80 Hour Birthlight Perinatal Yoga Teacher Training with Kirsteen Ruffell
Are you ready to deepen your knowledge of pregnancy and postnatal Yoga? Would you like to train to become a prenatal and early postnatal yoga teacher?
This Perinatal Yoga Teacher Training, guided by Birthlight‘s senior teacher Kirsteen Ruffell, is in-depth and easily accessible. This 2 part, 80 hour, online and in person training, will equip you with yoga elements and adaptations beyond any standard current teachings of pregnancy yoga and early postnatal yoga.
This course takes place in 2 parts. After meeting online for the introduction on the 25th of February 2023, we carry out parts 1 and 2 in person in Valencia in March and September 2023. The time in between designed for study, practice, case studies and for completing the coursework.
This course is suitable to qualify as a Birthlight Perinatal Yoga Diploma teacher with the option to register as a Yoga Alliance Professionals pregnancy yoga teacher by adding the Postnatal Yoga course.
Next training starts February 25th 2023
About the training
This course covers everything you need to know to offer effective, inclusive and supportive Yoga for Pregnancy classes plus early postnatal recovery practices. Based on over 30 years of collective experience of working with pregnant women from all walks of life and from different cultures, this training has inspired many other training courses.
This course takes place in 2 parts with time to study and practice in between. Coursework is ideally completed between Part 1 and Part 2, including teaching your case studies. All coursework is carefully read and commented on, helping you to further refine your teaching.
This 6 day diploma course (80 hours) can be combined with the 3 day Postnatal training for those who wish to register as a Yoga Alliance Professionals Prenatal Yoga teacher.
Learn the classic components about Pre & Postnatal Yoga:
- The benefits of pre/postnatal yoga
- Yoga philosophy for maternity
- Fundamentals of pregnancy and postnatal specific anatomy
- Fundamentals of pregnancy physiology and postnatal recovery
- Asana modifications, variations and adjustments
- Relaxation and breathing exercises for pregnancy, birth and beyond
- Use of props, safety guidelines, do’s and don’ts
- Preparation of class materials and how to set up and manage your class
This training also includes:
- Specific adjustments of Asana for each of the ‘four trimesters’ (starting with the neglected first trimester and continuing through to the first 12 weeks post birth)
- Integrated use of the breath in all practices with reference to neuroendocrinology and maternal mental health
- Birthlight’s unique ‘micromovements of yoga’ for pelvic stability and elasticity
- Applications of yoga to a body-mind childbirth preparation (from the studio to the birth space)
- How to empower women of all levels of fitness and body types (chair yoga, isotonic practices to wall), with advanced sequencing for experienced practitioners
- Yoga walks and bionic dance ignored in Western style yoga
- Teaching in circles and using a wide range of pair and group practices that create friendship and ease in pre/postnatal classes
- Applications of yoga “off the mat” at work and at home through pregnancy
When
Part 1
February 25th 2023 Online
March 3-5 2023 Valencia, in person
09:30-13:30 and 14:30-18:30
Part 2
September 20-21 2023 Valencia, in person
09:30-13:30 and 14:30-18:30
Where
Centro Semillas, Calle Sueca 58, Valencia, Spain
Check out this Q&A and information video with the trainer!
Investment
Early Bird until 31th December 2022: 697 Euro
Regular: 797 Euro
There is a 20% discount if you book both the Perinatal and Postnatal Yoga Teacher Training.
50% of the price required as a deposit to confirm your booking, the remaining 50% is due before the start of the training.
Register here for this unique training and learn how to take your teaching skills to the next level
About the trainer
Kirsteen Ruffell is the Co-ordinator for Birthlight’s land-based training courses and an experienced Perinatal and Baby Yoga Tutors. She is a registered Senior Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance Professionals, has been teaching yoga since 1998 and began tutoring in 2008.
Kirsteen is passionate about nurturing students’ professional development on every training course and enhancing their ability to use new understanding creatively to best serve the students in their own classes.
Kirsteen has developed a particular interest in Postnatal Yoga and has worked closely with Birthlight founder and pioneer, Dr Françoise Freedman, to develop specific practices for the postnatal year.
