Pregnancy yoga is it worth it?

[SilverSixpence]

Pregnancy yoga classes in my area are £8-10 a session

Is it worth doing or should i just get a DVD (or not bother)?

[sammyleh]

Wow that's pricey! I pay £4 a session and I think its worth every penny. I always feel relaxed and flexible afterwards. My midwife was thrilled when I told her I had been doing it since week 12, she its also one of the best things you can do to get blood oxygenated and its fantastic for baby and for birth. If you can afford it, go for it x

[MrsHoarder]

Don't worry about getting blood oxygenated , but if yoga helps you relax, a specialist pregnancy class is likely to be safer for your joints than a normal class. Have you searched for other classes? Exercise classes tend to be quite a competitive market.

[AliceHurled]

I find yoga great. For me it's as much about state of mind as movement, so having the tools to relax and accept. I don't think you'd get that from a DVD. I get that from my teacher. There are different types of yoga and approaches so IMO its worth finding a yoga teacher who had that special characteristic that appeals to you. Mine is £7 a 1.5 hr class

[furrygoldone]

I think so, the one I go to has lots of focus on breathing techniques which are very useful for labour, along with positions that generally help to relieve pregnancy aches and pains. I definitely used both during my first labour. It is also a good opportunity to meet other pregnant women who you might like enough to spend time with on maternity leave.

[sammyleh]

Oxygenating your blood, circulation etc... kind of important. You could alternatively sit on your arse and do nothing lol.

[MsElisaDay]

The classes I go to are £7.50 for an hour and a half. The first hour is stretching, strengthening and practicing various positions, some of which we could use in labour.
The last half hour is relaxation, where we focus on breathing exercises and pelvic floor work.

I've been going since week 15 of pregnancy and absolutely love it. Even though the class is twice the price of my weekly aquanatal session, I think it's just as good value. Yoga seems to get rid of much of the back pain that accumulates through the week, as well as giving me ideas for active birth positions and breathing practices.

As well as that, though, it's a great chance to relax with a group of other pregnant women in a comfortable environment. I've learned so much about SPD, pelvic floor problems, odd niggly pains, etc-the sort of things that don't come up so much in antenatal classes while partners are there.

In short, I couldn't recommend it more. Definitely go for it if you can find the money.

[iwouldgoouttonight]

I'm convinced that going to yoga classes was the main thing that helped me have two very straightforward births. I presume all classes are different but the one I went to showed us ways to relax, exercises to help get the baby in the right position, positions and techniques for helping in different stages of labour, we also watched some birth films, some of natural births, some of CS so that we felt able to cope and stay relaxed even if the birth didn't go to plan.

I sound like an advert don't I! I'm not a yoga teacher honest! I'm actually not all that keen on yoga normally, and during some of the classes did feel a bit silly when we were visualising breathing our babies out. But I really felt it helped.I'm still in touch with a few women I met on the yoga course too, it was nice to stay in touch after the babies were born.

Yours sound a little more expensive than the ones I did (although that was 6 years ago) but I'd say if you can afford it then go for it.

On the other hand, baby yoga, which you do with your babies when they're little, was crap!

[OodHousekeeping]

I'd like to go but nothing near me. Also aquanatal has gone now so I assume pregnant women don't exercise here!

[sparklekitty]

I pay £8 for my classes and they're great. I always feel rubbish before I go and wonderful when I leave. Great for breathing as well as focusing on different parts of the body etc. I just wish I'd started earlier (some of the poses are tricky when baby is engaged)

[photochick]

I am a yoga teacher and I have undertaken two pregnancy courses, although I have not yet set up a class (although I might now I am also pregnant!).
In my experiance people find preganancy classes a very positive experiance. First its an hour to yourself where you can concrentrate just on you and your baby! Secondly the movements you do will help with pregnancy aches and pains and classes should involve relaxation which can also help you unwind and de-stress. Thirdly you should also learn good positions and breathing techniques to help you relax and deal with labour.
If you can afford it go to a a class and see what you think. There are plenty of good books and DVD's out there that you can also use but I would suggest also going to at least a few classes with a qualified teacher so that you understand a bit more about it. You might also enjoy the company of other mothers and that hour 'out'.

[stowsettler]

Oh, so worth it in my opinion. I had terrible backache which I was worried was actually SPD. doc gave me co-codamol (yuk and totally useless), I had countless baths but the exercises I did in ante natal yoga were miraculous! Helped to relieve the pain immediately. Our leisure centre does a 6-week course for £20, or £24 for non-members.

[NattyCraig]

I went to come classes and hated it... "Breathe and feel like your breath is massaging your baby in the womb" What?!?

All the excercises they taught were things I could easily do at home without spending a fortune on Yoga classes...

[stowsettler]

NattyCraig I had to laugh! Obviously some teachers are wetter than others! Must say ours is brilliant, doesn't go overboard on the mumsy stuff, just concentrates on showing us how to stay supple and (hopefully) do things which may make for an easier birth.

