Hot Yoga and Pregnancy

Hot Yoga during pregnancy? Yes, No, Maybe?

Some people just say no to hot yoga during pregnancy.  Others  couldn't imagine not having their hot yoga practice through the pregnant months.

Who's right? You are, of course.

Especially when you're pregnant, it's important to do what feels good to you. Everyone will have an opinion; only you can choose what feels right for you (this is great training for parenthood, by the way, when everyone and their mother will offer sage advice on what you're doing wrong; you have to learn filter what you hear and listen only to your inner parenting guide.)

The woman who trained me to be a hot yoga teacher, Michelle, practiced and taught hot yoga throughout her pregnancies. She looked wonderful - you know, one of those women who glows during pregnancy and is all belly, no body fat.

She went on to give birth to three times to three healthy babies (and this was a woman who had challenges getting pregnant!). And of course, she lost all that baby weight about an hour after delivery. Sigh. Hot yoga strikes again!

There is an pregnancy series in hot yoga based on the science of combining hot yoga with an advancing pregnancy, with pose adjustments for all three trimesters. So as you can see, it's not lunacy to continue your hot yoga while you're pregnant; it's a choice we can support.

Here at Riverflow, we have our own pregnant hot yoga student: it's our very own hot yoga teacher Jaime Cahalan.

Not only is Jaime doing hot yoga, she is teaching hot yoga.

She has reported some first trimester headaches and thus she is hydrating extremely well. However, most times she reports feeling BETTER after taking hot yoga class.

We are all SO excited for Jaime and her husband Dennis.

Can you imagine the wonderful head start for a baby nourished with hot yoga?

Of course, Jaime was a strong hot yoga practitioner before she became pregnant - an average of 3 classes per week for the past 18 months. So far, she is feeling more energized and also calm and relaxed as she continues hot yoga while pregnant. 

I have advised Jaime as I do anyone else: do what feels good for you. Don't push past your intiutive sense of what is working for you. Relax. Enjoy your hot yoga practice.

Jaime's midwife suggested that she monitor her core body temperature during class. No need for you to do this (unless you are pregnant? if so please tell us!). Jaime is taking her temperature as a way of checking in on her changing body and her growing baby. When you see her do this in class, smile and send her and her baby all your good vibes.

Jaime will be blogging her experience of hot yoga during pregnancy here on our site. Look for her blog, coming soon!