Home | Private Tuition | York Listings | Baby Yoga | Pregnancy Yoga | FAQ | Links

Anna Semlyen BWY Dip, MA PPE (Oxon), MSc Health Econ. Tel: 01904 654355, Email: anna@yogainyork.co.uk

The Tuesday 7 - 8 pm pregnancy yoga class at the Friends Meeting House is £6.00 per hour. You can book in advance if you are under 14 weeks pregnant or just turn up without booking if you are 14+ weeks pregnant. After one class, join for 7 weeks (£42) or until 37 weeks when you can pay as you go.

Yoga is recommended exercise from 14 weeks after conception. Keeping mobile through gentle stretching and breathing plus relaxing helps to prevent, or minimise pregnancy-related problems such as backache, sciatica, swollen limbs, constipation and insomnia.

The class aims to:

• Improve the experience of pregnancy, birth and motherhood.
• Promote friendships for ongoing support.

• How to stay comfortable as the body changes.
• Pelvic floor exercises.
• Breathing to control anxiety and pain.
• Optimal foetal positioning for birth (baby's spine at mother's front).
• Active labour positions.

Anna Semlyen is a mother. She has practiced yoga since 1991 and has taught it since 1996. Anna has benefited from In Service Training in 2004 with Gillian Russell (British Wheel of Yoga pregnancy module teacher). She has taught baby and parents yoga since 2002.

The class is a support group. We share experiences and chat during class. Together we encourage respect for our changing bodies, emotions and unborn children.

Students receive handouts on:

• Contact details of participants (optional).
• Pregnancy yoga postures and advice on modifying postures for pregnancy.
• Pelvic floor exercises.
• The Gate Theory of Pain (ways to minimise pain).
• TENs machine hire - £20 for 6 weeks from Anna Semlyen 654355
• Ujjayi breathing.
• Active birth postures.
• Maternity care rights within the NHS and Changing Childbirth.
• Pregnancy and new born services listing of York.
• Baby whats on listing of York.

We have had speakers on independent midwifery, water birth, natural birth with ujjayi breathing as pain relief, cloth nappies, massage in pregnancy, baby massage, breast feeding, Children's Information Service, childcare, toddler groups, spiritual aspects of parenting, TENs, breast feeding, doula work and alternative therapies such as reflexology, massage and chiropractic. Women sometimes return to tell the class about their birth experience.

You are advised to wear loose, comfortable clothing and bring a warm blanket and yoga mat if you have one. There are 10 mats to loan out at class and many blocks. Eat only lightly in the hour before class (eg fruit). Drink water whenever you feel thirsty.

Baby, toddler and parents yoga is the natural follow on class from 6 weeks after birth.

"I've really enjoyed all the classes and found them very relaxing. It has been so helpful to hear lots of advice about active birth positions, breast feeding etc. These finer details have not been covered at the parentcraft group at the Hospital. I will defintely join your parent and baby yoga class." Lisa Barry

"I had a spectacularly good birth. It made such a difference doing yoga. When I came home I immediately felt much stronger than with my first baby when I didn't exercise, especially my pelvic floor. My baby was well positioned. I felt good about being proactive and had a comforatable pregnancy thanks to yoga." Pamela Thorby

Home > Pregnancy Yoga

Drawings: John Scott Ashtanga.