Anyone else just find pregnancy yoga to be a bit of an ordeal?!

[applestrudels]

Everyone goes on about how great pregnancy yoga is, but, after a month and a half of lessons, I feel like I just have to admit to myself that I find it to be a bit of an ordeal! The only bit I actually enjoy is the soft music and the relaxation at the end!

I had dabbled in yoga in the past and it was alright, so I thought it would be a good thing to do whilst pregnant too. For the first couple of weeks I thought "oh, this is nice, much less intense than normal yoga".

But now, at 36 weeks, I can barely roll over in bed unassisted, I have to eat my dinner sitting on an exercise ball otherwise the baby wriggles vigorously every time I lean towards my plate, and I've now had to start asking my husband to help me put my shoes on, and I'm thinking, "why on earth would I want to voluntarily get down on the floor, put pressure on my already aching knees and hips, get into all sorts of god-awful positions, and generally be uncomfortable for an hour - and pretend I'm finding this "helpful" and "relaxing"?!"

Does anyone else know what I mean?

Totally know what you mean. I loved pregnancy yoga, but I'm now finding mum and baby yoga a real trial- I'll probably go once more just to make sure then stop.

Late pregnancy and the newborn stage is not the time to force things - especially when they're supposed to be relaxing!

Ha, yes I did. I did it with my first, it was always straight after work and I'd go and be so starving for my dinner that when I was supposed to be sat being mindful I was sat thinking about what I'd eat when I got home

I did pilates and post natal yoga, both I found a horrendous chore with added crying baby for the second.
I actually like both when in normal circumstances

I love it in early pregnancy.

Later pregnancy? NOPE

Perhaps if you’re not enjoying it it’s not the right type of exercise for you at the moment?

Yoga isn’t necessarily meant to be “relaxing”, I sit all day and have some physical issues and always find it (beginners’) v challenging, but enjoy the effects and find it useful in helping address my issues.

Try doing yin and meditation?

Ah, I'm glad I'm not the only one! I might not bother going to the final two sessions even though they're already paid for...

"Yoga isn’t necessarily meant to be “relaxing”,... find it useful in helping address my issues."

That's the thing, I don't find it helps with anything really, I just spend most of it thinking "ouch, my knees!" and "oh god, how am I going to arrange myself into that position" - but then, because it's not actually as strenuous as normal yoga, I don't even go away with that lovely feeling of having stretched and toned my muscles either, just aching joints! I think I'll just stick with swimming for the next few weeks tbh and maybe try yoga again at a later point when bending is actually possible again!

I loved pregnancy yoga, right up until the end, however my lessons were private which made a massive difference as it meant my teacher could help me up off the floor if I became stuck. I don't think I'd have enjoyed group classes half as much.

Im 39 weeks and do prenatal pilates. Love the ball work and doing things standing up, I HATE getting down on the floor. Im with you!