This in depth, comprehensive 85-hour, Yoga Alliance certified training has been developed by three experienced yoga instructors with extensive knowledge and experience in the fields of Yoga, Medicine and Childbirth. This training is open to certified Yoga Instructors, and any other individuals who want to deepen their skills and knowledge in this area. Students will learn to confidently and responsibly lead prenatal students in safe classes designed for all three trimesters of a healthy and active pregnancy, as well as address the needs of the postnatal student. Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the unique needs of their pregnant and postnatal yoga practitioners.

Teaching Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga is an immensely rewarding job! It is an honor to hold space for individuals and work with families during their childbearing year; helping them build confidence, reduce stress, increase a sense of health and well being all while building community with other expectant parents.

Schedule: February 10th 2018 – April 22nd 2018

Tuition:

• $1,250
• $1,100 when paid in full by 12/31/17

* Deposit of $250 is required with your application. Final payment is due by 12/10/18
Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training and Certification:

Upon completion of all elements of this 85-hour program, students will be awarded a certificate documenting that they have completed all elements and requirements and are eligible to teach prenatal and postnatal yoga classes. This certificate may be presented to Yoga Alliance as proof of completion and application for RPYT (registered prenatal yoga teacher) certification. See Yoga Alliance Requirements.

Experience and Expertise:

Our Prenatal and Postnatal Teacher Training is based in the Viniyoga lineage, a style of yoga which focuses on adapting the tools of yoga to individuals for each stage of life. The program instructors are experts in modification and adaptation of asana, pranayama and meditation to benefit a wide variety of conditions and needs. This individualized approach and focus on adaptation make Viniyoga is the ideal style of yoga for prenatal and postnatal students.

This prenatal yoga teacher training is unique. Kate, Patti and Tracy bring a wide range of knowledge and experience, not only in prenatal yoga but also in advanced anatomy, physiology, knowledge of pregnancy, birth and a wide range of other techniques to help pregnant individuals get in touch with their bodies, understand the mechanics of movement that impact fetal positioning, yoga nidra and in-depth sequencing and cueing of both pre and postnatal yoga classes. The teaching team’s combined experience gives them the the ability to teach much more than just prenatal yoga. We train teachers to help people find empowerment, strength, resiliency and deep peace needed for labor and birth.

About the teaching staff:

Patti Shelton
I’m a rare combination: a doctor, a yogini, and a mom. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology, as well as a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree, both from the University of Washington. I’m a generalist, not a specialist; I’ve trained in all of the areas of medicine, and have delivered quite a few babies. I’ve also done several yoga teacher trainings, including two 200-hour trainings, children’s yoga, and prenatal yoga. I’ve been teaching yoga since 2012. I’m also a mom to two beautiful children, Isaac and Sophia.

Along with teaching yoga classes, I lead yoga retreats around the world, and teach many yoga teacher trainings and workshops. My book, The Yoga Doctor, is available on Amazon.

Tracy Coons
I’m Tracy, a yoga instructor, yoga studio owner, birth doula, birth educator and mother of five boys. I have been teaching yoga for a decade but only began teaching prenatal yoga 6 years ago. Those classes quickly became my favourites to teach and they led me down the path of birth work and birth education. (I even did a brief stint in midwifery school before deciding it wasn’t for me and dropping out.) I’m a self-describe Birth Nerd and love all things related to pregnancy, labour and birth. As a doula I have attended over 60 births (not including the births of my own children!) and never cease to be amazed by the transformative power of the experience of growing and birthing a child. I work with individuals and couples during their childbearing year, sharing the tools of Yoga to help them achieve a healthy pregnancy and positive, satisfying birth experience. In addition to prenatal yoga training I have also attended workshops with Gail Tully from Spinning Babies, Fiona Hallinan & Jenny Blyth of Birthwork Australia and am I am certified in the BOLD for Birth Method of Yoga Nidra.

Kate Hildyard
Hello, I am Kate. I am firstly a mother of two beautiful kind spirited and loving little boys, Max and Aaron and wife to my wonderful and strong minded husband Bruce. I am a yoga therapist and Yoga educator and have completed my training and teachings in Ireland, India, and the US.

As a prenatal teacher, trainer and mother my role is to provide my students with the essential tools and know-how to incorporate everything that they learn on their mat into their everyday life and role as a Parent and Mother. As a trainer I want to provide my students with the know-how of providing support to their student, providing an environment where the students feels safe to ask questions, share information and leave the space feeling cared for, relaxed and connected to baby. I believe that it is important to encourage our pre and postnatal students to embrace and accept where they are today. To be happy and thankful for their accomplishments in developing and bringing a baby into the world. To celebrate being a parent and mother and that it is ok to accept and embrace all of their feelings in any given day and who they are on that day. To show and teach them how to sit in the uncomfortable and embrace the learning derived from that both on and off the mat.

In my teaching, trainings and therapy session my purpose is to educate and support. I achieve this by providing information and the skills to cultivate awareness, mindfulness, empowerment, acceptance and the courage to let go. As with all of these things what you bring as the teacher to the practice and the space should be supportive to the student. And by that I mean bringing into the practice an open mind, flexibility, non-judgement, support, knowledge and experience and your ears, your listening skills.

One of the key roles of a prenatal yoga instructor is to be flexible in their class plans and in the teaching of their classes. You will go in with the intention of delivering a particular type of class, but find that after the discussion that have arisen in the opening circle you may have to adjust your class plan dramatically. Or it may come up in class that a student or students may become fatigued or dizzy and you may need to change your plan to all seated work!!!!