90hr Yoga Alliance Certified
Embodied Woman Pre/Postpartum Yoga Teacher Training
This unique prenatal and postpartum yoga teacher training, recognised by Yoga Alliance, provides a holistic & evidence-based perspective on the natural cycles of a woman’s life from preconception to pre and postpartum, grounded in awareness and embodiment.
Leaning on the principles of Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine, we will explore how the Elements function during these cycles, as well as deepen this understanding with a rigorous review of evidence-based research relevant to pregnancy and postpartum. Specifically, this training presents an in-depth exploration of empowerment, embodiment, informed consent, the medical model of birth, trauma-aware principles, pelvic health optimisation and physiologically supported modifications for asanas & pranayama specific to these life stages.
Following this training, you will be equipped with the skills and confidence to safely teach pre/postpartum yoga, to inspire & prepare women for an empowered birth experience, to support her entrance into matrescence and the postpartum journey, and to honor these sacred life passages with sensitivity, wisdom and connection.
MEET YOUR TEACHER - Amber sawyer, phd
e-500ryt, e-pyt, elemental yoga therapist, birth assistant
A life journey of more than 25 years of study, practice & teaching in Yoga, Ayurveda and Meditation, as well as a PhD in the Biomedical Sciences and a deeply seeded dharma of birth-work and pelvic health medicine have brought Amber into a unique path where scientific, ancient and sacred feminine wisdoms merge together into a holistic journey of exploration. The foundation of Amber’s yoga practice is Elemental Yoga, where she explores the relationship between asana, meridian channels and elemental organ energies as an intentional blend of yin/yang expressions.
The 90hr Embodied Woman Pre/Postpartum Yoga Teacher Training offers an incredible amalgam of Amber’s experience in evidence-based research, yoga thru the lens of the elements, her role as a midwife birth assistant and doula, and pelvic health physiology.
"Yoga and meditation are the strongest offering that we can give to a pregnant woman. Through conscious pregnancy, birth and early parenting, we set the foundation for life-long health and happiness in a child.”
— Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa
COURSE CURRICULUM
This training is divided into three modules over an 11 day period. Completion of all modules is required for certification.
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Understanding women’s physiology, hormonal cycles and health
Exploration of menstrual cyclical wisdom
Holistic view of fertility, womb care and female pelvic anatomy
Essential foundations of pelvic health & the core four
TCM/Ayurveda/5-Element Theory for preconception, pregnancy and postpartum
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Anatomy and physiology of pregnancy
Trimester specific asana, pranayama and meditation during pregnancy
Guidelines and contraindications for teaching prenatal yoga
Preparing & practicum of sequences for prenatal classes, prenatal modifications, or pregnancy-related complications
Safe abdominal toning and core work during pregnancy
Understanding the role of the pelvic floor before, during and after pregnancy
Stages of birth and labor anatomy
An overview of the medical model of birth and alternatives with active birthing
Optimal fetal/maternal positioning
Cultivating intuition and empowerment through embodiment practices
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Understanding the emotional terrain of the expectant Mother, the birth of the Mother and into the postpartum journey
The importance of postpartum healing and support through a yoga practice
Guidelines and contraindications for postpartum yoga
Sequencing & practicum teaching for postpartum yoga
Reconnecting to the body, pelvic floor balancing, core re-stabilisation
Diastasis recti and other postpartum complications
Breath awareness during preconception, pregnancy, labor & birth, and postpartum
Yoga practices to support through miscarriage, birth trauma and postpartum complications
Application of these principles into daily activities or other styles of asana classes
WHY IS THIS TRAINING UNIQUE?
