Prenatal & Postnatal Yoga Teacher Training
Training Prospectus
Why We're Here
… the practice of yoga was designed by cis-men for the male body - the birthing body and it's cyclical nature and unique anatomy has been largely ignored in the physical/somatic practices of asana and pranayama.
… we want to approach prenatal and postnatal yoga as deserving its own vocabulary to support health and vitality through this precious period - one that does not rest upon avoidance and modifications made in reference to the tenets of traditional (cis-male-centred) yoga.
… we need to bridge the gap between the birthing world and the world of yoga; several incongruences exist and we would like to answer the call to bridge them.
… we want to approach prenatal and postnatal yoga as deserving its own vocabulary to support health and vitality through this precious period - one that does not rest upon avoidance and modifications made in reference to the tenets of traditional (cis-male-centred) yoga.
… we need to bridge the gap between the birthing world and the world of yoga; several incongruences exist and we would like to answer the call to bridge them.
What We Strive For
A cyclical understanding towards life
Pregnancy and birthing is a significant period in one’s life with its several iterations and nuances, but it is not the only period that needs attention and care. To be able to serve birthing people well during this time, we need to consider the whole spectrum of their lives. For this reason, this course takes a #wombtoworld approach and touches on pregnancy, labour, birth and the postpartum period.
An ode to the pregnant and birthing body
The pregnant and birthing body deserves attention and respect, especially in a world where this body is often viewed through the lens of medicine and healthcare. We believe that it is possible to acknowledge the advances of reproductive healthcare in saving the lives of birthers and infants, and likewise mourn the loss of agency and autonomy - preventable losses in our view - losses that have led to the view that the pregnant and birthing body is fragile and sick.
Enduring empowerment through knowledge, care and safety
We want to empower everyone with the knowledge and tools they need to have an empowering pregnancy and birth - we view empowerment in this time as seeing yourself as worthy of being seen and heard, being in control of your choices and be granted respected in a world where there may be none given. Parallel to this, we believe that if we approach prenatal yoga through the lens of trauma-informed care, we not only empower birthing people to have safe and fulfilling pregnancy and birth experiences, but the people that come under their care would benefit from having empowered parents and caregivers in their lives - perhaps they may replicate those qualities of empowerment too.
Why Prenatal & Postnatal Yoga?
Pregnancy and childbirth can present significant stress, particularly for first-time parents. Many individuals during pregnancy encounter discomfort and pain in various parts of their bodies, including lower back, pelvic girdle, and swollen feet and ankles. These discomforts are often exacerbated by the additional demands of work and daily responsibilities, becoming normalised as part of the pregnant experience.
In response to these challenges, prenatal yoga emerges as a promising avenue for alleviating physiological pains and discomforts. Rooted in mindfulness and breathing practices, akin to techniques found in Lamaze and Hypnobirthing, prenatal yoga offers a holistic approach to prepare individuals physically, mentally, and emotionally for childbirth. It's widely regarded as an integral part of birth preparation, fostering a sense of readiness and resilience for expectant parents embarking on this transformative journey.
“Pregnancy yoga and yoga for birth is not about giving us a blueprint for doing birth the ‘yoga way’, it is about giving us the capacity to trust that our breath and our bodies will enable us to meet with an open heart whatever birth experiences we and our babies encounter: openness and power to know that we can let labour happen well if we open our hearts, our breaths and our bodies to the forces that need space to move through us to birth our children."
Uma Dinsmore-Tuli, Yoni Shakti: A Woman's Guide To Power and Freedom through Yoga & Tantra
It's a common observation that many individuals first experience yoga through prenatal classes, shaping their ongoing yoga journey significantly. As teachers and facilitators, we embrace a profound sense of duty knowing that our teachings may influence how individuals engage with yoga for the rest of their lives. Prenatal yoga uniquely draws practitioners with a natural selflessness, as they practice for the well-being of their unborn child. Pregnancy often fosters an instinctive turning inward, leading to a deeper embodiment in breathing and movement. In essence, expectant individuals emerge as natural yogis/yoginis, guided by the innate connection between body, breath, and baby.
Course Details
COURSE BREAKDOWN
This Yoga Alliance accredited training adopts a hybrid learning model consisting of in-person, livestream and on-demand modules. We will prioritise in-person interactions for hands on practicums, peer teaching and deliberative discussions. For the October Weekend cohort, In addition to the live Zoom sessions, there will also be some pre-recorded sessions, as well as assignments and pre-recorded practices.
100% attendance and completion of modules is required for graduation.
