This experiential day long workshop is open to all women and yoga teachers/yoga therapists/health care practitioners who are seeking to create positive menstrual health and to enhance fertility, whether for themselves personally, or for their students and clients. The day counts as continuing professional development (CPD) for teachers who have completed prior trainings with Uma, and can also count towards CPD points for general yoga teachers and teachers/therapists who have prior trainings in prenatal/postnatal yoga, yoga therapy or yoga for women’s health. Healthcare practitioners with an interest in yoga and women’s health are also welcome to attend, provided they have a living interest in and practice of yoga.
The intention of this day is to provide practical experience of rhythmic and restorative yoga postures (asana), gestures (mudra), breath (pranayama), energy locks (bandha) and heart-based meditations (yoga nidra) that promote healthy menstruation and optimise fertility. Therapeutic sequences of integrated yoga postures will be taught, and relevant case studies discussed. An overview of common menstrual and fertility challenges and opportunities will be discussed in relation to appropriate yoga therapeutic responses. By the end of the day, participants will have a thorough understanding of the key practical and theoretical yoga therapeutic range of responses that are helpful to support healthy menstruation and optimal fertility.
There will be plenty of opportunity for questions and discussions of specific issues relation to yoga and menstrual health. If you have specific personal or professional interests relating to fertility and menstruation, you are invited to bring your questions and experiences to share with the group. The programme is open to responsive, intuitive atunements and adjustments to meet the specific needs of those attending.
Proposed schedule
10.00 Welcome, meditation, introductions and motivations.
10.30 Yoga nidra for menstrual health and optimal fertility
11.00 Overview of menstrual and fertility challenges, relevant anatomy and subtle anatomy (energy pathways), and yoga therapeutic range of response
11.40 Short break
11.50 Practical yoga to support healthy menstruation and optimal fertility, including nada yoga (sound), rhythmic asanas to unblock energy (shakti bandhas), pointers for self-study (swadhyaya) – restorative yoga, and fluid nourishing sequences of movement and breath to optimise prana for menstrual and reproductive health
13.00-14.00 LUNCH
14.00 Questions and offerings – issues arising from the morning session
14.30 Exploring natural fertility management from a yogic perspective: considering the significance of the natal moon for conception and contraception, and the observation of menstrual cycle shifts (dreams, emotions, feelings and physical signs), cervical mucus, cervical position and basal temperature as a form of self-knowledge (svadhyaya)
15.00 The lunar dimension of yoga therapy for optimal fertility and menstrual health – honouring the moons inside and outside – theory and practice (modified chandra sequences with yoga therapy for menstrual pain relief and ovulatory support)
15.30 Hasta mudra variations of promoting optimal menstrual health and to enhance fertility
16.00 Mantra and yoga nidra to optimise prana flow in the heart/womb meridian
16.30 Further questions and evaluations
16.40 Closing meditation and shakti circle for support and development of optimal fertility
17.00 Close
