ONLINE PERINATAL YOGA TEACHER TRAINING
FALL 2021
COVID-19 UPDATE: Together, but apart. Teacher Training is still running in a virtual format. Under the Yoga Alliance 'Online Learning Temporary Provision' this training meets all requirements for the 85hr Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training.
This Training is now complete - click here for details of currently avaialble training.
This immersive and uniquely comprehensive training is led by physician and specialist perinatal yoga teacher Dr. Claire Sandberg. Expect to come away with the tools and understanding to confidently support expectant people through pregnancy and postpartum. Our wonderful guest faculty share their expertise and wisdom with you, adding further depth and breadth to your learning experience. This program is rooted in modern science but honors the ancient wisdom of yoga philosophy and and its practices. It is ideally suited to the teacher who wants a deep understanding of the lived experiences of their perinatal clients, and the anatomy, physiology and psychology that inform a transformative and supportive perinatal practice. Graduates of this program are equipped to guide prenatal and postnatal yoga practices that are designed specifically for pregnancy and postpartum - and not simply an adaptation of a 'regular' asana practice.
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What to Expect
Pre-recorded lectures to learn at your own pace and at a time that suits your schedule.
Pre-recorded case studies. This will give you the opportunity to see a variety of pregnant people move through the practice and is an essential component of developing your perinatal teaching skills.
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Small group collaborative projects to dig into a subject area and stay connected with your group.
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Live virtual group sessions led by the Nurture & Nourish faculty. This is your opportunity to learn together, put your knowledge into practice and connect with your training group in real-time.
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Live Virtual Sessions are held on 3 weekends:
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Saturday October 16 - Sunday October 17
Saturday November 13 - Sunday November 14
Saturday December 11 - Sunday December 12
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Saturday 10am - 1pm & 3pm - 7pm EST
Sunday 10am - 1pm & 3pm - 7pm EST
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Practice Teaching sessions are weaved throughout the program starting at the first live weekend. This is a wonderful opportunity to have a group of yoga teachers constructively critique your teaching in a supportive and safe setting - our graduates always say it was invaluable to start teaching early and with feedback.
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The modules are designed to ensure you graduate with a strong understanding of:​
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Perinatal anatomy and physiology
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Trauma-conscious perinatal yoga
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Movement that supports optimal position for baby in pregnancy and for birth
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Childbirth preparation through the lens of yoga and mindfulness
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Postnatal core anatomy and how to safely use breathwork and asana
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Matrescence and perinatal mental health and wellness
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Energetics and yoga philosophy as it relates to perinatal yoga
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Weaving meditation, mantra, mudra, and visualization into practice to foster connection
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Perinatal mindfulness
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Offering virtual perinatal yoga: livestream and pre-recorded content
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Practicing self-awareness and self-care as a perinatal yoga teacher
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Scope of practice as a perinatal yoga teacher and the importance of the referral network
Requirements
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This training is open to yoga teachers and those working closely with families in the perinatal phase, including doulas, midwives and mental health therapists.
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You will be required to engage with the pre-recorded content, listen to the assigned podcasts and complete pre-reading assignments as preparation before each live module. Expect to allow approximately 10-15 hours of preparation for each module.
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Graduation from the program requires that you:
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Attend all live virtual sessions and demonstrate integration of preparation work
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Observe 6 live (virtual or in-person) prenatal yoga classes outside of the pre-recorded content hours
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Build a referral network of perinatal health and wellness professionals
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Complete the 'application of knowledge' quiz for each module
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Teach a 60 minute prenatal class at the culmination of your training
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Module 1
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Perinatal Yoga in Context
How to Build Your Referral Network
Applied Perinatal Anatomy & Physiology
Conception & Birth - All the Ways
Pelvic Floor Masterclass
Perinatal Pranayama
Yoga Asana & Fetal Position
Yoga Philosophy for the Perinatal Practice
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Sat Oct 16th & Sun Oct 17th
10am-1pm & 3pm-7pm EST
Module 2
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Teaching Virtual Classes
Perinatal Considerations for Open Class
Perinatal Mental Health & Matrescence
Body Image in Perinatal Yoga
Yoga Techniques for Childbirth Preparation
Inclusivity + Accessibility in Perinatal Yoga
Vocal Toning and Sound Masterclass
Trauma Conscious Perinatal Yoga
Restorative Prenatal Yoga
Module 3
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Listening to Birth Stories
The Fourth Trimester: Body & Mind
Crafting the Postnatal Practice
Partner Prenatal Yoga
Understanding Fertility Issues
Baby & Me Yoga
Understanding the NICU Experience
Business of Perinatal Yoga
Self Awareness & Self Care
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Sat Nov 13th & Sun Nov 14th
10am-1pm & 3pm-7pm EST
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Sat Dec 11th & Sun Dec 12th
10am-1pm & 3pm-7pm EST
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EARLY BIRDS SAVE $200
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The regular rate for this training is $1195. Reserve your spot early to lock in a price of $995.
