Yoga during early pregnancy

[Waggily]

I've just found out that I'm 4 weeks pregnant. I've been doing yoga for a few months now and really enjoy it but I've read conflicting advice as to whether it's safe during the first trimester. I know I should ask my yoga teacher but it seems odd to tell her before I've even told my mum! Any advice?

I've carried on, and I'm 16 weeks. I think as you get further along there's a few moves that you just won't be able to do! Have a look on youtube, or have a google for alternative moves if there's anything in particular you are worried about. My midwife also told me I was fine to carry on.

You should tell your teacher, but be aware that they may tell you that they aren’t comfortable teaching you in the first trimester.

No inversions, and no closed twists (which become impossible anyway as your bump grows).

Let your yoga tutor know, see it as telling a professional person rather than a friend/relative, she will help able to advise and ensure you can remain part of the class.

There are often pregnancy specific yoga classes around too; you could look into those?

I really enjoyed yoga during pregnancy (hadn't done it before) as it helped me with my anxiety and stress levels at the same time as keeping fit

I have far too much sickness and I'm exhausted in the first trimester to do it, but enjoy it from week 16. You mainly need to take care not to overstretch as ligaments soften during pregnancy. You do need to discreetly tell your instructor in case there are also yoga positions to avoid.

4 weeks? Are you sure? My period would be due about then.
No inversions. I would avoid hot yoga and talk to your instructor.

Well she has just found out so she could be 4 weeks? I found out at only 7dpo with DS

Wolfiefan, yes 4 weeks, I took a test on the day my period was due. So actually I'm 4+2 (as far as these things can be accurate). Some of us are desperate to know we're pregnant and can't play the period waiting game.

Anyway, I've spoken to my yoga teacher who said I should be ok but then got back to me as her colleague who teaches pregnancy yoga advised to stop until 14 weeks. Which seems like overkill. Do now I'm more confused. I guess it's better to be safe than sorry.

I did yoga on my last pregnancy and breathing was basically my only pain relief as the hospital refused to believe a first birth could progress quickly.

Your teacher (or the studio) is probably not insured to teach pregnant women in the first trimester. You are certainly unlikely to find a pregnancy yoga class which will take you before 12 weeks and if you're an experienced yogi then you will probably find pregnancy yoga infuriatingly gentle (in my experience, anyway).

I would suggest home practice with something like Yoga with Adriene and then rejoining your normal class when you can.

My yoga teacher wasn't happy for me to do it either so had to look into proper pregnancy yoga rather than just going to get classes. I think to a certain extent they are probably just covering their backs

I read around this- a yoga studio near me trains other yoga instructors in pregnancy yoga teaching and has really helpful stuff on their website.

It made me take a break- their advise was not to restart till 14 weeks, and only pregnancy yoga. They said restorative practise at home is ok, but I think that's really basic. But there are twists and poses that aren't safe, and I would definitely want to talk to your yoga instructor before taking a normal class.

I found out I was pregnant when I was only around 4 weeks too. I'm 29 weeks now and I go to yoga every week, just a regular class with a teacher who is trained in pregnancy yoga and is incredibly accommodating. She also asked that I didn't start the class until I was at least 13 weeks.

I found the last yoga class I did right before my BFP really uncomfortable in some of the twists and back bends. Once I knew I was pregnant I was too exhausted and nauseous to even think about being able to do a full sun salutation. I also suffered from a lot of light headedness and didn't want to keel over in class.

My studio does pre-natal classes open to anyone over 12 weeks. I've found I'm the least pregnant person in them so far! Everyone else is in their third trimester. It's also a lot slower and gentler than the full hatha class I was doing before. My normal class teacher is also the one who's qualified to teach pre-natal yoga, so she's happy to take pregnant students in her other classes and modify the poses for them as needed.

I imagine it's similar to the rules about massage, where massage therapists won't treat pregnant women. I've been told it's mainly because of the high rate of miscarriage in the first trimester, so women who experience this may wrongly assume it was due to the massage.