Healthy pregnancy (21)
- Back pain during pregnancy: 7 tips for relief
- Sleep during pregnancy: Follow these tips
- Prenatal yoga: What you need to know
- see all in Healthy pregnancy
First trimester (7)
- Fetal development: The first trimester
- Prenatal care: 1st trimester visits
- First trimester pregnancy: What to expect
- see all in First trimester
Second trimester (8)
- Second trimester pregnancy: What to expect
- Prenatal care: 2nd trimester visits
- Fetal development: The second trimester
- see all in Second trimester
Third trimester (10)
- Third trimester pregnancy: What to expect
- Fetal development: The third trimester
- Prenatal care: 3rd trimester visits
- see all in Third trimester
Pregnancy problems (23)
- Bed rest during pregnancy: Get the facts
- Heart conditions and pregnancy: Know the risks
- High blood pressure and pregnancy: Know the facts
- see all in Pregnancy problems
Free
E-newsletter
Subscribe to Housecall
Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date
on a wide variety of health topics.
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
continued:
Prenatal yoga: What you need to know
Are there styles of yoga that aren't recommended for pregnant women?
There are many different styles of yoga — some more strenuous than others. Prenatal yoga and hatha (gentle) yoga are the best choices for pregnant women. If they're not an option, talk to the instructor about your pregnancy before starting any other yoga class.
Be careful to avoid Bikram yoga, commonly called hot yoga, which involves doing vigorous poses in a room heated to 100 to 110 F (38 to 43 C). Bikram yoga may raise your body temperature too much, causing a condition known as hyperthermia. In addition, ashtanga and other types of power yoga may be too strenuous for women who aren't experienced yoga practitioners.
Are there special safety guidelines for prenatal yoga?
To protect your health and your baby's health during prenatal yoga, follow basic safety guidelines. For example:
- Talk to your health care provider. Before you begin a prenatal yoga program, make sure you have your health care provider's OK. You may not be able to do prenatal yoga if you are at increased risk of preterm labor or have certain medical conditions, such as heart disease or back problems.
- Set realistic goals. For most pregnant women, at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity is recommended on most, if not all, days of the week. However, even shorter or less frequent workouts can help you stay in shape and prepare for labor.
- Pace yourself. If you can't speak normally while you're doing prenatal yoga, you're probably pushing yourself too hard.
- Stay cool and hydrated. Practice prenatal yoga in a well-ventilated room to avoid overheating. Drink plenty of fluids during prenatal yoga to keep yourself hydrated.
- Avoid certain postures. When doing poses, bend from your hips — not your back — to maintain normal spine curvature. Avoid lying on your belly or back, doing deep forward or backward bends, or doing twisting poses that put pressure on your abdomen. You can modify twisting poses so that you only move your upper back, shoulders and rib cage. Avoid inverted poses, which involve extending your legs above your heart or head, unless you're an experienced yoga practitioner. As your pregnancy progresses, use props during postures to accommodate changes in your center of gravity. If you wonder whether a pose is safe, ask your instructor for guidance.
- Don't overdo it. As you do prenatal yoga, pay attention to your body and how you feel. Start slow and avoid positions that are beyond your level of experience or comfort. Stretch only as far as you would have before pregnancy. If you experience any pain or other red flags — such as vaginal bleeding, decreased fetal movement or contractions — during prenatal yoga, stop and contact your health care provider.
How do I choose a prenatal yoga class?
If you're interested in taking a prenatal yoga class, look for a program taught by an instructor who has training in prenatal yoga. Consider observing a class ahead of time to make sure you're comfortable with the activities involved, the instructor's style, the class size and the environment.
Previous page(2 of 2)
- Yoga injury prevention. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00063. Accessed Sept. 27, 2012.
- Curtis K, et al. Systematic review of yoga for pregnant women: Current status and future directions. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2012;2012:1.
- Narendran S, et al. Efficacy of yoga on pregnancy outcome. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2005;11:237.
- Olson D, et al. Exercise in pregnancy. Current Sports Medicine Reports. 2009;8:147.
- Fields N. Yoga: Empowering women to give birth. The Practising Midwife. 2008;11:30.
- Beddoe AE, et al. The effects of mindfulness-based yoga during pregnancy on maternal psychological and physical distress. Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing. 2009;38:310.
- Beddoe AE, et al. Effects of mindful yoga on sleep in pregnant women: A pilot study. Biological Research for Nursing. 2010;11:363.
- Kinser P, et al. Prenatal yoga: Guidance for providers and patients. Advance for Nurse Practitioners. 2008;16:59.
- Selecting and effectively using a yoga program. American College of Sports Medicine. http://www.acsm.org/access-public-information/brochures-fact-sheets/brochures. Accessed Sept. 27, 2012.
- AskMayoExpert. Yoga. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2012.
Find Mayo Clinic on