Yoga or pilates? Please recommend.

[wonderstar1216]

Ok so I'm thinking I need to take one of these up.
I know v little about both, but I need to get fitter before the arrival of DC 3. Reasonably fit before DS1, DS2 arrived 3 years later and now 2 years down the line I'm pregnant again but I'm overweight.
I'm 6ft tall so it looks spread out but there's no way I'm going to a class.
So what's best for me to do to in the front room? I don't need the mediation bits, I would just like to start getting a little more flexible and start off this pregnancy the right way.
I'm not feeling a dvd but happy to buy books, please recommend if you know any good ones.
Pilates or yoga??

I personally find yoga can over stretch you, which is more of an issue in pregnancy, so you'd need a pregnancy-specific class or DVD.

Pilates was brilliant for me in pregnancy and kept pelvic girdle pain at bay when I was expecting DC2, wheras it had been awful with DC1. I used the Pregalates downloaded sessions (one for each of the three stages of pregnancy) and also went to a Fit Back and Bumps pregnancy Pilates class which was fantastic.

Oh and a DVD or download might be better than a book as a lot of the moves are better explained when you watch them, than by photos and text.

If you are already pregnant and have never done either before i would NOT recommend working alone.
Go to a class with an experienced teacher and let them guide you

I love both, but both have restrictions in place for pregnant women as to what you can/can’t do.
Please find yourself a pregnancy- friendly class! I promise everyone will be very welcoming

I'd book into a pregnancy Pilates class. It's very pelvic floor centric which is obviously critical for pregnancy and post-partum recovery.

If you've not practiced either before I think it's wiser to join a class than to try and do it on your own during pregnancy tbh.

Thanks all, I've never attended a class as such but have completed short bursts of it as part of pe training sessions. (I'm a teacher)

I think what's putting me off going to a class is my size and I don't want people to know just yet ifswim. 12 week scan tomorrow.

DVDs I would def look into! Any recommendations?

I went yo pregnancy Pilates classes and they were lovely.
Just about 6-8 in the group, all of us just in nice comfy clothing.
Lots of sitting or lying on the mats, breathing and pelvic floor exercises.

It was honestly lovely and I never once felt self conscious about how 'fit' I was (haha) or how I looked.

Maybe you can find something small and just give it a go?

Oh and you fed need to go to pg specific classes for safety etc.

*def not fed

I am doing Pilates . I did it regularly before pregnancy but stopped for first trimester as it exacerbated my nausea. I started going to pregnancy/postnatal (class is combined) specific classes at about 15 weeks, which is what the teacher recommended. I really enjoy it. I am experienced at non-pregnancy Pilates but would not have been comfortable doing it when pregnant without the guidance of a class. You also get lots of tips from the teacher and other women there

Thank you foody I've had a quick browse online to see what's near, many yoga classes! Might put something up on the local fb page 'asking for a friend' about Pilates.

Glad you're investigating classes. I practised iyengar yoga throughout my pregnancy with my teacher's support and she was fanatical about proper alignment to protect the pelvis. A former pupil of hers had aggravated her PGP by overextending in home practice and had been left with chronic pelvic pain long after the birth which ultimately meant that she could not carry another child. You cannot be too careful.