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Pregnancy class

Pregnancy & Yoga

Yoga is an ideal form of exercise during pregnancy and it can help you relax and enjoy your pregnancy.

The Iyengar method is unique in that it uses a variety of yoga props to assist students so that mother and baby obtain the maximum benefit from postures without any strain.

You will find that both the physical postures (asanas) and the breathing exercises (pranayama) are ideal mind-body preparations for the birth.

Asanas exercise the spinal column, lessening lower back pain and strengthen the pelvic floor. The cavity in the pelvic region is expanded, creating space inside the uterus, ensuring there is both proper blood circulation and adequate room for the baby to move. The asanas also relieve tiredness and tension and revitalise the internal organs.

Pranayama opens the chest and helps to improve circulation in both mother and baby, ensuring a proper supply of oxygen to the blood. It also helps to calm the nerves and enables the mother to be in greater control of her breathing during labour.

Post-natal practice stimulates the pituitary gland, promoting a healthy supply of breast milk. Asanas will help abdominal and pelvic muscles return to their former shape and condition. They will also strengthen the entire body, and specifically the nervous system.

Tuesday, 6.30pm - 8.00pm with Johanna Heckmann-Mohan
This class is done on a course basis and you will need to book in advance. Previous Iyengar Yoga practice required.

6 weeks session will cost £54.00 (members) and £63.00 pounds (non-members). Westminster Rescard
holders get £3 off.

Dates for the current course are: 13 December 2005 ~ 24 January 2006 (no class on 27 December)

Next start date is: 31 January ~ 7 March 2006
Booking opens: 17 January 2006

Saturday, 4.00pm - 5.30pm with Lorraine McConnon
This class is a drop in class so there is no need to book in advance.
This class will close at the end of the year.
Cost: £9.00 (members); £10.50 (non-members)

Membership: £36 per year; £13 for three months

All pregnant women are welcome to attend the class, whether you are in regular practice or want to start yoga. If you are new to yoga or have a history of miscarriage, you should not start yoga until you are 14 weeks pregnant. It is very important to inform the teacher of any complications (current or past) or any treatment that you are receiving.

Safety Guidelines

Pregnancy is a natural state in a woman’s life. It does however bring a great change throughout the body which should be respected.

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 dissipates it.

Important notice:
If you are new to yoga, the pregnancy class is the only class you should attend, for your and your baby’s safety and you should not start Pregnancy classes in the early (up to 14 weeks) or late (after 28 weeks) stages of pregnancy.

If you have practised yoga for one year or longer, it may be possible to attend a regular class, provided you make a prior arrangement with the teacher. Please ask the office for a list of teachers who can accept pregnant students in their classes.

It is very important, however, to be aware of the fact that between 10 and 14 week the risk of miscarriage is the greatest, and therefore you should not practise yoga at all during this time if you are a new student, and practise only restorative poses if you have done yoga for one year or more.

Once you have had your baby, you can restart your post-natal practice at about six weeks after a normal delivery, but should wait about three months before coming to a regular class.

Suggested further reading:
Yoga: A Gem for Women by Geeta S Iyengar published by Allied Publishers Limited (available at the Institute £12.95)
Inner Beauty, Inner Light. Yoga for Pregnant Women by Frederick Leboyer published by Newmarket Press (available at the Institute £14.95)

About the teachers
Johanna Heckmann-Mohan:
isa qualified Iyengar yoga teacher with many years of teaching. She has spent a lot of time studying in Pune, India with the Iyengar family.

Lorraine McConnon:
qualified as an Iyengar yoga teacher in 1986. Like many Iyengar yoga teachers she has continued to study with some of the world's leading teachers, both at home and abroad, including BKS Iyengar and Geeta Iyengar. Lorraine has a son.


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With Korinna Pilafidis-Williams

Classes will run once a week on Mondays from 5.00pm to 5.55pm.

current term finishes on 5th December.

Next term starts 16th January 2006 and runs until 20th March (no class on 13th March). The course costs £49.50.

We cannot accept children aged 6 or under. Those over 14 are welcome to join the adult classes.

Courses must be paid in advance. You can call us on 020-7624 3080 to book with a credit card or you can send us a cheque. Cheques should be made payable to "Iyengar Yoga Institute" and sent to:

Iynegar Yoga Institute,
223A Randolph Avenue,
London W9 1NL.

If you wish to receive an acknowledgement of your payment, please indicate this. Please include the name and age of your child, your name and a contact daytime phone number.

If your child has any health problems, please contact the office. Sorry, we can only take bookings for a whole course and not for individual classes.


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Pranayama

Remedial Course

There are currently two remedial classes at the Institute:

Monday: 4.15-5.45pm
Tuesday: 12.30-2.00pm

Students are welcome to attend by appointment only. Yoga practice is tailored to each individual's specific needs after a full assessment of the student. Please do not turn up without an appointment. It is ran as 6 week course and the cost is : £60.00 (members) or £69.00 (non-members).

At present due to the backlog of applications for the remedial class, we have decided to limit the range of conditions we can accept. We are presently taking students with: knee, back, neck and shoulder problems, sciatica and ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis).

In order to go on to the course, you will need to complete a medical form which is available from the office or by clicking here. You can call us on 020-7624 3080 or e-mail us to have the form sent out to you.

Important Medical Information

Regular classes are not suitable for those with certain medical conditions. Please inform the Institute and your teacher BEFORE starting classes if you have any of the following conditions:

• High Blood Pressure

• Heart disease or any heart problem

• Epilepsy including Petit Mal

• Cancer or benign tumours

• Diabetes

• Meniere's disease

• Detached retina

• AIDS

• MS (multiple sclerosis)

• ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis)

• If you have recently had an operation

• If you are pregnant or are undergoing IVF treatment

Having any of these conditions does not mean that you cannot practise yoga or that it will not be able to help you. We have a special remedial class where experienced teachers give individual tuition to students to help certain conditions.

If you are in any doubt or have any concerns about your ability to do yoga, please contact the Institute.


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Iyengar Yoga Institute Maida Vale, 223a Randolph Avenue, London W9 1NL, tel: 020 7624 3080, email: office@iyi.org.uk