antenatal yoga? expectations, what worked for you?

[nigeltuffnell]

I've just started teaching pregnancy yoga and wanted to hear from you what you liked and what you were not so keen on...

I found ante-natal yoga great.

Best parts: breathing and relaxation techniques, being taught proper pelvic floor exercises (and being made to do them at least once a week), chance to stretch out sore back and limbs, opportunity to modify exercises for those with SPD or other preg related problems, meeting other preg women.

Worst parts: overly hot room, discomfort as i got bigger (felt the teacher should have recognised that those with v large bellies are going to struggle and shouldnt do certain things)

This is my second pregnancy, but the first time I've tried antenatal yoga and I really love it. I feel relaxed after classes and think the breathing techniques I'm learning will help me stay calm and focused in labour. There's postural work, pelvic floor exercises and some nice stretches too. The whole thing is really geared towards preparation for labour and birth as well as helping with the physical toil of pregnancy! Our teacher shows us modifications for each posture so that the more heavily pregnant women can comfortably do them too.

The only thing I don't like is the partner work - not sure if this is a feature of every antenatal class. I don't feel comfortable getting up close with people I don't know well.

just noticed your user name - loving the image of a preggo Nigel Tufnel at a yoga class! I think he'd favour spandex and sweat bands.

Thanks girls! Haha Emma, yes, leopard print leotards all the way!

I loved mine with my first pregnancy and am going back to the same lady for this pregnancy from 22weeks.

She was very friendly and made you feel relaxed straight away. She gave several different alternatives depending on stage and ability and most things were doing on an excercise ball which she sold or you could bring your own.

The relaxation we did at the end was fantastic and I have used it even when not pregnant to help me get to sleep if my mind has been too active!

Unlike EmmaBemma I enjoyed the partner work, it encouraged you to talk to others and gave an extra dimension that you wouldn't be able to achieve on your own. Plus if it was something I found useful I could teach it to my husband to use at other times :-)

She also provided a snack and drink at the end so you could wake up a bit before driving home and have a chat- was biscuits, dried fruit, water and fruit juices.

Also great for meeting other local Mums-to-be. Try and exchange phone numbers/email addresses with a few for coffee etc after baby is born.

Really useful stuff ladies, thanks!

I just wanted to add - I think quite a few women try yoga for the first time when they go to ante-natal yoga.

For the yoga-literate, it can be easy to forget that for newbies, any very 'yoga-ey' language about asanas, breathing etc can be a bit alienating. And some yoga-ey things like chanting etc can come across as a bit weirdy if folk have just turned up for a good stretch!

If it's an 'all levels' open access class, then it's just worth bearing that in mind, I'd say.

Good point barkfox, I hope to keep it simple enough whilst also giving experienced yogis a reasonably challenging practice...

It's tricky isn't it? I went because I used to do a lot of yoga but my usual class was too strenuous. As a result I found pregnancy yoga a bit tame, but I won't deny it kept me flexible and I swear it helped with me C Section recovery.