Mahina Mahai Pregnancy Yoga, Childbirth Preparation & Beyond

Fantastic experience: I highly recommend all expecting 1st and experienced mothers to come to Petra's classes. They helped me to unwind and lessen the aches and pains after a long day at work. I learnt about essential breathing techniques which really helped me during my labour, and the yoga classes has helped ensure my baby was in a ideal birthing position. Thank you Petra for these amazing classes, my only regret was I didn't find out about you for my first baby!

Fantastic experience: I highly recommend the 12 week pregnancy yoga course Petra offers. It is relaxing, informative and such a safe and calm space to be in during those final weeks of pregnancy. I feel these sessions really set the tone for a stress free journey and prepared my mind and body for a focussed and calm birth. I believe I owe my wonderful birthing experience to our expert instructor... Ngā mihi Petra!

Fantastic experience: I attended the 12 week pregnancy yoga course and workshop designed for message at labor. Petra is an amazing teacher with lots of experience and her classes were very relaxing. Being first pregnancy, there's a lot of unknown and anxiety but Petra has prepared us physically and mentally for child birth. I worked in shift hours and I'm so grateful she tried to fit me in into her schedules. Definitely recommend to all the mommies!

Fantastic experience: I attended the 12 week Pregnancy yoga in-person classes with Petra. She was recommended by a close friend (who had 2 kids and both time did yoga with Petra). I had such a great experience. As my first pregnancy, there were a lot of unknowns and Petra's classes helped me trust and understand my body more. I came out of each class felling relaxed and more confident. As a result, I had a very positive delivery, where I noticed that I was using yoga positions to my advantage during contractions and most importantly using the breathing techniques that Petra taught me. My body (muscle memory kicked in because of her classes). During her classes she also shared how our husbands can assist - and that was incredible for my husband as felt like he could help during the pains. I recommend Petra to everyone - and am very grateful for her classes.

Fantastic experience: Thank you Petra! I really enjoyed your pregnancy yoga classes! The yoga sessions have prepared me mentally and physically for child birth. I experienced pelvic pain for which Petra kindly tweaked some exercises for me so that the pain did not worsen. I wish I had recorded Petra's calming voice while she used to teach breathing techniques, to play it on loop during my labour! I would highly recommend Petra's classes for all pregnant ladies out there!!

Fantastic experience: I really enjoy Petra’s classes, and wish I should have started in the earlier pregnancy. The classes helped ease all my body ache (for example I was suffering pretty severe pelvic pain, hardly able to move properly, the pain seemed to go away after the class, which I really surprised). I thought I would have given up some days due to the pregnancy pains but the outcome of each class encourages me to keep going to prepare my body better for labour and future wellbeing.

Fantastic experience: Thank you very much Petra! I really enjoyed these pre-natal yoga sessions. I loved that the sessions included both yoga and stretching. My contractions leading up to the active birth were over 32 hours so I was so pleased that I had breathing techniques to help me work through them, it made the biggest difference. This was recommended to me by my sister who had attended Petra’s classes for all three of her births. It seemed many people in the class had also heard from word of mouth . I couldn’t recommend it enough and definitely will be back for my next birth.

Fantastic experience: It is now 10 months since my first little girl has arrived and my body is feeling much stronger and even better than it was before getting pregnant! I dread returning to work and leaving Petra's classes. The yoga is great and Petra is able to identify if you aren't quite getting the stretch right and she is able to pin point what you need to do to target the correct muscles, even over zoom. Although Covid has prevented us from meeting in person and limited the babies' interactions in person, there is still a sense of a community group and time is always made to talk about our babies and any concerns or exciting developments we have going on. It is a very supportive environment. I thoroughly enjoy the classes and the last few months they have coincided with nap time so I have mostly been able to get uninterrupted me time! Also no commute or loading up the car before we go, makes it much more convenient for us, particularly when not living close to the Henderson and Titirangi venues. I was surprised how good the online classes were and that my body was still getting the benefits it needed, thanks to Petras detailed demonstrations and explanations of each posture. I honestly cannot rate Petra's classes highly enough and if I ever have number two she will be my first port of call! Having never done yoga before I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this class. However I have found it the best thing I could have done. It was a very practical class and aches I had before getting pregnant actually disappeared for me during the pregnancy! I gave birth to a 3.8kg healthy baby naturally and with virtually no pain relief which was my end goal. I was lucky that my labour was short and baby positioned beautifully. However the course also gave me lots of skills to enable that happen. I had breathing techniques and stretches and positions to help distract me. The breathing techniques and visualizations were key to maintaining focus. I also listened to some meditations. As I went through active labour I recall Petra's advice going through my head and it was extremely encouraging and beneficial, particularly since everything about the experience was new and could potentially be daunting and overwhelming. It was also brilliant to have a practical understanding of the reasons for the various postures and what they help with. The bite size chunks of information provided weekly provided a platform to prepare but also a space to bond with baby. Every time I went home from class I felt so relaxed and content that I really missed being without it for a few weeks over Christmas! If I ever decide to have another child, signing up to one of Petras classes will be one of the first things I do. Couldn't recommend it more highly.

