yoga in early pregnancy - positions to avoid?

[thecrab]

Hi girls,

In the new year I was faithfully sticking to a yoga programme everyday up until day 15 when I got my bfp.

I'm just wondering if there are any positions I should avoid? Since finding out I've stopped doing cobra and now modify my transition into upwards dog to stop myself putting pressure onto my belly.

Any advice? Very sad I'll have to quite crow pose soon as it's my favourite!

Crow pose is fine! I'm 34 weeks and still doing it (caveat I'm a yoga teacher!)
In your first tri you need to avoid any closed twists, so any of the revolved poses where you are twisting across the abdomen.
Avoid inversions in the first trimester too (legs up wall is ok)
Avoid the jump back in a vinyasa unless you are confident.
Upward dog is still ok though, just watch for ligaments stretching don't over do it..
Second trimester you can pretty much do anything..again though watch out for over stretching, the relaxin hormone makes you more bedny and you are at danger of ligament damage if you over do it..

What kind of yoga are you practicing at the mo?

I was practicing kundalini yoga for a while but about 8 months ago I found Yoga with Adriene on youtube and have been following her videos since so not sure what type that falls under - I've never been to any classes either.

You've made me so happy I can still do crow pose! I was sure as my weight shifts I should avoid any balancing poses in case I fall but I'm solid on that one.

Once I hit 14 weeks I'll take some prenatal classes to make sure I'm doing it all correctly though.

Thanks for your advice peppapig =P

You should find crow ok as the change in your centre of gravity won't have such an effect in that pose. Put a cushion in front of your head in case you are worried about toppling forwards and just take it easy!
You should be fine with a regular yoga class until much later on in pregnancy just make sure you tell the instructor your pregnant so they can modify anything..
If you have been practicing regularly you might find the prenatal ones quite slow..I'd recommend for your third trimester as nice and relaxing and good for learning breathing..

Hi there, this is interesting to read as my yoga instructer said not to do yoga for the first 3 months. I've followed advice so far but I can feel the tension in my back and would love to do some poses. I'm a bit scared as this was a much awaited IVF pregnancy but I do miss my yoga practice.

Interesting differences in advice here, I've been practicing Hatha yoga and been advised no special considerations until 12weeks

The one and only time I ever managed the Crow pose was at 40 weeks! The giant bump must have helped the balance. :)

Can anyone advise a dvd to start? There are no pregnancy specific classes (of ANY kind of exercise) in my area, I usually do step and body pump but have been too exhausted and my hips are so painful that I can't. I'm 17wks and really want to start something!