Guest guest Posted November 23, 2007 Report Share Posted November 23, 2007 Hi everyone, I'm 7 weeks pregnant and have had a strong ashtanga practice 6 days a week for at least 2 years. I know there's many different ideas about practice during this time and I'd like to hear all of your experiences. There's so many mixed messages: don't practice at all during 1st trimester, practise but take it easy, avoid twists, inversions and rolls, and listen to your body (I like that one best!). The Doctor tells me at this early stage the fetus is very well protected and that any type of exercise is ok. Love to hear your thoughts! Amanda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 25, 2007 Report Share Posted November 25, 2007 Hi Amanda; Congratulations! I am pregnant too, almost ending (35 weeks). At the beginning of my pregnancy I was really worried about my practice. My teacher really descouraged me, and tell me not to practice for the first three months. I wasn´t agree but I must quit going to the shala. But this, instead, was really good for me. At the begining of my pregnancy, ever if I was really well (no nauseas, no sickness) I felt tired, and I needed a lot of sleep. Quitting during this period of time it was also a kind of non attachment experience. During this first period I walked and jogged occasionally, activities that took me away less energy, and I also made some asanas, but not really a full practice. After three monts I started again my ashtanga practice, that it is not so strong as yours -twice o three times a week-, and I am doing this until now, modifying asanas and always feeling me really free. I read all that I could find, and I think as your doctor, that really it's not danger about practicing during the first trimester. But at the same time, I aknowledge a certain wisdom at this recomendation. I believe, in fact, is more about energy (mental and physical) and how your body feels. Even if I had and still have a marvelous pregnancy, I am not the same as before, and I need more rest and have less physical energy. I think it is important to honour this body and mind changing. Have a marvelous pregnancy! Sandra ashtangayoga , " humbleindulgence " <humbleindulgence wrote: > > Hi everyone, > > I'm 7 weeks pregnant and have had a strong ashtanga practice 6 days a > week for at least 2 years. I know there's many different ideas about > practice during this time and I'd like to hear all of your experiences. > There's so many mixed messages: don't practice at all during 1st > trimester, practise but take it easy, avoid twists, inversions and > rolls, and listen to your body (I like that one best!). The Doctor > tells me at this early stage the fetus is very well protected and that > any type of exercise is ok. > > Love to hear your thoughts! > > Amanda > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 26, 2007 Report Share Posted November 26, 2007 Hi, I am trying to get pregnant so have researched it. First, I think it depends on your age. If you are older, like me, you might want to err on the conservative side. I have heard/read no uddiyannah bandha, which means no jump backs and throughs, no core exercises and you must relax your belly in posture, rather than engage. I would not do the severe twists like Marichyasana c and d. Good Luck!!!! Mary humbleindulgence <humbleindulgence wrote: Hi everyone, I'm 7 weeks pregnant and have had a strong ashtanga practice 6 days a week for at least 2 years. I know there's many different ideas about practice during this time and I'd like to hear all of your experiences. There's so many mixed messages: don't practice at all during 1st trimester, practise but take it easy, avoid twists, inversions and rolls, and listen to your body (I like that one best!). The Doctor tells me at this early stage the fetus is very well protected and that any type of exercise is ok. Love to hear your thoughts! Amanda Never miss a thing. Make your homepage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 26, 2007 Report Share Posted November 26, 2007 Hi Amanda, I spoke to my doctor about practicing yoga during pregnancy and he said that if you had an exercise regime that you did prior to pregnancy, then I would probably be safe to do during pregnancy. I'm sure he didn't realize how intense yoga could be, so I proceeded with caution. I practiced ashtanga throughout both my pregnancies up until about a week before giving birth. My practice consisted of first and second series poses in a mysore style class rather than a led class. This way, I could go at my own pace. I followed my normal practice until I physically couldn't do certain poses anymore and then I would modify, substitute or skip the pose. For poses like marichyasana D, I would just put my legs in the half lotus position and sit up straight, but not add the twist. Or substitute poses like pashasana with with legs apart instead of together. I continued with inversions handstands, headstands and pincha mayurasana. I actually felt that these improved because I had a counterbalance (my big belly). I listened to my body and did what I felt comfortable doing, but I didn't push the limits. Often, the baby will be the one telling you it doesn't like a certain pose. I