PYC Method

Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training

Graduate with the skills to teach prenatal yoga with confidence, depth, and the real-world experience to back it up. Study online on Zoom or in person in NYC.

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Free Starter Kit

The PYC Method 85-hour teacher training gives you everything you need to safely and powerfully support pregnant students, from anatomy and pelvic floor health to childbirth education, labor support, and postpartum care. It is a three-month immersion, taught by a multidisciplinary faculty of an L&D nurse practitioner, childbirth educators, doulas, and yoga teachers.

Learn how to teach, not just what to teach.

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Why PYC?

24 years of experience

Train with a diverse faculty of birth professionals, educators, and healthcare providers

24,000 +

Students who have come through PYC during pregnancy, birth, and parenthood.

8 Live or Livestream Classes

Observe and learn with real pregnant students from the PYC community

115+ Learning Resources

75 pose videos, 40+ educational lessons & curated Yoga Birth Babies podcast content

Study Online or In Person in NYC

Every cohort blends live, interactive training weekends with a self-paced online library.

Online on Zoom

Train From Anywhere

  • Live weekends over Zoom with Deb Flashenberg and co-teachers
  • Self-paced online classroom with 40+ pre-recorded videos
  • Observe live or livestreamed classes with real pregnant students
  • Students have joined from Dubai, Australia, South Africa, Spain, and the Netherlands
Book Online Cohorts
In Person in NYC

Learn in the Room

  • In-person live weekends in New York City
  • Hands-on practice teaching, breakout groups, and discussion
  • Observe real PYC prenatal classes as part of your 8-class package
  • The full online library to study between weekends
Get In-Person Cohort

What Makes the PYC Method Unique

Prenatal yoga is more than knowing which poses are safe during pregnancy. To teach with confidence, you need to understand WHY you’re teaching what you’re teaching and how to respond to the students in front of you. That’s why anatomy, physiology, pelvic biomechanics, childbirth education, and yoga are woven throughout the PYC Method. You’re not simply given poses or sequences to memorize. You learn how to make informed teaching decisions based on what you see, what you hear, and what your students need.

What sets the training apart is its signature 3-Prong Methodology: fostering community, integrating childbirth education, and utilizing targeted yoga asana. Trainees also observe or take classes with PYC’s community of pregnant students, grounding the training in practical, real-world knowledge.

01

Community

Create space for students to share what they are experiencing, so you can listen, learn, and respond in real time.

02

Childbirth Education

Understand pregnancy and birth so you can offer more than pose modifications and help students feel prepared.

03

Targeted Yoga Asana

Use movement, pelvic balance, soft tissue release, strength, and nervous system regulation to encourage optimal fetal positioning.

Take A Sneak Peek At Some Of The Videos From The Online Class Library!

The library of content allows you to study & learn at your convenience. The live weekends allow time for questions, personalized attention, teaching practice, and feedback to help better understand the material and grow as a prenatal yoga teacher.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

✓ Pregnancy anatomy and physiology
✓ Pelvic biomechanics, pelvic floor, and birth prep
✓ Pelvic pain, modifications, and discomforts
✓ Prenatal alignment and pose adaptations
✓ Sequencing, class design, and the PYC Method
✓ Childbirth education integration
✓ Fetal positioning and functional movement
✓ Practice teaching and cueing skills
✓ Labor physiology and the stages of birth
✓ Coping skills, comfort measures, and partner support
✓ Medical interventions and informed decisions
✓ Postpartum recovery, diastasis, and pelvic floor
✓ PMADs and emotional well-being
✓ Community building and inclusive teaching
✓ Therapeutic applications of yoga in pregnancy

Find Your Fit

IS THIS TRAINING FOR YOU?

✓

Yes, if

  • You want a comprehensive, in-depth training
  • You want to be part of an active learning community
  • You value personalized feedback and coaching
  • You want to observe and learn from real pregnant students
  • You want ongoing support after graduation
  • You prefer live learning alongside self-paced coursework
×

Probably not, if

  • You are looking for a quick certification
  • You want a completely self-paced program
  • You only want pose modifications for pregnancy
  • You do not want your teaching assessed
  • You do not want to interact with pregnant students
  • You are not interested in childbirth education

Inside The Training

INSIDE THE COURSE

01

Anatomy, Physiology, and Birth Culture
  • Explore the anatomical and physiological changes that occur during pregnancy.
  • Understand common postural adaptations and their impact on movement and comfort.
  • Examine the biomechanics of the pelvis and how pelvic balance influences pregnancy and birth.
  • Learn to recognize and address common pregnancy-related pelvic pain and appropriate yoga modifications.
  • Study the adaptations of the abdominal wall and pelvic floor during pregnancy and postpartum recovery.
  • Understand how pregnancy-related changes can influence birth outcomes and postpartum healing.
  • Build a strong foundation for making informed decisions about pose selection, modifications, and contraindications.
  • Remove the guesswork from teaching pregnant and postpartum students safely and effectively.
  • Examine the current birth culture in the United States and its impact on maternal care.
  • Explore issues of systemic racism within the healthcare system and how they affect birth experiences.
  • Discuss LGBTQ+ inclusion and considerations for creating a more welcoming and supportive environment for all families.
02

