You’ve just started teaching yoga. You’ve memorized your sequences, your playlist is set, and you’re finally feeling confident at the front of the room. And then… a visibly pregnant student walks in.
Your heart skips a beat.
What do I say? Can she do this pose? Am I liable if something goes wrong?
You’re not alone. Most yoga teachers—especially newer ones—have that moment of panic when a student with a visible difference, like pregnancy, injury, or disability, shows up. You were trained on “modifications,” maybe covered pregnancy in a few bullet points during your 200-hour training, but you didn’t get to feel what it’s like to teach bodies that don’t match the demo.
The Unknown Feels Risky
When you haven’t worked with a variety of bodies, they feel unpredictable. And fear creeps in when we don’t know what to do—so we default to avoidance. “Maybe she’ll just modify on her own,” or “I hope she’s done yoga before.”
But that’s not really teaching, is it?
What If You Could See the Body Differently?
The truth is, pregnancy isn’t a mystery. It’s not a disability or a limitation—it’s just another version of a human body going through change. When we take the time to study, to learn the physiological changes, the emotional landscape, and the biomechanics of a pregnant person’s body, it stops being scary.
It becomes fascinating.
Continuing education—especially prenatal-specific training—doesn’t just teach you what to avoid. It teaches you how to see. You begin to read shape and direction rather than fitting someone into a pose. You stop asking “Can she do triangle?” and start noticing, “What’s the intention here? What needs support?”
Shape and Direction Over Aesthetics
The heart of smart, inclusive teaching lies in understanding shape and direction. Whether your student is pregnant, postpartum, recovering from injury, or simply having a wobbly day, the bones tell the story. The energy of a pose comes from its direction, not how it looks on the outside.
A prenatal student in Warrior II might need a shorter stance. They might take more space, support their pelvis differently, or skip certain transitions—but the essence of the pose remains. Strength, direction, and awareness don’t disappear. They just show up in new ways.
Yoga Is Never One-Size-Fits-All
When we treat all students like they’re supposed to fit a mold, we miss the whole point. Yoga is about meeting people where they are and supporting them with clarity, creativity, and compassion.
And that means not being afraid to adapt.
It also means asking for help, investing in your education, and learning the skills that make you a real teacher—not just someone who recites cues.
Education Helps Replace Fear with Curiosity
Mélie Purdon giving a Downward Facing Dog assist on a pregnant yogi
The more you know, the less you fear. Once you understand what’s happening in a pregnant body, you don’t tiptoe around her. You offer options confidently. You hold space respectfully. You invite her to experience yoga with agency and support—not with a spotlight on what she can’t do.
So, are you still afraid of the pregnant yogi?
If yes, that’s okay. But don’t stay afraid. Get curious. Study. Ask questions. Seek out teachers who’ve walked the path before you.
Because when you learn to see differently, you teach differently.
And your students—all of them—deserve that.
Ready to Get Started?
Join me for our next Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training Immersion in Hoboken, NJ on June 20, 21, and 22. You’ll gain hands-on experience and leave with a toolkit to support your students with clarity and confidence.
Or, if you’re looking for flexibility, enroll in the self-paced, online 85-hour Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training with YogaRenew.
And if you want to see prenatal yoga in action, come move with me in our LIVE weekly Prenatal Yoga class every Saturday at 9:30am ET on the YogaRenew app.
Because the more we learn, the less we fear—and the more skillfully we serve.
