Becoming a parent is a rite of passage. Regardless of this being your first or your last baby, it marks the beginning of a new phase in life. From conception to the postnatal period, we can experience a roller coaster of feelings and sometimes physical and emotional challenges for both the mum to be and for her partner. This is why having a positive mindset and attitude towards birth, and good pregnancy and postnatal care is equally important for both parents.
Pregnancy & Postnatal
From our Pregnancy & Parenthood Coordinator, Marcela de Leon Perez of mama gives light
Having a holistic and mindful approach whilst staying active and healthy can have an incredibly empowering and positive effect in life. In this sense, yoga is such a powerful tool as it helps us to be more connected to body and mind. Whether you are a seasoned practitioner or you recently discovered yoga, the effects that it can have on your pregnancy and life as a parent are countless.Through breath and movement, yoga teaches us to stay present, to draw our attention inwards, to be patient and to find comfort in those poses that we find challenging, and this is something that we can extrapolate to pregnancy, parenthood and life.
As a not-for-profit organisation, Meadowlark Yoga prides in promoting a sense of community and this includes the many mums and dads that visit us daily to practise yoga. Many of our teachers and staff are also parents of babies and young children, and of older children too! and therefore understand the challenges, worries, happiness and excitement that come with finding out that a baby is on the way and after the baby arrives.
With this in mind, we decided to create a space to further support mums and dads throughout the amazing journey that parenthood is, and to facilitate a network of support that can start during pregnancy and continue beyond it.
Book Now
Becoming a parent is a rite of passage. Regardless of this being your first or your last baby, it marks the beginning of a new phase in life. From conception to the postnatal period, we can experience a roller coaster of feelings and sometimes physical and emotional challenges for both the mum to be and for her partner. This is why having a positive mindset and attitude towards birth, and good pregnancy and postnatal care is equally important for both parents.
Having a holistic and mindful approach whilst staying active and healthy can have an incredibly empowering and positive effect in life. In this sense, yoga is such a powerful tool as it helps us to be more connected to body and mind. Whether you are a seasoned practitioner or you recently discovered yoga, the effects that it can have on your pregnancy and life as a parent are countless.Through breath and movement, yoga teaches us to stay present, to draw our attention inwards, to be patient and to find comfort in those poses that we find challenging, and this is something that we can extrapolate to pregnancy, parenthood and life.
As a not-for-profit organisation, Meadowlark Yoga prides in promoting a sense of community and this includes the many mums and dads that visit us daily to practise yoga. Many of our teachers and staff are also parents of babies and young children, and of older children too! and therefore understand the challenges, worries, happiness and excitement that come with finding out that a baby is on the way and after the baby arrives.
With this in mind, we decided to create a space to further support mums and dads throughout the amazing journey that parenthood is, and to facilitate a network of support that can start during pregnancy and continue beyond it.
Book Now
We offer unique courses led by experienced and qualified yoga teachers. These are aimed to support a healthy and mindful pregnancy, as well as mum and baby yoga courses. We also offer a variety of workshops which will continue to expand, to cover various subjects related to pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period.
Moon Circles
Jenny Lovatt
A beautiful monthly gathering focused on women support, trust and exploring femininity. A space for all self-identifying women to gather, hold space together, set intentions for the month ahead, reflect on the month past, talk, listen and simply Be together, as well as moving through some restorative yoga asanas that support our natural rhythms.
Book Now
Pregnancy Yoga
Kat Aydin
Breathing awareness, meditation techniques and a relaxation to keep you fit and healthy during your pregnancy. The exercises are specifically designed as gentle, strength building stretches to help you release tension and relax throughout your pregnancy.
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Mum & Baby Yoga
Joanne Ewen
Mum and baby can relax and go with the flow depending on the mood of the class. The format is relaxed and your baby takes priority; baby can chill out on the mat and watch you, join in, get fed, have a snooze or maybe just have a wee cry… whatever goes! This is a chance to get in shape, feel good and tone up. Yoga will help you get strong, flexible and also benefit from the relaxation of the practice.
Book Now
Moon Circles
Jenny Lovatt
A beautiful monthly gathering focused on women support, trust and exploring femininity. A space for all self-identifying women to gather, hold space together, set intentions for the month ahead, reflect on the month past, talk, listen and simply Be together, as well as moving through some restorative yoga asanas that support our natural rhythms.
