Prenatal Exercise & Intentional Birth Preparation

Chelsey van der Munnik
Sep 6, 2025
1 min read

Updated: Nov 13, 2025

Benefits of Prenatal Exercise & Intentional Movement During Pregnancy

There are so many benefits to prenatal yoga & more specifically birth prep classes:

enhancing physical flexibility and strength, which can help support the body as it undergoes changes during pregnancy.
movements and positions that aid in labor preparation, labor progression and comfort measures, and birthing / pushing.
promotes smoother and more complete healing.
promotes relaxation and stress reduction through focused breathing techniques, which can be beneficial for both the mother and the developing baby.
can improve sleep, reduce lower back pain, and decrease the risk of prenatal depression.
provides a supportive community where expectant mothers can build connections.
fosters a sense of well-being and helps prepare the mind and body for childbirth, promoting a positive pregnancy experience.

My Style

My prenatal yoga classes focus primarily on deep breathing, pelvic muscle release (while maintaining proper strength, and positions to utilize during different phases of labor to help baby move through the pelvis and aid in pushing (and how to use these positions if you get an epidural).

My classes are appropriate for beginners to advanced. I make a point to offer many modifications for every pose. I also show how each pose can be done sitting, on hands and knees, standing or lying back.