Youāve just started teaching yoga. Youāve memorized your sequences, your playlist is set, and youāre finally feeling confident at the front of the room. And thenā¦ 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?
Youāre not alone. Most yoga teachersāespecially newer onesāhave 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 didnāt get to feel what itās like to teach bodies that donāt match the demo.
The Unknown Feels Risky
When you havenāt worked with a variety of bodies, they feel unpredictable. And fear creeps in when we donāt know what to doāso we default to avoidance. āMaybe sheāll just modify on her own,ā or āI hope sheās done yoga before.ā
But thatās not really teaching, is it?
What If You Could See the Body Differently?
The truth is, pregnancy isnāt a mystery. Itās not a disability or a limitationāitās 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 personās body, it stops being scary.
It becomes fascinating.
Continuing educationāespecially prenatal-specific trainingādoesnāt 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 āCan she do triangle?ā and start noticing, āWhatās the intention here? What needs support?ā
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 transitionsābut the essence of the pose remains. Strength, direction, and awareness donāt disappear. They just show up in new ways.
Yoga Is Never One-Size-Fits-All
When we treat all students like theyāre 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 teacherānot just someone who recites cues.
Education Helps Replace Fear with Curiosity
MĆ©lie Purdon giving a Downward Facing Dog assist on a pregnant yogi
The more you know, the less you fear. Once you understand whatās happening in a pregnant body, you donāt tiptoe around her. You offer options confidently. You hold space respectfully. You invite her to experience yoga with agency and supportānot with a spotlight on what she canāt do.
So, are you still afraid of the pregnant yogi?
If yes, thatās okay. But donāt stay afraid. Get curious. Study. Ask questions. Seek out teachers whoāve walked the path before you.
Because when you learn to see differently, you teach differently.
And your studentsāall of themādeserve that.
Ready to Get Started?
Join me for our next Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training Immersion in Hoboken, NJ on June 20, 21, and 22. Youāll 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 fearāand the more skillfully we serve.
This pose is very popular in yoga sequences, especially in vinyasa yoga. The benefits of Downward Facing Dog include stretching the hamstrings, calves, shoulders and hands while strengthening the legs and arms. It also makes your feel energized and helps calm the brain which makes it an ideal pose to relieve stress. This classic yoga pose can be practiced pretty much anywhere however, practicing it on the sand can allow your body to sink even deeper into it. Begin in tabletop position with your knees stacked directly under your hips and your wrists stacked under your shoulders. Exhale while tucking your toes and lifting your knees off the sand. Spread your fingers and press your hands down in front of you while straightening your back as much as possible. Gently bend your knees, one at a time, working your way into your own version of Downward Facing Dog. Bring your gaze towards your feet while aligning your hand with your spine creating a straight line. Take a few deep breaths and when youāre ready to exit the pose, gently lower your knees back onto the sand into tabletop position and release into Childās Pose.
I donāt know about you but something about being by the ocean provides peacefulness and balance to my body and soul; why not practice a pose that embodies that? Benefits of this pose include stretching the thighs, core and shoulders while strengthening the spine, thighs and calves. Tree Pose is a great way to ground yourself and focus on your breathing while improving your balance. Begin in Mountain Pose (Tadasana); inhale while lifting your arms towards the sky and exhale, bringing your hands by your heart. Choose a focal point to provide balance and slowly lift your right foot off the sand and place it on your left ankle. Taking your time, lift your right foot further until it reaches the side of your left knee. Take a few deep breaths here and whenever youāre ready. return to Mountain Pose; repeat this pose on the opposite side.
This pose is excellent at reducing back pain and stress, calming the mind and stretching the spine and shoulders. To get into this pose, simply begin in a shoulder stand and slowly bring your extended legs back towards your head until your toes touch the mat behind your head. Remember to bring your chin away from your sternum and keep your hands on your lower back for additional support or release them onto the mat and stretch them behind you. This pose can be held for a few minutes; when you feel ready to exit, bring your hands to your lower back again and exhale while slowly lowering your legs down towards. This a a great pose for the beach because it encourages deep relaxation and stress relief.
Take a deep breath and say goodbye to any tension. Being by laying on your stomach with your arms extend by your sides with your palms up. Take a deep exhale and reach for your heels with your hands while bending your knees. Hold onto your feet while trying to lift your thighs slightly off the mat and gaze forward. Keep i mind that it might be harder to breathe in this posture but make sure to keep breathing steadily. Stay in this pose for about 30 seconds and release your legs and arms towards the mat while taking a deep exhale. The benefits of this pose include improving your posture, strengthening the back muscles and stretching your thighs, core, chest, throat and hips.
This pose is wonderful at lengthening the hip flexors, preparing the body for backbend poses as well as opening the hip joint and reducing stress and anxiety. Begin in seated position with your feet tucked under your glutes. Extend your right leg back on the mat while keeping your left leg bent in front of you. Take a deep inhale and as you exhale, release your body onto your front leg and extend your arms on the mat in front of you. Try to bring your forehand to touch the mat and close your eyes. Take a few deep breaths, allowing your body to sink even deeper into the pose with every exhale. To exit the asana, slowly walk your hands back up towards your torso and return to seated position.
Now, letās take a moment to sit still and breathe. Sit comfortably with your legs crossed, your spine straight and your hands in your lap. Close your eyes and take several deep breaths, trying to hold your inhale for a few seconds before exhaling. Try to eliminate any stressful or negative thoughts while bringing your entire focus o your breath. While continuing to breathe deeply, bring your attention to the sound of the ocean waves crashing endlessly against the shore, one by one. Inhale the fresh, salty breeze and feel your body sinking heavily into the sand.Let go of any fear or stress about what will happen tomorrow or the day after because all that is guaranteed is this moment, sitting cross legged on the sand in front of the vast ocean that covers our beautiful planet. In this moment, you are blessed and all you can do is immerse yourself in gratitude. You can attempt the Ujjayi breath which is often referred to as the āoceanic breathā and it is used to synchronize your breathing with the asana. This wonderful technique will enhance your yoga practice as well as increase the oxygen in your blood, relieve tension, detoxify your body and mind as well as help to increase your mind-body awareness. The Ujjayi breath consists of breathing through your nose, inhaling deeply and exhaling slowly through your nose. To practice, open your mouth and exhale making a āhaā sound. Noe, try this with your mouth closed but maintain the intensity of your exhalations. Every time your exhale, it should sound like ocean waves and this technique is ideal to practice while youāre in easy pose, during hatha yoga or simply when youāre stressed or frustrated.
This posture will help you relax even more after getting out of Easy pose. Lay down on your mat or the sand with your legs extended in front of you and your arms by your sides with your palms facing up towards the sky. Close your eyes and bring your awareness to your breath once again but this time, donāt force deep inhalations or exhalations; instead, breathe naturally and simply bring your attention to your breathe. Allow the soothing sounds around you to increase your sense of mindfulness and purpose. The benefits of this asana are endless, a few of which are body awareness, stress reduction, better sleep quality and deep mind relaxation. This asana can be held for anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour and it might just end up in a wonderful nap in the sun.
