Birthlight Birthing Lightly Yoga - Yoga for Maternity Professionals
Diploma - Part 1
Overview
Birthlight Birthing Lightly Yoga incorporates carefully selected and long tested classic yoga practices for the specific benefit of pregnant women, women in labour and new mothers. Practices harmonise body, mind, emotions and spirit as one, with the aim of enhancing the enjoyment of this special time and experience in a woman’s life and at the start of her baby’s life.
Birthing Lightly Yoga has been developed through working with pregnant women, birthing women and new mothers for many years. Francoise Freedman has a debt of gratitude to Amazonian rainforest midwives and all the women who showed her how birth can be.
Birthing Lightly Yoga gives women practical resources for ‘birthing lightly’, making space in themselves and using the breath to ‘exhale push’ their babies without undue strain.
Birthing Lightly Yoga is informed by cutting edge medical and scientific research but its hallmark is simplicity and accessibility of all practices to all pregnant women, whatever their state of fitness, their condition, their cultural background. At Birthlight, we take pride in translating research findings into simple and fun movements that ease bodies and produce delight.
Birthing Lightly Yoga supports hands off midwifery and facilitates the work of midwives by giving pregnant and labouring women the understanding and skills they need in order to be positively involved in their personal experience, however the process unfolds at the time. Rather than information, women take body memories and awareness from the antenatal classes to their labour space: this is how yoga is effective.
NICE Guidelines CG62 Antenatal Care: full guideline (corrected June 2008) (Pg 82 3.3 Antenatal Classes)
With reference to the above, Birthing Lightly Yoga incorporates the ethos behind effective antenatal classes by offering social, emotional, psychological and physical awareness of pregnancy, providing good preparation for birth and the postnatal period. It encourages self confidence to approach birth positively. Also within NICE Guidelines (Pg 118-119 5.10) beginning or continuing a moderate course of exercise during pregnancy is associated with positive outcomes.
Research has shown central oxytocin supports sleep, reduces anxiety and increases a woman’s pain coping strategy McNabb Mary (2003). Central oxytocin levels increase with activities such as yoga and meditation.
Who is the course for?
This programme has been specifically designed for Midwives, Doctors, Childbirth Educators, Obstetric Physiotherapists, Maternity Support Workers and Doulas who have an interest in Yoga and practice the principles of Yoga.
Aims and Objectives
Part 1 – Certificate Level
- Provide resources to design safe and effective Birthlight Yoga classes for the antenatal periods, intrapartal periods and the early postnatal period
- Offer a standard and well tested set of adapted postures and breathing practices that are conducive to optimal fitness in pregnancy and that will facilitate childbirth and ease postnatal recovery
- Assist implementation of Birthlight Yoga within a publicly funded birthing unit
Course Contents Include:
Day One – “How Yoga can Support Normal Birth“
- Yoga in a nutshell
- Classic set of Poses
- Anatomy and muscles involved with childbirth revisited through poses
- Importance of Uvula, Respiratory and Pelvic diaphragms
- Breathing Techniques
- Relaxation
- Class structure
Day Two – “4 Yogic Trimesters of Pregnancy”
- What are the four yogic trimesters of pregnancy?
- How the poses can be adapted throughout pregnancy
- Chair and Ball yoga
- Breathing Techniques
- Relaxation
- Practicalities of providing the Classes
- Enrolment forms
- Contra-indication for Birthlight Yoga
Day Three - “Yoga for common ailments pre/postnatal”
“Recuperative Yoga for New Mothers”
- Yoga Therapy for common ailments of pregnancy
- Postnatal yoga; looking at:
- Important muscles involved
- Key points after birth
- Principles for practice
- Discussion on Diploma Requirements
- Case Studies
- Course Work
- Book Review
- Written and Practical Assessment
Further Training
All Birthlight Part 1 course holders are warmly encouraged to continue developing their practice and teaching by undertaking case studies and coursework, which will lead to the Birthlight Birthing Lightly Diploma, which is the full teaching qualification recognized for purposes of insurance and professional accreditation. It has been submitted for accreditation to national and international professional boards.
Course tutors are available for support and advice if needed while you are working towards your Diploma. We also have an online support environment to provide peer support and access to resources to help you work towards your Diploma qualification. The Birthlight buddy and watchdog schemes offer additional sources of support.
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