Pregnancy Classes
Our pregnancy yoga classes offer a wide range of different styles and strengths to suit all needs. There is a pregnancy class available every day at Notting Hill and on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at Islington.
Our teachers who specialise in pregnancy yoga and Pilates are all fully qualified and insured and are usually mothers themselves. This gives them the experience and empathy needed to help their students prepare for birth and adapt to the early years of motherhood. Please don’t forget that our teachers are there to help you. Always let your teacher know of any problems you may be experiencing and ask about any worries which you may have.
Pregnancy classes work on building strength both internally and physically using stamina building exercises, breath and sound work. More than anything, these classes will help you to become more comfortable with yourself during pregnancy. They will also help you to get in shape for labour and aid recovery once the baby is born. Our pregnancy yoga classes often become a mini–community in their own rights.
When to start
If you are in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, or think that you may be newly pregnant, we recommend that you do not come to class. During that period, your body and that of your baby are changing rapidly and some yoga practices may be risky. After 12 weeks, and so long as you have had a scan and your pregnancy is proceeding normally, you are welcome to come to class. The right yoga practices can be hugely beneficial during pregnancy and, especially if you are newer to yoga or later in your pregnancy, we strongly recommend that you attend our special pregnancy yoga or Pilates classes. Each class includes moderate exercise, and the emphasis is on safety and appropriateness for you, and on the safety of your child. We do not recommend excessive aerobic exercise, fast movements, inversions, strong bandha work or jumping practices during pregnancy or straight after birth. If you do choose to attend a general class while pregnant, please remember to tell the teacher before the class starts and to abide by their decision whether the class in general, or any specific practices within it, will be inappropriate for you. This may depend both on the stage of your pregnancy and the amount of yoga or Pilates experience which you have.