Teaching with Integrity: How to Safely Support Pregnant & Postpartum Students in Yoga Classes
As a yoga teacher, you're going to encounter pregnant and postpartum students in your general studio classes.
Many of these individuals want to continue their yoga practice during and after pregnancy—and they’ll look to you for guidance. With the right knowledge and awareness, you can confidently support them in a way that is ethical, compassionate, and aligned with the true heart of yoga.
Many of these individuals wish to continue their yoga practice during and after pregnancy.
They rely on your guidance to navigate their practice safely. Without proper knowledge, you risk inadvertently allowing poses, exercises, or yoga practices that could stress their bodies, hinder pregnancy progression, impede postpartum healing, and be counterproductive to their preparation for birth and recovery.
Even common yoga poses such as downward-facing dog, forward folds, chaturanga, and cobra pose can put significant strain on the pelvic floor and abdominal muscles, and are contraindicated for at least 8 weeks postpartum. Early postpartum healing is critical and varies significantly among individuals; some may need longer healing times, especially if they rush back into rigorous exercise too soon. Much like immobilizing a broken bone to allow it to heal properly, postpartum individuals must give their bodies sufficient rest and care to fully recover from the intense physical and hormonal changes associated with pregnancy and childbirth.
“ Postpartum recovery is not limited to the first 6 weeks, and care should be an ongoing process.””
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), "postpartum recovery is not limited to the first 6 weeks, and care should be an ongoing process." They now recommend a more comprehensive, individualized approach to postpartum care, recognizing that healing can extend well beyond the traditional 6–8 week window (ACOG, 2018). Studies have also shown that up to 60% of postpartum individuals experience diastasis recti (Benjamin et al., 2014), and over 30% report pelvic floor disorders such as incontinence and prolapse (Nygaard et al., 2008).
Furthermore, research underscores the importance of community support during the postpartum period.
A study published in the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing found that mothers who engaged in peer support groups had significantly lower rates of postpartum depression and reported feeling more confident in their parenting (Letourneau et al., 2013). Yoga teachers can play a pivotal role by encouraging new mothers to seek classes designed for the postpartum period, where they can connect with peers and focus on healing in a supportive environment.
As yoga teachers, it’s essential to remember our ethical foundation: the Yamas and Niyamas, especially the principle of Ahimsa—non-harming. Our role is not to push students to perform or return to their pre-pregnancy practice, but to guide them toward honoring their bodies, their process, and their unique needs. What a student’s mind may crave—endorphins, control, a return to normal—may not align with what their body truly needs: rest, restoration, and compassionate care.
By staying informed and attuned to the needs of postpartum students, you not only prevent harm—you create a safe and empowering space for transformation and healing.
One of the most important things for yoga teachers and fitness professionals to understand is the concept of scope of practice.
🔍 Understanding Scope of Practice
One of the most important things for yoga teachers and fitness professionals to understand is the concept of scope of practice. It defines what you're trained, certified, and ethically able to offer within your role. While yoga teachers are in a powerful position to support students through movement, breath, and awareness, we are not medical professionals or physical therapists. We should never diagnose or treat conditions like pelvic organ prolapse, diastasis recti, or postpartum depression.
Scope of practice means knowing when to say: "This is beyond my training, and I encourage you to speak with your care provider or connect with a teacher who specializes in perinatal yoga." This is not a failure—it's an act of Satya (truthfulness) and Ahimsa (non-harming). It is a reflection of your integrity and respect for your students' well-being. And it builds deep trust.
A yoga teacher’s job in this context is not to create or lead a prenatal or postpartum-specific class unless trained and certified to do so. Rather, it is to understand how to support perinatal students who attend general studio classes—safely, compassionately, and ethically.
Our students look to us for guidance. When a pregnant or postpartum student steps into your class, they may not know what is appropriate or safe for their body. They may assume that if a pose is being taught, it must be fine for them too. But without proper understanding, a well-intentioned class could unintentionally lead to setbacks or injuries.
By understanding and respecting your scope of practice, you embody the Yamas and Niyamas. You teach with Asteya (non-stealing)—not taking from a student’s process. You uphold Brahmacharya (right use of energy) by offering what is truly helpful. You practice Svadhyaya (self-study) by staying aware of your limits, and Aparigraha (non-attachment) by letting go of the need to be the one with all the answers.
