Join Bobby on Tuesday evenings in the new year for an exploration of the hidden stories behind some of yoga’s more familiar poses.
What does Ganesha’s love of sweets have to do with Half Moon Pose? And why does Hanuman’s leap of devotion inspire the great stretch of Splits Pose (Hanumanasana)? Discover how the fierce grace of Nataraja, Lord of the Dance, gives rise to Dancer’s Pose (Natarajasana), and how the still strength of the mountain reflects the steady presence of Tadasana. Poses are presented with variations suitable for all bodies and experience levels.
Each week, you’ll learn the mythic symbolism behind the postures, exploring how these ancient tales of gods, goddesses, and sages are embodied through movement and breath. As you hold each pose, you’ll be invited to reflect on its deeper meaning; transforming your physical practice into a living expression of story, spirit, and self-awareness.
LOCATION:
The St. John’s Royal Regatta Boathouse, 10 Clancy Drive, St. John’s, NL. Live stream option also available
INVESTMENT:
IN STUDIO: $152 + HST (174.80)
INCLUDES:
Eight 75 minute classes. In-person registrants able to join live stream whenever needed.
Each week we will work toward a new asana inspired by ancient myths to bring depth and resonance to your physical practice and inner awareness. By the end of this 8-week series, you will have a renewed understanding of the symbolic roots of yoga and how these timeless stories live within your own movement.
REGISTRATION:
Space is limited. Register now to reserve yours (fee is prorated for enrollment mid-session). *Payment is non-refundable. Once payment is received a space will be held for you in each class and registration will be closed for that spot.
All Levels: Those with some yoga experience and those new to yoga. Beginners are welcome. The class is mixed level. Beginner variations will be provided for all poses.
Participants must be able to easily move from sitting on a mat to standing (and vice versa) and be able to support their upper body with their hands (like when on hands and knees).
About The Class
This is a mixed level class that encourages breath awareness as we flow from pose to pose.
This class provides:
Yoga poses with variations designed to fit every skill and experience level
I’m positive that the hypnobirthing classes we took with Bobby Bessey helped so much. I found the breathing techniques were amazing. I even fell asleep a few times in transition. Ha ha. One of our nurses, Lisa, came to visit Miranda and I the next day up on the 4th floor to see how we were doing. She joked that the night shift were calling me Xena Warrior Princess because I was such a champ during labour. I can’t help but brag about that a little.
Bobby gave me the greatest gifts during my pregnancy and birthing experience. She took my exhaustion, pain, tears and worry and gave me strength, hope, affection and a positive calm atmosphere through all of it. Having a doula made it possible to believe in myself and for Kyle to just be there beside me supporting me. My memories of birth are of a man on one side of me telling me how much he loves me and a woman on the other side giving me the breath to say it back to him. xo
Now taking registration for upcoming prenatal class sessions. In-person or live-stream options available. If space allow you can also join mid-session. Contact Bobby@ShaktiYogaMethod.com if you would like to join a session after it has begun.
Shakti Yoga Method Prenatal Yoga Classes
NEXT SESSION DATES:
Jan 6-Feb 24, 2026 (Tues 7-8:15pm): Registration Now Open
LOCATION:
The St. John’s Royal Regatta Boathouse, 10 Clancy Drive, St. John’s, NL. Live Stream option also available.
INVESTMENT:
IN STUDIO: $152 + HST ($174.80) CAD *Limited Spaces
INCLUDES:
Eight 75-minute classes.
Access to each class topic recording for one week.
Local birth stories of past class participants to provide examples of how to put class information into practice. * See example below
A full prenatal and birth education series woven each weekly movement class.
REGISTRATION:
Space is limited. Click the link below to register and reserve a space for you and baby. *Payment is non-refundable. Once payment is received space is held for you and baby in each class and registration will be closed for that spot.
The Shakti Prenatal Yoga Method doubles as a prenatal fitness class, and a birth readiness program. Moms are prepared to approach birth and motherhood with calm and confidence. Each class begins with a birth preparation topic, followed by a series of yoga movements and breath practices, and ends with a guided relaxation session. These calming and strengthening prenatal classes are designed to optimize expectant mothers’ physical and mental health while promoting the bond between mother and child.
Breathing exercises are emphasized throughout the class to calm the mind, and prepare the body for delivery. Each movement is carefully chosen to stretch and strengthen muscles needed to support the body during pregnancy and childbirth. Yoga maneuvers to encourage baby into ideal birth position, and to tone and create range of motion in the muscles that support the pelvis, including the pelvic floor, are highlighted. The Shakti Yoga Method’s combination of carefully curated physical, mental, and emotional preparation techniques is an extremely effective and proven program for enhancing quality of pregnancy and birthing experiences.
