It’s not just about the squats (although the squats are strengthening). Here are some of the lesser-known benefits and considerations of prenatal yoga: 

1. There are specific yoga poses and movements that can help you feel better in your pregnant body. Prenatal yoga isn’t just modifying traditional yoga poses in a way the pregnant body can practice. In our prenatal classes, we explore specific poses and movements to stretch and strengthen the pregnant body in pregnancy, labor, and all scopes of birth. From back pain to heartburn, yoga and movement can help you feel more like yourself. 
2. Yoga can be practiced safely in any trimester. We adjust the class offerings based on the parents-to-be participating. There are many poses, breathing techniques, and meditations that are recommended for specific stages of a pregnancy, and we offer options for each body. It’s never too early or too late to begin a prenatal yoga practice. 
3. Beyond yoga, meditation is...

Honoring how you feel each day during pregnancy can be challenging, especially in the first trimester. But slowing down and becoming aware of the changes happening in your body can be incredibly beneficial at the beginning of your pregnancy.

To be honest, I didn’t feel like moving at all during most of the first trimester this time around! Between the intense exhaustion and nausea, I struggled to feel like myself.

So what can you do to feel your best? Here are my recommendations:

1. Breath work - Always start with the breath. Your breath is a tangible tool that you can use throughout pregnancy, labor, birth and parenthood. Learn how your breath can support you when you need it most.

Practice straw exhalations to tone the transverse abdominus muscles (TVA). This muscle wraps around the torso like a corset and is crucial for supporting your body during pregnancy and postpartum. When you breathe with deep, slow, complete exhalations -- as if exhaling through a thin straw...

Preparing the body and mind for childbirth is a trip, and we could all use a little roadmap. To help you create your own path, I’m sharing some tips and resources I’ve learned through prenatal yoga teacher training and my own motherhood journey. 

Whether or not you've practiced yoga before becoming pregnant, there are some important things to keep in mind when approaching your physical yoga practice.*

NEW: Get access to a full library of pre-recorded prenatal yoga classes taught by Jane. Classes are designed for all trimesters, and they're on-demand, so you can practice on your own time. Click here for details.

Five Tips for Prenatal Yoga

1. Keep in mind the sensations in the pregnant body will differ during yoga practice than your experience before becoming pregnant. You may not feel familiar "stretches" you're used to, partly because the body is producing more relaxin to let your belly grow, your ligaments loosen, and eventually prepare for labor....