This is exactly the kind of clarity and confidence you’ll build in my Perinatal Yoga Teacher Training.
🚩 Recognizing Red Flags in the Room
As yoga teachers, we're often trained to recognize when a student may be in immediate need of support—light-headedness, suddenly sitting down, or showing signs of physical distress. These are important cues that something isn’t right. But with perinatal students, there’s a whole additional layer of awareness that’s needed.
Pregnancy and postpartum bring significant physiological shifts that may not be obvious to you—or even to the student.
It’s YOUR job to be aware of what you don’t know to recognize when your students are in need of support.
For example, increased blood volume and elevated blood pressure during pregnancy can lead to dizziness or overheating, even in a gentle class. A pregnant student moving too quickly from a forward fold to standing may feel faint. In the early postpartum period, core and pelvic floor tissues are still healing, and even semi-inversions like downward-facing dog can increase intra-abdominal pressure and create setbacks.
It’s also important to understand that a postpartum student may appear strong and ready on the outside, but internally, their body is still recovering. Movements like chaturanga, cobra pose, or deep forward folds can place undue strain on the abdominals and pelvic floor—leading to or worsening conditions like diastasis recti or prolapse.
A red flag doesn’t always look dramatic. Sometimes it’s subtle—like a student not making eye contact, avoiding certain movements, or showing signs of overwhelm or disconnection. These moments call for the teacher to embody the Yamas: Ahimsa (non-harming) in how we respond, Satya (truthfulness) in our honest assessment of what we’re observing, and Svadhyaya (self-study) in checking in with our own nervous system before we act. Do we pause, or do we push?
To notice and respond to red flags is an act of compassionate presence. Practicing Aparigraha (non-attachment), we let go of the idea that every student should complete the entire class sequence. We instead foster Santosha (contentment) and encourage students to honor where they are. The ethics of yoga call us to protect not only physical safety but also emotional well-being.
By understanding these red flags—unique to the perinatal experience—you can adjust your teaching in the moment, ensure safety, and become a trusted, ethical guide for your students.
We’ll explore these red flags in detail during the training so you know what to look for, how to respond, and when it’s time to refer students to more specialized care.
🌸 Creating Inclusive and Trauma-Informed Spaces
Perinatal students, especially those in the postpartum period, are navigating physical, emotional, and psychological changes that may be invisible in a group class. Creating a safe and welcoming environment requires intentional, inclusive, and trauma-informed teaching—one rooted in the heart of yoga's ethical foundations.
Trauma Informed Teaching begins with language and is followed by YOUR example.
Satya (truthfulness) and Ahimsa (non-harming) call us to choose words that empower rather than push. Avoid commands that imply performance, pressure, or expectation—like "push your edge" or "get back to where you were." Instead, offer options and normalize rest. Language such as “If it feels supportive, you might try…” or “Another option is to stay with your breath here” creates space for agency and self-trust.
Consent is another vital element. Many postpartum people may feel especially vulnerable to non-consensual touch. Offer verbal adjustment cues first, and ask: "May I place my hand here?" Brahmacharya (wise use of energy) reminds us that a gentle, intentional presence is often more effective than physical correction. Teach through words and presence, allowing students to explore and feel the movement within their own bodies.
Yoga is NOT a performance for anyone, escpecially for you as the Teacher. Leading a class is not a time to show off nor to create heirarchy of “levels” in a pose.
The goal of an adjustment is not to demonstrate your expertise but to help a student deepen awareness. Asteya (non-stealing) means we do not take away a student’s opportunity to feel and understand their own body by imposing our will. We support their inner knowing.
Use cues that empower rather than push.
Be mindful of the dynamics in your space. Postpartum students may feel vulnerable or isolated in a class with younger or childfree peers. Comparison is common—and can be disheartening. The practice of Santosha (contentment) invites us to celebrate the uniqueness of every journey. Foster a class culture that honors all bodies, all seasons, and all experiences equally, free of hierarchy and shame.
Finally, avoid singling students out. If you notice someone who may benefit from a different approach, find ways to offer the option to the entire group. What supports one may support many. This reflects Saucha (purity of intention) and builds an environment of non-judgment, where everyone is welcome to soften.
This training will offer guidance on using trauma-informed practices, inclusive language, and ethical teaching principles to ensure every student feels seen, supported, and safe—especially those in the perinatal period.
