Antenatal Yoga was something I was dying to do during pregnancy – maybe it’s the middle class side of me coming out but it was kind of a no-brainer. Why would you not? I thought. After a bit of online research, I found a couple of nearby classes – some near where I work and some in my home town.
As the evening classes in the town where I work would have involved me hanging around the office for an hour beforehand, I choose to try out the class in my hometown and it was my first session on Tuesday night.
I can’t tell you how nervous I was! I can’t quite pinpoint why. Maybe it was because it would be the first time I’d officially meet other Mums in my hometown. Maybe it was because it was a venue I’d not been to before (I did end up trying to enter the wrong way and had to make quite a long detour). Maybe it was because I was hoping it would be a ‘good workout’ and knew deep down it wouldn’t quite fit the bill…
Because I was disappointed. I’d heard that antenatal yoga was gentle and more about preparing for birth than to give yourself a good work out, but it was milder than I could have ever expected. I thought maybe we’d do a few adapted sequences that were safe for pregnant bellies, but from what I can remember, only the muscles in my face were really stretched as I tried my hardest not to show my puzzlement. My most baffling moment was when we all had to stand adjacent to the wall and ‘stretch’ by turning our head to look at the wall. Turn our heads 90 degrees. If we were feeling really comfortable, we could put a hand on the wall too. It just really wasn’t what I expected.
I can’t claim to be a yoga expert and I’ve certainly not been practicing regularly, but I did used to go to a weekly class at work. I work at a pretty big theatre and yoga is a firm favourite with the acting companies so when we had a fully trained yoga instructor on staff, she used to run weekly classes at lunch that anyone could come to. It was pretty intense! Certainly the very opposite to my antenatal experience.
I will go back next week as I think it deserves a second visit, but I’m not entirely convinced it’s 100% my cup of tea. I can appreciate the psychological benefits and can imagine how well it might mentally prepare you for labour, but I’m not sure I need to spend £8.50 a week to achieve the same results. Maybe it just wasn’t the right class for me? My friend has lent me a Pregnancy Yoga DVD so I think I might give that a go and see if it’s more up my street.
Have you tried antenatal yoga? What was your class like? Did you enjoy it? And did it help with labour? I would LOVE to hear other people’s thoughts on this.
gymbunnymummy
I’ve never done antenatal yoga but I do get where you’re coming from. My old yoga class was really mild & calm, I left there so sleepy and didn’t feel like I’d had a work out whereas the class at my new gym really pushes you. It’s still relaxing and enjoyable but you feel as though the muscles have been used and I much prefer it that way. I’d try again to see how you feel but £8.50 is a lot of money to look at a wall! Thanks so much for linking up to #FitMamasClub I hope you join us on the 28th next month too x
Edgar Wang
nice website admin Fantastic post. Very informative stuff here. Thanks a lot!
seychellesmama
Oh what a shame, I must say I know what you mean though….I like to be tired after working out, even in pregnancy!! I can recommend an online pregnancy Pilates class it’s Dr Joanna Helcke….google it, I think you get a month free to see if you like it!! I did it and really enjoyed it, it was a different video each week and so it wasn’t boring but it was also adapted to the stage of pregnancy I was at…so obviously it got easier towards the end but it didn’t feek easier being so pregnant if that makes sense?
I reckon it’s a good idea to try again though, might just have been a lighter week!
Thanks for linking up with #fitmamasclub fingers crossed your yoga class is better next week!! Xx
Harriet Lee
Oh no, such a shame you were disappointed. I have never done any type of yoga but like the sound of antenatal yoga. I would expect it to be relaxing but also to feel like you’ve done something. £8.50 is also quite pricey for a class, might be worth looking into doing a dvd at home or something instead. Although I suppose it’s nice to hopefully meet other expectant Mamas at a class. xo
Little Pickle's Mom
Thanks Harriet – yeah, I’m definitely going to give the DVD a go and I think I may just have to go on lots of nice walks to get a bit of an ‘exercise’ fix. It’s such a shame as I was SO looking forward to it! Thanks for popping by! LPMx
positiveloveblog
Oh no I had been looking into this and thought It looked good but my closest class is £80 for 8 lessons that you have to pay upfront! And if it’s not worthwhile then I can’t spend that much. I will look forward to seeing what else you find in the antenatal fitness area! X
mrshsfavouritethings
Oh, this is really interesting. I have always quite fancied ante-natal yoga. I am looking at going to a class myself. Maybe they are really gentle because they don’t want anything to happen. Maybe you could try some aqua aerobics. That is meant to be really good in pregnancy. Good luck with your second class of yoga. Hugs Lucy xxxx
23 Weeks: Update from Mom | Little Pickle's Mom
[…] all in all, a little bit fed up, not helped by my disappointing first Antenatal Yoga Class. We don’t have any exciting weekend plans either as everything nice I had planned (lovely […]