The Aqua Yoga area consists of the following courses – Aqua Yoga for Women’s Health, Aquanatal Yoga and Aqua Yoga Therapy Days.
Why Train?
Birthlight Aqua Yoga for Women’s Heath offers the most comprehensive set of adaptations of classic yoga practices in water. Aqua Yoga makes the yoga benefits of relaxed stretches, strengthening, full breathing and mindfulness accessible to all in water. Certified teachers are equipped to provide this safe, effective and enjoyable form of exercise to pregnant women, seniors, those for whom land yoga is not suitable, those in good health looking to retain this and those wishing to add yoga to their swimming or swimming to their yoga. .
| OVERVIEW Birthlight’s Perinatal Yoga teacher trainings (also known as Pregnancy Yoga) offer original adaptations of classic yoga practices for women from conception through to the postnatal year. Yoga is deployed holistically to enhance women’s body and mind transformation throughout maternity. We train both yoga teachers and maternity professionals who go on to offer successful regular Pregnancy Yoga classes and workshops in yoga studios, community spaces, hospitals as well as midwives integrating the practices into their care on labour wards, in birth centres, routine appointments and home visits. Nurture, calm strength and balance are our priorities. |  Find a Course |
The Aqua Yoga training area includes:
| Teacher Training | Short Course | CPD | |
| Aqua Yoga for Women’s Health Diploma | X | ||
| Aquanatal Yoga Diploma- Pre & Postnatal Aqua Yoga | X | X | |
| Aqua Yoga Therapy Days | X | X | |
| Bespoke and in-house courses available | |||
HISTORY
Françoise Freedman originally developed Aqua Yoga in her youth as her personal practice, out of her twin passion for yoga and swimming. Aquanatal Yoga has been an integral part of her pioneering adaptations in Yoga for Pregnancy and organically led to the development of Aqua Yoga Therapy by a dedicated Birthlight team since 2010.
For more information about Aqua Yoga read the article “Aqua Yoga” written by Françoise Freedman for “Yoga and Health” magazine.
Teacher training courses are now available as blended courses (i.e. having both a face-to-face component as well as an online course component through our online Learning Management System or LMS).
| Aqua Yoga for Women’s Health | 5 days: 5 days face-to-face |
| Aquanatal Yoga | 3 x 1/2 days livestream online + 2 days face-to-face pool practice |
| Aqua Yoga CPD days | Various |
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Aqua Yoga for Women’s Health Course
Course Outline
The Birthlight Aqua Yoga for Women’s Health Diploma course makes full use of the properties of water for fitness, wellbeing and therapeutic applications. Rather than transposing standing yoga poses in shallow pools, this course offers a range of dynamic adaptations. With innovative prop use, glides, floating stretches and rotations allowing 3 D movements for all, including seniors and those with limited range of movement on land (Part 1). Basic therapeutic applications of Aqua Yoga are taught in Part 2.
Course content includes:
- Benefits of yoga in water
- Fundamentals of yogic philosophy and the 8 elements of yoga
- Exercise in water to make full use of the properties of water
- Fundamentals of anatomy and physiology relevant to Aqua Yoga
- A repertoire of yoga practices adapted to water
- Precise teaching points/use of props
- Progressions from pool wall to free-standing and floating moves
- How to teach yoga breathing and relaxation in water
- Specific uses of buoyancy aids and props
- Aqua Yoga sequences to address common ailments
- Sequences for seniors and those with limited range of movement
- Aqua Yoga practices to ease swimming strokes
- How to prepare class materials & sequencing
- Tips for addressing individual needs in enjoyable group classes
Who Can Attend This Course
- Swimming, aquacise, aquarobics and aquafitness instructors with an interest in yoga
- Aqua therapists with a personal experience of yoga
- Yoga teachers who enjoy water
- Health professionals using water skills including Watsu practitioners
Applicants should be able to swim 25 metres comfortably without the use of swimming aids, be confident in submerging themselves and comfortable in deep water. Students must participate in the pool for all face to face water sessions. A CPR qualification is highly recommended. Life Saving skills are required for those planning to work in pools without a lifeguard on poolside.
A ‘bridging module’ about teaching in water is required for yoga teachers with no previous aquatic experience
Format and Duration
This course is available in several formats. We can also offer bespoke and in-house training.
| FACE TO FACE FORMAT | 5 days face-to-face |
| LIVESTREAM AND FACE TO FACE | |
Participants receive access to the recordings of the Livestream Zoom sessions and to our supplementary online learning component. There you will find our exclusive course materials developed through years of teaching experience.