have two healthy kids and no complications from pregnancy. I can't say that yoga helped me during delivery, but it is great exercise to get my body back post baby. I'm not where I was at in my yoga practice before I got pregnant, but I am beginning to get back to where I was now that my second child just turned 1. Enjoy your yoga practice now because you probably won't have as much time to practice once the baby comes. Hope this helps. Catherine ashtangayoga , " humbleindulgence " <humbleindulgence wrote: > > Hi everyone, > > I'm 7 weeks pregnant and have had a strong ashtanga practice 6 days a > week for at least 2 years. I know there's many different ideas about > practice during this time and I'd like to hear all of your experiences. > There's so many mixed messages: don't practice at all during 1st > trimester, practise but take it easy, avoid twists, inversions and > rolls, and listen to your body (I like that one best!). The Doctor > tells me at this early stage the fetus is very well protected and that > any type of exercise is ok. > > Love to hear your thoughts! > > Amanda > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 29, 2007 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 hi there, i got all of that too, but there is a great book that i can recommend called ashtanga yoga for women - Michaela Clarke & Sally Griffin and i used it as my bible during and even still use it now after pregnancy - try your local library or amazon or the ashtanga website. i found out i was pregnant nearly 4 months into it and i did exactly that - listened to my body and i too was continuing my ashtanga practice about 4-5 times a week. maybe i am not the best example but i listened to my body and modified my practice accordingly - i stopped inversions about 8 months pregnant, but see how you feel and the book is fabulous. take care and go within, Sophie xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 29, 2007 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 Hi, again.. I too have this book and recommend it because I liked it. However, I was disappointed that there were only 2 pages on pregnancy and basically said don't practice ashtanga for the first 3 months..,They did not get into much detail about things. I have had to find out on my own. Sophie, I was told no using the core or udddiyanah. After 3 weeks of fertility treatments that did not workand not using my core, it took me almost another 3 weeks to rebuild my core to where I was. I am a bit nervous about how week I will become if I become pregnant and need to relax my core for 9 months. A small sacrifice, though, to bear a child. Namaste, Mary Sophie Anderson <sophanderson wrote: hi there, i got all of that too, but there is a great book that i can recommend called ashtanga yoga for women - Michaela Clarke & Sally Griffin and i used it as my bible during and even still use it now after pregnancy - try your local library or amazon or the ashtanga website. i found out i was pregnant nearly 4 months into it and i did exactly that - listened to my body and i too was continuing my ashtanga practice about 4-5 times a week. maybe i am not the best example but i listened to my body and modified my practice accordingly - i stopped inversions about 8 months pregnant, but see how you feel and the book is fabulous. take care and go within, Sophie xxx Be a better pen pal. Text or chat with friends inside Mail. See how. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 30, 2007 Report Share Posted November 30, 2007 hi Mary, yes it does say that but i still practised and listened to my body the whole time - i was fortunate enough to have a teacher who went through the poses with me individually and if i could keep doing them with no strain then go ahead - further, if you note throughout the book on each of the postures it will give you a modified pregnancy version and contraindications - i used the pelvic floor (uddiyana bandha(?)) and relaxed the abdominal lock; toning the pelvic floor is great for childbirth and a lot of the poses and breath strengthen you for your journey. i played with them and stuck with those that worked for me. once i became quite heavy at 8 months, i relaxed my practice to only a gentle one (40 mins) and meditated more and focused more on the other limbs of yoga. during my childbirth, my practice on breathing and other limbs gave me an enormous strength to pull through it, because i felt it was all i had. you will not become weak i promise you if you listen to your body and focus on the pelvic floor - and i could not imagine the strength you have had to utilise already with quite invasive fertility treatment - use what you have and go within and your practice will just be and prosper, you will see; you will surprise yourself at what you can still do; just be aware of the contraindications and if there is strain, stop or modify. this is a time to love and a time to be good to yourself; you and your baby deserve it! keep me posted on your journey, it will be amazing:) all my love, Sophie Mary Dennis <maryrdennis ashtangayoga Thursday, 29 November, 2007 10:03:05 PM Re: ashtanga yoga Pregnancy Hi, again.. I too have this book and recommend it because I liked it. However, I was