85-hour Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training with Prenatal Yoga Center NYC's Deb Flashenberg & Caprice Abowitt!

  

We are excited to welcome Prenatal Yoga Center's Deb Flashenberg & Caprice Abowitt to offer their 85 hour Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training here in Chester, NJ at Dhyana Yoga Arts!  This very in-depth, comprehensive training is for those who want to dive into the world of prenatal yoga and work with this very specialized population.  

The Prenatal Yoga Center is Manhattan's only yoga studio dedicated solely to expectant and new parents. Over the past 14 years, the Prenatal Yoga Center has empowered, educated and embraced over 14,000 expectant and new parents.  The center was created by prenatal specialist Debra Flashenberg, whose mission is to empower expectant women by educating them about the physiology of the pregnant body, challenging them to reach their limits safely, and dispelling fears based on preconceived limitations.  Over time, the studio has evolved into a thriving community of expectant, new, not-so-new parents - and those who support them - all who visit the relaxing, safe haven for yoga classes, parenting workshops, baby and me classes, and more. 

About the program...

PYC Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training with Deb Flashenberg CD(DONA), LCCE, E-RYT 500, RPYT & Caprice Abowitt CD(DONA), RYT

"Our teacher training will teach the trainee how to confidently integrateour thought out and established 3 prong approach to prenatal yoga. into a well rounded class. We believe that modifying asana for pregnancy is just the tip of the iceberg for a prenatal yoga teacher training. It is important to speak the same "language" as the expect mother and through evidence-based research be able to guide her properly while supporting her in this transitional point in her life. We strongly feel it is the role of the teacher to help create a warm community for the mothers that extend beyond pregnancy, and through the often bumpy road of new motherhood, to a place of vitality, strength and confidence as the role of mother is achieved."

"PYC has constructed a comprehensive training that will allow a teacher to truly "teach the people, not just the poses" with an understanding of all of the intricacies of the pregnancy, labor and birth processes. I would HIGHLY recommend this training to any yoga teacher." - Aimee McCabe, Certified Prenatal Yoga Teacher

"I wanted to thank you for the amazing experience and learning opportunity over the last few months. The teacher training has absolutely changed my views on birth and I believe has made me a better teacher!"

-Lana Levy MS, RYT, Founder of Just For Today, Nutrition and Yoga For Life 

 

PYC's PHILOSOPHY

"At Prenatal Yoga Center, we have developed a system of teaching using our unique three pronged approach to prenatal yoga:

Physical comfort: 

Highly trained and educated instructors cater to the anatomical, hormonal, and muscular changes which occur normally in the pregnant body by creating sequences which lessen discomfort so students feel better after each class. Classes also preparing the mother both physically - specifically with focus on proper pelvic alignment - and mentally for birth whether that be medicated, natural or cesarean.

Community:

We start each class with "circle time", a time where the women introduce themselves, say how far along they are, and discuss any aches and pains they would like to address in class. Pregnancy and postpartum periods carry such enormous physical and emotional changes;and this bonding time creates a springboard for long lasting friendships among students.


Childbirth Education and Advocacy:

We interweave childbirth education themes and current birthing trends into our classes. Our intention is that the new mothers will feel more confident and prepared to make conscious, educated decisions during pregnancy, labor, delivery and motherhood."
  

HERE'S HOW IT BREAKS DOWN

MODULE ONE: ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

You will start to explore the in depth changes to the anatomy and physiology of the pregnant body.  We place particular focus on the abdominal changes and pelvic floor changes and how that can affect pregnancy and postpartum.  This module also includes the episode "Your Pelvic Floor " from the Yoga | Birth | Babies podcast.

MODULE TWO: STRUCTURING YOUR CLASS

During this module you will start to see which asanas and pranayamas to encourage and discourage and modifications of the different trimesters.  These pose will become your building blocks for structuring your prenatal yoga class.  There is a strong focus on stabilizing the pelvis and asanas that encouraging optimal fetal position to aid in the birth process.  You will also be introduced to the Prenatal Yoga Center teaching template.  This module also includes 4 one hour prenatal yoga classes to take or just watch. 

MODULE THREE: BIRTHING THE BABY!

In this module we shift our focus to Labor, Delivery and Interventions.  We will explore the different stages of labor including the emotional signposts of labor, pain management and coping skills as well as common interventions and complications.  We will also review therapeutic applications, assuring new teachers the information to help students with asanas and alternative modalities to common pregnancy aches and pain. This module also includes the episode "Empowered Hospital Birth with Terry Richmond " from the  Yoga | Birth | Babies podcast.

