Prenatal/Postnatal Teacher Training Programs
Upcoming Trainings
"I really loved Leslie Lytle's Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga Teacher Training. I learned so much about what women go through during this incredible time of creating a new life, that I feel more comfortable with myself both as a woman and a yoga teacher. I now know I have the tools to help teach pregnant women and new mothers and I have Leslie to thank for guiding me through this tremendous learning experience!"
— Liz Hudson, RYT, Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training 2011, Austin
2012 dates and locations in Virginia will be announced soon!
Since 2004, over 200 teachers have completed OmMama's Prenatal/Postnatal teacher training programs. Want to host a teacher training in your community? Contact info@OmMama.com.
- "This is really a life changing training. We delved so deeply into the social, emotional and physical implications of birth and parenting. The training was beautiful, powerful and poetic. I left feeling humbled and inspired. I also went home and wrote a huge list of questions for my own prenatal care provider. The implications went well beyond the mat as great yoga always does." ~ Melissa Savoie, Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training 2011 Austin
30-Hour Prenatal Yoga Training Program
40-Hour Prenatal/Postnatal Yoga Training Program
Pregnancy, birth, and early parenting offer women many physical, spiritual, and social challenges as they embark on the journey of parenthood. Yoga practice during pregnancy can help them prepare for these challenges with awareness, strength, and grace, and has become one of the most popular ways of preparing for childbirth in the United States. OmMama’s comprehensive prenatal/postnatal yoga teacher training programs will provide you with a rich framework and effective tools to offer professional, responsible, and appropriate yoga instruction to pregnant and postpartum women. You will gain confidence and skills to teach prenatal and postnatal yoga classes from a solid foundation, within a pedagogical model that emphasizes evidence-based information, informed choice, and peer support within your student population.
LEARN
which yoga postures are especially helpful during pregnancy and how to adapt them as necessary.
UNDERSTAND
the physiological, emotional, and social considerations of the childbearing year.
ADDRESS
the common discomforts of pregnancy with specific yoga postures and sequences.
OFFER
professional, responsible, and appropriate support to pregnant and postpartum women.
RECEIVE
hands-on training and peer feedback in practice classroom settings.
GAIN
experience in supporting mother/infant bonding and fostering community among new mothers.
MARKET
your prenatal program within your community.
ENCOURAGE
women to access and trust their own deep wisdom and strength.
Trainings are open to yoga teachers, teachers-in-training, and health care professionals with a committed yoga practice of at least one year. The training includes significant prerequisite reading, supervised teaching opportunities and for those seeking certification, post-training assignments. Reading assignments will be sent upon registration. Applicants are strongly encouraged to register at least one month prior to the scheduled training session in order to complete the reading in advance of the training. Students who successfully complete all requirements of the course and the post-training assignments will receive a certificate of completion and may be listed on the OmMama website (an additional fee may apply for those seeking certification).
Prerequisites
Completion of a 200-hour yoga teacher-training course or permission from the instructor. OmMama’s training programs assume a solid foundation in yoga practice and terminology. Doulas, midwives, obstetricians, childbirth educators and others who work with pregnant and postpartum women AND have a committed yoga practice are encouraged to apply. Please email info@OmMama.com with any questions about the appropriateness of this training for your particular circumstances.
Teacher Bio
Leslie Lytle, MS, CMA, RYT500 combines a background in Iyengar yoga, dance and vipassana meditation with imagery, poetry, and a deep understanding of the experience of pregnancy and birth. She has worked with pregnant women for over 19 years , first as massage therapist, then as doula, and since 2000 as yoga instructor. A Certified Laban Movement Analyst and Registered Prenatal Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance, Leslie holds a bachelor's degree in Movement Studies and a master's degree in Sociology, where her area of interest was women's experience of the body and health. Leslie brings to her teaching a love of movement, an eye for alignment, and a deep respect for the body's inherent wisdom.
Training Structure
The 30-hour Prenatal program is structured into a 4-day intensive or may be spread over two weekends, usually offered approximately one month apart. The 40-hour Prenatal/Postnatal program is offered as a 5 day intensive. The postnatal training may be offered as a stand-alone workshop. Want to sponsor a prenatal or postnatal teacher training in your community? Please send inquiries to info@ommama.com.
Comments from past participants:
"This was such a great introduction to Pre/Postnatal yoga and I would definitely recommend it! The enthusiasm of the teacher and the way the material was presented really made me interested in pursuing these types of studies further."
— Alice Chapman, Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training 2011, Austin
"The training helped me to see how my own varying birth stories, my love of technical knowledge, and experience with many yoga styles could play out really well in a prenatal yoga class. In other words, Leslie and this course gave me the confidence to do what I already do. Thank you."
