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
Join our experienced team of teachers throughout your pregnancy, postnatal and parenting years.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.
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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.
Mum & Baby Yoga
Joanne Ewen
Both mum and baby can relax & go with the flow in these classes. Each week is different, depending on the mood of the class. The format is relaxed & casual 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 cry…! This is a chance to get some much-needed stretching out, feel good and tone up. Yoga will help you get strong, flexible and also benefit from the relaxation of the practice. These classes are available in blocks.
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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, right up until the birth. These classes are available in blocks.
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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
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 at reception to find out more about our classes.
I’m not pregnant yet, are there any women’s workshops I can attend?
Our Becoming Moon: Women’s Circles are specifically developed to offer women a space to connect with their femininity & 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 in the first instance.
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 a regular Mysore Ashtanga practice; can I continue this during pregnancy?
We have very specific guidance for pregnant Mysore practitioners; please contact us for more details.
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 to play, in helping the mother-to-be feel comfortable, safe and at ease. We are working on developing and bringing birth preparation workshops for couples, where you could meet and chat with some like-minded people, learn more about how to support your partner and how can yoga asanas & 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 Pregnancy & PostNatal teacher, Kat Aydin, Mums & Babies teacher Joanne Ewen and Birth & Postnatal Doula, Marcela de León Pérez to 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. Keep an eye on our workshops page for more info and do contact us periodically to see what’s on.
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 in the first instance.
I’m a dad. Can I attend the mum & baby yoga classes?
Our classes are currently only aimed at mums and babies.
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.