As much as possible our live-streamed tutoring will be GMT scheduled for possible morning access to course participants in America, Asia and Australia.
There is scope to record the training sessions to allow each student to access them when they can get to a pool or when convenient for them.
Study materials include:
- an online, printable comprehensive manual
- explainer videos and presentations of anatomy and physiology
- video clips
- class recordings
- printable handouts.
Break out rooms, discussion groups, quizzes and practical assignments make the course interactive in its online format. Individualised support and assessment by recorded teaching videos uphold Birthlight training quality standards.
Assessment
This course is assessed with theory quizzes and practicals during the course. To gain your certification you will need to submit a documented case-study of four teaching sessions (templates are provided) and a recorded video (10 minutes) of your teaching as specified by the course tutor.
Qualification
On successful completion of the course and assignments, participants will receive the Birthlight Aqua Yoga for Health Diploma.
Aquanatal Yoga Diploma Course
Aquanatal Yoga
Overview
Become a certified & confident Aquanatal Yoga teacher to offer this gentle yet most effective form of exercise to pregnant women and new mothers. Aqua Yoga allows stretching without straining and overheating, toning without impact and easy access to deep relaxation. Water provides a soothing yet stimulating environment to prepare for birth and most particularly for waterbirth. Aquanatal Yoga gives pregnant women more than just fitness: water facilitates bonding with babies and positive maternal emotions.
COURSE OUTLINE
The course covers a full range of prenatal moves on the pool floor and in deeper water, with and without swimming aids, for all stages of pregnancy, birth preparation and the postnatal period (with and without babies in water).
Here is an overview of what you will learn in this teacher training course:
- Yogic philosophy for pregnant women
- Benefits of water exercise for the prenatal and postnatal periods
- Women’s needs in the 4 trimesters of pregnancy
- Fundamentals of pregnancy specific anatomy and physiology
- Movement in water in function of the properties of water
- A repertoire of adapted yoga postures and dynamic variations specially designed for pregnant women and new mothers, with precise teaching points
- How to teach ‘aqua breathing’ and ‘aqua relaxation’
- Adaptations of swimming strokes maximise benefits of swimming during pregnancy.
- Postnatal Aqua Yoga practices (for mothers with and without babies in water)
- How to prepare class materials & use props
- How to set up your pre and postnatal Aqua Yoga class (group or one to one)
WHO CAN ATTEND THIS COURSE?
The course is open to applicants with an interest in yoga who are:
- Swimming, aquacise, aquarobics and aquafitness instructors
- Aqua therapists with a personal experience of yoga
- Midwives
- Yoga teachers with a teaching specialty in pre & postnatal yoga
- Health professionals using water skills including Watsu practitioners
Applicants should be able to swim 25 metres comfortably without the use of swimming aids, be confident in submerging themselves and comfortable in deep water. Students must participate in the pool for all water sessions. A CPR qualification is also highly recommended. Life Saving skills are required for those planning to work in pools without a lifeguard on poolside.
FORMAT AND DURATION
These courses consists of face-to-face and/or livestream contact hours plus an online learning component (thus the term “blended”). Participants receive access to this online learning component upon purchase. There you will find our exclusive course materials developed through years of teaching experience by the Birthlight tutor team.
| Blended Format | 3 half days live online, 2 full days at the pool location |
| In-house training and bespoke programmes available | |
| We are developing a distance learning program for those unable to attend the pool days, due to their location in the world. |
Study materials include:
- an online printable comprehensive manual
- explainer videos and presentations of anatomy and physiology
- video clips
- class recordings
- printable handouts.
Break out rooms, discussion groups, quizzes and practical assignments make the course interactive in its online format. Individualised support and assessment by recorded teaching videos uphold Birthlight training quality standards.
Our online training modalities are fully recognised by Birthlight insurers, BGi.
ASSESSMENT
This course is assessed with theory quizzes and practicals during the course. To gain your certification you will need to submit a documented case-study of 4 teaching sessions (templates are provided) and a recorded video (10 minutes) of your teaching as specified by the course tutor.
QUALIFICATION
On successful completion of the course and assignments, participants will receive the Birthlight Aquanatal Yoga teacher certification.