Fantastic experience: Doing Petra's pregnancy yoga course was the best thing I did in preparation for the birth of my baby. I was hesitant at first about doing an online yoga course, but actually it was really really great. It was so convenient to just open my laptop and be ready to go. I didn't feel as if I missed out on anything by doing the course online, Petra is still able to check your form & instruct you on how to adjust if you need it. It also helped to get me into the habit of doing the stretches in my own home, and I believe that by doing the stretches regularly in conjunction with Spinning Babies exercises & daily walks was a big part of why I had a smooth delivery (Two days after the course ended!) Thanks so much Petra, I'll always appreciate your help!

Fantastic experience: I highly recommend this place for parental yoga. Petra is such a talented, kind and positive lady who helped me allot throughout my 12 weeks program even after finishing my course she helped with new techniques that can ease my fear to overcome from labour. Good thing is you don’t need any yoga experience before joining her classes. Her classes helped my mind and body to prepare for birthing baby in very positive way.

Fantastic experience: I have got a lot out of attending Petra’s yoga sessions during my pregnancy. I attended the 12 week course and pelvic floor workshop and found Petra’s instructions and explanations very easy to follow. Petra has a lovely, warm nature and is a great teacher. I feel empowered and ready for labour with the breathing and birthing techniques I have learnt. I am now attending the yoga and relaxation classes for my final few weeks. Having practised yoga before my pregnancy these classes have been an excellent way to continue practising knowing I am doing it safely with my changing body. Although the classes are very suitable for those who have not practiced yoga before. I have not had an easy pregnancy suffering with hyperemesis, coming to the mat, focusing on breathing and gently moving my body has helped enormously with the mental challenge of pregnancy. Days I attend classes I also find I have better quality sleep and the general discomforts of pregnancy such as back pain and legs cramps improve. I highly recommend to other pregnant women.

Fantastic experience: I am so grateful that I was recommended to join Petra's pregnancy yoga. It has definitely helped me throughout my pregnancy journey. I started off attending a few physical classes, then lock down happened and we had to move to Zoom classes. Initially I thought it would have been difficult, but Petra still puts in all the care and effort to make sure that the ladies in her classes are doing the moves correctly, as she individually checks on us. With Petra's professional guidance and experience, someone like me (yoga newbie) has gained the confidence in doing yoga and preparing myself for labour. The special thing about joining Petra's classes was that I actually put in the time to focus on my baby and myself, and simply being in the moment - focusing on the breath, as well as connecting with my baby. It's simply magical!

Fantastic experience: Lovely relaxing pregnancy massage, just what I needed. Thank you Petra

Fantastic experience: Fantastic pregnancy yoga classes - highly recommend!

Fantastic experience: It's the Waitakere community centre and it serves many different people for different reasons

Fantastic experience: I have done prenatal yoga with both my pregnancy and I 100% believe that it got my body ready for the birth. Mahina Mahai has flexible west Auckland location and great evening time slots. Also the zoom classes through out lockdown were very convenient and professional. I definitely recommend others to give it a go !