Structuring Your Class
  • Learn which asanas and pranayama practices to encourage, modify, or avoid throughout pregnancy.
  • Understand the why behind pose selection rather than simply memorizing prenatal yoga poses.
  • Explore alignment principles that support safety, comfort, and functional movement during pregnancy.
  • Understand how the changing needs of the pregnant body influence pose selection and class design.
  • Learn movement strategies that support pelvic balance, stability, and comfort.
  • Explore poses and practices that promote optimal fetal positioning and support the birth process.
  • Gain a foundational understanding of fetal positioning and the role it can play in labor and birth.
  • Develop a strong understanding of the foundational poses used in prenatal yoga and how to adapt them for individual students.
  • Learn the PYC Method® teaching template for sequencing cohesive and purposeful classes.
  • Participate in practice teaching sessions and receive feedback to strengthen your teaching skills.
  • Build skills in adapting classes to meet the needs of students at different stages of pregnancy.
  • Observe how movement, breath, education, and community are integrated into the PYC Method®.
  • Participate in four one-hour prenatal yoga classes to deepen your understanding of the student experience.
03

Birthing the Baby
  • Explore the stages of labor and the physiological process of birth.
  • Understand the emotional signposts of labor and how they can guide support strategies.
  • Learn evidence-based pain management techniques and labor coping tools.
  • Examine common medical interventions, their indications, benefits, and potential risks.
  • Understand how interventions may influence the course of labor and birth.
  • Discuss common labor and birth complications and how they are typically managed.
  • Develop a strong foundation in childbirth education to better support pregnant students.
  • Develop the skills to create engaging class themes that connect movement, birth preparation, and childbirth education, giving students practical tools they can apply during labor and birth.
  • Learn how to provide balanced, evidence-based information while staying within your scope of practice.
  • Explore the current birth landscape in the United States and its impact on birth experiences and outcomes.
  • Understand how to help students navigate childbirth choices with confidence and informed consent.
  • Learn therapeutic applications of yoga for common pregnancy discomforts and conditions.
  • Gain practical tools beyond asana to support student comfort and well-being during pregnancy.
  • Build confidence in referring students to appropriate resources and birth professionals when needed.
  • Leave with a deeper understanding of labor, birth, interventions, and the role of prenatal yoga in preparing students for the birth process.
04

Postnatal Yoga
  • Explore the 8 Areas of Focus for the Postnatal Body and their role in recovery and healing.
  • Understand the anatomical and physiological changes that occur during the postpartum period.
  • Learn how to safely and effectively support students as they return to movement after birth.
  • Examine common postpartum concerns, including core recovery, pelvic floor function, posture, and breathing mechanics.
  • Develop an understanding of the difference between structural and positional changes that may persist after pregnancy.
  • Learn appropriate modifications, progressions, and teaching strategies for postpartum students.
  • Explore the emotional transition into parenthood and its impact on the postpartum experience.
  • Gain a foundational understanding of Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs), including common signs, symptoms, and support strategies.
  • Learn how to create a supportive, inclusive, and community-centered postpartum environment.
  • Understand when and how to refer students to qualified healthcare and mental health professionals.
  • Build confidence in supporting the physical, emotional, and social needs of postpartum students.
  • Develop the skills to meet the diverse and evolving needs of new parents with knowledge, sensitivity, and compassion.

HERE'S WHAT YOU GET!

Two LIVE training weekends with Deb Flashenberg & co-teachers
Teacher Training mentors available for weekly office hours, Q&A, extra study time, and practice
Access to a private online group of past and current trainees
Digital Prenatal Yoga Center Teaching Manual
40+ pre-recorded videos covering lectures and yoga practices
Ongoing access to the training materials included with your cohort
8-class package to take or observe real PYC prenatal classes. Learn directly from the pregnant community.
Step-by-step study guides to help you think through content.
Quizzes to help gauge your progress and provide feedback.
Yoga pose library of over 75 videos
Assessment and feedback on teaching
Monthly office hours after graduation with co-teacher trainer Ellyn Gerry, including continuing education

BONUS WORKSHOPS

The Business of Yoga

Bonus workshop with Mado Hesselink on building a sustainable teaching practice.

Massage Techniques for Birth

Bonus workshop with Yiska Obadia on comforting touch and hands-on support.

Inclusion in Prenatal Yoga

Bonus workshop with Jacoby Ballard on creating welcoming, inclusive classes.

Enroll Now!