This course counts as CPD (36 points) for practitioners of Aqua Yoga qualified with another school than Birthlight
This course counts as a module for the premium Well Woman Aqua Yoga teacher training course (85 hours blended course) accredited with Yoga Alliance Professionals.
Re-accreditation of the Birthlight Aquanatal Yoga Certification course by the Royal College of Midwives is under review to include online teaching
WHAT STUDENTS SAY ABOUT THIS COURSE
‘Fascinating, relaxed, interesting, gentle and professional’
Athens course, May 2019
‘The course gave me a whole new perspective for a holistic approach to pregnancy. I can use the pelvic floor practices -to relax it and prevent injuries- in my work as a midwife’
Athens course, May 2019
I’ve learned a lot about helping mums-to-be prepare for birth using the water. I’m also a lot more knowledgeable on the body, how to use Aqua Yoga to help the body.
Liinton course, June 2019
FURTHER STUDY
- Aquatic Nuture for Newborns – 1 Day
- Aqua Yoga for Women’s Health Diploma
Well Woman Aqua Yoga Short Course / CPD
OVERVIEW
In sessions shorter than land yoga, Aqua Yoga teachers can offer women greater freedom of movement, relaxation from everyday pressures and toning practices that energize and calm bodies and minds together. A growing body of scientific research confirms the benefits of yoga to promote a balanced and strong neuro-endocrine system. Water allows protection, resistance and freedom for managing transitions through the lifecycle from fertility quest to maternity and the menopause.
This course is a stand-alone short course/CPD open to certified teachers of Aqua Yoga (general) or Aquanatal Yoga. It is also part of the premium blended modular Well Woman Aqua Yoga Diploma course (85 hours). Participants are equipped with the knowledge and practical confidence needed to teach Aqua Yoga successfully to women through life-stages, including therapeutic applications.
Practices are accessible to all irrespective of fitness or age, for swimmers and non-swimmers.
COURSE OUTLINE
Your will learn:
- Yoga principles applicable to women’s health and wellbeing
- Benefits of Aqua Yoga for women’s health and wellbeing
- Relevant fundamentals of anatomy and physiology
- Fundamentals of recent research on neuroendocrinology related to Yoga and Ayurveda
- Movement in water in function of the properties of water
- Safety guidelines for specific conditions
- A selected repertoire of Aqua Yoga practices applicable to women’s life stages and transitions
- How to teach Aqua Breathing and Aqua Relaxation
- Sequencing of Aqua Yoga elements (groups and one to one)
- Therapeutic applications for pre-peri and post menopause
- Effective use of selected props
You will also learn:
- Teaching methods to cater for both confident and tentative swimmers
- How to prepare class materials
- How to support, assist and correct women constructively in water
- How to design therapeutic plans to address specific needs (groups or one to one)
- Promotion aspects of Well Woman Aqua Yoga
WHO CAN ATTEND THIS COURSE?
- Certified Aqua Yoga teachers
- Certified Aquanatal Yoga teachers
- Aqua therapists with a personal experience of yoga
- Health professionals using water skills including Watsu practitioners
Applicants should be able to swim 25 metres comfortably without the use of swimming aids, be confident in submerging themselves and comfortable in deep water. Students must participate in the pool for all water sessions. A CPR qualification is also highly recommended. Life Saving skills are required for those planning to work in pools without a lifeguard on poolside.
FORMAT AND DURATION
| FACE-TO-FACE BLENDED | 3 days face-to-face training plus online learning component |
| FACE-TO-FACE AND LIVESTREAM BLENDED | 2 days livestream plus online learning component + 1 day face-to-face training (recommended) |
| LIVESTREAM BLENDED | 2 days livestream via Zoom sessions plus online learning component + home study +1 day online Zoom review of practice |
These courses consists of face-to-face and/or livestream contact hours plus an online learning component (thus the term “blended”). Upon purchase participants receive access to this online learning component (e.g. online reading, videos, quizzes, etc). There you will find our exclusive course materials developed through years of teaching experience by the Birthlight tutor team. More information on course formats may be found in our FAQ.
Our online training modalities are fully recognised by Birthlight insurers, BGi.
ASSESSMENT
You will be assessed continually with quizzes and informal practicals through the course. To gain your certification you will also need to submit a case study documenting 3 sessions (group or one to one) and a recorded video of your teaching (10 minutes) as specified by the course tutor.
