delivery

Trimester-wise yoga asana practices

• Modifications of asana with props / restorative practices / modified slow-paced yoga during and after pregnancy
• Precautions and contraindications of asana
• Simple adjustment and alignment for pregnancy
• Practices include:
• Warm-up
• Surya Namaskar
• Standing asana
• Sitting asana
• Supine asana
• Twisting asana
• Kneeling asana
• Forward bending asana
• Backward bending asana
• Relaxation
• Labor pose for childbirth

Anatomy and physiology

• Menstrual cycle and female reproductive system
• How conception happens
• Fetal development
• Hormonal changes during pregnancy
• Anatomical and physiological changes during 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy
• Pregnancy-related complications and conditions
• Postpartum physiological changes

Mantra

• Importance of Garbha Samskara
• Mantra for overall well-being of mother and fetus
• Mantra for overcoming pain
• Mantra for gaining mental strength

Mudra, bandha, and Kegel practice

• Understanding the bandhas and its importance
• Understanding the mudras and its importance
• Difference between mudra, bandha, and Kegel practice
• Practice of different mudras and bandhas
• Kegel practice
• Incorporating bandha practices in pranayama
• Incorporating mudra practices in pranayama and meditation
• Mudra practice for normal delivery process

Pranayama

• Why pranayama is important during pregnancy
• The therapeutic aspect of pranayama
• How the various pranayama in the three-trimester phase help a mother find balance
• How pranayama takes care of hormonal changes in the body
• Learning different techniques of pranayama with variations
• How to prepare the body for labor through breath awareness

Meditation

• Why meditation is important in pregnancy
• Understanding the benefit of meditation in different trimesters
• Different techniques of meditation and practices
• Visualization aspect of meditation during pregnancy

Yoga Nidra

• Introduction to Yoga Nidra
• Importance of yoga Nidra during pregnancy
• Different techniques of Yoga Nidra
• Practices during different stages of pregnancy

Ayurveda and diet

• Nutrients that help during pregnancy, post-delivery, and breastfeeding
• Foods to avoid and include in your diet during pregnancy
• Understanding your own doshas (Prakriti)
• Understanding the tastes and its effect on your body
• Ayurvedic herb information which can be adapted during pregnancy

Yoga philosophy

• How lifestyle plays a vital role in pregnancy
• Eight limbs of yoga
• Panch kosha and its impact on pregnancy
• Four pillars that impact a baby - food, sleep, sex, and fear
• How do you connect with your baby before and after birth?

Postnatal yoga

• Postnatal care of new mother and baby
• PPD - Post-partum depression and its solution
• Various practices to reconnect with your body after delivery
• How to slowly get into postnatal practices to build up strength and stamina in the body back to normal

Teaching methodology and practicum

• Trimester-specific lesson plans
• Discussion about general sequencing
• Guidelines for yoga asanas, modifications, and contraindications
• Teaching practices
• Assessments, group discussions, case studies, or videos

Evaluation and certification

Throughout the 10 days of your certified yoga teacher training in Kerala, you will be trained by efficient and experienced teachers with a prime motive to mold you into a better practitioner and an expert teacher. The evaluation is the final step of your Kerala yoga teacher training journey. Every day is a preparation for the final evaluation. Over the course period, the teachers would ensure that you are all set to be a certified yoga teacher.

You must complete all six modules of the course. The assessment will be conducted in three segments: oral, written, and practical. Though it is called ‘evaluation,’ the process does not have the stress of an examination. It is all about knowing how much you have learned during your journey.

Upon completion, you will receive a certification recognized by Yoga Alliance.

Embark on this rewarding journey to empower mothers through the healing power of yoga!