disappointed that there were only 2 pages on pregnancy and basically said don't practice ashtanga for the first 3 months..,They did not get into much detail about things. I have had to find out on my own. Sophie, I was told no using the core or udddiyanah. After 3 weeks of fertility treatments that did not workand not using my core, it took me almost another 3 weeks to rebuild my core to where I was. I am a bit nervous about how week I will become if I become pregnant and need to relax my core for 9 months. A small sacrifice, though, to bear a child. Namaste, Mary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 30, 2007 Report Share Posted November 30, 2007 Being pregnant is like carrying a sack of groceries in the middle of your lower torso. Not using the muscles for support of your whole body is silly. If you want to get in touch with what is going on in your body you use the muscles, not with force, but with ingenuity to help you carry the baby to term with all the circumstances that life has to offer you. The circumstances are different for everyone, so is body type. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 30, 2007 Report Share Posted November 30, 2007 Thank you for your encouraging words, Sophie. I really appreciate it. We are going through another invitro-fertilization cycle at the end of January. Love and Peace, Mary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 30, 2007 Report Share Posted November 30, 2007 Thank you, Victoria. That gave me a good laugh. You are right. I have been told though, not to jump through, even though I can land softly with straight legs and love doing so. So, I guess I will need to find out when I get there. Love and Peace, Mary Victoria Walters <yspilates wrote: Being pregnant is like carrying a sack of groceries in the middle of your lower torso. Not using the muscles for support of your whole body is silly. If you want to get in touch with what is going on in your body you use the muscles, not with force, but with ingenuity to help you carry the baby to term with all the circumstances that life has to offer you. The circumstances are different for everyone, so is body type. Never miss a thing. Make your homepage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 1, 2007 Report Share Posted December 1, 2007 Hi guys, I am a mum of 3 beautiful children and have had 5 pregnancies. I must admit I would err on the side of caution during the first 3 months, which is why the book recommneds avoiding practice at this point. I turn away regular students for the first trimester simply because this is the implantation stage. At one point medically it was assumed that it was ok to carry on life as normal at this point, it has since been discovered that this stage is crucial and really needs more delicate treatment. Lets face it a few months out of a lifetime practice is nothing and 3 months 6 months 9 months paces before you know it. For me full practice with no 1 baby, 4 months of with no 2 (early stage) zero practice with no 3 due to internal bleeding yet I was back on the mat with avengence 10 weeks after Charlotte was born and started my teacher training at 12 weeks !!! Having said all that you know you best and therefore know what to do for you best. Many congratualtions x sam ashtangayoga , " humbleindulgence " <humbleindulgence wrote: > > Hi everyone, > > I'm 7 weeks pregnant and have had a strong ashtanga practice 6 days a > week for at least 2 years. I know there's many different ideas about > practice during this time and I'd like to hear all of your experiences. > There's so many mixed messages: don't practice at all during 1st > trimester, practise but take it easy, avoid twists, inversions and > rolls, and listen to your body (I like that one best!). The Doctor > tells me at this early stage the fetus is very well protected and that > any type of exercise is ok. > > Love to hear your thoughts! > > Amanda > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 1, 2007 Report Share Posted December 1, 2007 Hi everyone, It's great to hear everyone's views on this. I'm now 8 weeks and after stopping practice for a week (because I was scared and confused) and then regaining my practice and becoming totally frustrated ending up in my head constantly analysing " am I taking it easy " , " should I do this " , " should I do that " , " I shouldn't have done this or that " , I decided to not make any decisions about what I would or would not do, but get to my mat daily, and practice, feeling my body. This has been so freeing, some days I have energy, some I don't, sometimes I modify, others I don't. The benefits to my mind and emotions during this time that my hormones are raging is invaluable, and it maintains my connection with my body which is sure what I'll need for the birth. I read that an ashtangi obstetrition said that nothing could be better for the body than ashtanga if you are mindful, and that if you are going to miscarriage, it will happen whether you practice or not. Just wanted to add my 2 cents. Regards, Amanda Amanda Jenkyn Be a better pen pal. Text or chat with friends inside Mail. See how. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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