Benefits of water-based Aquanatal Yoga classes
Attending our water-based Aquanatal Yoga classes is one of the best things you can do for your body, mind and baby whilst pregnant. Our classes provide you with a gentle and easily accessible way to exercise, relax and prepare for the birth of your baby.
Enjoy deep, effective yet soothing stretching using the breath to open the pelvis and strengthen the spine and abdominal muscles. Learn how to gain control of the pelvic floor muscles to be used to birth your baby lightly.
The benefits of Aquanatal Yoga:
- to enjoy a gravity-free environment
- to open the pelvis and prepare for labour and birth
- to stretch and strengthen the spinal and abdominal muscles
- to expand breathing capacity and improve sleep
- to relax deeply and release worries or fears
- to connect with the growing baby
Aquanatal Yoga Classes Include:
Swimming: Swimming is the best form of exercise available to pregnant women. Learn the correct adaptations of classic swimming strokes to accommodate the growing baby and support the pelvis and changes in the body.
Yoga movements in water: Simple, classic yoga poses are adapted to the water, making exercise enjoyable for all pregnant women, particularly if they are suffering from backache or pelvic pain or are overweight. Bodies feel virtually weightless in water enabling deep stretching. Spinal alignment and exercise to open the hips and pelvis are a welcome part of each session.
Breathing exercises: Deeper, more expansive breathing has many benefits for the mother and baby and is of great importance throughout pregnancy, labour and birth. With practice, all the pelvis muscles become involved in full breathing, which provides a powerful tool in labour.
Relaxation: Aquanatal Yoga brings a sense of deep relaxation. Floating in water offers a unique experience of unity. The baby is suspended in water (amniotic fluid), so the mother can share this experience of hanging in the water and connecting with her baby.
Preparing for birth: Using the water as a medium to explore and expel fears attached to labour. Explore positions for labour, how to open the hips and pelvis, allowing optimal space for the baby, and prepare for delivery and birthing the baby.
Group work: To offer and receive support and get to know the other expectant mothers in the group.
“I started aqua yoga 20 weeks into my pregnancy and had my last class two days before my baby was born. I looked forward to the class every week. It was wonderful to feel weightless, relax and connect with my baby. The relaxation techniques and positions learnt in the classes were invaluable and kicked in instinctively when I went into labour. I was able to have a water birth and felt so at home and calm in the water. I really miss the classes now baby is here but we love coming to the centre for swimming lessons together and look forward to sharing more special experiences in the water.” Taryn Moore, mum to Ellie.
Thanks to Francoise Freedman, Shawn Tomlinson and Birthlight for expert training. For more information on Birthlight please visit: www.birthlight.com