Fantastic experience: Yoga has helped me with different seasons of my life, and pregnancy yoga played a huge part! It has helped me with my two pregnancies (pre & postnatally) especially in enduring labour pains. I’m glad I came across Mahina Mahai when I was looking for a nearby class with my second pregnancy. I had a natural birth & relatively quick labour with my first child but had a hard time pushing him out, which was what I wanted to focus on with my classes with Petra. It definitely payed off bec I had a very quick labour & delivery with my second one without accumulating any tears. The classes reminded me to be more mindful & intentional (both in class and in my day to day life). The breathing exercises was very helpful in keeping myself in-tune with my body. I just enjoyed going to Petra’s classes and even the zoom class during L4 lockdown (I managed to attend one just few days before I popped!) It was just like going to her actual class bec Petra’s instructions were concise & clear and as always, she would modify poses depending on how comfortable you are with the asanas. I was lucky to have tried her pregnancy massage as well, which was very nice & relaxing!! Something very rewarding for tired pregnant mommas! Again, thank you so much Petra! All your encouragement, kind words and nuggets of wisdom were all very helpful! I appreciate it all, and yes can’t wait to go back to the mat with my tiny yogi :)

Fantastic experience: Would HIGHLY recommend Petra and her pregnancy course! I want to thank Petra so much for all the help, confidence and wisdom she gave me during my pregnancy. I began her course at 18 weeks and then went on to do casual classes until 38 weeks and these set up such good foundations for my VBAC homebirth. I also had pregnancy massages with her as well as doing her couples course and these were also so rewarding. Thank you again Petra for everything throughout my pregnancy.

Fantastic experience: We recently welcomed our beautiful baby girl at an incredible home water birth. I feel like the yoga really helped get my body and especially mind ready. The labour was just 12 hours and I believe the breathing and other techniques taught by Petra helped me progress well! Highly recommend! Thanks for everything Petra.

Fantastic experience: I attended 8 weeks of classes covering breathing and movements for labour and birth. I’m so glad that I did. After a stressful birth experience with my son - an induction ending in an emergency caesarean, I really wanted to try for a VBAC second time around but was nervous my body wouldn’t go into labour naturally and was a bit scared about giving birth naturally. Petra’s course was amazing. I ended up having a very quick labour and natural birth, the complete opposite of my first experience and I attribute a lot of that to the course. Not only did it give me a toolbox of breathing techniques and movements to help get me through but it gave me a lot of confidence in my body and ability to give birth. I really felt that on the day. I’m also convinced that the regular yoga stretches that you do during the course really helped to open up my body resulting in a much quicker straight forward birth. I’m so happy that I attended and over the moon with my birth experience. I highly recommend it if you want to feel calmer and more empowered during labour and birth - plus it’s just a lovely opportunity each week to focus on yourself and tune into your baby.

Fantastic experience: I just completed Petra's 12 week pregnancy yoga course and it was great! So much useful info at a really digestible pace. Thank you for providing such a great class each week- a safe space to think through labor and pregnancy amongst all the overwhelming info out there! My partner and I attended the couples workshop, and I attended the pelvic floor workshop... where I learnt so much additional helpful info. I am looking forward to putting some techniques into practice when my baby makes it's way into the world! I am so glad my midwife recommended you and I would definitely come back in future pregnancies. Thank you! Addition since giving birth: Despite being induced, and needing an epidural, we narrowly avoided a c section by about 40 mins! Although I was unable to utilize the feelings of the contractions like Petra taught me, due to the epidural, i could tell what my body wanted to do and could hear her voice through my 40mins of pushing! Baby would have needed ventouse delivery without the visualizations Petra taught me. My breath knew where to go and when. Thank you so much for you knowledge and advice!

Fantastic experience: *Highly recommended!* I found the prenatal yoga course incredibly valuable for both my pregnancy and birth of my baby. The stretches and meditation were wonderful for relaxation and for helping baby to get into the ideal position for birth. I used the breathing techniques during labour and found them extremely useful. I am confident that the techniques I learned from Petra helped me to birth a 4.4kg baby naturally with no tearing. I definitely look forward to doing this course again for a future pregnancy! Currently I am doing the postnatal yoga course. I have found this is an excellent way to start strengthening my body after growing and birthing a baby. Petra is a wonderful teacher - she is warm, friendly and careful to ensure students do the exercises safely. I always look forward to our classes and highly recommend any future/current mamas to take her courses.

