Pregnancy Yoga

[RGPargy]

Just a question about pregnancy yoga classes.

There is a lady that has been running classes in my local area for some time and i managed to get a place in the class. Due to work pressures however, i have only ever managed to get to one class (luckily enough she's starting a class at a later time from next week). However, from the one class i did go to, i didn't really see any yoga-esque moves. It was more like getting on all fours and doing a cat stretch or showing you how to get on all fours comfortably when pg, plus there was a "pressing against the wall" stretch. I wouldn't have thought these were yoga moves personally (not that i've ever been to a yoga class).

Can someone please enlighten me on what pg yoga actually involves??

I was under the impression it was slightly different from what i experienced.

I've been going to pregnancy yoga for a few weeks now and it wasn't really what I was expecting, although not quite sure what I was expecting. The class I go to involves a lot of breathing and some stretching - nothing too strenuous and we start off with some relaxation and end with visualisation. Apparently, they are really useful techniques to know when it comes to the birth and to help with the pain. I think it is different to normal yoga.

Ah ok, sounds the same as the class i was at then. There was breathing, lots of relaxation (i'm sure i was snoring at the end!).

People have been telling me to do pre-natal yoga instead of aikido, but based on this I think I might skip it! I know something about relaxation (though more would probably help) but I'd hate to spend an hour of so-called exercise doing nothing but a few light stretches and some breathing.

I am going pretty light on the aikido, though, just once a week instead of 3 or 4 times, which is what I would normally do. I've heard that just walking a few miles a day is one of the best things you can do for your abdominal muscles to prepare for birth. That, I can manage, and it's free... unless I stop in a shop on the way.

LOL at 'just' walking a few miles a day whilst preggers!

Good on yer girl. I am 39+3 and haven't been out the house since Monday.

Hi domesticgrumpess! (thread hijack, sorry everyone else!)

People around here say it's fine in the first trimester, but I'm expected to take it easy and stop for water several times durring the class. The main rules set down here (by a dozen or more women I know who have practiced while pregnant, including a couple who are now 6th dan) are these:

No koshinages (not being thrown for obvious reasons, not throwing because of the pressure on your hip joints)

No lifting (other people, that is)

no backstretch (so as not to overextend muscles across the belly area, which are stretched plenty already)

Be extra gentle/careful with stretching from 2nd trimester onwards, when ligaments are loose from all the hormones.

And, obviously, no blows to the belly area.

That said, people are starting to think I should maybe not be falling as I get bigger. I only make it to practice about once a week because my motivation just isn't there, but it feels fine! I wasn't doing many breakfalls anyway. I might just go to weapons practice and do jo katas in the last few months, though. Do you do weapons at your dojo? That really should be all right, as long as you don't practice with anyone super-aggressive or mean.

Hi RgPargy
I've been doing prenatal yoga for about 6 months now (I started when I was about 7-8 weeks because I'd registered for another class and had to transfer!!). Prior to this I'd done several Hatha yoga classes.

The prenatal classes are very different to general yoga - much more gentle exercise and focus on breathing and relaxation. A lot of the exercises that you do on all-fours, such as the cat stretch and working the hips and pelvic area, are supposed to be great for foetal positioning (although some people would disagree with this) and just generally easing back pain and discomfort.

I have to say I find prenatal yoga invaluable - I get a great sleep afterwards and it defnitely helps with hip pain, lower back pain and all the other discomforts in later pregnancy!

HTH.