Pre/Postnatal Yoga Teacher Training
led by Katie Painter
E-RYT 500, RPYT // LCCE // BIRTH DOULA
Whole Heart Space’s 85 Hour Pre- and Postnatal Yoga Teacher Training was built to be different… just like our studio.
Led by Katie Painter, Whole Heart Space’s beloved teacher since we opened & childbirth education lead, our hybrid Prenatal Teacher Training is specifically designed to not only prepare yoga instructors to lead students through safe pre- AND postnatal yoga practices, but to also build community and support for their students that goes beyond the mat.
With a decade of experience teaching prenatal yoga throughout RVA, Katie has taken her knowledge of what perinatal people need and want from their yoga instructors, and built a curriculum that will prepare new teachers with the expertise, knowledge, and empathy necessary to lead prenatal and postnatal yoga classes.
Our program will run for 3 weeks from 1/20 to 2/7 and consists of virtual lectures Tuesday - Thursday and in person on the weekends following to put that knowledge into practice. These hours plus assigned reading, journaling, observations, and practice teaching will complete your 85 hours.
We’ll cover:
Pregnancy basics, including anatomy of pregnancy and prenatal physiology
Crafting challenging yet safe sequences for pre-and postnatal bodies
Using inclusive language and other ways to support different types of growing families
Common perinatal issues (mental & physical), how to address them in your classes, and building resources and referrals for issues outside your scope of practice
Pelvic floor and abs in pregnancy
Prenatal pranayama and the subtle body
Using hands-on support techniques
Postnatal anatomy and physiology
★ Participants also receive an Unlimited Membership to Whole Heart Space for 2 months during the training (effective 1/19 - 3/16).
Please note: This group will maintain confidentiality throughout the training — the topic of pregnancy, birth, etc can bring up a lot of emotions so we commit to maintaining a level of comfort and security to ensure the mental health of all those involved.
Training Dates
Parents with babies under crawling are welcome to bring babies with them. Private nursing/pumping and milk storage available.
📍 Virtual & In Studio @ Whole Heart Space
Week 1
1/20 - 1/22 · 6 - 9pm · Virtual
1/24 · 12 - 8pm · In Studio
1/25 · 11 - 3pm · In Studio
Week 2
1/27 - 1/29 · 6 - 9pm · Virtual
1/31 · 12 - 8pm · In Studio
2/1 · 11 - 3pm · In Studio
Week 3
2/3 - 2/5 · 6 - 9pm · Virtual
2/7 · 12 - 6pm · In Studio
Scheduled breaks & at least a 30-minute lunch break included during training days. If you need further assistance, we can provide accomodations.
INVESTMENT
$1600
Yoga Alliance 85-hr RPYT (accreditation in progress)
Space is limited - training capped at 12 students.
Payment Plan Available!
2026 Training Scholarships
We are honored to be able to offer 2 FULL scholarship spaces. Apply using the link below.
Meet Katie!
LEAD INSTRUCTOR // E-RYT 500, RPYT // LCCE // BIRTH DOULA
When I was pregnant for the first time, I saw firsthand just how much bad, outdated information there is out there, especially in the health and fitness world. Thankfully, I found tons of support and guidance while taking prenatal yoga classes throughout that pregnancy and I knew I wanted to be able to provide the same judgement-free, evidence-based information to others on their journeys. So early in my pregnancy with my second daughter, I took a deep dive into pre- and postnatal specialty certifications including prenatal yoga. The first time I attended a birth as a doula for the first time? Pure magic. It was amazing. I was like, “I need to be doing more of this immediately.” All I wanted to do was teach yoga, work as a doula, and talk about birth and raising children.
Ten years later, that’s my reality! I’ve had the privilege of helping to welcome hundreds of babies into the world while supporting even more new parents – both virtually and in person – through childbirth classes and in prenatal and postpartum yoga. I’m excited to lead a new cohort of teachers into the life-changing world of perinatal yoga. ?
When I’m not at the studio, I’m at the gym (because being a doula is physical work), hanging on the couch watching TV in a cuddle puddle with my kids and cats, reading ALL the books, or sneaking off to the piercing or tattoo studio for some new body art.