[elvislives2012]

I go. Started when I was about 18 weeks PG and weekly since. Now 34 weeks and will go to term. I love it. I find it really relaxing and I know some of the poses and exercises will help in labour. As will the breathing techniques. Ours is £8 for 1 1/4 hr session and I see it as money well spent. Definitely recommend going it

[marshmallowpies]

Mine were £10 for 1.5 hrs class - 'London prices' so it seemed quite reasonable to me. The teacher held them in her own home, for a class at a gym I'd probably pay £12 or more round here.

The fact her house was literally 10 minutes walk from mine was a huge incentive to keep going - no excuse not to go when it was cold or raining, when it was just round the corner.

[PragmaticWench]

I've not tried yoga since being pregnant as was told by an osteopath that I shouldn't hyper-extend - obviously most people are fine to do yoga, I'm just weird! I have been doing pilates though as it is better at working your core muscles and I felt it was safer for me. You could try a specialist pregnancy pilates dvd if you don't get on with the yoga. Terrible name but a good one is Pregalates and you download it from the website.

[PollyIndia]

I am a big dynamic yoga fan so was a bit sniffy about pregnancy yoga as I thought it would be too easy, but having tried a few classes, I have eaten my words. It is easy, but that's the point of it. It's about connecting with your baby and as others have said, deals with ailments specific to pregnancy and shows you positions you can use during labour. Oh and the breathing thing is invaluable. Plus actually, the best thing you can do for labour is relax, rather than tense up your muscles, so you need a different practise I think.

I did normal yoga until 34 weeks though and then switched to pregnancy yoga.

I actually prefer a DVD my sister lent me to most of the classes I have been to though. My sister gave it to me - it's by tara lee. The real challenge is making myself do it at home but I really rate it. Also works out MUCH cheaper as I live in London where the classes at triyoga etc are £15 apiece!

[wheresmespecs]

I did pregnancy yoga throughout my pregnancy, once a week, and it was very much worth it in terms of keeping flexible and stretched. It really helped me keep active and free of aches and pains right to the end.

btw, I was booked in for a cs from the start, so had no expectations of it preparing me for labour, as such. It was useful to do some breathing and focus exercises, although tbh I did yoga and meditation before I was pregnant and have always found focused breathing a good way to relax and concentrate.

[Gingerbreadlatte]

Im really undecided on this.

I did it for DC1, but SPD was so bad I had to stop- but it was good up to that point.

I've done some for DC2 - due in 8wks now and I'm really non plussed by it. I am really into natural home birth /, natural approaches etc and that kind of thing but Im so bloody knackered (working full time demanding hours plus have a 3yr old) I struggle to get into the thing when I just want to be resting at home on yoga nights.

My other issue wiht it is the bloody cliqueness - both classes I've done - different teachers seem to have cosy cliques that I am not part of. Probably because I work I've not got the same chit chat as them about being at home with older childern. Bit depressing when its supposed to be something positive. !

[PeshwariNaan]

I have a DVD because we're on a budget - we can't afford any of the big prebaby "extras" because we're saving for a bigger place to fit baby in. I use "Pregnancy Health Yoga With Tara Lee" and do it 1-2 times per week. It's brilliant - I feel so relaxed afterwards and it really improves my mood and outlook.

[Diamond7]

Yes!!

Go to a class though if you're a yoga newbie. Check out local church halls and community classes. Tend to be cheaper.

[LilllyV]

Hiya!
I would say it's definitely worth it, especially if you're a newbie.
I didn't do yoga at all during my first pregnancy, but started with my second and I really notice the difference!
I think a class is worth it because it's good to be clued up on what you can and can't do.
Once you're started though, if you think it's getting too pricey, there's loads of free stuff you can use on youtube and other sites.
I've been doing some of the poses from this site www.fittamamma.com/section.php/20/1/yoga_for_pregnancy The heartburn one is a godsend!

xxx

[blonderthanred]

It's the best thing I've done in my pregnancy. Absolutely. Mine is £10/1.5 hrs (London). Met some lovely people, learned loads, great to spend some time every week just focused on me and the baby.

[Chunkychicken]

My classes sound exactly the same as MsElisaDay and I would say worth EVERY penny.

I started them at about 14wks when my hips were starting to get sore and achey, and with my dreamgenii pillow, peeing the chiropractor (both of which I did with my DD) and these classes, I have managed to stay fairly flexible & relatively pain free. I feel better in the pelvis/hip area at this stage than I did with DD.

My classes have offers where you can pay for 5 and get 6 classes and so on, so it works out a bit cheaper that way...

[Mammy2Be]

Ive been wanting to start pregnancy yoga for ages but have been away with work a lot over the summer so my ability to attend has been sporadic. I've now wound down my work travel as I'm nearly in 3rd trimester (26weeks). My question is, is it too late for me to start pregnancy yoga and get any true value out of the experience?