Antenatal or prenatal yoga is the specialised branch of yoga with exercises meant for pregnant women. Going to an antenatal class is meant to prepare you and your partner for labour, childbirth and early parenthood. This will also help you with preparing a birth plan. 

When done properly, antenatal yoga helps you practice stretches and breathing exercises. You will also be able to discuss any potential fears that you might have in a group environment. The bonding that you and your coach will share is very essential. Therefore, it is very important to pick the right therapist to guide you through antenatal exercises. 

Why should you be going for prenatal classes?

You now know what prenatal classes are and that they are important for you as a mother. But that’s not all prenatal / pregnancy classes are all about. There’s more to it. Pregnancy classes also provide the parents-to-be with guidance regarding the labour, birth and early parenthood. You can ask your antenatal therapists any questions that your doctor doesn’t have time to answer. This is also a great opportunity to bond with other parents-to-be and new parents and build a social network.

 Things to look for in a good antenatal class 

• Location: preferably look for antenatal classes around your home, so that it is

not strenuous task to attend them.

• Credibility: check the references and their success stories by talking to people

who may attended classes. Verify the training of the mentor present in the

Classes.

• Duration of the class: find out the duration of the classes and the times. If you

are working, you may want to attend a weekend class – check if that kind of

adjustment is available.

• Class size: some classes have 5 to 12 couples in a class, while some have even up

to 50 attendants. What would you prefer? Do you want personalized attention?

Or are you not very comfortable with personal attention?

• When to attend: talk to your doctor on the right time to attend an antenatal

class. Usually the right time to attend is between week 28 and week 36. So look

for a prenatal class that is available around that time.

• Topics covered: Check the course being offered and if it is what you want to

Learn.

• Price: It is an important aspect towards selecting the right antenatal class. Check

the prices and what does the whole package include.

And remember to have as much fun as you possibly can, it is all about enjoying the ride, not just reaching the destination!