LOCATION
TBC
DAYS/TIMES
You can choose to attend our weekday cohort in Jul 2025 or weekend cohort in Oct 2025.
| Day | Dates | Time |
|---|---|---|
|
Mon-Thu
|
21-24, 28-31 Jul (in-person) |
8am - 6pm |
Fri - Sun |
4,5,11,12,18, 19 Oct (in-person) 10,17 Oct (Zoom) |
8am - 6pm 6pm - 9:30pm |
Syllabus
General Background
- Benefits of Prenatal Yoga on Pregnancy, Labour and Birth
- Yoga & Pregnancy: Natural Partners
- Evidence on Prenatal Yoga on Pregnancy and Labour
- General Yoga & Exercise Guidelines for Pregnancy Common & High-Risk Conditions Associated with Pregnancy
Anatomy & Physiology
- Anatomy of the Pregnant Body
- Maternal & Parturient Changes
- Fetal Changes
- Biomechanical Adjustments in Pregnancy
- Biomechanical Changes & Common Issues
- Anatomy & Physiology of Labour & Childbirth
- Anatomy and Physiology of the Birthing Body
- Anatomy of the Pelvis Pelvic Floor Health Intensive
- Fetal Positioning
- What Happens Right After Birth?
- Common Postpartum Conditions
Techniques, Training & Practice
- Parturient/Maternal Adaptations to Key Movements
- Key Postural Groups & Focus Areas
- Key Focus Areas for Vaginal Births & Caesarean Births
- Key Breathing Practices
- Mindfulness & Meditation
- Key Focus Areas for
- Postnatal Yoga
- Perinatal Mental Health
Yoga Philosophy
- Energetic/Spiritual Alignments with Yoga Philosophy
- 8 Limbs of Yoga
- Prana & Apana
Teaching Methodology
- Sequencing & Energy Arc
- Class Design and considerations
- Practice Teaching Groups
Programme Director & Lead Trainer
DEWI CHEN
(she/her)
RYT200,RPYT,
CD/PCD(DONA),GGS CPPC,SpBCPE,BRM Pro
Dewi (she/her) embarked on her yoga journey in the realm of traditional Hatha Yoga, obtaining her 200H certification as a yogini. From there, she delved deeper into the expansive universe of yoga and psychology, immersing herself in Yin Yoga (200H), Forrest Yoga, Pre/Post-natal Yoga, Kids & Family Yoga, Well-Woman Yoga & Therapy (Womb Yoga), Trauma Sensitive Yoga, Clinical Applications of Polyvagal Theory and Yoga Nidra.
Fuelled by the wisdom gleaned from bodyworkers and therapists, including her own mother, Dewi's path organically evolved into the realm of remedial bodywork and therapy. Her expertise now encompasses Sports Massage Therapy and Clinical Orthopedic Manual Therapy.
With a deeper understanding of anatomy and physiology, viewed through the lens of therapy and movement rehabilitation, Dewi crafts her group classes with precision and insight. Her passion lies in empowering her clients to recognize their innate intelligence, allure, and resilience. Driven by a fervent desire to support mothers from #wombtoworld, Dewi expanded her expertise as a certified birth and postpartum doula under the prestigious DONA International in 2019. She's also a certified Evidence Based Birth® instructor, Spinning Babies® Certified Parent Educator, Body Ready Method® Pro, and Girls Gone Strong Prenatal and Postpartum Coach. Drawing from her rich experiences in childbirth education and doula work at Wonder Births, Dewi infuses her pre-natal and post-natal yoga classes with a unique blend of wisdom and compassion. Currently, she's on a mission to curate a collection of pelvic models, with aspirations to craft her own design someday.
Dewi's ability to break down complex topics into simpler terms for her teacher trainees stems from her commitment to making yoga accessible to all. Her trauma-aware approach to teaching is deeply rooted in her belief that we have a duty to be responsible and caring as movement facilitators. Through ongoing training and education, she continues to refine her skills in trauma-awareness, ensuring that her classes are brave and supportive spaces as much as possible.
Tution & Refund Policies
TUTION FEES
The regular fees are $2,650 SGD.
Early bird fees are $2,450 SGD.
100% payment must be made to guarantee enrollment. Payment can only be made via bank transfer.
REFUNDS
If the applicant cancels thirty (30) days or more before the start of the program, they will forfeit $300 of the deposit and any administrative fees; the remaining balance of total payments made up to this point will be refunded.
If the applicant withdraws from the program less than thirty (30) days before the program starts, the entirety of the applicant’s deposit and all balance fees paid will be retained by the programme.
In case a student needs to withdraw from the program due to illness, accident, death in the family, or other circumstances that make it impractical for the student to complete the course, the programme may give a partial refund to the student in the exercise of its discretion.
The programme will not give any refunds or credits after the training starts.
The programme reserves the right to cancel any training before it begins. In that case any payments applicants have made will be refunded in full.