There are many incredible prenatal/postnatal yoga trainings offered internationally with exceptional teachers. This particular training is unique in that it is a perfect blend between Eastern (esoteric and traditional) and Western (evidence based) perspectives on pregnancy, birth and postpartum. While we spend time looking at the cyclical and elemental nature of a woman during these life events and phases, we also spend equal time exploring the scientific literature relevant to anatomical and physiological changes during these phases. We often have special guest lectures by a women’s health physiotherapist and birth workers to enrich our learnings and discussion. The contents of this course have also been reviewed by Women’s Health Physiotherapists and are up to date with the most recent perspectives on maternal health. Additionally, Amber has a passion for pelvic floor health and how this relates to women’s health through all life stages and weaves this fascinating and incredibly relevant and profound knowledge throughout the training.
TYPICAL FULL TIME SCHEDULE
(11 days)
Sunday
12:30pm - 3:30pm
Monday - Friday (Week 1)
8:00am - 6:00pm
Saturday & Sunday
Rest days
Monday - Friday (Week 2)
8:00am - 6:00pm
Sample schedule
8:00am - 9:30am Yoga Practice
10:00am - 1:00pm Theory/Practicum
1:00pm - 2:15pm Lunch
2:15pm - 3:30pm Teaching Methodology/Practicum
3:45pm - 4:45pm Theory/Practicum
5:00pm - 6:00pm Yoga Practice
tuition
Varies by location
Regular guest lecturers on the singapore training
Women’s Pelvic Health Physiotherapist
Biodynamic Midwife and Author
Senior Birth Doula
Women’s Lactation Guide & Integrative Family Physician
upcoming training dates & locations
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HOM Yoga River Valley
Singapore
17 - 29 Nov
Non-residential
TUITION
Early bird (by 20 Oct): $2,499 SGD
Regular: $2,699 SGD
frequently asked questions (faq)
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SUGGESTED READING
The below are books that Amber recommends as supplemental and optional reading material to prepare for the training and to continue to support you afterwards. These books are not mandatory to read and are only offered as recommended reading material and references for your journey as a Prenatal/Postpartum Professional. Amber has found all of these books useful within her own experience of understanding, learning and sharing prenatal and postnatal support.
Women’s Health, Women’s Physiology and Cycles
Wild Power by Alexandra Pope and Sjanie Hugo Wurlitzer
Wild Feminine by Tami Lynn Kent
Yoni Shakti: A Woman’s Guide to Power and Freedom Through Yoga and Tantra by Uma Tuli
Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom by Christiane Northrup, M.D.
Pelvic Floor Health
Pelvic Liberation by Leslie Howard
Yoga for Women
The Woman’s Book of Yoga & Health by Linda Sparrowe and Patricia Walden
Yoga: A Gem for Women by Geeta S Iyengar
Yoga for Pregnancy & Postpartum
Inner Beauty, Inner Light: Yoga for Pregnant Women by Frederick Leboyer
Yoga Mama: The Practitioner’s Guide to Prenatal Yoga by Linda Sparrowe
Iyengar Yoga for Motherhood: Safe Practice for Expectant & New Mothers by Geeta S Iyengar
Yoga for Pregnancy and Birth by Uma Tuli
Ayurveda for Pregnancy
Yoga Mama Yoga Baby: Ayurveda & Yoga for a Healthy Pregnancy and Birth by Margo Shapiro Bachman
Ayurvedic Garbha Sanskar: The Art and Science of Pregnancy by Dr Shri Babaji Tambe
Pregnancy & Birth
From Fear to Love: Your Guide to a Fearless Magical Birth by Red Miller
Postpartum
Diastasis Recti: The Whole Body Solution by Katy Bowman
Newborn Mothers: When a Baby is Born, So is a Mother by Julia Jones
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This training equips you with the knowledge and practicum experience (during the training) on how to teach yoga for pregnancy and postpartum. Some graduates begin teaching right way, while others prefer to practice themselves or teach friends prior to teaching publicly. It depends more on your teaching experience & confidence prior to this training.
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Yes! A large portion of this training involves practice teaching for those who are keen to teach. It is not obligatory, but we do provide plenty of opportunities for those who would like that experience.
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There are three levels of certification after this training is complete.
