Certifications
The course/hours count as Continuing Education hours for Registered Yoga Teachers (RYT®) only. You will receive a Doula certificate with Doula Training International.
Prerequisites
The prerequisites for the online yoga teacher training are that you must be passionate and inspired to create a community of like-minded women who want to help support and guide other mothers safely through the practice of yoga. Awakened Spirit Yoga only asks that you are dedicated and feel compelled to answer this very sacred call.
About the training
Sacred birth focuses on nurturing conscious pregnancy and parenthood while addressing the medical, political, and spiritual considerations of birthing. Sacred birth is an over-85-hour dual certificate training. This training equips yoga teachers with tools to empower and support pregnant women throughout their pregnancies and labor. Awakened Spirit Yoga encourages participants to explore and awaken to the radically healing potential of yoga and holistic birth support as therapeutic tools to empower the birthing journey from pregnancy to motherhood.
After the completion of this course, yoga teachers will feel confident accommodating pregnant women in their regular classes, as well as be equipped to teach prenatal, couples workshops, and postnatal yoga classes. Join Awakened Spirit Yoga in Guatemala for a unique program rooted in Northern Indian traditions, blending Hatha, Vinyasa, and a therapeutic framework for empowered pregnancy and parenthood. In this course, you will receive:
- Dual certificates: The program provides internationally recognized certifications in both Prenatal yoga and Doula services
- A Mayan fire ceremony: Open your journey at Villa Sumaya with a traditional Mayan fire ceremony
- A lakefront retreat experience: The retreat center is steps away from the gorgeous Lake Atitlán and surrounded by mountains
- Mentorship: Receive additional support from your trainers in person during your training experience
What is unique about your approach?
Sacred birth focuses on nurturing conscious pregnancy and parenthood while addressing the medical, political, and spiritual considerations of birthing. The approach blends traditional Hatha and Vinyasa yoga with therapeutic tools such as mindfulness and holistic birth support to nurture an empowered pregnancy and birth.
You will learn to:
- Teach prenatal yoga therapeutically to support a healthy pregnancy and birth
- Learn how to safely modify postures for pregnancy, with knowledge of modifications, contraindicated and beneficial postures for each trimester
- Understand the anatomy and physiology of pregnancy, including Western and Eastern perspectives and the effects of pregnancy on the body, mind, and spirit
- Gain a thorough understanding of birthing and pregnancy
- Learn skills that are immediately applicable to all of your classes
- Be mentored by a team of experienced and passionate teachers who are leaders in the field
- Explore the landscape of Birth in all its realms: physiological, psychological, sociological, historical, political, and spiritual
- Acquire knowledge and tools to heal your own birthing stories
- Discover your authentic teaching voice and uncover the unique gifts that you have to offer through class exercise, the use of imagery, sequencing, birth art, and facilitator support
- Encourage the harmonization of hormones and energy levels using yogic wisdom
- Design skillful sequencing, positions for labor, asana for childbirth preparation, and postnatal recommendations for recovery
- Integrate all aspects of the practice: asana, breath work (pranayama), vocal toning (mantra), relaxation, working with themes, massage, and pain reduction techniques to help create a more positive and relaxed birthing experience
- Come to an embodied understanding of our innate wisdom and the miracle of birth
Everyone is welcome, including the pregnant and postpartum. Babies in arms are welcome too.
Recommended for
The program is holistically designed for those who are interested in learning a mind-body approach to pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting preparation with a therapeutic focus.
- Yogis interested in learning about women’s health, pregnancy, and conscious birthing
- Educators, counselors, midwives, healthcare professionals, and women interested in expanding their knowledge in reproductive health and women-centered yoga practice
- Yoga teachers seeking to develop a niche in prenatal yoga and deepen their facilitation and community-building skills
Eligibility
A 200-hour yoga teacher training is required. Others can participate but are not eligible for registration as prenatal yoga teachers through Yoga Alliance.
- A minimum of 75 contact hours with Julia Forest (the training meets this requirement)
- 10 observation hours observing or assisting classes in your community
- Successful completion of teaching practicum with the support of Julia, the teaching team, and peers
- 10 hours of homework readings to be completed after the course (this will be assigned in class)
Syllabus
1. Module 1
- Prenatal yoga
- The stages of pregnancy and effects on body and mind
- The physiology of pregnancy and childbirth
- Pregnancy and childbirth as a journey
- Deconstructing and transforming your relationship to pain
- The benefits of prenatal and postnatal yoga
- Modifications, contraindications, and beneficial asanas for each trimester
- Postures to support a healthy pregnancy
- Sequencing and class themes
- Hands-on assisting in prenatal yoga
- Pranayama and sound techniques
- Relaxation and visualization for childbirth preparation and support of the birth experience
- Integrating mindfulness and cultivating awareness in your classes
- Incorporating imagery into cueing for breathwork and asana
- Massage, birthing techniques, and laboring positions using yoga
- Postnatal yoga for healing and beneficial asanas to support the body after childbirth
- Simple infant massage and infant stimulation routine
- How to create a supportive community in your class environment
Module 2
- Doula certification topics covered
- Role of the Doula
- Emotional, physical, and informational support of women and families in the prenatal period, at birth, and in the early postpartum period
- Involving support people
- Comfort measures
- Common interventions and medications
- How to become a certified Doula with Awakened Spirit
- Scope of practice and code of ethics
- Interprofessional relationships
- How to build a Doula business
Awakened Spirit Yoga has combined doula training into the program to provide a well-rounded knowledge base and approach to yoga teaching. Whether you choose to attend births or not, the knowledge, training, and hands-on experience gained from this portion will be invaluable to support pregnant women and their families fully. In the 18 hours dedicated to this topic, you will deepen your knowledge of the emotional, physical, and psychological aspects of pregnancy, birth, and the early parenting experience so you will feel prepared to answer common questions accurately and knowledgeably.
Sample daily schedule
- 06:30 Yoga and movement practice
- 08:00 Breakfast
- 09:00 Yoga philosophy
- 10:45 Yoga lab, anatomy, or methodology
- 12:15 Lunch
- 14:00 Yoga philosophy
- 16:15 Yoga lab, therapeutics, or methodology
- 19:15 Dinner
- 20:00 Evening activity; meditation, circle, movie, or reflection (three times per week)
The first day starts with dinner and the last day ends after breakfast. Full participation is required to complete the program and to receive your Yoga Alliance certification. Three hours of missed classes with a valid reason will be excused without makeup. Any additional hours missed will require communication with a facilitator and an action plan as to how hours can be completed. Additional costs may be incurred if one-on-one facilitator time is required to make up hours.
