Yoga Garden of San Francisco

A Community centered Iyengar Yoga School since 1998.

Prenatal Yoga, Postnatal Yoga, Kids' Yoga, Childbirth and Parenting Education

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Prenatal Yoga

Yoga is a comprehensive and safe form of exercise during pregnancy and postpartum. At Yoga Garden of San Francisco we teach in the Iyengar method, which is unique in that it uses a variety of yoga props so that mother (and baby) obtain the maximum benefit from postures without any strain.

Prenatal Yoga: Pregnancy, Labor and Birth

Prenatal yoga links postures (asana) and breathing exercises (pranayama) to create awareness of your own mind, body and spirit, and the spirit of your baby. Yoga is ideal preparation for giving birth. Our prenatal yoga program is taught in a way that will help you access your own intuitive understanding of birth.

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prenatal yoga san francisco
Prenatal Student Naomi Fiss demonstrating Virabhadrasana 2 (Warrior 2) using the horse just a few days before giving birth to Noa.

Yoga postures during pregnancy will strengthen the uterus and pelvic muscles, improve circulation, aid digestion, exercise the spinal column, relieve fatigue and tension and revitalize the internal organs. Yoga can also alleviate many of the common discomforts of pregnancy such as nausea, constipation, varicose veins, swelling, back pain and sciatica

Breathing practice during pregnancy opens the chest and helps to improve circulation in both mother and baby, ensuring a better supply of oxygen to the blood. It also calms the nerves and gives the mother greater control of her breathing during labor.

Safety Guidelines
All pregnant women are welcome to attend the class, whether you have a regular practice or want to start yoga during pregnancy. It is very important to inform the teacher of any complications (current or past) or any treatment that you are receiving.

During pregnancy ligaments around the joints become loose and soft. Care should therefore be taken not to overstretch the body. The abdomen should remain relaxed and soft at all times to allow room for the baby.

Pregnancy can make you feel more tired than usual. It is essential to be aware of this and try not to do things to the point of fatigue. If you feel tired after yoga or any other physical exercise, it means that the practice has been faulty or that you have done too much. Signals such as pains, stitches, cramps, nausea, dizziness, headaches and contractions should never be felt during or after yoga practice. Yoga generates energy, rather than dissipating it.

Suggested further reading
Yoga: A Gem for Women, Geeta S. Iyengar(Allied Publishers)

Inner Beauty, Inner Light. Yoga for Pregnant Women, Frederick Leboyer (Newmarket Press)

Click here for a schedule of Prenatal, Postnatal, and Parent Toddler classes.

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