AIM OF COURSE:

This comprehensive course is designed to educate Dru Yoga graduates in the knowledge and practical skills to confidently and safely teach yoga classes to pregnant women. We will examine the most common concerns yoga teachers have when embarking into this special area of teaching and demonstrate the fulfilling role of a Dru prenatal yoga teacher. This training explores how to empower women to trust in the miracle of birth and utilise the yogic techniques to face the challenges of pregnancy, labour and birth.
 
There are three weekends:
Stage 1    18th/19th February 2012
Stage 2    18th/19th May 2012
Stage 3    6th/7th October 2012

Venue: Ramada Hotel, Piccadilly Plaza, MANCHESTER, M1 4PH

DURATION:

Prenatal training will run over a period of three separate weekends. You will be encouraged to start teaching prenatal classes immediately after completing the first weekend and are required to have at least 8 weeks of practical experience before attending the second level.

COURSE WILL INCLUDE:

Fundamental principles
•    safety
•    energetic effects of pregnancy
•    creating a nurturing and safe environment
•    importance of touch
•    social contact
•    honouring of pregnancy

Beneficial practices to establish during pregnancy
•    asanas and sequences
•    most effective breathing practices for pregnancy and labour
•    relaxation techniques specific to pregnancy
•    specific meditation practices for prenatal women
•    developing concentration skills
•    affirmations to change unhelpful emotional patterns

Maintaining optimal health and wellbeing throughout pregnancy
•    learn to balance hormonal and emotional fluctuations
•    develop skills for dealing with the effects of stress during pregnancy and labour
•    effective self-help tools to ease back pain and many other pregnancy related aches and problems

Teaching methods
•    catering for pregnant women in a general yoga class
•    alignment and modifications for lying, sitting, standing – using a chair, wall, partner, how to identify special needs of different students to accommodate inherent changes that pregnancy brings

Anatomy and physiology for pregnancy and childbirth
•    changes to and demands on the musculo-skeletal frame
•    strengthening core stability muscles including pelvic floor
•    ways to enhance optimal foetal positioning

Preparing for childbirth
•    Running a partner class specially for birthing support people - sharing a variety of pain relieving techniques, partner massage and partner stretches

Postnatal
•    Guidelines on a gentle home programme during the first 6 weeks after the birth of the baby – what to focus on – Do’s and Don’ts
•    Designing postnatal classes – key principles to help the body restore and strengthen, pelvic organs to reposition and new mums to have a social opportunity to share with each other

Getting started
•    lesson themes
•    useful references and contacts
•    setting up classes
•    networking with mid-wives and other groups

ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS
Practical assessment will be ongoing. There will be guided practical teaching exercises at every stage of the course with tutors observing and providing feedback.

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS
1. A case study – following the journey of a mother as she progresses through the pregnancy.
2. Designing lesson plans for three specific groups or individuals.
3. Required reading and reflective study

CERTIFICATE
On completion of all the requirements you will be awarded a post graduate certificate in teaching Dru prenatal yoga.