Upcoming Prenatal Yoga Teacher Trainings

LATE FALL
2026

ONLINE
on Zoom

OCT 5: course begins with online classroom release

NOV 5-8: Live Weekend #1

DEC 3-6: Live Weekend #2 

Action Taker Discount
$1450

(pay in full only)

ACTION TAKER

Regular Tuition
$1600

(pay in 4-installments - select payment at checkout)

PAYMENT PLAN

WINTER
2027

ONLINE
on Zoom

DEC 7: course begins with online classroom release

JAN 7-10: Live Weekend #1

FEB 4-7: Live Weekend #2 

Action Taker Discount
$1450

(pay in full only)

ACTION TAKER

Regular Tuition
$1600

(pay in 4-installments - select payment at checkout)

PAYMENT PLAN

SPRING
2027

IN PERSON
New York City

FEB 8: course begins with online classroom release

MAR 11-14: Live Weekend #1

APR 8-11: Live Weekend #2 

Action Taker Discount
$1450

(pay in full only)

ACTION TAKER

Regular Tuition
$1600

(pay in 4-installments - select payment at checkout)

PAYMENT PLAN

Meet the Prenatal Yoga Team​

Our Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training is led by a highly skilled and multidisciplinary team of professionals deeply rooted in the perinatal field. Our faculty includes certified Childbirth Educators, former Labor and Delivery nurses, a Registered Nurse and Nurse Practitioner, experienced Labor Support Doulas, certified Spinning Babies® Parent Educators, and Body Ready Method® Birth Professionals. With decades of combined experience, our instructors bring a wealth of clinical knowledge, hands-on expertise, and compassionate insight to every training session, ensuring you receive the most comprehensive and evidence-based education possible.

Deb Side Bend

Deb Flashenberg

Lead Teacher

CD(DONA), LCCE, E-RYT-500, RPYT, SpBCPE

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Ellyn Gerry

Ellyn Gerry

Assistant TT

RN, WHNP, RYT-500, LCCE, RPYT, 

Labor & Delivery Nurse

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kathy harris 2

Kathy Harris

Assistant TT

RYT 200, RPYT

Learn More
Caitlin Jeanmougin_Headshot

Caitlin Jeanmougin

Assistant TT

RYT 200, RPYT, SpBCPE,  

Labor & Delivery Nurse 

Learn More
Phoebe Sandford_Headshot

Phoebe Sandford

Assistant TT

Prenatal Yoga Teacher

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OTM 2017 profile pic

Jacoby Ballard

Guest Teacher

Yoga Teacher & Social Justice Advocate

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Headshot-Cowl-Neck-Happy-scaled-1.jpg

Yiska Obadia

Guest Teacher

Doula, Bodyworker, & Acupuncturist

Learn More
Mado Headshot

Mado Hesselink

Guest Teacher

Business of Yoga

Learn More

Here's what graduates are saying:

“I have been practicing/teaching yoga for years. I have also had 3 boys now and have experience with childbirth and carrying babies! I truly loved the prenatal teacher training at the prenatal yoga center because I learned so much more about the entire process of pregnancy and beyond and it really deepened my ability to teach prenatal clients and students.”
Kristin McGee
Kristin McGeePeloton Yoga Teacher and PYC Graduate
As a midwife I found this training to be comprehensive and informative with regard to the pregnant body, labor, and birth. It was the perfect combination of intense didactic learning and yoga teacher training. I loved the online component, the required reading, the comprehensive exam required to gain certification- the whole training. Deb has created the most comprehensive, evidence-based, pelvic-sound, prenatal yoga teacher training out there. At completion, I felt prepared to teach and confident that I could keep my pregnant students safe and prepare them for an active labor.
Julie Rauschenplat
Julie RauschenplatMidwife, yoga teacher, and PYC Graduate
This is an incredibly comprehensive program delivered by experts in the field of prenatal yoga who are also birth doulas and childbirth educators. I could not recommend PYC more highly – thank you!
Clare Sandberg
Clare SandbergAnesthesiologist, yoga teacher and PYC graduate

Curious about our classes?

Check out what YOU will learn to teach!

HAVE QUESTIONS?

TEACHER TRAINING FAQS

It is a three-month, 85-hour immersion. Each cohort begins with an online classroom released 30 days prior to the first of our 2 live weekend together. Between weekends you study a self-paced library of more than 40 videos, complete study guides, and take quizzes.

Both options are offered. Online cohorts meet live over Zoom so you can train from anywhere, including overseas. In-person cohorts hold their live weekends in New York City.

Yes, we require you to have completed a 200 hour training prior to participating in this advanced training. Teacher trainees will be doing many hours of practice teaching.  

Regular tuition is $1,600 and can be split into 4 installments at checkout. The Action Taker rate of $1,450 is available when you pay in full. A $500 BIPOC Scholarship is available for one student per training, and an application can be found at the bottom of this page.

