Description

Yoga for Pregnancy and Postpartum: CPD Training in Yoga Therapy for Perinatal Health

Course Overview

The perinatal period, from conception through pregnancy, birth, and into the first year postpartum, marks one of the most powerful and layered transitions in a person’s life. It involves profound physiological change, emotional complexity, shifting identity, and moments of both joy and disorientation. This professional training in yoga for pregnancy and postpartum combines scientific rigour with therapeutic attunement. You will develop the skills to work relationally, think critically, and offer care that is clinically informed, inclusive, and grounded in the lived realities of perinatal clients.

Whether supporting those facing fertility challenges, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, birth trauma, postpartum adjustment, or simply seeking integrated wellbeing during pregnancy, this course equips you to apply yoga therapy with clarity, depth, and compassion.

Interested in this training? You can access a recorded one-hour workshop with Dr. Claire Sandberg for an introduction to yoga therapy for perinatal health for just £5: Yoga Therapy for Perinatal Health workshop.

Why Yoga Therapy for Pregnancy and Postpartum?

Yoga for pregnancy has grown significantly in recent years, with more people turning to body-based practices to support wellbeing through conception, pregnancy, birth, and recovery. Its value in promoting physical health, emotional regulation, and psychological balance is now widely recognised.

However, yoga therapy offers a more personalised and clinically grounded approach. Unlike general prenatal yoga classes, yoga therapy for pregnancy is a biopsychosocial intervention that supports individuals with specific mental and physical health challenges during this life stage.

When applied with clinical awareness and therapeutic sensitivity, yoga therapy is uniquely suited to address:

• Fertility struggles
• Pregnancy loss
• Identity shifts
• Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders
• Pelvic pain and trauma
• The psychological impact of birth
• Postpartum adjustment

At the heart of this course is the panchamaya kosha model, a yogic and biopsychosocial lens that recognises five interrelated layers of the human experience: body, breath, mind, personality, and deeper self. This model enables practitioners to assess and support the whole person rather than focusing solely on physical preparation or recovery.

This training also responds to the ongoing under-resourcing of perinatal mental health and the urgent need for more inclusive, collaborative, and attuned support throughout the full perinatal journey.

What You Will Learn in This Yoga for Pregnancy and Postpartum Training

Led by Dr Claire Sandberg, a medical doctor and experienced yoga therapist, this CPD course offers a rare integration of biomedical knowledge, trauma-informed care, and yoga therapy expertise.

You will gain the skills to:

• Apply a biopsychosocial and trauma-aware framework to perinatal mental and physical health
• Use the panchamaya kosha model for assessment and case-based therapeutic planning
• Support clients through fertility issues, pregnancy after loss, postpartum adjustment, and birth trauma
• Address common pelvic health challenges such as diastasis recti, pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic girdle pain, caesarean recovery, and vaginal tearing
• Understand how different birth experiences impact psychological well-being
• Collaborate with perinatal mental health and pelvic health professionals
• Work inclusively with awareness of systemic inequalities, reproductive justice, and diverse family-building paths
• Engage in critical self-reflection to enhance therapeutic presence and reduce bias

Who Is This Course For?

This CPD training is designed for:

• Qualified yoga therapists
• Trainee yoga therapists
• Perinatal or mental health professionals with a foundation in yoga (by application)
• Other applicants may be considered on a case-by-case basis

You do not need to have personal experience of pregnancy or parenting to attend. All identities and lived experiences are welcome. If you are currently pregnant, you are very welcome to join. Please note that the course includes discussion of trauma, loss, and complex perinatal outcomes.

If you are unsure whether the course is the right fit for your background, we invite you to contact us at admin@themindedinstitute.com to discuss your experience and suitability. Please remember to provide as much detail as possible about your relevant background and experiences.

Course Format, CPD Hours and IAYT Accreditation

This live online training is delivered via Zoom in two immersive modules, with a structured integration period in between to support reflection and applied learning.

Module 1

Dates: Thursday, 12th – Sunday, 15th November 2026
Time: 10am – 6pm (each day, UK time)

Integration Period

Between modules you will deepen your understanding of the lived experience of pregnancy, birth and postpartum recovery through guided interviews, reflective exercises and interdisciplinary exploration. With direct support from Dr Sandberg, you will:

• Speak with three individuals about their birth or perinatal experiences, then reflect on and bring the key themes back to the group
• Listen to five selected podcasts and reflect on key insights
• Watch two pre-recorded lectures to deepen understanding
• Connect with a local perinatal professional to expand an interdisciplinary perspective

Module 2

Dates: Thursday, 25th – Sunday, 28th February 2027
Time: 10am – 6pm (each day, UK time)

Participants who complete the course will receive a certificate for 56 hours of continuing professional development (CE Points).

This training is approved by the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) and meets international standards for yoga therapy education and approved professional development (APD).

Assessment and Certification

Certification is awarded based on:

• Full attendance at both live online modules
• Completion of asynchronous integration tasks
• Submission of a written assessment based on a series of perinatal vignettes

On Completion of This Yoga for Pregnancy Course

By the end of this training, you will be equipped to apply yoga therapy for pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and perinatal mental health with clinical clarity, therapeutic attunement, and systemic awareness. Whether supporting clients through conception, pregnancy, postpartum adjustment, or loss, you will be able to draw on integrated tools, collaborative insight, and a whole person lens to offer care that is inclusive, evidence-informed, and grounded in yogic tradition.

Payment Plans Available – Contact accounts@themindedinstitute.com for details.