Postnatal Teacher Training in Yoga & Mindfulness
This comprehensive 60-hour Postnatal Teacher Training in Yoga and Mindfulness is designed for yoga teachers, postpartum doulas and postnatal specialists who are passionate about this transformative work and are seeking a thorough and enriching learning experience. The course has been re-designed this year by Nadia and Vera to offer a more substantial Mindfulness component. The 60-hour training comprises two online 2-day frame weekends; one in mid April and the second in early June. These are accompanied by one in-person day workshop on working with babies; an essential part of any postnatal training and three consecutive Online Sunday mornings of Mindfulness training. Students are encouraged to complete their case studies and course material as they journey through the course in order to graduate during the closing weekend.
This comprehensive 60-hour Post Natal Teacher Training is designed for individuals who are passionate about this transformative work and are seeking a thorough and enriching learning experience. Whether you are a yoga teacher wanting to offer a follow-on class for your pregnant yoga students, a circle facilitator wanting to hold mindful space for mothers, a postpartum doula looking for more ways to deepen your postpartum support or a pelvic health specialist wanting to better understand the holistic experience of matrescence, our programme provides a supportive and empowering professional community where you can explore the postpartum experience and learn how to support holistic postpartum recovery and maternal wellbeing. It is our hope that our teachers go on to offer a nourishing community for mothers and babies to connect with their bodies, nourish their spirits and feel supported and held as they navigate the postnatal period.
At the end of the training, you will feel confident to offer both postnatal yoga classes, mindfulness-based mothers circles or simply to bring more body awareness and mindful awareness to the postpartum work you already do.
COURSE DATES: APRIL – JUNE 2026
Part 1
OPENING WEEKEND ONLINE: Location: Zoom
Friday 11 April 2026: 10am – 5pm
Saturday 12 April 2026: 10am – 5pm
Part 2
IN-PERSON MUM & BABY TEACHING WORKSHOP
(Working with babies)
Saturday 18 April 2026: 1pm – 6pm
Location: Twickenham West London (Eel Pie Island)
The venue is on an island in the Thames between Richmond and Twickenham. In late Spring, the island is teeming with flowers whilst the yoga space looks out over the water offering an experience of a true London urban sanctuary for those lucky enough to discover it. Inhabited by an artists community, the private island is also famous for its quirky and unusual properties and rock n roll history with a museum dedicated to preserving it. The trip to eel pie is a trip worth making for those close enough to London to travel in for the day.
The session will also be available live online for those who cannot travel in but travel is highly recommended for this key part of the training.
Part 3
ONLINE MINDFULNESS FOR MOTHERHOOD ONLINE INTENSIVES:
Location: Zoom
Sunday 19 April: 10am-1pm
Sunday 3 May: 10am-1pm
Sunday 17 May: 10am-1pm
Part 4
CLOSING WEEKEND ONLINE:
Friday 05 June: 10am – 5pm
Sunday 06 June: 10am – 5pm
COURSE FEES:
Early Bird: £595 – valid until 28 February 2026
Full Price: £795
Automatic payments are either in full or as a 2/3 part payment plan with an additional £50 admin fee.
We also offer limited 50% scholarships to those passionate postpartum facilitators who are economically challenged and would not be able to attend the training without support. The 50% fee is applied to the full price. Please apply for a scholarship in writing to info@nadiaraafat.com explaining why you would like to attend this training and how a scholarship place will make it possible for you..
WHY TRAIN WITH US?
With a combined half century of dedicated experience in guiding women through their postnatal journey, Nadia Raafat and Vera Dubrovina are experts in accompanying and supporting women through pregnancy, childbirth, and into motherhood.
This postnatal training programme offers a unique opportunity to learn from their expertise in the field of postnatal support, recovery, and empowerment. Rooted in the body’s innate wisdom and deeply respectful of the physiological nuances of postpartum healing, the curriculum equips you with the skills to teach a unique programme of yoga and mindfulness that is specifically tailored to promote long-term maternal physical and mental health and wellbeing.
Key threads of this unique training are an emphasis on holistic pelvic health and mental and emotional well-being which are woven into the postnatal yoga and mindfulness programme. Facilitators are trained to hold talking space through circle training and discussion as well as teach body-based classes.
This training is trauma-informed.
COURSE LEADERS:
NADIA RAAFAT
Nadia is a senior yoga teacher and committed yogini with 20+ years teaching practice in Hatha and Tantra traditions as well as Buddhist-based Mindfulness. She is a perinatal specialist having trained in Pregnancy, Postnatal, and Baby Yoga, Birth Dance and Biomechanics for Birth. Nadia is also a trained holistic pelvic health specialist with a special interest in postpartum holistic pelvic health. Inspired by her own four births and postpartum experiences, she became a doula in 2008 and has been attending births and supporting new mothers ever since. Nadia has facilitated many mothers groups and womens’ circles both online and in-person since 2007. She has been training teachers since 2014 and launched her own teacher training programmes in 2020.