Bobby now trains Shakti Yoga Method teachers worldwide to help women and parents everywhere prepare for beautiful, comfortable, and yes, even enjoyable, birthing. Bobby draws on more than 15 years of experience teaching prenatal yoga, providing birth doula services, and instructing childbirth education programs. She uses educational topics, and visualizations to deepen the impact of yoga postures and breath practices. This multi-faceted program was developed as she observed what skills, and birth preparation techniques were most effective in helping her birth doula clients to intuitively and joyfully birth their babies. Meet other birthing women and parents, share your own experiences, and go home to the most deep and delicious sleep with baby.
This careful combination of techniques has been proven effective by two decades of yoga Mommas who have not only successfully used this method, but share their experiences in the hope that they will help transform birth experiences for other mothers and families. Sample birth story testimonial below:
This class provides:
Yoga poses designed for Mom’s blossoming figure
Birth preparation techniques
Breathing exercises
Guided relaxation
A community of moms-to-be with whom to share experiences
Recorded Classes
Access to online Momma community with birth videos, information, and connection opportunity.
A Shakti Birth Story Testimonial
The following is the birth story of a Shakti Yoga Momma who completed the Shakti Yoga Method series Spring 2025.
Four Minute Post Birth Radiance!
I had a traumatic experience with my first birth, and was determined to prepare and educate myself better the second time around. Cue Bobby’s prenatal yoga classes – seriously though, her class is all you need to feel confident and comfortable going into your birth.
I knew I wanted to try to have the most natural birth possible with my second. I live in rural NL though, and my “home” hospital has a very high c-section rate so I was nervous about that. Leading up to my birth, I kept telling myself that if I did my part to get out of the way, my body and the people around me would support my labour the way I wanted and needed it to happen.
I woke up 4 days before my due date around 7:30, got up and went outdoors with my toddler. I was sat enjoying a coffee on my patio when I felt the first of what I thought might be contractions. I finished my coffee, had a shower and made breakfast for my kids before I decided ok this is happening for real, and my husband and I left to drive to the hospital.
We checked in and met the nurses in the OB wing, they did a cervical check to admit me and I was already 6-7cm at 12pm. They asked me what I wanted the afternoon to look like – I said I didn’t want any pain medication and wanted to have as natural a birth as possible. They both said “AWESOME, that’s our favourite kind”, and I knew right away that this was meant to be. They came to check on me and baby every thirty minutes so I didn’t have to be hooked up to any monitors and could move around freely. I laboured primarily kneeling on the bed with my arms up on the upright part of the bed (one of the birthing positions Bobby suggests in class!) and had my husband apply pressure and hold a warm IV bag to my lower back.
At 1:30pm I felt a sharp change in the contractions – and the urge to push. The nurses quickly got set up and let me pick a more upright position with a nurse and my husband holding my legs to allow me to be more comfortable but also in a delivery position they felt confident with. I pushed when I felt the urge, and was encouraged to listen to my body and do what it needed. At this point my water was still in tact, and just as they called the OB in to break it at 1:45 pm, it exploded all over the nurse (who was a great sport). I transitioned almost immediately and felt baby move down through the birth canal. With some very thoughtful coaching, breathing, short controlled pushes and a lot of incredible encouragement, I had my 8lb 6oz baby at 1:50pm.
I never believed after my first birth that I was capable of what I did in that delivery room. Without Bobby’s incredible knowledge and encouragement, my delivery would have gone very differently. THANK YOU Bobby and the Shakti momma community for allowing me the space to heal from my first birth and have my second child just as I had dreamt.
Shakti Yoga teacher trainings and workshops are taught in various locations within Canada, and internationally. Host this workshop in your area and save the cost of travelling to learn. Please contact Bobby@ShaktiYogaMethod.com to discuss specific details on hosting this or other workshops and trainings.
Who’s This Program For?
Yoga Instructors who would like to incorporate this practice into their yoga instruction.
Yoga Instructors who are YA registered. Counts as 16 hours of CEUs for RYTs
Anyone working in health and wellness who would like to utilize yoga nidra as a tool to compliment their own practices.
Anyone wanting to deepen their understanding of this powerful guided meditation technique and bring it into their personal or professional lives.
Yoga Instructors who have completed the Shakti 40 hour prenatal yoga teacher training and are working toward 85 hour certification.
Grade School Teachers who would like to bring yoga nidra into the classroom as an effective way to ease anxiety, build confidence, enhance concentration skills and help children self regulation techniques.
About The Program
In this training you will explore the physiological, psychological and practical aspects of yoga nidra to develop a multi-faceted understanding of this powerful tradition.