Yes. Your enrollment includes an 8-class package to take or observe real PYC prenatal classes, live or livestreamed, so you learn directly from the pregnant community.

The PYC Method is an 85-hour prenatal training taught by RPYT faculty and is designed to support your path toward the Registered Prenatal Yoga Teacher (RPYT) credential. Confirm current registry requirements with Yoga Alliance and the PYC team before enrolling.

Absolutely! Birth is NOT a pre-requite for being an empathic and capable prenatal yoga teacher.

You will have access to our private online group dedicated to our past and present teacher trainees. Over 300 PYC graduates are part of this online community and are able to ask and answer questions for each other. This group is also moderated by PYC and offers weekly information and articles to support your continued education. 

We also have Zoom “Office Hours” once a month with assistant teacher trainer Ellyn Gerry. Ellyn curates this meet up with a new topic every month and allows time to address questions and concerns that may arises during the training or your teaching experience. 

Lastly, we offer a graduate mentorship program. Past teacher training graduates attend the program and provide extra support to current teacher trainees. During the training, they have dedicated hours each week for you to ask questions and get extra practice or study time. You can think of them as your wise friend offering some extra help!

We follow the same schedule for both IN PERSON and ONLINE trainings. Please note: We are located in NYC, so all times are EST.

WEEKEND ONE

Thursday (always on Zoom)

7-8:30pm EST: Welcome!

Friday

10-11:30am: Prenatal yoga class

11:30-12:15pm: Classroom time 

12:15-1:15pm: Lunch

1:15- 5pm: Classroom time 

5-5:30: Break 

5:30-7:30: Classroom time

 

Saturday

9-10:30am: Prenatal yoga class

11-12:30pm: Classroom time

12:30-1:30pm: Lunch 

1:30-4:30pm: Classroom time 

4:30-5pm: Break 

5-7pm: Classroom time 

 

Sunday 

9-12pm: Classroom time 

12-1pm: Lunch

1-2:30pm: Community Class 

2:30-3:30pm: Classroom time  

 

WEEKEND TWO 

Thursday (always on Zoom)

7:00pm-8:30pm EST Review and classroom time 

Friday

10-11:30am: Prenatal yoga class

11:45-12:30pm: Classroom time

12:30-1:30pm: Lunch

1:30-3:30pm: Classroom time

3:30-3:45pm: Break

3:45-5pm: Classroom time

5-6pm: Dinner

6-7:45pm: Classroom time 

Saturday 

9-10:30am: Prenatal yoga class

10:30-11am: Break

11-12:30pm: Classroom time

12:30-1:30pm: Break

1:30-3pm: Classroom time

3-3:15pm: Break

3:15-5:45pm: Classroom time

Sunday 

8:30-10am: Postnatal yoga class

10-10:15am: Discuss postnatal class 

10:30-10:45am: Break

10:45-12:15pm: Community Class

12:15-12:45pm: Goodbyes

12:45-1:15pm: Lunch

1:15-4:15pm: Final Exam

  • Complete and pass all pre-training quizzes.

  • Attend ALL live weekends (in-person or online); attendance is mandatory and cannot be made up.

  • Live weekends are not recorded. No exceptions.

  • Training is held in Eastern Standard Time (EST)—please adjust your availability accordingly.

  • Complete all four modules in the online classroom and corresponding video content.

  • Be prepared to take the seat of a teacher in a group setting.

  • Complete the required reading list.

  • Submit all written assignments using the Homework Tracker.

  • Attend or observe a minimum of 4 prenatal yoga classes.

  • Complete the written final exam during the final weekend.

  • Complete the practical exam of teaching a 75-minute prenatal yoga class.

  • If exams are not passed after two attempts, the trainee may receive a Certificate of Participation or may re-enroll at full cost.

BIPOC Scholarship

Did you know that we offer a BIPOC Scholarship? We are committed to being part of systemic change, and strive to make our teaching community a more welcoming and inclusive space for all.

 

Scholarship Details:

  • Eligibility: Open to individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous or a Person of Color
  • Support: $500 awarded to one individual (to be applied to the program’s tuition)
  • Each individual training has one available scholarship. If you do not see the training of your choice on the application, it’s because funds have been claimed for that session.

Please note: If you are awarded a scholarship you have 7 days to place the minimum deposit and claim the scholarship before it becomes available to another student. You agree to pay the balance of the training by the start of the teacher training or schedule a payment plan. Finally, you commit to completing the teacher training in its entirety. 

APPLY NOW

Become the Prenatal Yoga Teacher Your Students Trust

Train with a faculty of birth professionals, learn from real pregnant students, and graduate ready to teach with confidence and depth.

Get the Free Starter Kit

Questions? Email [email protected]

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Prenatal Yoga Center
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