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Please read our FAQ for information about scholarship opportunities
GRADUATE REVIEW
“She taught me to teach prenatal yoga, not just modified yoga for pregnant women.”
-Annie Tyrrell, Instructor at Dragonfly Yoga Studio
OUR PHILOSOPHY
A DIFFERENT KIND OF
PRENATAL YOGA TEACHER TRAINING
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You can expect to be trained to teach across the spectrum of perinatal yoga in a personalized way that is both founded in compassion, and a deeper understanding of the science and real experiences of pregnancy—before, during and after. This program stands apart from those that teach simple modifications of regular yoga practice to women in the prenatal stage.
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Claire will guide you through prenatal and postnatal anatomy, physiology, and psychology - the practice is underpinned by understanding the changes and shifts in the body, mind and soul that occur throughout he perinatal phase. Expect to be encouraged and challenged to think critically about how to offer asana, movement, and mindfulness practices for a diversity of students.
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Further differentiating itself, the Nurture & Nourish Yoga program is rooted in the awareness of trauma. Not every experience of pregnancy, labor and delivery, and recovery is the same. There are a variety of hardships that can leave a lasting mark during the perinatal phase. Any teacher of perinatal yoga should expect to have trauma show up in their classes. Graduates of the Nurture & Nourish Yoga Perinatal Teacher Training program will be aware of the scope of reproductive trauma and have the tools to tailor their yoga practice in a supportive and compassionate way that remains inclusive of the entire class.
“My goal is is not to offer a 'formula' approach to teaching but to have graduates feel empowered to think critically about what they bring into a perinatal yoga practice and why. ”
- Claire Sandberg, Lead Trainer and Founder of Nurture & Nourish Yoga
YOUR LEAD TRAINER
Dr. Claire Sandberg is a specialist Perinatal Yoga Teacher, Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, and creator of the Nurture & Nourish Yoga Perinatal Teacher Training Program. She is a physician by training, with a specialization in anesthesiology, and holds a Masters degree in Medical Ethics. She now integrates this expansive knowledge base into her yoga offerings. Claire is passionate about perinatal yoga education and renowned for her kind, supportive, engaging and down-to-earth approach to teaching teachers.
GUEST FACULTY
JOHANNA OLIVAS, RYT
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Fertility Yoga Teacher, Reiki Master, Sound Healer. Johanna is a 500 hour Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) through Yoga Alliance and has completed Fertility Yoga teacher training with Yoga Therapist and author of Yoga for Fertility: A Journey to Health and Healing, Lynn Jensen. She aims to share the beautiful gift of yoga and energy healing with others. To learn more about Johanna, visit www.lunaserenity.com
Johanna leads the Vocal Toning & Sound Masterclass
APARNA SADANANDA, E-RYT, RPYT
Aparna is a yoga and meditation teacher specializing in prenatal and postnatal yoga, chair yoga, restorative yoga, ayurveda, yoga philosophy and energy healing. Aparna's classes are inspired by her own journey as an evolving yogi, new mama, a neuroscience researcher, and a visual artist. Her mission is to empower people through yoga, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity and ability levels. She currently leads meditation classes and family-based mindfulness workshops for the Freer Sackler Galleries and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art and is a lead yoga teacher trainer for Yoga District in Washington DC.
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ALECIA DAWN YOUNG, BFA, MAM, RYT
Alecia is a yoga instructor and entrepreneur who explores the creative process as an invitation to heal. In 2018 she founded YOGAMOTIF to offer creativity as a wellness practice through the signature yoga painting workshop. She makes space to center Black women in healing, and is honored to support her birthing community with joyful and gentle prenatal yoga classes. As a recipient of numerous awards and accolades, her life reflects a commitment to the arts, Black women, and wellness. She resides in Pittsburgh, PA where she fills her home with daily creative adventures in the company of her husband and two young children.
