Support and empower pregnant women by guiding safe, inspiring, and inclusive pregnancy yoga classes.
This unique teacher training will equip you with the skills to teach both individual and group sessions that support the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of expectant mothers. You’ll learn to create a nurturing environment where long-lasting connections can form among mothers-to-be.
The practices taught on this course are equally deeply beneficial for women totally new to yoga and those with lots of yoga experience. These poses and movements are specifically attuned to the pregnant body helping to prevent or alleviate common pregnancy complaints thereby bringing greater ease and joy to this special time. You’ll cover practices that prepare the body and mind for labour and birth as well as building expectant mums’ confidence in their body.
Birthlight has been a pioneering force in Yoga for Pregnancy and Birth since the 1990s. This Perinatal Yoga Teacher Training is based on the methodology developed by renowned women’s health and birth expert Françoise Freedman. The course offers an experiential journey through pregnancy, from conception to birth and early postpartum. (read more about Birthlight approach here)
What You’ll Learn
● Safe, effective yoga practices for each stage of pregnancy
● Integrated understanding of anatomy and physiology related to pregnancy and labour
● How to support individual needs within group settings
● How to foster community, confidence, and connection among pregnant students
● Practical tools for labour and birth preparation, including breath, sound, movement, and relaxation not commonly taught in mainstream yoga.
Why Train as a Perinatal Yoga Teacher?
Becoming a Perinatal Yoga Teacher allows you to support women during one of the most transformative times in their lives. It’s a deeply rewarding path that goes beyond physical practice—offering tools for emotional support, community building, and mindful preparation for birth and motherhood. You’ll gain the confidence to hold safe, inclusive, and empowering spaces that truly make a difference. Whether you’re expanding your teaching repertoire or following a personal calling, this training opens up opportunities to serve in a meaningful, heart-centered way. Theory and practice are woven together to deepen your understanding of how all the facets of yoga support wellbeing throughout the perinatal journey.
Training Features
Flowing, purpose-designed sequences for pregnancy, birth, and beyond
Practices that embrace the joy of pregnancy—not just birth preparation
Combines breath, movement, posture, and relaxation
Eases common pregnancy discomforts like backache and pelvic pain
Encourages bonding between mother and baby
Prepares body and mind for labour with effective tools
Balances individual attention with group support
Builds circles of friendship and trust among mothers-to-be
Birthlight Online Training Resources:
To complete your certification, you’ll gain access to Birthlight’s online training hub—a rich library of on-demand resources, including:
Video recordings of practices from the course
Sample lesson plans and articles
Coursework forms and templates
Zoom session recordings
Ongoing learning support
Access fee: approx. €50 (paid separately). You’ll be invited to join.
Before the Course:
Complete pre-course reading/thinking
Prepare your case studies by identifying a group of pregnant women and securing a venue
Look for qualified prenatal teachers to observe (check our website for local listings)
During the Course:
Receive a comprehensive course manual
Get support from the tutor and via online group and the Birthlight training platform
Learn through tutor-led sessions and practical teaching experience with feedback from the tutor
After Part 1 of the Course:
Complete home-study coursework, including:
2 case studies- 1 group and 1 individual
1 Essay or 1 Presentation
4 class observations
A book/film/research review
Attendance Requirement:
Full attendance is required. Missing more than 2 hours may affect certification. In such cases, arrangements must be made to complete the missed part of the training.
Certification:
The Birthlight Perinatal Yoga Diploma is awarded upon completion of both Part 1 and Part 2 of the course, including coursework and final practical assessments.
Graduates may list themselves and their classes on the Directory of qualified teachers on the Birthlight website.
Listen to this testimonial: Birthful specializes in relaxation and movement before, during and after pregnancy, with fertility, prenatal and postnatal yoga. They offer you small scale and personal yoga classes, workshops, courses and retreats at Yoga Moves locations.
DATES - TIMES - FEES:
PART 1: In Studio:Friday–Sunday | 19-21 September 2025 Times: 11.30 - 19.00 Location: Yoga Moves Studio Fly | Croeselaan 209, Utrecht
LIVE SESSION mid-way: Saturday 8th November 14.00-17.30 PART 2: In Studio:Friday-Saturday 13 & 14 February 2026 Times: 11.30 - 19.00 Location: Yoga Moves Studio Fly | Croeselaan 209, Utrecht
Pre-Recorded Online: You will receive a link to approx. 4 hours of pre-recorded educational videos that Kristeen requests you listen to before the start of the course (these will be broken down into smaller videos for easy digestion!).
INVESTMENT (we are CRKBO registered: therefore no vat is included) Early Birds: €645 until 1 May €695 until 1 June €745 until 1 July €795 until 1 August €845 Regular
Not included: is your access to Birthlight Online membership learning portal. Cost is approx €50.
Kirsteen Ruffell began her own Yoga practice by chance in 1990 and she’s been enjoying it ever since. Apart from Pre & Post Natal Yoga & Baby Yoga with Birthlight she also has a background of training in Hatha & Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga and she has been teaching since 1998. She finds it a great joy that Yoga can bring such benefit during pregnancy, birth and beyond, not just to Mum and baby but to partners, siblings and all the family.