Kirsteen has trained in:
- Hatha Yoga (Sivananda)
- Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga
- Birthlight Perinatal Yoga
- Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapist (Karuna Institute).
Kirsteen is continually inspired by teaching Birthlight’s gentle and enjoyable yoga practices that work profoundly across languages and cultures to support women and babies around the world.
She regularly leads Birthlight training courses in London, the Netherlands, China, Russia, Portugal, Belgium, and Germany.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are unable to attend the course for any reason please contact us as soon as possible by phone or email. Please confirm your cancellation in writing by email. To cover our administration costs, cancellation will be subject to the following charges which will be deducted before any refund of fees:
- Cancellations for Diploma courses up to 6 weeks before the start of the course will be refunded minus a 30 Euro cancellation fee.
- For cancellations made less than 6 weeks before the start date there will be no refunds or transfers to a future course unless:
- the training is full and your place can be filled from a waiting list or you introduce a new participant
- you are sick or injured and can provide a doctor’s note
In these cases we will refund the fee, minus a 20% admin fee.
We reserve the right to cancel a training or replace a tutor for any reason. We will only do this in exceptional circumstances that mean we are unable to offer the training as advertised, or if there are insufficient numbers booked to make it viable. Should this happen, we will notify you as soon as we have knowledge of the cancellation/change and will refund you the full training fee you have paid us in respect of the training.
In the event of cancellation we will not offer a refund for any transport and/or accommodation costs you may have incurred. Please ensure you take out relevant insurance to protect yourself against this.
We will always consider special circumstances, which may be beyond your control, before implementing these charges. Any case will be considered on an individual basis at the full discretion of Birthlight.
We require all Birthlight teachers to have an ongoing Birthlight membership. Birthlight membership is charged at £35 annually. As a member of Birthlight you can access the Birthlight Training Resources on our website for study resources and articles and interact and communicate with your peer group. With current membership you can have a discount on further Birthlight Trainings, specialised short courses and CPDs. Part of the Membership fee helps to fund the Birthlight Trust. The Trust’s objectives are to promote physical and mental health and well-being of mothers, babies and families during pregnancy, early childhood and parenthood through education, training and research.
On completion of the Diploma Part 1
You may teach classes to complete your coursework and case studies and to practice, etc. but you and your class participants should be aware that full qualification only comes on successful completion of Part 2 of the Diploma Course. You may not operate commercially at this stage, but you may make sufficient charges for your classes to cover your operating costs. You will be eligible for the Trainee Insurance Certificate only.
Once qualified (Diploma Part 2)
After successful completion of Part 1 & 2 and all necessary coursework you may practice commercially as a Birthlight trained teacher and eligible to advertise your services on the Birthlight website. You will be required to attend at least one Birthlight Continuous Professional Development day every two years as a commitment to ensuring your continuing development and skills as a teacher.
Certified yoga teachers trained with a reputable school of yoga wishing to train to offer specialised classes for Pregnancy, labour and birth, and early Postnatal recovery. The full diploma certification accredited with Yoga Alliance Professionals is open to 200h certified teachers as a Postgraduate course.
Applicants without a yoga qualification must evidence a long personal yoga practice. Health professionals with a personal Yoga experience may also apply.
This course consists primarily of face-to-face contact hours, a livestream introduction plus an online learning component. There you will find our exclusive course materials developed through years of teaching experience by the Birthlight tutor team.
Part 1 will take place online (30th October 2022) and in person (4-6th November 2022) in Valencia, Spain
Part 2 will take place in person in 14-15th June 2023
Study materials include:
- an online printable comprehensive manual
- explainer videos and presentations of anatomy and physiology
- class recordings
- printable handouts.
Discussion groups, quizzes and practical assignments are part of our live delivery of courses by experienced tutors. Individualised support and assessment of recorded teaching videos uphold Birthlight training quality standards.
The main sections of the course are delivered in person, in Valencia. Exceptions may be made for people who cannot attend in person, and will be considered on a case by case basis.
You will be assessed continually with quizzes and informal practicals through the course. To gain your certification you will also need to document and teach 10 case-study classes, 6 classes with a group and 4 with a 1:1 student.
