Guest guest Posted May 7, 2001 Report Share Posted May 7, 2001 Anyone ever practiced Ashtanga while pregnant?<br>Any tips or advice??<br><br>Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 8, 2001 Report Share Posted May 8, 2001 Never practised astanga myself while pregnant. Ahem. John Scott, however, gives pregnant women some advice in his masterful book "Ashtanga Yoga".<br><br>Basically, he discounsels doing the following postures during pregnancy:<br><br>- janu sirsasana C, because of the pressure exercised by the placement of the heel;<br>- marichyasana B, which should be discontinued performing after the 2nd month of pregnancy;<br>- marichyasana C, since this asana compresses the entire abdomen and uterus;<br>- and, interestingly & controversially, shirshasana, the head stand. Here, John Scott seems to be at odds with the iyengar folks, who do continue to practise shirshasana also during pregnancy - though usually with the support of a wall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 8, 2001 Report Share Posted May 8, 2001 Advice? Ask Dena Kingsberg - try to get to one of her workshops, or email her. She's probably the most advanced ashtanga practitioner who can speak about pregnancy from personal experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 10, 2001 Report Share Posted May 10, 2001 My wife practiced up to the day she gave birth. She cut it down a bit, avoided backbends, shoulderstand, and stayed away from twists like Marichasana C&D.<br><br>we also did perineal massage (ask a midwife) using vitamin E.<br><br>The birth of our 8.8 baby girl (our first child) went very well. She didn't need a episiotomy and didn't tear.<br><br>We were taking the advice of NYC's most advanced Astanga teacher, whose wife was pregnant at the same time. She had a more advanced practice and it was quite a sight to see her at 8 months in kapotasana. She didn't tear either.<br><br>Don't try to advance your practice when you are pregnant. Keep doing what you were doing and start cutting out upside-down and twist poses.<br><br>After birth wait 3 months before practicing again - that's from the mouth of Guruji himself, and it was good advice. Whenever my wife tried to get back in too early she had some minor bleeding.<br><br>Yours,<br>Dan McGuire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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