In pregnancy, your constantly changing body and sometimes busy mind can benefit greatly from gentle yoga practice. Yoga will give you energy, helping you to feel strong and confident in your pregnancy, as well as bringing balance to the body, heart and mind. Yoga also helps to open up the pelvis before the birth and recover good muscle tone after it.

Not everyone always feels like they are “glowing” during their pregnancy, and may suffer from nausea and some general discomfort from time to time. Pregnancy yoga helps to relieve those aches and pains that are caused from your ever changing physical shape, and can also help to combat morning sickness.

Everyone’s labour and birth is different but by practicing yoga during pregnancy you are giving yourself the best chance at keeping relaxed during the process. In our pregnancy yoga class we practice different types of breathing techniques, and also combine this with practicing a variety of poses which are suitable for labour and birth.

Each class starts with a short relaxation to centre the mind after a busy day, where we focus on breathing exercises, followed by some gentle warm ups. We then move into the poses which can be done seated, on all fours or in a standing position. All poses are done with the breath and focus on gently stretching and strengthening the body. A few of the standing poses are slightly more challenging, deisgned to strengthen key muscles which are often weakened greatly during pregnancy.

We always end every class with a wonderful relaxation which is very often the favourite part of the class for most mums-to-be.

Yoga Barre is a dynamic fusion of yoga, ballet inspired exercises, Pilates, and lowimpact cardio. Combining isometric exercises and active stretching, it sculpts and tones your entire body to create a long and lean silhouette. Classes use precise movements with a small range of motion in order to “turn on and fire up” various muscle groups. Focused on small movement the muscles work to the point of fatigue, sometimes shaking and definitely feeling the burn!! This is why Yoga Barre is so effective. Yoga Barre offers a low-impact class with high-impact results. It’s a good option if you are recovering from an injury. The classes are great with other exercise like running, weight lifting or cycling, because they strengthen the muscles needed without being too stressful on the body. Classes can also be modified so they are a safe workout for pre or post-pregnancy. (Be sure to tell your teacher if you are pregnant or have an injury.) Classes will challenge all students from beginner to advanced with a focus on form, balance and endurance. And no experience is necessary. After just a few classes, you notice benefits like: • Sustained fat burn and weight loss • Improved strength and muscle tone • Better posture and balance • Increased joint mobility • Reduced stress If you want stronger abs and arms, a lifted seat, improved posture, increased body awareness and a fun, challenging new class try Yoga Barre. You’ll leave feeling both energized and relaxed