LOCATION - in the centre of Galway in a warm, well-lit space opposite St Nicholas’ Church. (Max.14 People)
TIME -
Monday at 6-7.30 pm, and drop in class Friday at 10.30am-12.
In Athenry – Tuesday night from 7-8pm.
PRICE is €10 per class, paid in two instalments – a €50 deposit when you book and the balance on the first night of the term.
TERM is for 10 or 12 weeks at a time. The classes are structured in a way that you slowly build up a yoga program which you can use daily at home. You are encouraged to attend from the start of a term. However, as this is not always possible with pregnant women you can join for 6 weeks at a time.
WHEN CAN YOU JOIN? after the 14th week of your pregnancy and continue right up to the day of birth.
Benefits of Yoga During Pregnancy
Relieves stress. Postures allow the body to be more supple, strong and balanced, and help to eliminate any discomfort caused by the pregnancy.
Become more intimate with the breathing process –vital to life. With breathing practices you use your breath to help you cope in many ways with this new period of your life. Breathing can be the key to dealing with labour.
Sounds can have a very positive effect on the unborn. In yoga you use chanting and breathing practices, which help to reduce stress and anxiety.
Yoga Nidra (brought together by our guru, Swami Satyananda Saraswati). Yoga Nidra is a guided practise that brings about a very deep relaxation on all levels. This is a real gift for mums-to-be. It is a very popular practice where you allow the body to truly relax and simply follow the instructions.
Short meditation practices are taught during the term. They can lead to a focused, calm mind, bringing about inner stillness. They are simple meditations, which can easily be practiced daily.
Brings you closer to your baby, in a peaceful environment. Here you can connect with other pregnant women and consider choices which can help you to cope positively with being pregnant and giving birth.
TEACHERS
Shraddhamurti teaches the Monday and Athenry classes. She has been teaching yoga to pregnant women in Galway for the past 23 years. She has two grown up children and used yoga to help her during both pregnancy and births. This class merges her experience teaching yoga to pregnant women over the years with her own experience of pregnancy to provide a thoughtful and inspiring class.
Michelle Fawl teaches the Friday morning class. She has two children and also used yoga to help with the pregnancy. Michelle has taken a yoga pregnancy module and has a passion for positively assisting pregnant women throughout their pregnancy.
Both teachers are Satyananda Yoga teachers and accredited British Wheel of Yoga teachers.
Please read the following: Yoga in Pregnancy
- You should be 14 weeks pregnant before you start attending this class.
- If you have any health problems or have had any problems with your pregnancy check with your doctor before attending a yoga class. If health problems arise during the pregancy let the teacher know as yoga practices may help.
- Wear loose comfortable clothing - a t-shirt and trousers are perfect.
- Unlike non-pregnancy yoga classes it is wise to have a light snack about one hour before the class to keep the blood sugar up.
- In this class you are asked not to lie on your back, as this could restrict the baby's oxygen, and you may feel faint. If possible lie on the left side with the top knee bent as this encourages the baby to position itself in the right position for birth. If this is not comfortable lie on the right side with the top knee bent. (If it feels more comfortable to bring a pillow for this position, please do so).
- If you feel faint when doing any standing postures lie down and rest. If you have low blood presure do the postures sitting on the stool.
- At all times listen to your body and never force or strain, and if at any time you feel uncomfortable, stop and take a rest. All your joints are more supple now because of the hormone relaxin - this helps the ligaments to soften for giving birth, so be careful not to over stretch.
- It is wise to do some yoga at home on a daily basis and always include the breathing practices
Recommended Books
- Pre-natal Yoga Satyananda Yoga, Australia
- Birth without Violence by Leboyer
- Any books by Shelia Kitzinger
- Preparing for Birth by Janet Balaskas
- The Irish Pregnancy Book by Dr Peter Boylan
- Look up V.H.I/Quinn Direct's website and check the Birth Plan to get some ideas about birthing
Above all enjoy this time in your life; it is truly a great miracle and privilege to have a baby growing in your womb. Remember your body was created to give birth, women are giving birth all over the world on a daily basis. Take lots of courage from that.
TO APPLY for the Pregnancy Yoga classes,
please fill in the form (which you can download by clicking here) and return it to
info@galwayyoga.com
TESTIMONIAL from a recent term:
What were the benefits of Yoga for me as an expectant mother?
I had a lot of fears associated with hospitals, all things medical and also labour. So much so that it put me off the whole idea of getting pregnant, thankfully I worked through some of those fears and became pregnant.
Shrada class worked for me on so many levels, I was being gently informed about baby, self and labour yet I never felt overwhelmed as in ’To much information, I don’t need to hear that right now!
Shrada’s method of delivery was so good that I only listened to her and the mid-wife.
I found that my life was very busy and I found that going to yoga I took time out to get in touch with baby and came to realise that a great miracle was unfolding inside.
My confidence began to grow around the area of child birth, Shrada instilled this in me. She is passionate about the fact that with a normal healthy birth, women do have the natural capacity to work with labour without drugs.
During labour, I worked with deep relaxation techniques and it was the power of the breath and movement which I discovered at yoga that I was blessed to work through the birth of my daughter.
I cannot find words that truly capture this time so the closest that I can get to conveying something of natural labour is to say that this was an incredible and truly empowering experience.
Kate
