Why doing yoga in pregnancy won’t do the same for you as doing pregnancy yoga

I know this might sound pernickety, or much of a muchness, but hear me out. It’s not.

I am not saying there are no benefits to practicing ‘regular’ yoga in pregnancy. Or that you shouldn’t, or that it’s wrong.

And OF course, we need to caveat that it depends on what class you go to, and who teaches you, and how.

And yes, any form of movement and breathwork and guided rest is better than none.

But, this doesn’t take away from the fact that pregnancy yoga is not ‘just’ doing yoga while pregnant.  And in my book, it is definitely not just yoga adapted to be ‘safe for pregnancy’. Or not just ‘gentle movement’, and relaxation. Or the yoga to switch to once your bump is too big for your regular class.

It’s a whole different practice altogether. Designed for & around pregnancy and the pregnant body.

• Designed to support it, and to prepare your body (and mind!) for birth, and postpartum

• Designed to educate and support you with knowledge, mobilisation and breathwork (and so much more) that are specifically relevant to this very specific period of your life, and that you might never do in any other class

• And in my case, designed by someone entirely dedicated & specialised to supporting women during and through this experience, and deeply versed in the birth world

Things that simply cannot be done - or are just not the goal or object of - a general class.

So yes, if you ask me (but of course I’m biased), if you’re pregnant, whether still in the early weeks, in the (maybe more energetic) second trimester, or in the final few weeks, you have everything to gain by joining a pregnancy yoga class. Whether as a new class try, to switch your regular practice to, or at least complement your regular yoga practice. 

My classes run term-time, weekly classes in Richmond & Kew, or you can experience them from home with 1-1 private pregnancy yoga or my online pregnancy yoga course & library.