TEACHING IYENGAR YOGA TO PREGNANT WOMEN by Judi Sweeting

From IYN issue 8, p32

I was asked by the Ethics, Membership and Certification Committee to write this article; I
have researched this area thoroughly and sincerely hope what follows will help to clarify what
some teachers find confusing. The reason for the article came about because it was reported
to the EMCC that some Introductory Teachers were teaching specialised pregnancy yoga
classes. Also some Introductory Teachers had attended a Pregnancy Training course with
The British Wheel of Yoga.

It is very important that you all read your Teachers’ Handbook thoroughly. Please refer to
pages 13/14 [now page 10] where there is a letter from Guruji B. K. S. Iyengar regarding the
teaching of yoga asanas to pregnant women and some notes on pregnancy, both of these
pages make it quite clear that the teaching of pregnant women is very serious undertaking.
Also refer to page 34 [now page 7] where it details the level of certification required to teach
“therapeutic yoga classes” and then page 46 [now page 35] regarding “mixing methods”.
These two references make it quite clear that only those teachers holding Intermediate Junior
2 and above may teach “Pregnancy classes”. It is our duty to teach the methods approved by
B. K. S. Iyengar and his daughter Geeta Iyengar to pregnant women, not to mix the teaching
with any other method of yoga or “holistic therapy”.

If you hold an Introductory Certificate you may teach pregnant ladies whom you have taught
for some time. If you hold an Intermediate 2 Certificate you are allowed to run pregnancy
classes and you may teach women who are new to Iyengar yoga as long as they are healthy
and do not have a pre-disposition to miscarriage. If there are any health issues or
complications then you must refer to a senior teacher for their advice and they may in turn
contact Pune for further advice. This applies to pregnant women who may be beginners or
experienced yoga practitioners.

Guruji B. K. S. Iyengar himself has very recently said that since times are changing and there is
more and more interest in practicing yoga during pregnancy, simple asanas can be taught
without any risk. However, it is very important to keep in mind that pregnant ladies should
create space in the abdominal organs so that there will be no unnecessary pressure on the
organs. You must watch their breathing and see that it is smooth in whatever asanas they do.
Also, more attention should be paid to strengthening the spine in asanas like ardha
chandrasana (concave action), parsvottanasana (concave back), prasarita padottanasana (concave
back), uttanasana (concave back), all with correct supports according to the needs of the
ladies. All forward bends can be taught (sitting upright) with a concave back. bharadvajrasana
I, marichyasana III where the leg is placed in such a way that the bent leg does not touch the
abdominal organs can also be taught. Baddha konasana, supta baddha konasana, upavista
konasana (sitting upright, concave back) and virasana can be taught. Regarding inverted asanas,
these should not be taught to beginners (if there is bleeding get advice from a Senior teacher).
However, setu bandha sarvangasana (legs parallel to the floor or higher, on support, feet
against the wall) and viparita karani may be taught without fear. Viloma pranayama in a seated
pose can also be taught.

In February 2006 there will be a new book published entitled

Iyengar Yoga for Motherhood written by Geeta Iyengar, Rita Keller and Kerstin Keller-Khattab.

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The following information was given to us by Rita Keller:

“For beginner students – they can be taught a safe programme for the time up to week 14,
standing postures (i.e. utthita trikonasana, utthita parsvakonasana, ardha chandrasana,
parsvottanasana, prasarita padottanasana) only when they are healthy and there are no signs or
dispositions for miscarriage.

For advanced students, they should practice with care, avoiding, this is of course also valid for
the beginners, asanas that have a thinning and wringing action like parivrtta trikonasana, parivrtta
parsvakonasana, ardha matsyendrasana, marichyasana III. Pressing and compressing actions like
paripurna navasana, urdhva prasaritia padasana, and thinning actions like urdhva dhanurasana.
Dwi pada viparita dandasana, feet on a support the height of the buttocks is OK.”

I suggest that you read Yoga a Gem for Women by Geeta S. Iyengar, look at all the sections on
pregnancy. We should encourage aspiring ‘mums’ to be healthy before they become pregnant,
to keep themselves calm and confident during pregnancy and take proper care of themselves
after delivery. In A Matter of Health by Dr. Krishna Raman you will find a section on pregnancy
to add to your knowledge. Those of you have been to Pune will have many DVD’s or CD’s
and there is a great deal of useful information to be found where Geetaji has taught abroad
and conducted classes where women’s problems have been covered.

Sincere thanks to B. K. S. Iyengar (via Penny Chaplin) and Geeta S. Iyengar, Rita Keller and
Kerstin Keller-Khattab (via Judith Jones).

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