Program Overview

Inside is an innate wisdom that intuitively understands about the very natural process of birth. Help pregnant mothers connect with this wisdom, through a class specifically designed for the journey of pregnancy, childbirth education and therapeutics of movement and relief from common pregnancy-related aches and pains. Linking yoga postures with the breath can lead expectant mothers to new discoveries, bringing awareness to the mind, body and spirit, and also the spirit of our babies.

Learn how to create a trauma informed program in a calm, peaceful environment that will help strengthen the uterus and pelvic muscles, improve circulation, aid in digestion, exercise the spine and increase overall comfort of your students Yoga can also alleviate many of the discomforts of pregnancy such as nausea, constipation, varicose veins, swelling, back pain and sciatica. Learn to develop a safe, open community that will allows women to freely discuss any issues, from discomforts and concerns to the wonderful new changes that her body and baby are experiencing.

our philosophy

The journey of pregnancy and bringing a child into the world is often described as nothing short of a profound and sacred transformation – a "Great Mystery" that intertwines biology, spirit, and an ancient dance of creation. It's a period of deep introspection and immense change, not just for the expectant parent but for everyone connected to the unfolding life.

As French obstetrician Frédérick Leboyer, a pioneer of gentle birth, so beautifully articulated, birth is an event of such magnitude that it demands a profound shift in perspective. He urged us to consider the baby's experience, saying, "What is important is not the act of giving birth, but the way in which the child is received." This speaks to the sacred responsibility of creating a welcoming space, both physically and emotionally, for the new life entering the world. Leboyer's philosophy nudges us to move beyond the clinical and embrace the tenderness required for this profound initiation.

The concept of a "Wonder Child" echoes this sentiment, inviting us to see the baby not just as a developing organism but as a being of inherent wisdom and potential. This perspective encourages parents and caregivers to approach the journey with awe and reverence, recognizing the unique individual emerging. It's a reminder that every child is a miracle, an unfolding mystery in themselves.

The power and grace of the birthing person, and indeed, all women, in this process is eloquently captured by Maya Angelou. Her words, though not directly about childbirth, resonate deeply with the strength, resilience, and inherent dignity required for such a momentous undertaking. Her famous line, "I am a woman / Phenomenally. / Phenomenal woman, / That's me," could easily be the mantra of a birthing person stepping into their power, navigating the unknowns with courage and grace. The act of bringing forth life is indeed a phenomenal feat, showcasing the deep well of strength and wisdom within.

Inspired by the wisdom of Nkem Ndefo and other midwives, activists, birthing coaches, a profound voice in trauma resolution and holistic healing, we understand the importance of grounding and presence during this intense ritual time in life. Our work consistently emphasizes the body's innate wisdom and the power of connection. We focus on how the nervous system responds to stress and how conscious regulation can create safety speaks volumes to the conception and birthing process. We apply these principles to creating a truly supportive and calm environment for conception, birth, acknowledging the inherent intelligence of the body to navigate this ancient process. The mystery isn't just external; it's within the miraculous, adaptive capacity of the human body and spirit.

The process of conception, pregnancy and birth are far more than biological events. They are a powerful, sacred, and transformative "Great Mystery" that calls for respect, tenderness, wisdom, and an unwavering belief in the phenomenal journey of bringing a child into the world.

Details

• Dates: Can be done online anytime or you can join the next live session September 5-8, 2025

• Tuition: $989.00 (Atlas Yoga Teacher Training graduates enquire about discounted tuition and this program is included in the Atlas 500hr Yoga Teacher Training program electives)

  • Earlybird registration discount price 939.00 if registered and paid by July 15, 2025

  • Further discount if you register and pay for the 3 Modules of the Reproductive Cycle (Fertility/Conception, Prenatal, Postnatal) at the same time.

  • Fertility & Conception Yoga / August 6-11, 2025

  • Postnatal Yoga / October 3-6 - Tuition for all three modules is $2400.00

• Hours: 100 hours (qualifies as a specialization for 500 Hour Atlas Yoga Teacher Training)

*Please note: payment is required on receipt of notification of acceptance to the program

Prerequisites

• 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training &/or Physical Education or Kinesiology Degree or other advanced education in anatomy and physiology
  Basic knowledge of Anatomy & Physiology

• If you are a graduate from another school of yoga, we will require a copy of your certificate, an up-to-date FirstAid/CPR/AED certificate and a copy of your syllabus to ensure that you have covered basic foundational principles assumed in this program. This may require that you do a small amount of work to understand basics in our teaching style.

Course Outline

• Prenatal Anatomy Review

• Posture analysis/alignment

• Core Concepts in class design/planning

• Partner and group work

• Measures of fitness

• Exercise precautions

• Music, fundamental choreography and cueing/leadership methods

• Warm-up and stretching principles

• Muscular conditioning and Flexibility training

• Class evaluation

• Health history forms, Par-Q, informed consent

• Bringing children into the world consciously

• Meditation for pregnancy & childbirth

• Pranayama

• Mantras for bringing a spiritual child into the world

• Mudras for managing common ailments of the pregnant body

• Private Yoga Therapy for the pregnant body

Your Instructor

Denise Davis-Gains has been teaching yoga since 1993. She has been teaching fitness and studying meditation since 1980. After completing her first certification with Susie Dias in Toronto, Denise actively sought to find time with senior teachers of this ancient tradition.  She holds two university degrees and continues to pursue higher education. Denise completed a course in Sanskrit with Jonathan Geen at McMaster University. She is trained in the Kripalu method of yoga, a very introspective style that incorporates vinyasa flow and postural analysis. She has been fortunate to be able to study with great yoga masters in the Ashtanga, Iyengar, Sivananda, Kundalini, Himalayan and other styles and schools and brings this variety of experience and style to this program. Denise has been training yoga teachers since 1997. Denise taught credit courses: Intro to Yoga; Intro to Yoga Therapy; Group Exercise and Physical Fitness in the Kinesiology department of Wilfrid Laurier University for 16 years and vocational fitness in the Community Services Department at Conestoga College. She has been a facilitator and Production & Staff manager in the Inner Quest Intensive, at the Kripalu Institute, Massachusetts (the Inner Quest Intensive in considered the most intensive and healing program that is run at this institution) and assisted in a programs in support of Parkinson’s patients and their care-givers and a nutrition program, “The Quest for the Limitless You” and “The Mindful Table: a Nutrition and Mindfulness program.”

Learn about the Labour and Delivery Process as a goal of prenatal yoga practice.