Fantastic experience: I attended the 12 week pregnancy yoga course, the weekly pregnancy yoga and the yoga with baby classes. I highly recommend all three of these classes! What I learned in the 12 week course was invaluable during my labour, I managed to have a natural labour and put alot of it down to the breathing techniques and the preparation Petra taught. The weekly yoga was also fantastic in keeping mobile. I took my baby from 12 weeks old until 5 months old to yoga with baby classes, I enjoyed these as they helped regain a little strength and flexibility. Petra is great with the babies here. Petra was a huge part of my pregnancy and early postnatal days and I will always fondly remember these days. See you during my next pregnancy Petra :)

Fantastic experience: I highly recommend Petra’s 12 week pregnancy yoga course. Petra is an experienced practitioner, and brings a wealth of knowledge to her classes. The course is extremely practical with both breathing techniques and labour positions taught alongside general yoga poses. From these classes I was able to create my own daily practice. Although in the end I delivered my baby through an unplanned cesarean, I laboured beforehand and was able to utilise the breathing I had learnt in Petra’s classes. I also think my daily yoga practice has contributed to my quick recovery from my operation.

Fantastic experience: I highly recommend Petra’s pregnancy and postnatal classes. Even with Covid Petra continued her classes online it was so needed during such stressful moments. Petra has been amazing in providing tailored session when needed. She teaches us simple breathing techniques to help us during labour, show us different positions to facilitate the descent of the baby. I always came out of her class confident that I had all the tools necessary to help me during labour. Then her postnatal classes with the babies are great to get back into some activities, much needed after delivering a baby and holding your baby all day long! She is also very helpful to keep our babies entertained when they get a bit unsettled during the session.

Fantastic experience: I recently did a private session with Petra, which she tailored for me on preparation for labour. Petra is very knowledgeable and I am very grateful for all the wisdom I was able to absorb from our session together. She was very warm and welcoming, with no judgement and helped me to practice different techniques whilst giving me positive, practical feedback. Petra also gave me a better understanding of the anatomy of the pelvic region so that I could better understand how and why the techniques work. Thank you so much Petra, I'm looking forward to putting my learning into practice!

Fantastic experience: I highly recommend Petra's classes. She makes you feel warm, welcome and relaxed. I have attended her 12 week course and already find that the techniques she has taught me (both mind and body) will be invaluable throughout the rest of my pregnancy and birth. I will continue to attend Petra's classes right up until my baby's birth date. I really look forward to my pregnancy massage I have booked with her as well as attending the other classes she has on offer once baby is born too. Thanks Petra :)

Fantastic experience: Petra's classes are fantastic. I attended three years ago while pregnant with my first and again recently with my second. The breathing exercises, positions for labour and visualisations are all incredibly helpful and definitely gave me a great foundation for a natural labour and the right mindset during labour. I look forward to attending postnatal yoga and/or baby massage as I missed out on them the first time!

Fantastic experience: Best investment I've made in myself, would highly recommend!!! Petra's classes helped me so much mentally to be strong and calm. Especially because I was in the unfortunate circumstance of going through labour contractions on my own at the hospital because of alert level 3. My support person ended up being Petra in my mind. I used all the breathing techniques that I learnt to get me through. I am very grateful for all the things I learnt from Petra!! Thank you!

Fantastic experience: I really enjoyed the pregnancy yoga and childbirth prep classes, I really feel like these have been the best classes I've taken whilst pregnant. I feel as prepared as I can be and doing something to connect with baby has been special. Petra has been super flexible working through Covid and keeping classes online so we didn't miss out

Fantastic experience: The full body pregnancy massage was amazing. Petra made sure I was comfortable and gave just the right amount of pressure. My back and shoulders felt so relaxed afterwards.

Fantastic experience: While I was pregnant, I had quite a sore lower back and had to visit my osteopath every fortnightly to get it fixed. Since I've joined Petra's class, I've learned the correct techniques to stretch my lower back and it made my pregnancy journey a lot smoother. I didn't even need to visit my osteopath anymore. I've managed to welcome my little boy through water birth at home and it was such an amazing experience. Thank you Petra for your wonderful classes, your belly breathing techniques really helped me throughout my birthing and gave me the confidence to trust my own body. The partner workshop has been great too - my husband has enjoyed it. I have been recommending your class to many other expecting mums!