MODULE FOUR: POSTNATAL AND MOMMY AND ME

Your students have now had their babies and are heading back for Postnatal Yoga or Mommy and Me.  We will breakdown the essential "6 areas for the postnatal mom" as well as cover general guidelines for helping support the postpartum mother and community.  This module also includes the episode "4th Trimester Bodies Project " from the  Yoga | Birth | Babies podcast

Schedule Your Call!

Don’t forget to schedule your welcome call with Deb!  This 10 minute call is intended for you to connect with Deb and ask any initial questions you may have.  Please be respectful of the time and if you need to reschedule, Deb asks that you give her at least 24 hours notice. 

Keep Track of Everything!

There are lots of moving parts to this Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training.  To help you keep track of everything, we made a “Check List”.  We advise that you use this as a guideline to make sure you have everything in order.  And at any point, please feel free to email Deb or Caprice if you have any questions that need attention before or between the long weekend intensives.

What to expect:

You can expect to receive and experience:

  • The in depth Prenatal Yoga Center teaching manual.

  • Practical tools to teach a safe and comprehensive prenatal yoga class

  • A deep understanding of the current birth trends in our country

  • 2 long weekends with Deb and Caprice. At this time you will take and teach prenatal yoga classes with the pregnant community. During these weekends we will have a chance to review the material from the online videos. The actual face time, which will be about 26 hours each weekend, will consist of taking at least 3 prenatal yoga classes taught by Deb or her co-teacher, review of the material to make sure everyone is clear on the anatomy and physiology, and review structuring a prenatal class and poses to do and not to do. We will also work on the specific PYC template. At this point the teacher trainees will be getting up to start to teach each other the template. We will also work on hand-on adjustments for the pregnant woman and also include a fair amount of discussion about birth in this country.

    The second weekend will be much of the same structure- taking 2 or 3 prenatal yoga classes and reviewing the childbirth education section and postnatal and mommy and me. This second weekend will also include two community classes. This is when we invite the pregnant community to come to class and the teacher trainees teach the class in a round robin style.

  • Option to watch or take 4 hour long prenatal yoga classes. Each module provides video and audio downloads

  • In depth book list which will be the basis for discussion over our long weekends together.

Responsibility of the Teacher Trainee

  • Schedule and take a 10 minute welcome call with Deb

  • Review modules 1,2,3 and 4 individually and watch the corresponding video

  • Participate in Webinars with Deb or listen it at a later time

  • Complete book list

  • Complete written assignments

  • Participate in a Google chat with Deb if you would like to ask further questions

  • Complete both weekend intensives with Deb and Caprice

  • Audit a local childbirth education class

  • Complete final written exam

  • Record 75 minute prenatal yoga class with at least 3 pregnant women, then send to Prenatal Yoga Center

YOGA ALLIANCE REGISTERED PRENATAL YOGA SCHOOL

All current Yoga Alliance members who complete the 85 hour training are eligible for the RPYT (Registered Prenatal Yoga Teacher) designation from the Yoga Alliance. In addition to completing the required 85 hour training, PYC Teacher Training graduates must complete 30 additional hours of prenatal yoga teaching.

If you have any questions regarding the RPYT application or designation with the Yoga Alliance please go to www.yogaalliance.org

Childbirth Education Dates

NYC local Teacher Trainees need to attend ONE of the following weekends:

TBA
*Class is held on Saturdays from 1-5pm and Sundays from 10-2pm

*Teacher Trainees outside the area, please arrange to audit a Childbirth Education Class

Upon successful completion, teacher trainees will be certified to teach PYC yoga and be considered for the PYC teaching staff.
ONLY PYC certified teachers are eligible to teach at PYC.

Tuition

$1450  ***Early bird special! | $1300**

Teacher Trainees are required to give a $500 deposit and the balance is due on or before the first manual is released one month before program begins.

Tuition and Refund Policy

  • Full payment is due as indicated before the manual and access to the membership website is given.

  • A non-refundable deposit of $500 is required to hold your space in the program. The balance is due according to the tuition policy.

  • We accept cash, checks, Visa or MasterCard.

  • We charge a $25 returned check fee.

  • Refunds are available up to three weeks before the training begins minus a $500 handling fee. After this time NO refund or credit will be given if you decide not to attend. Should you cancel your spot, the $500 deposit cannot be applied to a future training. For the Traveling Teacher Training, the start of the training is considered once you have received access to the membership website.