Certificate of Participation: this is given on the final day of the training after 90% participation in the full training and passing of the final assessment on the last day. Graduates can already teach at this level, but the certification is not official nor is it endorsed by Embodied Woman Yoga.
Certificate of Completion: this is rewarded after completing the assignments given at the end of training. These include observing pre/postpartum classes, a book review, and lesson planning. Graduates have 1-year to complete this assignment. This enables the graduate to list themselves as an Embodied Woman Yoga Teacher, certified by Embodied Woman Yoga. Many studios only require this certificate to teach.
Yoga Alliance Registered Prenatal Yoga Teacher, RPYT - to earn this certification, you must submit the Certification of Completion (awarded above), as well as 30 hrs of practice teaching and your completed 200 hr YTT Certificate (which can be done before or after our training) to Yoga Alliance. You then pay them money and they will give you an official certificate as an RPYT.
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Yes! We love when males take an interest to join us and learn more about the female physiology, processes and life stages.
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Yes! While this training is geared towards yoga teachers who have experience teaching and understand the foundation of common asanas and pranayama methods, non-yoga teachers are also welcome. Please realise that you may find it difficult to teach without having other experience; however there are many ways you can integrate the training material into your current work or interests. We do ask that you have at least 3 years of a yoga practice, however, so that you can understand the basis of this training.
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Yes! This is the PERFECT time to join our training! Not only will the material be directly applicable, but you will also provide direct feedback and experience for the other trainees if you are willing to share. We have found that this training is an amazing preparation for birth and postpartum for many of our pregnant trainees.
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Absolutely! Do you expect an oncologist to have had cancer to treat you? Do you expect your male gynecologist to have a vagina? You can be an amazing prenatal or postpartum yoga teacher without ever having been pregnant previously. This journey simply requires presence, empathy, knowledge and authenticity. For those who have been pregnant previously, often there can be more to ‘unpack’ in her biases because it is human nature to compare experiences through one’s own personal lens.
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Absolutely! We will take breaks every hour to 90min. You are welcome to breastfeed your baby during the breaks if someone can bring your baby to the training (you can use our empty room or we can provide another safe space for you); and you are welcome to pump at anytime in the training (with us if you are comfortable). If you also need to step out to breastfeed during non-breaks, we can of course make exceptions for this, too.
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Yes! However, we recommend that you are at least 6 weeks postpartum or beyond, prior to joining this training. The practices will be supportive of your physiology and we can modify what is needed. One thing to consider is that the hours of the training are full-time, and unfortunately we cannot allow babies into the training room.
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Unfortunately, we do not allow babies to be brought to this training because of the intensity, duration, and complexities of some of our lectures and practices. We require full attention from all trainees and find that if babies are allowed into the room, that it is often difficult to concentrate with the attentive detail that is required for a teacher training.
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We require 90% participation in this training. If you need to miss lectures or practices, please discuss with us so we can find any alternative make-up options, if possible.
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Many of our graduates go on to teach prenatal and postpartum yoga in public studios. Some in Singapore are teaching at HOM Yoga, Mother & Child, Pure Yoga and Como Shambhala, while others have opened their own yoga studios or teach under their own brand. Some of our graduates have gone further into Menstrual Cycle Awareness programs or coaching certifications, feminine activism, postnatal wellness, birth or postpartum doula training or other birth work.
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We have a biannual Zoom call twice a year with all graduates, as well as an additional Zoom meeting two times in the first year following graduation. In the coming time, we will also offer Continued Education Units for our Graduates. We also have an active WhatsApp Community where we share job opportunities, ideas and announcements.
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At some point in the future! Currently it is an in-person training only.
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No. Though this training is open to any and all individuals to join, the language in this training is not gender-neutral. We focus on the female physiology, anatomy and nomenclature as it pertains to the cis-female gender born with a uterus, ovaries and vagina.
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Singapore, often twice a year. We would like to bring this training to other locations. If you are interested, please contact us!