Some topics covered in this two day intensive include:
Yoga nidra traditions
Neuroscience perspectives
Jungian archetypes
Modern variations of Yoga Nidra
Hypnosis concepts
Understanding your clients’ needs
Incorporating yoga nidra into asana classes
Yoga nidra for general audiences
Yoga nidra for special populations
Developing your own long and short scripts
Props and classroom settings
Practice putting learned skills into action
Developing a home yoga nidra practice
Includes a comprehensive manual, yoga nidra scripts for class usage, and MP3 Downloads for personal practice.
Program Requirements
Pre-Requisites
No prior yoga or meditation experience required. Absolutely no physical pre-requisites. Anyone can benefit from bringing this practice into their profession, family, or personal practice.
Certification
Graduates will receive a certificate indicating they have successfully completed the Shakti Yoga Method 16 hour Yoga Nidra Teacher Training. This qualifies as 16 CEU hours with Yoga Alliance.
70-minute classes held in a supportive environment with ample opportunity to connect with instructor to process or ask questions. Live stream option available *Instructor must be able to see and speak with student (if needed) during class Neurogenic sessions.
REGISTRATION:
Space is limited so register now and reserve yours (fee is prorated for enrollment mid-session). *Payment is non-refundable. Once payment is received a space will be held for you in each class and registration will be closed for that spot.
Available for those who would like to experience neurogenic yoga in a private setting, or for those wanting to try a single session before deciding to join a class session.
Investment: $120+hst (138.00). Covered by many insurance packages under Naturopath designation. Contact:Bobby@ShaktiYogaMethod.com for more information, to ask questions, or to book a date and time.
Who’s This Class For?
Neurogenic Yoga™ is especially suitable for those experiencing chronic pain, daily stress & long held tension, PTSD. It is also however an opportunity to simply shake off the stress from your day or week as a means of maintaining healthy nervous system balance.
About The Class
Neurogenic Yoga™ is a revolutionary technique to heal trauma and reduce stress. It combines yoga poses and breathing with the body’s body’s natural therapeutic shaking response. The human (and animal) nervous system has an instinctual shaking response that is genetically coded to help us discharge long-held tension and trauma. It is an unconscious muscle contraction that restores the body to wholeness after stressful or traumatic events.
Vibration and shaking in the body automatically occurs when the nervous system identifies threat. Unfortunately the negative social constructs that see shaking and tremoring, as showing vulnerability or weakness, mean that this innate release mechanism is conditioned out of us at a very early age. Neurogenic Yoga reawakens the body’s intrinsic release mechanism to optimize health and wellness.
Class will begin with a 30 minute series of movements. Modifications are offered to ensure this portion is suitable for all bodies and experience levels. Absolutely no yoga experience or ability is needed. These poses will stretch and tire the psoas, and other muscles that are involved in the contraction response that occurs when the nervous system experiences stress, or feels unsafe.
Yoga movements are followed by a lying posture that safely introduces neurogenic tremoring to release physical and emotional stress and tension. Vibration usually begins in the legs and may spread throughout the entire body to release long held tension. This method is based on Dr. David Berceli’s technique of Trauma Releasing Exercises® (TRE®).
This class provides:
Six 60 minute classes in a calm and supportive environment.
Involving Bobby in our birth was a great decision and we are grateful to her for her meaningful assistance and the knowledge she imparted to us throughout the labour period and beyond. If we have another child we will definitely ask Bobby for her assistance again.
I just wanted to write you to tell you how much I enjoyed the Prenatal yoga class last night. I slept better last night than I did in weeks and I felt great after the class. I’m so glad I signed up!
Bring your yoga partner whether he/she is dad, mom, nana, or close friend to your growing baby. Choose someone you are comfortable touching and being in close proximity with. Prenatal Couples Yoga is suitable for all experience levels and body types. Even absolute beginners will be able to enjoy this bonding evening of gentle stretches, strengthening movements, breath focus and relaxation. This is an evening of family wellness and connection. Go home feeling stronger, calmer and more in touch with your growing family circle.
This class includes:
Yoga poses for couples, designed for Mom’s blossoming figure
Birth preparation techniques
Breathing exercises
Guided relaxation
A community of parents-to-be with whom to share experiences
Moms who are six weeks postpartum and babies in their pre-crawling stage.
About The Class
Moms spend time with their new baby while reconnecting with self and gently strengthening, toning and calming the postpartum body and mind. Each class strengthens and opens areas that need attention postnatally. Short pose series are taught so moms can incorporate yoga movements into five minute practices throughout their busy new-mommy days.
This class is a supportive environment to exchange experiences with new moms and introduce your baby to new friends. No need for a baby sitter or disrupting baby’s feeding schedule.
Fall Session : Jan 6-Feb 24, 8:30-9:45pm
Feb 7/8, 2026 9-5pm