QUALIFICATIONS
This course counts as CPD (36 points) for practitioners of Aqua Yoga qualified with another school than Birthlight
On successful completion of all assignments, Birthlight certified teachers in General Aqua Yoga and Aquanatal Yoga can add the WellWoman Aqua Yoga short course/CPD to gain their qualification as certified teachers/therapists in Well Woman Aqua Yoga (85 hours premium blended course)
WHAT STUDENTS SAY ABOUT THIS COURSE
Thank you so much for this journey!
My heart is full of gratitude!
Anna, Sasseta Alta Nov 2019
Well Woman Aqua Yoga Diploma Course
This premium blended modular course is open to yoga teachers holding a 200/hour certification and to certified Yoga Therapists who wish to apply yoga in water to benefit women’s health and wellbeing.
You can become a certified teacher/therapist in WellWoman Aqua Yoga at your own pace with this blended course or you can attend a residential retreat/course that provides the six/6 contact days required for the accredited 85 hours course and more. The blended format is required to ensure correct practice in water according to Birthlight quality standards.
| Module | Duration |
|---|---|
| Module 1 online: Aqua Yoga for women’s health and wellbeing Pools & Use of equipment and props Safety guidelines | 1 day online + home study |
| Module 2 blended or online: Aqua Yoga adapted postures & variations for women. Aqua Breathing and Aqua Relaxation (integrated theory and practice) | 1 day online (live) and 2 days face-to-face. OR 1 day online (live) and 2 days online (recorded) |
| *Module 3 blended or online: Aquanatal Yoga adapted postures & variations, breathing and relaxation for pregnancy *Birthlight certified aquanatal yoga teachers do not require this module. | 1 day online (live stream) and 2 days face-to-face. OR 1 day online (live stream) and 2 days online (recorded) |
| Module 4 blended or online: Aqua Yoga therapeutic elements and sequences to promote hormonal balance, pelvic health and core strength. Special applications for pre-peri and post menopause | 2 days online (live stream) and 1 day face-to-face. OR 1 day online (live) and 2 days online (recorded) |
| Module 5 blended or online: Teaching methods for Well Woman Aqua Yoga. Preparation of class materials and case studies (groups and one to one) | 1 day online + home study + preparation of assigned case-studies for assessment and 1 day of practice review (online or face to face) |
| Total duration (5modules) Blended format * The face to face components of this course are combined in 6 day retreat/courses. | 10 contact days + home study 4 days online + 6 days face-to-face |
The 85 hour Birthlight Well Woman Aqua Yoga course is accredited with Yoga Alliance Professionals as a postgraduate course for 200h yoga teachers. YAP Diploma holders can use the YAP trainer badge.
This qualification entitles you to teach general Aqua Yoga classes, Aquanatal Yoga and Therapeutic Aqua Yoga for women’s health.
Aqua Yoga Therapy CPD Days
Aqua Yoga Therapy CPD Days
These are specialist courses that address specific conditions with Therapeutic Aqua Yoga.
FORMAT AND DURATION
Face-to-face and Livestream: 1 day livestream via Zoom, + 1 day face to face (or online practice review).
More coming soon!
WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT AQUA YOGA THERAPY
There are many benefits I feel from our Aqua Yoga sessions. The support of the water when doing the exercises means that I can achieve far more joint movement than on dry land. I also found that building up core strength helped enormously with my back – which as you know – I broke in a riding accident and had been attending an osteopath on a monthly basis for years. Since doing AY I have not been back. I also find that the “de-stressing” nature of the exercises and being in the water are hugely beneficial after driving for miles with my job, or sitting hunched over the computer – both of which result in exceedingly tight shoulders, twitching legs and short temper!!
Lynne Weedon’s feedback on Birthlight Tutor and Training Coordinator Carol Anne Procter’s Aqua Yoga Therapy classes.
Finally – there is the social side of the sessions – enjoying the company of the other ladies and of course you.
I have adored the aqua sessions. I have especially enjoyed the small classes, and the way you run them, and personalise the exercises. I have poor balance, and have found that working in water to improve that (standing on one leg, working with the float under one foot etc) has helped a lot. The equipment we have used has all been helpful. The new dumb-bells last time I came made my arms ache afterwards (in a good way) and I think that has increased my upper body strength which has helped a lot with the crutches, lowering myself into chairs etc. Finally, the relaxation and stretching out in the water has been bliss. I can’t think of any things which I haven’t enjoyed’
Julia Braggins – feedback on Birthlight Tutor and Training Coordinator Carol Anne Procter’s Aqua Yoga Therapy classes