Book Now
Pregnancy Yoga
Kat Aydin
Breathing awareness, meditation techniques and a relaxation to keep you fit and healthy during your pregnancy. The exercises are specifically designed as gentle, strength building stretches to help you release tension and relax throughout your pregnancy.
Book Now
Mum & Baby Yoga
Joanne Ewen
Mum and baby can relax and go with the flow depending on the mood of the class. The format is relaxed and your baby takes priority; baby can chill out on the mat and watch you, join in, get fed, have a snooze or maybe just have a wee cry… whatever goes! This is a chance to get in shape, feel good and tone up. Yoga will help you get strong, flexible and also benefit from the relaxation of the practice.
Book Now
Workshops
We will be offering workshops in the following topics and many more, so keep an eye on our website:
Coming Soon
Workshops
We will be offering workshops in the following topics and many more, so keep an eye on our website:
Coming Soon
Frequently Asked Questions
I am trying to conceive, can I practise yoga?
Yes. Yoga is for everyone, but as with every class, you need to listen to your intuition and your body and do what feels right for you and find the classes that better suit your needs and your mood. Get in touch with our Front of House staff to find out more about our classes.
I’m not pregnant yet, are there any women workshops I can attend?
Our Moon Circles are specifically developed to offer women a space to connect with their femininity and natural cycles, and this can be valuable when trying to conceive.
Why practise yoga during pregnancy?
Yoga can prepare your body for birth, not only physically but also mentally and emotionally. As well as keeping a fit and strong body, the regular practice of yoga helps us develop an inner sense of awareness with our body, our mind and our breath, as well as increasing the awareness of the presence of our growing baby or babies.
When can I start attending the pregnancy yoga classes?
Pregnant women can start attending our classes from 12 weeks of pregnancy. This is a guideline only, please consult with your health practitioner.
I have never practised yoga before, can I join the pregnancy yoga classes?
Absolutely! Many women discover yoga during pregnancy and continue to have a practice for life. Pregnancy offers us such a wonderful opportunity to draw inwards, to connect with ourselves, our body and our mind and yoga can beautifully support this process. The asanas (poses) and pranayama (breathing exercises) offered in our classes have been carefully adapted to make them appropriate for pregnant women.
I have been suffering from nausea, pelvic girdle pain (PGP), cramps, and/or other pregnancy related ailments. Can I still join the classes?
Yes! Your teacher is qualified and experienced and she will adapt the exercises for each women’s particular pregnancy. It is important that you speak to your teacher before the course starts and make her aware of anything you consider important with regards to your pregnancy. Your teacher will create a space in which all mums to be feel equally included and enjoy the benefits of yoga as appropriate for their bodies and pregnancies. It is also important that you discuss it with your Midwife or Obstetrician before starting any exercise during pregnancy.
I’m a dad to be. How can I support my partner during pregnancy, labour and childbirth?
Birth partners have such a crucial role in helping the mother to be feel comfortable, safe and at ease. We will be developing birth preparation workshops for couples and also workshops for dads to be where you could meet and chat with some like minded men and learn more about how to support your partner and how can yoga asanas and breathing techniques can be used during pregnancy, labour and childbirth.
Do you offer any birth preparation workshops?
Yes. We are working hard on preparing birth preparation workshops for couples. These are being developed with our resident Birth & Postnatal Doula, Marcela de León Pérez from Mama Gives Light and will focus on offering a space to explore the use of asana (poses) and pranayama (breath) to help mum and partner to feel confident, empowered, connected and ready to embrace childbirth. We are also working on developing workshops for dads to be, led by Simon Kirkness, one of our teachers and a dad himself.
Why practise yoga after pregnancy?
Becoming a parent can bring many unexpected challenges. Yoga can help us keep a calm and mindful sense of being, as well as supporting the mother to gradually recover after the birth. Practising yoga regularly has many benefits such as helping you strengthen the bond with your baby, help your body and mind recover after the birth, help you practise mindfulness and patience, and can even help you sleep better!
When can I start attending the mum & baby yoga classes?
We recommend that you attend our classes after you have had your 6 week postnatal check and after 10-12 weeks if you had a cesarean birth. This is a guideline only, please consult with your health practitioner.
I’m a dad. Can I attend the mum & baby yoga classes?
Our classes are only currently aimed for mums and babies. However, we will be offering monthly dad & baby yoga classes. Watch this space!
Until when can I continue attending the mum & baby yoga classes?
We recommend that babies attend from 0-12 month. Our classes are not recommended for when your baby is mobile/walking.