— Melissa Burton, Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training 2011, Las Vegas
"I have already recommended this training to all my yoga teaching friends. I particularly liked that this training was not a "branded product" but a true training in pre and post natal yoga as beneficial to labor, delivery, and recovery...allowing us to follow our inner wisdom as yoga teachers to customize yoga to fit the needs of the students in the room on any given day."
— Stacy (Shakti) Oliver-Skaggs, Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training 2009, Austin
"This training was great, and such a powerful experience on a personal and professional level! Like the birth of a new baby/family, I felt an incredible awakening and connection. Thank you Leslie, for sharing your great wisdom and gentle spirit.."
— Sheryl (Sunshine) Haynes, Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training 2009, Austin
"A little over a week ago, I had the great pleasure of attending the Prenatal & Postnatal Yoga Teacher Training, facilitated by Leslie Lytle. . . "(read full article)
— Fanny Priest
"A truly heartfelt sharing and instruction to teaching prenatal yoga. I feel as if I have been given the tools to be able to start teaching prenatal and for continuing to learn about birth, prenatal and postpartum yoga. Thank you!
—Vickie Christian, Yoga Instructor
“This exceeded my expectations. I was unsure how this would be considering I'm not yet a yoga instructor, yet I felt welcomed encouraged, stretched, and embraced throughout. Leslie is an exceptional teacher with a treasure trove of knowledge that is quite amazing. I appreciate her love for yoga and her deep caring for all of us."
—Patricia Kinser, Nurse Practitioner
"I attended wanting to gain knowledge for my prenatal students, and ended up gaining knowledge about myself! Thank you for a very inspiring and empowering experience."
—Meichelle Norwood, Yoga Instructor
“The prenatal teacher training was a lot more than I expected and I got so much out of it. The choice of textbooks was excellent and the manual was also very helpful. I am very grateful for Leslie’s knowledge and expertise in the area of perinatal yoga and loved the nurturing, honest approach in addressing various aspects of pregnancy and also dealing with loss. Leslie brought out the best in all of us by creating a safe place to learn from each other and share. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to be a part of the prenatal teacher training. Thank you."
—Selena Pang, Yoga Instructor
“It exceeded my expectations by delving into the physiology and politics of pregnancy and childbirth and providing a larger context for teaching and addressing the interests and concerns of pregnant women.”
—Yvonne Herbst, Yoga Instructor
Teacher Resource List
The following people have successfully completed the OmMama Prenatal Teacher Training. All of the individuals and organizations listed below operate independently and are not employees of OmMama, LLC. Please contact these teachers directly.
Arizona
Kewal K. Khalsa
Phoenix, Arizona
602-271-4480
kewalkaur@gmail.com
www.YogaAndBirth.com
Texas
Nicole Marie Kane
512-586-3820
vyanavayu@gmail.com
http://www.VyanaVayu.org/
Stacy Wooster, LMT, CYT
512-225-4474
whitedaisywellness@gmail.com
www.whitedaisywellness.com
Laura Cunningham
Austin, TX
512-921-9939
laura@yogayoga.com
Melissa Stephens
Austin, TX
minevarez@yahoo.com
Lisa Taggart
Austin, TX
512-326-3900
lisat@yogayoga.com
www.yogayoga.com
Tracy Liberman
Austin, Texas
512-431-3360
tdliberman@yahoo.com
Deborah Herriage
Austin, Texas
512-576-5118
dherriage@gmail.com
www.heydeborah.com
Amanda Daly
Dripping Springs, TX. 78620.
512-858-7312
adaly1000@aol.com
Lindsay Plante
Marble Falls, TX
830-693-2962
lindsayplante@yahoo.com
Virginia
Melissa Calkins
Midlothian/Richmond, VA
804-432-0134
melissa.calkins@gmail.com
Becky Crigger
Williamsburg, Virginia
(757) 221-0774
becky@bodybalancewilliamsburg.com
www.bodybalancewilliamsburg.com
Sue George
Harrisonburg, Virginia
Phone: 540-746-8468
info@shenandoahyoga.com
www.shenandoahyoga.com
Shannon Gray
Richmond, VA
804-814-8563
charlesshannongray@yahoo.com
Yvonne Herbst
Fauquier Hospital - LIFE Center Warrenton, VA
540-937-7234
ymherbst@comcast.net
Patricia Kinser
Richmond, VA
804-515-9642
prenatalyogarichmond@yahoo.com
www.two-day.com/richmondprenatalyoga
Ann Marie Lewis
Chester, VA
804-536-5869
annmarie@yogaonlocation.com
www.yogaonlocation.com
Barbara West, ERYT-500
Powhatan, Virginia
804-598-0700
yoga@inlightyoga.com
www.inlightyoga.com
Laura Zuckoff CYT, ERYT
Midlothian, VA
Laura@journeyhomeyoga.com
www.journeyhomeyoga.com
804-516-2641