YOGA + FITNESS / Movement
POSES + MODIFICATIONS
for Pregnancy P
racticing yoga when pregnant is a life-saver for so many mamas-tobe, but the practice needs to be modified, gently at first and more as your pregnancy progresses. You may be the type of mom who goes straight to prenatal yoga classes once you find out you are pregnant. If so, great! Prenatal yoga classes are a perfect combination of yoga and community that will cater directly to the aches, pains and other experiences of pregnancy. The challenge for most busy mamas-tobe is to fit your exercise routine into when the prenatal yoga classes are being offered (they often run during the day and other non-peak times). Your yoga studio might not even offer prenatal yoga classes. Maybe you just really enjoy a specific class and want to continue practicing yoga like you did before pregnancy. Regardless, you will need to learn a few modifications to get the most of your yoga classes. I have been a yoga teacher for over 12 years and practiced yoga through two pregnancies. This article offers suggestions for what feels good in the body when pregnant and modifications to keep your practice safe and effective through the whole of your pregnancy. First, some general pointers: + Every pregnancy is different. How you experience pregnancy can be totally different from your friends, fellow yoginis and even your instructor. Your intuition is heightened when pregnant; listening to your body’s feedback and not doing what doesn’t feel good is always something you should give yourself the freedom to do.
by Carrie Varela
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+ You might be concerned that doing certain exercises can cause a spontaneous miscarriage. This is not true. Both the American Pregnancy Association and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology state that daily exercise should be a part of pregnancy, and exercise itself is not reported as a cause of miscarriage. In fact, exercise can decrease the likelihood of a miscarriage by keeping stress levels down.
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