50h Pregnancy and Motherhood Yoga Teacher Training with Sarah Scharf

Taking care of the mother’s health has a direct effect on the entire family  and ultimately the community of our world. We will learn safe  approaches to asana, breathing and relaxation techniques that give women tools for pregnancy, labour and life after giving birth. Respect  and understanding for the physiological and anatomical changes of pregnancy and birth are the basis for this way of practicing and teaching  yoga.

We aim to understand the physical and emotional shifts taking place  during all four trimesters, from conception through lactation. You will  learn how yoga poses affect the baby’s position and how to offer helpful asana for many common aches and pains associated with pregnancy. Common attitudes and fears related to pregnancy will be discussed with  an emphasis on framing pregnancy as a healthy part of life and not an  illness. Practical knowledge of how to include modifications for all stages  of pregnancy in open group yoga classes is an important skill we will  work on. You will learn how to help guide yoga students with any level of  experience through pregnancy.  

The time after having a child is a very special and intense phase. Just as children move through adolescence when we become mothers we experience physical and emotional changes. Having a new person to care for is demanding on the  body and the mind, as well as transforming to all aspects of life. Welcoming the baby is often easier for people than welcoming  the changes that are felt in their lives and their bodies. Our  yoga and meditation practices have the power to encourage a healthy and accepting relationship with these changes. 

This training is for teachers and serious students who want to skilfully and safely use the practices of yoga, meditation and pranayama to help reduce stress, rebuild strength and provide  support for new parents. Most general yoga teacher trainings  only give a few hours to Pregnancy Yoga instruction, with a very  brief mention of “Postnatal” Yoga. There is often a focus on  pregnancy and birth with very little on the care and needs of  new parents, especially mothers. Ironically this is the most  important time to take care and rebuild strength and energy slowly. After giving birth the body is in a vulnerable state, it is a time that requires attentive yoga practice and sensitivity. Many women experience trauma during birth and may not be aware that they are in a state of post-traumatic stress. The time spent  with a group where it is encouraged to share openly about the birth experience and the challenges of being a new parent have huge benefits for the mental health of participants. 

It is especially important to understand that during this time we often cannot see these shifts from the outside. Our ability to be aware of the internal physical changes that women go through as they heal from birth is vital to being safe and effective teachers. It is also a chance for women to take steps towards self-care practices that can influence the rest of their lives.