Surviving Pregnant Yoga

Prenatal yoga can be one of the best ways to stay in shape and maintain your sanity during pregnancy. Most forms of yoga are safe during pregnancy, but always check with your doctor before starting any new exercise routine to ensure it’s safe for your specific pregnancy.

Benefits

Yoga is a great conditioning and strengthening exercise to do in combination with a cardiovascular exercise during pregnancy. Walking is the most common form of cardio for pregnant mommies. Yoga keeps your muscle and tendons strong will being easy on the joints. You also learn to control your body movements, breathing and stress reactions with yoga. This can help you throughout the labor and delivery process.

At Home

You can use a DVD, pose poster or book to get ideas for prenatal yoga poses. Make this part of your morning routine and you’ll feel amazing throughout the day. There’s a wide variety of products available to choose from. Also make sure you’re equipped with a good yoga mat to avoid slipping.

In a Class

Yoga classes are one of the best places to practice prenatal yoga, but make sure you attend a prenatal yoga class or tell your instructor you’re expecting. This is to ensure you and baby are safe and only taking part in positions you can handle. Always drink lots of water and avoid doing “hot” yoga as you are more likely to become dehydrated during pregnancy.

Yoga with Others

Get your pregnant Mommy friends involved and attend a class together or meet up for some fun, yoga poses and munchies once a week. If you have kids at home, get them involved during their morning routine to help them wake up and feel rejuvenated. 

First Trimester Tips

During the first trimester you may be experiencing morning sickness, fatigue and other symptoms. Because of this make sure you eat small meals throughout the day and drink plenty of water. If at any time during your yoga routine you feel faint, stop immediately and rest.

Second Trimester Tips

The second trimester is generally considered the best. The morning sickness has gone away, your hormones are calming down and you are just beginning to show. You will start to feel your ligaments and joints loosen during this trimester so it’s important to keep good form and try not to push it too far. Listen to your body. If you feel pain, stop.

Third Trimester Tips

You are likely feeling off balance and tired. Continue to do pregnant poses, but consider sticking with the sitting poses if you’re feeling too off balance.

Regardless of the time you’re at in your pregnancy, always listen to your body first and your instructor second. As your joints loosen and your belly grows you will find different limitations. Remember the primary point of prenatal yoga is to find stress relief, prepare for baby and enjoy the closeness you feel in the moment.