Yoga puts a lot of strain and stress on the muscles and joints. At the same time, it causes a wave of tranquillity to wash over your mind. A lot of pregnant women wonder whether it’s ok for them to try it out if they’re pregnant. They worry about the risks and potential harm caused to their unborn child.
The truth is yoga is perfectly safe for pregnant women. In many cases, it’s even quite beneficial.
The Dangers
Obviously, there are dangers to practicing yoga. You shouldn’t attempt to push yourself during your pregnancy. Work out where your breaking point is and make sure you don’t hit it. Now is not the time for trying out brand new poses and experimentation. Stick to the tried and tested methods taught in yoga class.
Some poses which involve lying on the stomach are, obviously, prohibited. Overly acrobatic and athletic poses shouldn’t be incorporated. Gentle yoga is the way to go if you’re pregnant.
Here are some important points about what you should try and what you shouldn’t.
Abdominal Regions
You should stay away from some of the deeper twists and anything which works the abdominals. It puts pressure on the belly. The only exception is you can do twists if you’re performing them in an open position.
The risk associated with putting too much pressure on the abs is you can pull the already strained abdominal muscles apart. It won’t harm your baby, but it will leave you in excruciating pain for the remainder of your pregnancy.
Backbends and Folds
The backbend and the forward fold is a favourite of regular yoga practitioners. If you’re experienced with backbends, there’s no reason why you can’t continue to use them during your pregnancy. If you’ve never touched them before, don’t try them now.
Forward folds are also ok if you keep your feet nice and separate. Remember, you’re carrying a larger load so you need to make allowances for it.
Hot Yoga
Hot yoga is perhaps the trendiest type of yoga available at the moment. As a pregnant woman, you want to stay away from it. It’s easy to become dehydrated and it’s not uncommon to become overheated without realising it. Healthy women without any baggage can get away with it.
Hot yoga for pregnant women risks causing damage to the foetus. You are at risk of harming yourself during normal yoga classes. If you’ve gone to a yoga retreat for a break, request the teacher allow you to have a place close to the door so you can get some air.
Back Exercises
Any yoga poses which involve back work, such as the traditional savasana, are fine in the early stages of pregnancy. When you’ve past the second trimester, your doctor will tell you to stay off your back as much as you can.
During yoga classes, either avoid the exercises completely or opt for a variation. A lot of exercises can be carried out using boxes and other bolsters. You will need to tell your instructor about your pregnancy prior to the class starting, though.
Lisa Melia recently enjoyed a week of yoga, pampering and rejuvenation at the Anamaya Resort, which was definately beneficial to her and baby!
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