Educating Without Overstepping
Yoga is founded in the eight limbs. Ethics are not just applied to the practice—they ARE the practice.
Yoga is founded in the eight limbs. The Yamas and Niyamas—our ethical roots—are not accessories to our teaching, but the essence of it. They offer steady guidance when we feel unsure, and gently illuminate the boundaries of our scope of practice. In our desire to help, yoga teachers can sometimes overreach. But Ahimsa (non-harming) reminds us that harm can come not only from action, but from overstepping our role. To teach with care is to teach with discernment.
Supporting our students means honoring their journey with humility and responsibility. It’s a beautiful instinct to want to be helpful—but the most skillful support is offered with ethical clarity.
Educating without overstepping means knowing how to offer helpful, general insight while remaining firmly grounded in your role as a yoga teacher.
For example, you might say: “It’s common to experience core weakness postpartum—if you’re unsure about how your body is healing, I encourage you to speak with your care provider.” Or, “A teacher who specializes in perinatal yoga may be a helpful next step, as they can guide you beyond what we can cover here today.”
These kinds of statements reflect Satya (truthfulness) and Saucha (purity of intent). They provide clarity, without implying diagnosis or promise. They are a gesture of Asteya (non-stealing), as we don’t claim more than what our training allows.
Avoid diagnosing, prescribing movements for specific conditions, or offering blanket solutions like “this pose will fix your diastasis.” Instead, create a space for inquiry. Encourage students to notice and reflect. Cues like, “Notice how your breath feels here,” or “What would it feel like to soften this shape just a little?” foster Svadhyaya (self-study) and build body literacy.
Tapas (self-discipline) and Ishvarapranidhana (surrender) remind us to stay grounded in our own learning process. When a student asks a question and we don’t know the answer, we can say with confidence: “That’s a wonderful question. I’d love to help you find someone who specializes in that.” This is not a gap in your knowledge—it is a sign of your maturity and devotion to Ahimsa.
Building trust in your students will have them returning to your classes when the timing is right. It’s not about sending them away—it’s about anchoring yourself in ethical clarity and creating a safe space that students remember with gratitude.
This training will help you learn how to speak with confidence and care, how to stay within scope while offering meaningful support, and how to root your teaching in the timeless wisdom of the Yamas and Niyamas.
🌟 Final Thoughts & Invitation
Supporting perinatal students isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about cultivating the awareness, humility, and tools to hold space with care. The knowledge and practices shared in this training are not just useful—they are essential for any teacher committed to inclusive, ethical, and trauma-informed yoga.
Whether you teach Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin, or strength-based classes, this work will expand your teaching and deepen your ability to meet students where they are, especially during one of the most powerful transitions of their lives.
Join me for Building Confidence in Teaching Pregnant and Postpartum Students, a 9-hour Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Training at SoulTree Yoga, that will empower you to support pregnant and postpartum students in your general studio classes with clarity, compassion, and confidence.
Studio owners: this training can be offered as a stand-alone continuing education workshop or integrated into your 200-hour or 300-hour Yoga Teacher Training program. It can be designed as a single-day Special Populations unit or expanded into a full weekend intensive, tailored to meet your curriculum’s goals. I am a Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider (YACEP) and would love to bring this valuable offering to your teaching community.
✨ Let’s raise the standard of care for birthing people together. Contact me to learn more or schedule a training at your studio.
👉 To learn more about this training and to register, visit: https://www.annecatherineyoga.com/workshops-trainings#perinataltraining
References
ACOG Committee Opinion No. 736 (2018). Optimizing Postpartum Care. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Benjamin, D. R., van de Water, A. T., & Peiris, C. L. (2014). Effects of exercise on diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscle in the antenatal and postnatal periods: a systematic review. Physiotherapy, 100(1), 1–8.
Nygaard, I. E., Shaw, J. M., & Egger, M. J. (2008). Prevalence of symptomatic pelvic floor disorders in US women. JAMA, 300(11), 1311–1316.
Letourneau, N., Dennis, C. L., Cosic, N., & Linder, J. (2013). The effect of perinatal peer support on maternal depression: a meta-analysis. JOGNN, 42(2), 157–173.
Yoga Journal. (2020). Yoga for Diastasis Recti. Retrieved from https://www.yogajournal.com
Hospital for Special Surgery. (2022). Diastasis Recti and Postpartum Healing. Retrieved from https://www.hss.edu/article_diastasis-recti.asp
