Those of you that did/do yoga in pregnancy...

[DaisyEM]

Did you go to a yoga class that was specifically for pregnancy, or just continue with your usual class?

I'm 14 weeks with baby 2 and am about to return to my weekly yoga class this evening, after being advised to wait until the 2nd trimester to resume doing yoga. I live in a rural area and there are no local pregnancy yoga classes. I did yoga in my first pregnancy, but that was an online pregnancy yoga class due to lockdowns.

I'm just a bit anxious about doing poses I'm not supposed to, although of course my instructor is brilliant and has said she will give me modifications. However looking online at the poses you shouldn't do in pregnancy, I fear it'll make it very complex for her as there is quite a lot it seems you can't do.

Any advice/experiences would be much appreciated 🙂

I did pregnancy yoga as there’s a local class. There really isn’t much you shouldn’t do, don’t worry. Just do what feel comfortable to you. The pregnancy yoga wasn’t that different to a low intensity normal yoga class.

@Peonies12 oh really, I'm sure you're meant to avoid twists, anything with laying flat on your stomach and laying on your back?

You can do gentle twists. And we did some short poses on backs, obviously you can’t lie on your front!

I've been in too many non-pregnancy classes where the teacher suddenly remembers there's someone pregnant there and says 'oh yes! Don't do this pose!'

Pregnancy yoga might also cover mental preparation for birth, and introduce you to other women who might be around to meet with on mat leave.

@Haroldwilson unfortunately as mentioned above I live in a rural area with no pregnancy yoga classes near by. My class is very small and I do trust my instructor to give me all the recommended modifications, I'm just quite cautious about anything like this as I had various complications in my first pregnancy.

Yoga is fine in the first trimester?

Just be sensible and if anything feels uncomfortable, let the teacher know. I could still lie happily on my back until much later on in pregnancy and twists are fine as long as you don't go too far. The main thing you need to watch out for is over-stretching as all your ligaments are loosened during pregnancy so you can damage your joints if you try and push too far into any poses.

I continued normal classes until maybe 34 weeks, stuck to open twists when others were doing closed ones, no headstands/ shoulder stands etc. then after that I attended a specific pregnancy one which was blissful, so gentle and relaxing and perfect for late 3rd trimester and as @Haroldwilson mentioned, great for birth prep and breathing techniques.

My practice was very strong and regular prior to pregnancy and I knew what adaptations I needed to make so I was comfortable with my decision although I stuck to a certain few teachers who I knew were pregnancy trained even though the classes were general.

I went to pregnancy yoga classes and remember it being very very gentle and a bit boring tbh. Lots of talk about birth also and flickery candles. I don't see why you couldn't just do a normal one and modify it/childs pose while the rest of the class are doing moves that are unsuitable for you.

I lasted 2 classes before the indignity of my very acidy/heartburny stomach growling into the silence each time I lay down made me quit. I just did YouTube videos in the safety of my home after that.

Oh just remembered, if your teacher does pranayama skip anything that involves breath retention or really energetic pranayama practices like kapalabhati (sp?).

I did two pregnancy yoga classes and in both cases the teachers had a lot of knowledge about pregnancy and birth and it was a chance to discuss all of that too ( one was a midwife and the other a physiotherapist).

Having a class tailored to pregnancy and birth was much better than attending a regular yoga class.

I'd say it depends how confident you feel to just do your own thing if she forgot to give you a modification/you in yourself don't feel comfortable with a certain move.
It's not yoga but I've still been going along to my usual HIIT class and sometimes the instructor gives me a mod, and sometimes she forgets but I've been exercising long enough and have looked into what is sensible and not for pregnancy that if I can't or don't want to do something I either modify myself or just skip it and do something different entirely. I still don't look super pregnant in my gym kit, so I'm sure some other people in the class must think I'm just suiting myself to avoid the hard bits 😂

I did pregnancy yoga which was really lovely because it was all tailored to pregnancy and as well as the usual stuff they focused on breathing in labour and yoga positions to use in labour.
Also I had PGP which the instructor was clued up on because on being a pregnancy specialist so she would tell me not to do some positions and give me alternatives.
I don't think there's an issue with doing normal yoga though if there isn't pregnancy yoga available, as long as your instructor is ok to have you in the class

I carried on with my normal practice but it’s ashtanga self-practice so completely modifiable. I was doing an extremely gentle practice by my last visit at 6 days before birth. My teachers are extremely knowledgeable about pregnancy and I’d also read a book on the ashtanga modifications.
In your case I’d see how clued up your teacher is, but most importantly ‘listen to your body’. So even if a posture is ‘safe’ for pregnancy, if it doesn’t feel right in any way, modify or stop.

Thanks everyone ☺️ that’s all really helpful and has made me feel a bit more confident about this evening.

I do agree that pregnancy yoga would be great and get that it can help with birth prep, but then again I think continuing with yoga can massively help maintain flexibility and suppleness etc throughout pregnancy which is surely birth prep in itself!

My first pregnancy was during lockdowns so I’m keen to go to a class, but as a pregnancy class isn’t an option I was just hoping to continue with my usual class.

I’ll take it slow this evening and will familiarise myself with what’s ok and what’s not and then if I’m unsure on anything I’ll just opt for a wide leg childs pose!

I did pregnancy yoga in my first pregnancy, but felt more confident with knowing my body and limitations in my second so continued with my regular pilates class until 4 days before having baby 2.
I avoided laying on my stomach and hip raises but did everything else, just didn't lie on my back for extended periods.

I've carried on with mine - I had a one to one with my teacher who showed me all the modifications but she also tells me what to do which is great. I've always found it really helps me focus on other parts of my body and not just what baby is doing for which is nice

I also got the downward dog prenatal app (you have to pay but also get access to normal yoga, pilates etc) which is lovely to do at home!

Enjoy!

@AuntieJay thanks ☺️

I was pregnant during covid and did daily yoga videos on YouTube

Edit to say I just read your update that you were pregnant during lockdown too. I understand wanting to go to an actual class

@sel2223 yes I did the exact same - I subscribed to an online class and did pregnancy yoga throughout my first pregnancy.

It's just nice to have the option to actually go to a class now, but ideally I would have preferred to do an actual pregnancy yoga class, but there aren't any anywhere near by! The class was lovely though and I felt totally confident in all of the alternative poses to make it pregnancy friendly so I'll definitely keep going :)