Nadia is also a practising Psychosynthesis Counsellor, having completed a 3-year postgraduate Counselling training with the Psychosynthesis Trust. She has also undertaken training in Birth Trauma Recovery with Make Birth Better.
VERA DUBROVINA
Vera is a senior yoga teacher, yoga therapist and teacher trainer with a particular specialism in female health including fertility and pregnancy. She is also a Birth and Postnatal Doula, Antenatal Educator, HypnoBirthing and Postpartum recovery support, as well as a fully trained Meditation, Mindfulness & Yoga Nidra teacher. Vera will be co-teaching the full curriculum.
Vera has done intensive training across many postpartum disciplines including Mizan Therapy, postpartum closing (Angelina Martinez, Rocio Alacron, traditional Slavic practices), postpartum nutrition, herbalism, aromatherapy and homeopathy in addition to her formal training in breastfeeding, baby massage and Postnatal Yoga. She brings this wealth of knowledge to pass on to the next generation of postpartum recovery specialists.
KIM HOLDCROFT
Kim is a highly experienced physiotherapist and womens specialist as well as a mother of two. Alongside her busy physiotherapy clinics in London and Norfolk supporting women during pregnancy and postpartum, Kim also runs weekly Back to Bump Postnatal Fitness classes.
Kim will be teaching the pelvic anatomy & physiology modules on the Postnatal Teacher Training. Kim is passionate about holistic postnatal as well as offering baby-friendly and child-friendly community, alongside bucketfuls of kindness for new mothers.
Amy Fergus-Fuller (Caesarean Phoenix)
WHO CAN APPLY?
This comprehensive 60-hour postnatal yoga and mindfulness training is designed for those who are passionate about this transformative work and supporting new mothers. Whether you are a yoga teacher, midwife, doula, childbirth educator, physiotherapist, hypnotherapist, hypnobirthing practitioner, or complementary therapist, our programme provides a supportive and empowering professional community where you can grow and expand your knowledge and skills
You don’t have to be a certified yoga teacher to join this training but you need to have at least 6-12 months prior yoga experience. A solid background in yoga means you’ll be more familiar with the basic yoga postures, practices and terminology.
You don’t need to be a Mindfulness teacher either, but you do need at least one year of Mindfulness practice.
Our teacher training courses are designed as post-graduate study for qualified yoga teachers, or further learning for keen birth practitioners who are planning on using this knowledge to support the work they already do.
THE CURRICULUM
Our curriculum delves deeply into how the teachings and practices of yoga and mindfulness can enhance and support the transition into early motherhood. You’ll gain the knowledge and expertise to teach safe and appropriate yoga practices tailored for the postpartum period to specifically facilitate optimal postnatal restoration and recovery.You’ll learn key Mindfulness practices which support the experience of matrescence and how to share these teachings in an engaging and effective way.
In addition to our core teachings, our unique Teacher Training Syllabus encompasses:
- Module 1: Anatomy and Physiology of the Postpartum Period
- Module 2: Progressive Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation Including Addressing Scar Tissue and C-Section Recovery
- Module 3: Mind-Body Connection in Holistic Postnatal Pelvic Health Including: Navigating Postpartum Transitions and Partner and Intimate Connection
- Module 4: Progressive Yoga Sequencing through the Postpartum Year Including Awareness of Safety Considerations and Precautions in Yoga Instruction
- Module 5: Yoga for Breastfeeding Including Guidance on Breastfeeding and its Integration Within Yoga Practice
- Module 6: Mindfulness for Motherhood and Post-partum Mental Health
- Module 7. Recovery from Difficult Births, Birth Trauma and Loss.
- Module 8: Yoga Philosophy for the Path of Motherhood & Integrating Philosophy into Classes
- Module 9: Community Support and Connection: Including Facilitating Group Sessions Where Mothers and Babies Participate Together
- Module 10: Nurturing the Mother-Baby Bond + Basic Baby-Soothing Skills
- Module 11: Community Space Holding: Facilitating Mothers Circles; Group Dynamics and Structures for Safe and Engaging Containers
- Module 12: Guidance on Signposting and Best Practices for Accessing Additional Support and Assistance When Needed.
ACCREDITATION
This training course is accredited by Yoga Alliance Professionals (YAP).
All course graduates will receive certification from YAP as Postnatal Yoga and Mindfulness Specialists.
Please note you will only be insured to teach public Postnatal Yoga classes if you hold a general 200 hour yoga teaching qualification alongside this specialist Postnatal training.
We strongly recommend undertaking a 200 hr Yoga Teacher Training in addition to our specialized courses before teaching any public yoga classes.
FAQ’s
Testimonials:
I’m finding the training excellent. I especially loved the meditation during the fist session. ZM
I have thoroughly enjoyed this course and look forward to supporting mums and their babies on a deeper level, Many thanks for the inspiration and support. LH
What a wonderful course. I absolutely love it. KB
I loved every moment from start to finish particularly the selection of specialist teachers who also helped make this a wonderful learning experience.