Question for yoga teachers

amylahminute

If you have a student who is pregnant, when does it become important for you to know about that fact? I am only 5 wks along, and don't feel comfortable talking about my pregnancy openly just yet. I've continued to practice 2-3 times/wk without telling my teachers. However, I want to avoid unnecessary risks, so maybe I should be telling them? I've been doing all the inversions, bends and jump-throughs, etc and none have felt risky so far.

Also, any thoughts on doing yoga in a heated room? I've practiced a Vinyasa flow in a room heated to 105 early on in my pregnancy, but have been avoiding it since then out of some overcautiousness.

Many thanks in advance for your wisdom.

yoginimary

You could tell them your 5 weeks, but that you aren't announcing it right now - so they shouldn't let everyone know.
In my system of yoga, you can still do inversions.
Poses that you should avoid: cross the body twists, abs, and belly down backbends - if at all possible. At this early you could just do them to the minimal amount, just so you don't get noticed - but you will have to avoid them soon. After your first trimester, avoid all deep backbends.
Hope that helps

amylahminute

Thanks! So I shouldn't even be doing up-dogs and camels? Why do I want to avoid x-body twists and backbends? They still feel so good.

yoginimary

Right now you can do up-dogs and camels (your pelvis doesn't press into the floor). Once your stomach starts to stretch, the band of tissue across your abdomen can be torn by doing strong backbends.
You would avoid strong twists because they put pressure on the abdomen - generally open twist, like Marichyasana 1, upright, do not put pressure on the abdomen.
My teacher put it to me like this: "don't squish junior"

amylahminute

Thank you so much for the advice, Mary!

busywaterbending

hi,
expert instructor and cpt here.

you should avoid heated yoga now that you are pregnant. It is of the utmost importance to keep your baby's body tempature normal!

As for telling your instructor of your pregnancy consider this; make sure he/she is certified to teach and make modifications for you now that you are pregnant. If not, stop that class and find a pregnancy certified instructor. Certifications usually DON'T cover how to work with a pregnant female. Ask questions. (you may not do certain muscle contractions, have your blood pressure increase/decrease, pinch off the blood supply to the uterine vein, increase pressure to the vagina....) Yoga is about opening up the uterine vein's blood flow in many postures, and some postures are the opposite. This is seriously bad for a fetus. How would you like it if your oxygen gets cut off for a minute or more? Talk to your ob/gyn about this as well.

After your first trimester you may not lie supine or do any heavy contractions of the lower abs. All certified sports and fitness trainers will tell you this. I recommend getting private instruction in yoga to ensure that your practice will be catered to you and your baby.

happy training!

busywaterbending

Thanks! So I shouldn't even be doing up-dogs and camels? Why do I want to avoid x-body twists and backbends? They still feel so good.

amy,

up dogs and camels are fine. Those postures push the ribcage forward, away from the pelvic girdle in a way that does not hinder the lower abdominal wall or cramp up the lower body vascular system.

Twisting and deep lower ab work like forward folds, rabbit, turtle, boat should be eliminated by your second trimester due to the hip arteries being pinched and the sharp increase/decrease/increase yo-y0 that occurs to your blood pressure (and your baby's blood pressure) in intense and long held postures.

Standing postures are a good modification,

by your third trimester lay off the intense locks and workout that yoga provides. Instead, use yoga to relax you.

- happy training!

jamers3111

This is all fantastic info!!! Thank you so much!