Fantastic experience: Petra’s breathing techniques really helped with my labour and surprisingly I got through it without using any pain relief. I highly recommend the 12 weeks pregnancy yoga course and make sure you start as early as possible in your pregnancy (I started at week 12 and repeated a second course). The ongoing practices of the breathing techniques are very beneficial during the labour and also gives your body and mind confident to face the challenge. I also loved the Postnatal massage as it relaxed my mind and body so much. It improved my milk flow after the massage.

Fantastic experience: I highly recommend Petra's pregnancy yoga classes. When I was giving birth, I tried to remember the breathing technique and it helped me a lot to stay focused and 'feel relaxed' about the whole process when it really can't be relaxing of course. I also did the postnatal yoga class and it helped me to do something apart from just breastfeeding, waking up in the middle of the night, staying home, looking miserable, moody, etc. Nice to break up the week with something that purely focuses on myself. And the postnatal massage was divine! Thank you Petra for making this whole journey to motherhood easier and happier.

Fantastic experience: I highly recommend Petra and her pregnancy yoga classes. I've never been a person who does much yoga, but i decided to invest in the 12 weeks course with Petra to help with breathing during pregnancy and labour. Without Petra's teachings and the techniques I learnt from her, my labour and birthing experience would not have been what it was. Thank you Petra for everything you taught me. I would advise all my friends to go to your classes, they definitely kept me calm. I also met some lovely women there too, which is always a bonus.

Fantastic experience: I have really enjoyed Petra's pregnancy yoga and baby massage classes. I was so thankful I had taken the course and had the breathing techniques to fall back on and guide me during labour. The massage classes were a lovely way to connect with my baby and I've continued it at home. Petra is warm, wise and has a great sense of humour - and I've stayed in touch with the other mums from the course.

Fantastic experience: My wife really loved the pregnancy yoga and used many of the techniques learned during the birth of our son

Fantastic experience: I am currently doing petra's pregnancy yoga course and would highly recommend it to all mothers to be. This is my second pregnancy and whilst I had a good birth and labour with my first baby, I already feel like this course has given me so many more tools to cope with my contractions in labour. It has also given me some much needed time and space to look after myself and connect with my baby (which is challenging with a toddler!). Thankyou Petra!

Fantastic experience: Our little girl was born Friday morning at 4.45am. I was in active labour for just over 5 hours and had a natural birth with no medication and am totally in awe of what my body could do. I’m so grateful to you for the yoga classes and breathing techniques you taught me Petra. It really put me in good stead for the birth and allowed me to have a more positive outlook towards a lot of the things I was initially afraid of. Also, it enabled me to meet a bunch of other like-minded mums-to-be that have been a wonderful support network to me. Thank you so much! I will always recommend your classes to others and sing your praises!

Fantastic experience: I have attended Mahina Mahai Pregnancy Yoga classes and cannot recommend them enough. Petra is a great teacher and a wonderful person. The tips and techniques taught in these classes are extremely valuable. My partner and I also found the couple's workshop very useful. Highly recommended.

Fantastic experience: Petra is so lovely. I highly recommend her classes. I felt so ready to have my first baby and try out the breathing exercises I learnt. It was such an empowering experience as a woman. I birthed my baby in 5hours naturally at home. Best day of my life....Just breathe....

Fantastic experience: Just completed the 12 week pregnancy yoga course and can't recommend it enough. Great breathing techniques that you get to practice every week, beautiful lengthing yoga stretches to help you and the baby plus so much information on how your body works in preparation for your birth. Would go again in a heartbeat ♥️

Fantastic experience: Would highly recommend! I am super thankful for Petras classes, they focus on the mind and body and have made me feel ready and more prepared for childbirth.

Fantastic experience: I've been to many different classes / courses of Petra and all have been wonderful. Her pregnancy yoga class is so much more than yoga. I always felt so much better after class (even, or especially, on the days I didn't feel like going) and slept better too but beyond that I felt more comfortable and confident about labour and birthing as a first time mum. I felt I got more from this class than my antenatal! I then did mum and baby yoga, when my little one was only a few weeks old. Then it was a comfortable place to be, to get out and about with baby and begin to stretch and strengthen again. Now it's crawler class, keeping the dangerous movers away from the smaller babies, and getting a bit more into stretching and strengthening as the body heals even more post birth. Highly recommended Petra's classes