inversions during pregnancy

[Guest guest]

Hi Rebecca -

There are many views on inverted poses during pregnancy,

depending what school of yoga you espouse to. Everywhere

from none at all to do them right until the end!

 

In my personal experience with both teaching prenatal yoga

and with my pregnancy, I found that the body will guide you,

and definitely trust that. In the tradition that I have learned

from, inversions should be discontinued at about the end of

the 4th month. But, the inversion you're speaking of, Viparita

Karani, or legs up the wall, can be done for longer if the

mother is not feeling light-headed. It also can be used to

reverse a breech baby by elevating the hips on a blanket or

two, with some success (I've had a student turn her baby this

way!).

 

I personally did not feel right doing Headstand or Handstand

past my 1st trimester, but did Shoulderstand for another month

or two. Also, you are very early in your pregnancy, and may

be feeling tired... 1st trimester is a delicate time, and I'd

encourage you to go very easy and rest a lot. I didn't do much

yoga at all that whole 1st trimester - mainly meditation and

chanting, everyday, and lots of restorative poses or naps! But

if you do an active practice, please be sure not to do twists.

They have a cleansing action on the body, and you don't want

the belly cleansed right now! You can do them modified very

gently by keeping the belly area totally unconstricted (ie, do

not twist toward a bent leg, but toward the open side of a

seated twist). Also, no abdominal exercises at this time. Again,

it's a delicate time, and you want to make sure the fetus implants

well... by the 14th week, you'll probably feel a shift in your

energy and be ready to do lots of standing poses to build your

strength! Poses on your belly right now should be OK, in

moderation, but I'd stop doing them probably at about the 10th

week or so. Again, your body will guide you. Use common

sense, above all!

 

As your pregnancy progresses, you'll want to drop out

backbending poses when you start to feel a pulling in the front

of your chest near the bottom of your sternum. You don't want to

over stretch that area, and it will let you know when it's time to

stop! Also, in general, go easy on "stretching" period during

the whole pregnancy. As you may know, your body is producing

hormones that are relaxing all of your connective tissues,

especially your ligaments and tendons. It's very easy to over

stretch them at this time, so don't go for your maximum in any

stretches, especially those around the groin, pubic bone, and

sacrum. Hip openers of any kind are great throughtout your

pregnancy, but again, don't force them or stretch too intensely!

 

Hope that's helpful...

Blessings,

Connie

> Message: 4

> Tue, 1 Feb 2005 14:46:05 -0800 (PST)

> Rebecca Vann <star_seed111

> pregnancy.....

>

>

> Thank you for your post Todd. I have a question though....I had been told

(from I think my yoga teacher with my first pregnancy) that you weren't

supposed to do inversions during pregnancy. And just on Sunday doing yoga

with a friend, she had me do the one where you lie on your back with your

feet and legs up the wall. It felt okay for a minute but then I had this

sinking feeling in my belly and checked in with myself about it, I decided

it was okay since I am only 6 weeks pregnant but that wouldn't be good later

on down the road.

> Could you or someone clarify the deal with inverted postures during

pregnancy?

> Thanks

> Rebecca

>