047: Downward Dog in Prenatal Yoga with Kim MacDonald-Heilandt and Shannon Crow

Downward Dog in Prenatal Yoga with Kim MacDonald-Heildant and Shannon Crow Shannon met Kim MacDonald-Heildant at a prenatal yoga teacher training and they bonded over their enthusiasm for this area of expertise. Leaving the training with even more questions, Shannon and Kim decided to join forces. They felt that while every teacher and training brought them valuable experience, they wanted to expand on what they learned to incorporate the research and experience they've gained since.   Shannon and Kim co-founded Mama Nurture to provide a 100-hour prenatal yoga teacher training (PYTT) that spends more time on all the wonderful aspects of prenatal that are often only touched on in PYTT (e.g. postnatal and fertility) while expanding on anatomy. Their website also provides great resources such as articles, breath practices and yoga sequences.   Kim was drawn to yoga as a self-care practice and became even more enthusiastic about the practice when she became pregnant. She enjoyed her pregnancies and the way yoga enhanced her experience. This positive relationship led her to enrol in a 200-hour YTT followed by a PYTT and is now a certified children's and prenatal yoga teacher.  She is also a mother of 2, a teacher, co-owner and director of Gibbons Park Montessori School as well as the founder of Live Laugh Breathe Yoga.   Shannon and Kim found that one of the most common questions from yoga teachers in prenatal training is: "Can I teach downward dog to pregnant yoga students?" There are many opinions about this. Shannon and Kim are going to share their opinions which they emphasize are not meant to be a definitive answer. In fact, through listening to each other they've switched positions!   As Shannon and Kim say: "No one yoga pose is good for everyone. No one yoga pose is bad for everyone." They explore reasons why downward dog is on their caution list and offer alternative poses that can provide some of the same benefits. 7:20 Kim's yoga journey   9:00 What inspired Kim and Shannon to create their own prenatal yoga teacher training   10:45 Kim's thoughts on prenatal and downward dog   12:25 How Shannon and Kim ended up switching their positions on downward dog in prenatal yoga   13:35 Article written by Kim and Shannon   Can I Teach Downward Dog to Prenatal Yoga Students   14:10 Reasons Kim and Shannon caution, take out, or only offer downward dog as an option in their classes:   14:25  1) Unnecessary strain on the low back   15:45 2) Can cause or exacerbate heartburn and nausea   16:45 3) Most prenatal students are beginners and downward dog is not a beginner pose   18:30 4) Can irritate carpal tunnel which is common in pregnant women   19:20 5) It can cause baby to turn   20:40 6) Can increase round ligament pain   21:15 7) Can affect very low or high blood pressure   23:35 Kim and Shannon's favourite pose for prenatal students- Puppy Pose   25:10 Kim and Shannon's cueing for downward dog for a prenatal student that wants to attempt the pose   26:25 To stretch out the calf muscles- Modified Big Toe Pose   27:55 Bird Dog Pose   28:45 Legs Up the Wall   29:20 Half Forward Fold   30:50 Kim's words of wisdom when it comes to incorporating Downward Dog- "Try to let go with what's expected of you." Observe your class, don't be afraid to ask how it feels for your students, your students may do it because they feel like they should, not because it works for them   31:55 Kim and Shannon want to share their information and experience to help others make a more informed opinion about downward dog in prenatal- no absolute answer   33:15 Shannon's closing thoughts- ask yourself what benefit do you want to gain from a pose?   Links   Gibbons Park Montessori School MamaNurture Article: Can I Teach Downward Dog to Prenatal Yoga Students PDF: 8 Contraindications for pregnant yoga students (to get the list sign up on the homepage) Mama Nurture Teacher Training (RPYT) TCYT Podcast 033: A New Perspective with Diastasis Recti with Sinead Dufour Spinning Babies Website The Connected Teacher Facebook Group Free Images Discussion on TCYT Facebook Group-A special thanks to Lindsey Larson for starting the discussion Follow The Connected Teacher on Youtube Book a Consultation Call with Shannon Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity