Moon Magic
4 Week Fertility Yoga
“This January, join a group of women on a four week yoga journey to discover how to align yourself with nature, for nourishment, restorative movement and powerful self care like no other.”
Alice and Gemma
Alice / Fertility Life Raft and Gemma / Align2Yoga
I'm Gemma from Align2yoga, and I continue to be on a fertility journey. The first year of trying to conceive was stressful, lonely and different situations felt triggering, whether that was pregnancy announcements or feeling ‘stuck’ whilst friends moved forwards with their new families. A combination of yoga, joining a fertility support group and mindset work was so helpful to begin to turn a negative experience around. There are no guarantees fertility yoga will increase chances of pregnancy, however it can help you to feel much better whilst on the journey itself. Align2yoga delivers fertility yoga classes for women on their fertility journey brought to you by a woman who knows how it feels to be on that ‘TTC’ journey too.
Starting Friday 12th January on the new moon, Gemma will take you through a nurturing, restorative series of classes as we move through the 4 weeks together.
Specifically created for women going through a fertility journey, the classes will be appropriate for anyone trying to bring home a baby and feel like a safe, inclusive community for women, with others who understand the fertility experience.
Gemma explains: "this Moon magic fertility yoga course uses the phases of the moon adapting the yoga practices to your personal cycle. If you don't have a regular menstrual cycle then simply follow the cycle of the moon.
If your cycle does not match to the moon cycle I will guide you to adapt your practice.
If you are in treatment I've tried to make the yoga as inclusive as possible. However, if there are any yoga poses you don't want to do then please rest in Childs pose or choose one of the restoration poses, I will give options during the class.
The main aim of these practices is to notice and connect to how your body is feeling throughout the month using the phases of the moon. The body gives early signals before the mind realises, by learning to recognise these cues through yoga, you can decide how you wish to respond and what action to take. (Rather than powering through and risking overwhelm.) Our energy levels ebb and flow throughout the month and these are honoured during fertility yoga.
If you are in the first 2 weeks of your cycle you may want to give a bit more energy to the class and yoga postures.
If you are in the last 2 weeks or 'the 2 week wait' you may prefer a more gentle and restorative practice.
You can move in a way which feels best to your body, you don't need to copy me exactly, you aren't doing anything wrong if it feels good.
I will demonstrate safe postures for the 2 week wait and there will be no abdominal compression.
Each week I will invite you to choose an affirmation for the class which you can place somewhere visible to use in your own time, (an example will be given). There will also be a few journal prompts as a guide for each moon phase.
I look forward to our experience together as we journey on our life rafts under the magic moon."
Alice and Gemma are so pleased to offer this welcoming, empathetic and empowering space for others to find the incredible benefits of practicing together.
We can’t wait to welcome you to Moon Magic…
Week One Friday 12th January
Moon phase: New Moon
Cycle phase: Menstruation
Style: Yin Yang, energy may be lower at this time of the month.
This first practice will start with an energy releasing ritual. We will then move the body in gentle ways, allowing you to go inwards and listen to your body. Yoga practices aim to connect mind and body. Your New year intentions have already been set and now they have the backing of the new moon to propel them forwards.
Farmers used to plant their crops during a new moon, these seeds (hopes and desires) are planted for the future harvest.
Week Two Friday 19th January
Moon phase: Waxing Gibbous
Cycle phase: Follicular phase
Style: Yang Yang, Energy levels are increasing
During this phase we are watching the plants (ideas) grow, making decisions, taking action and using your extra energy. It is a phase where you could carry out a more generic yoga practice. Take care not to burn out, we will incorporate some restorative poses into this practice to balance the energy.
Ujjayi breath is introduced - it involves constricting the throat slightly to lengthen and deepen the breath. It is simultaneously relaxing and energising. Please avoid this breath if you are in the stimming part of treatment.
Week Three: Friday 26th January
Moon phase: Full Moon
Cycle phase: Ovulation phase
Style: Yang Yin, energy is at its peak
We rise and shine brightly like the moon herself. Celebrate how far you have come. It is a good time to release what is no longer serving you. We will use heart opening poses and use the extra energy and gently wind down with a moonlight visualisation to bring balance and vitality.
Week Four: Friday 2nd February Moon Phase: Waning crescent Cycle Phase: Luteal phase
Style Yin Yin, physical and mental energies decrease
We use this phase to honour how we are feeling and to take some well deserved time out for yourself. This class will have a slower pace with nourishing restorative poses and a deeply relaxing yoga nidra.
I’m going through treatment, is this appropriate for me?
Yes! I've tried to be an inclusive as possible to enable as many people wherever on their fertility journey to take part in the course. There will be a few postures or breath work practices where I will offer alternatives, for example if you are going through the stimming phase of IVF then I would recommend gentle belly breathing instead of warming 'Ujjayi' breath. These will be further explained during the course.
I’ll be in a Two Week Wait, can I do the course?
Yes you can, each of the 4 classes aim to be gentle and empowering and invites you to listen to your own body. The first and final of the 4 classes will be the most gentle and restorative. The 2nd and 3rd class will be slightly more active and you can choose to rest in a restorative pose for example 'child's pose' at any time during the class.
Will I have to have my camera on?
This is your personal choice to have the camera on or off. It can bring a sense of community if you can see your fellow yogi's on screen but if you feel you would enjoy the class better without the camera on then it is completely up to you.
I’ve never done yoga before, will it be OK for beginners?
Yes absolutely, welcome to yoga and I'm so excited for you to experience it! If you have been enjoying yoga for many years then I ask you to come to the course with a beginners mindset to get the most out of the course.
What if I’m really shit at yoga? Will I still benefit?
There is no 'Right way' to do yoga. This is an intuitive yoga course and I invite you to move in a way which feels good for you. There is no need to copy me exactly, move in a way which feels intuitively right for you. Also as I always say, you don't need to be flexible to do yoga.
What if I can’t make the live times?
All classes will be recorded and you will have access to the recordings for another week afterwards each session. If you are a member (or you choose to join the Life Raft during the course), all classes will stay in the resource hub and can be used again and again in the future over different months.
What if I’m not really into the moon or anything spiritual - is a moon yoga course right for me?
The moon is simply a reminder of the seasonal, cyclical nature of life, the planet and our bodies. Yoga is a fantastic wellness and fitness tool for your body and mind. Using the moon phases can be a powerful way to help us live in far greater awareness which is super helpful through a fertility journey for increasing calm, self compassion and headspace. Basically - if you’re interested…come along. Be curious in 2024! (And you can always take what resonates and leave the rest!)
Is this going to increase chances of a cycle's success?
I believe there is no guarantee that fertility yoga will increase the chances of pregnancy but it can help you to feel better during the fertility journey, for example yoga can be really helpful for stress. I've seen other fertility yoga courses online which claim to increase the success rates of pregnancies. I would take any claims like that with a pinch of salt. Ask to see the research papers and scrutinise the results. However, yoga is recommended by several NHS Trusts as part of a range of positive lifestyle changes before taking part in fertility treatment.
Can I still do the sessions if I get pregnant (or I am pregnant?)
Yes you can! The postures will be pregnancy safe, for example there is no abdomen compression. Listen to your body and if anything does not feel right or if you experience any pain then come out of the yoga pose and find a more comfortable position. You may feel more comfortable lying with your back on raised pillows or a raised bolster rather than lying flat on your yoga mat. Please contact myself (Gemma) or Alice directly if you have any further questions regarding practicing whilst pregnant to ensure there are no pregnancy announcements during the classes. Thank you for your understanding.
What do I need to bring to the classes?
Comfy clothes you can move in including socks and jumper so you don’t get cold during meditations or yoga nidra. Yoga mat, or rug or towel. Bolster and bed pillow (Or if no bolster then 2-3 bed pillows). Cushion. Yoga blocks x2 or 4x big books. Blanket. Eye pillow or sock. Glass of water.
Make a cosy yoga space, candle, incense or diffuser, and calming light
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