To learn more about Alecia visit www.yogamotif.com
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MICHELLE COHEN, RYT, RPYT
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Michelle is a birth doula, an Ayurvedic postpartum doula, a prenatal and postnatal yoga teacher supporting birthers in the Washington, D.C. area. She believes strongly that the mind-body tools of yoga, breath work and meditation can positively impact and support each individuals unique childbearing + birthing transformation. Michelle has been working with families since 2008, teaching hundreds of pregnant and new parents how to holistically connect with their bodies and their babies. To learn more about Michelle, visit www.savoritstudios.com
JACOBY BALLARD
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Jacoby Ballard is a social justice educator, yoga teacher, and Buddhist teacher-in-training. He leads workshops and trainings around the country on diversity, equity, and inclusion-inviting participants into the inner process and the outer manifestations of that practice on high school and college campuses, and in yoga spaces and trainings. Jacoby has taught Queer and Trans Yoga for 14 years. In 2008, Jacoby co-founded a worker-owned cooperative holistic health center situated at the nexus of healing and social justice in Brooklyn, Third Root Community Health Center, that continues to thrive without him. He has a 500 hour Advanced training certificate from Kripalu and his 200 hour training was completed at Kashi Atlanta in 2004. Jacoby is a recipient of Yoga Journal's Game Changer Award in 2015 and Good Karma Award in 2015 for his ongoing work in LGBTIQ+ communities. Jacoby has been an advisor to the Yoga Service Council since 2014, and has served on the Faculty of Off the Mat, Into the World since 2016. He is currently being mentored by Buddhist teacher DaRa Williams in the Insight lineage. To learn more about Jacoby visit www.jacobyballard.net.
DESTINY OLSEN
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Destiny has been teaching somatics for over 12 years throughout her local Salt Lake City, Utah community. She acquired her BFA in Modern Dance and Education from the University of Utah in 2009. In 2012, she refocused her love of teaching to Hatha Yoga. Destiny is a certified DONA Birth and Postpartum Doula, an ICEA accredited childbirth educator, parenting group coordinator, reproductive rights and justice activist and Prenatal/Postpartum Yoga teacher. All of the diverse education and training she has received has been important to confidently educate her community and expectant parents on the ever-changing prenatal and postpartum stages, while providing the most up to date facts and research. She believes yoga can guide people to become stronger, healthier and well-balanced human beings to live a happier, more meaningful life.
JACINTHA CARSON, LPC, NCC
Jacintha is a Licensed Professional Counselor and has worked as a mental health therapist in the DMV area for over 8 years providing therapy to adolescents, adults, families and groups. She has extensive experience using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques, and believes in a holistic wellness approach to therapy. Jacintha joins the faculty to bring both her personal and professional perspectives together to lead the Perinatal Mental Health Masterclass. To learn more about Jacintha visit www.thinkhappylivehealthy.com
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Lauren is a pelvic health physical therapist and a professional yoga therapist, and joins the faculty to share with us all things diastasis and perinatal pelvic girdle pain. Lauren uses an integrative approach to pelvic health, combining the physical, psycho-social emotional, spiritual, intellectual, and energetic to offer comprehensively holistic care to her clients. To learn more about Lauren, visit www.novaintegrativept.com
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NICOLE MONTEFORTE
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Nicole is a registered yoga teacher and joins the faculty to share both her personal experience of caring for her daughter through many weeks in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and her subsequent work speaking about this journey and mentoring NICU families. Giving birth to a baby who is sick or premature can be intensely overwhelming - Nicole is passionate about the potential for the tools of yoga to be shared to support families through these times and beyond.
ALLISON CLINE, MEd, ERYT, RPYT, CD/CBE
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Allison is an experienced prenatal yoga teacher, certified Birthing From Within Childbirth Educator / Doula and a mother of 3. Allison teaches in several Austin studios and works as an independent birth doula and childbirth educator in addition to contracting as a doula and yoga teacher with Austin Doula Care. Her style as a yoga teacher and doula is supportive, authentic and approachable. She truly believes in meeting clients where they are; then helps them to draw on their own inner knowing to facilitate growth along their journey. To learn more about Allison visit: www.infinityyogaatx.com
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?
