When preparing to give birth to a child, taking a pregnancy yoga class is one of the best things you can do. Not only is this going to help your body stay in shape but it will also help to relieve some of the stress that you experience during the pre childbirth months.
When looking for a pregnancy yoga class, keep in mind it does not always have to be directly geared towards women who are carrying babies. You can go into a regular class provided it is one of a variety of skill levels so it will allow you to take it a little easier and not push yourself overly hard.
A good choice here would be a hatha class as these are usually more focused on the breathing aspect and less on strength. You also need to ensure that the instructor does not have you doing too many downward facing positions, as this can be stressful on your body.
If you are going to participate in a regular class, be sure to speak to the instructor beforehand so they know what is going on with your body and will recognize that if you are stopped, that is why. Always remember that you can take a rest at any time during the class if you are feeling dizzy, overheated or just tired. This is not the time to try and push yourself to achieve new fitness levels but rather a time to try and keep your range of motion up and prevent yourself from becoming overly sedentary.
Lastly, make sure if you are going to do some more strenuous movements during the class that you perform a very thorough cool-down once you are finished. This will help to bring your body temperature back down and prevent any join stiffness that you may experience otherwise.
So drop by your gym today and check out the various classes that are available. Some of the bigger places will have ones geared towards expecting mothers while for others you will have to search out the class that is right for you.
