First time for Yoga? Use code “YOGAFREE” to try one free class
offer for pregnant mothers only – apply for professional observation</span
BREATHE – RELAX – UNWIND – RELEASE
Evening is the best time for yoga, home the best place
Find inner stillness and prepare for birth
Join Janet Balaskas’ regular online pregnancy yoga classes, and prepare your body and mind for birth in a small and relaxing group. Learn from home, guided by the calming presence of a uniquely experienced teacher.
| Time | Wednesday Evenings: 6:30pm – 8:00pm | |
| Location | Live streaming via Zoom | |
| Cost | £12 / class for a block of 6 or more. £14 / class for drop in sessions. If you can’t make a session you have booked, you can reschedule anytime up to 24 hours before in your account. |
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What people are saying
“The relaxation and breathing techniques you taught me in yoga kept my 24 hour labour a tranquil serene, meditative and calm one!!”
“Thank you Janet for your calm, rational and truly helpful advice provided in the yoga sessions I looked forward to each week. They helped me to maintain calm and focus and led to a comfortable and instinctive natural birth!! Your classes, out of many things I tried to do to prepare for labour, helped me and stuck in my head the most- so thank you!”
“Many thanks for your wonderful class this evening which was very relaxing and the highlight of my week – so great to be at home and not to have to travel there and back.”
“The yoga with you has been so fantastic and been a total life saver during what has been a very physically hard pregnancy”
“I went into labour after the yoga class! Contractions were very intense very quickly but I managed to stay home until 2am, we arrived at hospital at 2:30am and our baby was born 50mins after! A water birth again. I sometimes felt overwhelmed, but I managed, so a big thank you again for the yoga classes and your precious advices, I am 100% convinced I wouldn’t have had the same births if I hadn’t come to your classes.”
“The yoga classes were superb and gave me so much to take with me into labour. Having had this experience I can’t imagine how women manage without it. I felt calm and in control most of the time. Even at the stormiest moments my yoga breathing was a life line.”
“I’m sure that all the breathing and relaxing had helped my baby when I carried her. Now when I rest at night between my breast feeding I remember your Buddha rest pose, noticing the pause at the end of the out breath. Very calming.”
“I did a course of yoga with Janet and the tips I got were priceless during labour. I had a 5 hour labour – the midwives couldn’t believe how quickly this first birth was going!”
Frequently Asked Questions
What equipment will I need?
- A yoga mat
- A few cushions and a bolster if you have one
- A folded blanket to kneel on
- A yoga belt – you can use a soft belt or long scarf
- A 65cm inflated birth ball – you can use the seat of a chair or sofa, edge of a bed with cushions as an alternative.
- Yoga blocks are useful but not essential.
How should I set up my room for the class?
Find a space where you will not be disturbed, and the lighting and temperature are comfortable. Arrange your mat parallel to the screen if possible, so that you can see the teacher clearly on your device and she can see you when lying down on your left side. Have all the equipment you need close by. For standing postures, you may need an empty wall, a door or other surface you can lean forward onto.
Do I need any previous yoga experience?
No, you can join as a beginner. You will never be asked to do anything outside your comfort zone. The pace is slow, and the class is gentle so you can extend your limits gradually.
What if I do have experience of yoga and/or a regular practise?
The class is graded, so that you are free to extend more fully in any of the postures to the full position and will be shown how to breathe and relax into them. You will learn which postures to focus on for pregnancy and how they relate to labour and birth.
How will the teacher know about any special needs I may have?
Before your first class you are asked to fill in an information form, which is submitted to Janet. She will contact you if she has any concerns or special guidance for you. She will also invite you to join a few minutes early to introduce yourself and ask any questions.
What style of yoga is taught?
This is Hatha Yoga inspired by Vanda Scaravelli who was herself taught by BKS Iyengar and then went on to revolutionise her teaching by including awareness of gravity and the breath as key elements of yoga practise. This approach is ideally suited to pregnancy and preparation for birth and has been developed to a fine art by Janet Balaskas.
Will this class be safe if I have back pain, pelvic pain, rib pain or sacro-iliac pain?
Pain in these areas is common in pregnancy as your baby becomes heavier and your joints soften. After a few sessions you will find your posture improves, your body starts to loosen up, aches and pains are eased, and you feel more relaxed and energised. Janet will advise you if there is anything you should not do and suggest alternatives.
Should I eat before the class?
It’s a good idea to have a light snack and a drink about 2 hours before the class and then a bigger meal afterwards.
How can I ask a question or contact Janet?
Janet opens every class early and may also stay on for a few minutes after class. You can also email her at jb@activebirthcentre.com.
Our Cancellation and Refund policy
You can change the dates of yoga classes you have booked up to 24 hours prior to the class. To do this, just log in to your account on rapido bookings (our booking system) and select a new date. Yoga classes are non-refundable, except in extenuating circumstances such as admission to hospital or baby being born early.