  • Once the training begins, if you decide not to continue for any reason, no refund or credit will be given.

  • We welcome pregnant students! However, if your due date falls before the final exam or if your current work or life leaves little time for extracurricular activities, we strongly urge you to take the training later, when you have more time to devote to the coursework. Due to the nature of the Traveling Teacher Training, we cannot accommodate missed modules. Both weekend intensives need to be attended to complete the program.

  • All fees and schedules are subject to change without notice.

Total hours: 

Yoga Alliance Accredited RPYS 85 hours Program  

It was a such a great course, I learned a lot. It was well structured between hands-on practice and theory; and it was very informative. I feel like it had prepared me well for teaching pregnant women. 
-Judit Torok, Prenatal Yoga Teacher

 

Dates, times and details...  

TBA

Contact us with interest.

Pre-requisite

Applicants MUST already have completed a 200 hour yoga teacher training. Teacher Trainees are expected to already have obtained the knowledge of how to sequence a basic hatha yoga class, an understanding of alignment and be able to proficiently explain it, properly apply hand on adjustments and comfortably take the seat of a teacher. Please do not apply if you have not completed a 200 hour training.  Please complete application and send to info@dhyanayogaarts.com, cc-ing deb@prenatalyogacenter.com

 

Meet the teachers...

  
Debra Flashenberg, CD(DONA), LCCE, E-RYT 500, RPYT

Debra is a graduate of the Boston Conservatory of Music with a degree in Musical Theater. She has spent most of her life performing and was introduced to yoga through a choreographer in 1997. After several years as a yoga student, she decided to continue her education and became certified as a Bikram Yoga instructor. In 2001 Debra headed out to Seattle to study with renowned prenatal yoga teacher Colette Crawford, R.N., at the Seattle Holistic Center. She has also received a certificate for Vinyasa Yoga from Shiva Rea, with whom she continues to study, and had studied the Maternal Fitness Method with Julie Tupler. In 2004, she completed the OM Yoga advanced teacher training with Cyndi Lee. Debra currently studies Iyengar yoga with Carrie Owerko, and Genevieve Kapular.

After being witness to several "typical" hospital births, Debra felt it was important to move beyond the yoga room and be present in the birthing room. In 2003, she attended her first birth as a DONA certified labor support doula. Since then she has attended about 100 births. She is continuously in awe of the beauty and brilliance of birth.  

In 2006, Debra received her certification as a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator. In 2007, Debra completed a Midwife Assistant Program with Ina May Gaskin, Pamela Hunt and many of the other Farm Midwives at The Farm Midwifery Center in Tennessee.   

Deb is a regular contributor to New York Family Magazine and Mommybites as Prenatal and Birth Expert and has been published in the book, Doulas (chapter 7!) Midwifery Today, Doula International, The Lamaze International Blog, Birthing With Confidence among many others.  In April 2016, Deb had the honor of being a presenter at the Yoga Journal Live New York Conference.

Deb's most recent undertaking is her podcast, Yoga| Birth | Babies.  Deb has had the incredible pleasure speaking with and learning from some of the birth business's most influential and respected speakers, Penny Simkin, Deborah Pascalli-Bonero, Dr Sarah Buckley and Farm Midwife, Deborah Flowers.  Drawing on her experience as a prenatal yoga teacher, labor support doula, childbirth educator and mother, Deb looks to establish a safe, effective and empowering class for pregnancy and beyond.  Deb is the proud (and tired!) mother of her son Shay and daughter Sage.

 

Caprice Abowitt RYT 200, CD(DONA)

Caprice headshot.JPG

Born and raised in Phoenix, AZ, Caprice moved to Seattle, WA to attend Cornish College of the Arts for Dance. After sustaining a disc injury in 2006, Caprice was pointed towards the Seattle yoga community and forever changed. She received her 200-Hour Certification with Catherine Munro of YogaWorks (Seattle) in 2008 and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Cornish. She is a proud graduate of the Prenatal Yoga Center's Teacher Training program. Studying prenatal yoga has given her the utmost respect for women's bodies and she is thrilled to be a part of the power, strength and voice found in motherhood. Caprice is a DONA-trained Birth Doula and is honored to support women through birth.

Caprice is thrilled to join PYC's faculty for Teacher Training. As a graduate of the program herself, she looks forward to sharing the knowledge that transformed her teaching practice and launched her into the birth community.