On successful completion of the Perinatal Yoga Diploma course, you will be qualified as Birthlight Certified Teacher in Perinatal Yoga.
The Birthlight Perinatal Yoga Diploma has also been approved for teachers’ registration with CNHC (Complementary and Natural Health Council). Diploma holders can register through Birthlight. Birthlight Perinatal Yoga is in full conformity with NICE guidelines for maternity care.
Successful completion of Part 1 and 2 Perinatal Yoga plus Postnatal Yoga together (80 hours) satisfies the requirements to register with Yoga Alliance Professionals as having specialist training in Perinatal Yoga. Graduates may use the title ‘Registered Yoga Teacher’ RYT as a sign of quality training.
Once you have committed to attend a training, it is your responsibility to attend all the scheduled sessions and you must do so in order to receive your certificate. An email is sent at the time of the booking with all relevant information. Please contact the Birthlight office if you do not receive it.
Your course fees include:
- Training and assessment by a qualified Birthlight tutor
- Birthlight Course Manual, this will be given to you on the first day of training
- The Guide to Birthlight
- Pre-course reading and tasks will be sent to you digitally
- Access to online resources relating to this training
- On-going support and connection with your peers and tutor through a private group, assistance to upload your work if needed
- Preliminary certificate after successful completion of Part 1 for insurance to teach your case studies
- The marking of your coursework by your tutor who will give you detailed feedback
- Birthlight newsletters
Your course fees do not include, (but you may need to pay for):
- A demonstration doll (recommended for Postnatal Yoga but not obligatory)
- Accommodation and food for yourself
- Teaching Insurance
Please note: Birthlight will not be held in any way responsible for the safe keeping of your possessions or valuables during any training.
A deposit of 50% is necessary to secure a place on the course and should be paid at the time of booking. The full fee must be paid at least 28 days before the beginning of the course. Applications will be taken on a ‘first come first served’ basis and students who have paid their deposit will have priority over those who haven’t. We reserve the right to refuse a place to students who have not paid their deposit or full fees by the required date.
A Part 2 will be planned 4 to 9 months after the Part 1 which you will automatically be booked on. If you wish to postpone taking Part 2, you should notify us at least 4 weeks before the Part 2 date and a deferment fee of 30 Euro must be paid.
What other’s have been saying about Kirsteen’s Birthlight’s Teacher Training:
‘Outstanding course. I arrived as a yoga teacher and mother, and also with a history that includes personal training where I specialised in Perinatal and Postnatal women. I was looking for the best course I could find. I wanted it to be thorough, safe, well researched. Birthlight has that strong foundation combined with 30 years experience. It was not the cheapest, not the quickest, and certainly not the easiest. But with the coursework and the 2 part training it really allows you time to consolidate, to try things and to come back to the support of your tutor and peers while it is still new to you. Birthlight has additional resources and information online which you can access while studying and beyond. I would thoroughly recommend this training. It is well worth the time and effort.’
The perinatal Birthlight course is rooted in yoga philosophy and offers in-depth training to include a thorough understanding of how the body changes throughout pregnancy, a full range of yoga sequences and ways to alleviate symptoms. The training helps you to support women as they prepare for birth. The Birthlight training is holistic and aims to empower women through the yoga practices offered.Balance of theory and practical. I now have a really good understanding of A&P, ailments and how yoga can be of benefit and different yoga sequences. I feel we have an excellent toolbox of resources that we can use.
Birthlight is a fantastic organisation, headed up by the wonderful Francoise Freedman, who has an incredible wealth of experience and knowledge in the area of pre- and post- natal wellbeing. What I really appreciated about their approach to teaching pre- and post-natal yoga is that it is very holistic and really equips you to condently support women both during and after their prenancy and to help prepare them for labour and birth. The training is about much more than just modifying traditional yoga poses, and it gives you a very thorough understanding of the anatomy of pregnancy and birth. It also integrates theory and hands-on practice in a very effective way. I am very happy to have trained with Birthlight, and it has enabled me to successfully run both pre- and post-natal yoga classes for the last seven years (with some women now being on their second pregnancies with me!) and hopefully for many more years to come!
