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Mums and Bubs Yoga Classes and the Legalities

What are the risks and what should you have in place?

Holding mums and bubs yoga classes can be the most rewarding experience – it offers mums a chance to connect with themselves, their babies, and other mums, whilst regaining their physical strength. And the babies often love yoga class!

However new mums are in a unique situation body wise, which causes them to be at higher risk of injury when practicing yoga.

Ensure you have completed accredited postnatal yoga teacher training to understand risks:

Women’s bodies are completely different after they’ve had a baby – and because of the postnatal hormones their ligaments are looser and prone to overstretching. Certain exercises and stretches are completely unsuitable, and it would be negligent to teach them.

Abdominal muscles are weak and may have separated, pelvic floor has been stretched, and often lower back pain occurs. Often women get very sore shoulders due to breastfeeding, holding and carrying their baby, picking them up. It is necessary you can teach safe alignment and specialised modifications, and carefully strengthen postpartum abdominal and pelvic floor.

Women should wait at least six weeks (or eight weeks if there has been a C-section) after having their baby before resuming exercise.

Prepare a questionnaire for your students and require it is filled prior to participating in class:

Ask your clients whether they have practiced yoga before, date of birth and birth weight of their baby, and whether they have had other children. Find out if they have had their six-week postnatal check-up and if they were given any recommendation regarding resuming exercise.

Find out if your new mum:

• Is breastfeeding (this extends ‘stretchiness’ of the ligaments);
• Has or had separation of the abdominal muscles following the birth;
• Experienced back, pelvic or pubic pain was during pregnancy, and if treatment was sought;
• Is feeling any current pain/s.

This information gives you knowledge of any pre-existing pain, injury or weakness before teaching certain exercises; you will know to give individual modifications or an alternate posture if needed.

Prepare agreement of release and waiver of liability for participation in your mums and bubs yoga classes:

You should have a professionally prepared waiver and ensure all clients sign it before their first class with you. Generally, your waiver should highlight that the participant:

• Assumes all risks relating to participation in your yoga class;
• Understands that physical activity entailed in class may cause or aggravate physical injury or medical condition;
• Is responsible to consult with their healthcare practitioner prior to attending and get approval;
• Represents that they are physically fit and have no medical condition or injury that would prevent full participation in class;
• Voluntarily waives any claim against yoga studio for any damages, injury or condition sustained as a result of entering the premises, or being on premises, or participating in program;
• Is responsible to inform your yoga studio of any medical conditions, injuries, or surgeries prior to taking class and to inform your studio of any changes to this;
• Has no claim against your yoga studio if they are refused participation;
• Is aware they are responsible for personal adjustment, and that ligaments remain soft from 4-6 months after birth and longer if breastfeeding, and they must care not to overstretch;
• Will rest when needed and not do inappropriate exercises or poses for their body;
• Holds full responsibility for themselves and their baby.

If you are considering starting a mums and bubs yoga class; or are already running one but need some legal protection, speak to Sinclair + May. To get in touch with one of our lawyers, you can book a free 15 minute chat here.

This is general advice only. Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation. 

Published Mar 14, 2018